MatterMade + Roman and Williams
The NYC-based designers collaborate on an imposing collection of wood and leather furniture
While many brands looking for a new audience during NYC Design Week take the traditional route of exhibiting at one of the many group showcases, contemporary design store and manufacturer Matter chose to do both—showing their newly cataloged in-house line MatterMade and their recent collaboration collection with renowned interior designers Roman and Williams at both ICFF and in their lower Manhattan shop. Offering an intimate environment to introduce their work, the cozy boutique-like space really put the physical scale of the Roman and Williams collection in perspective. Known for creating bold interiors with the power to completely transform the aesthetic of a space, Roman and Williams’ collection is comprised of large, attention-demanding furniture made entirely of wood with brass hardware.
Exploring archetypal designs in the conventions of the age-old sling chair, the Reader Chair emphasizes the use of material and form. The thin lines of the sturdy leather play nicely against the thick solid wood structure. Aiming to be familiar and functional, the comfortable chair is poised to be the ideal reading lounger.
Lighting-wise, a single form is found in multiple iterations, giving life to five separate designs—a wall lamp, table lamp, standing lamp, double pendant, single pendant and chandelier. The entire Woodrum family was inspired by the obsucre 1950s lighting found in American restaurants. Dwarfing all others in the line, the Woodrum Chandelier makes a distinct statement with thick beams, CNC lathe-turned shades and custom brass hardware.
Bringing the collection’s intimidating size and character together, the two tables give what would otherwise be a group of oversized individual furniture designs a cohesive feel. The Hub Coffee Table manages to appear modest even while boasting a four-foot diameter. An intricately assembled butcher-block style, the main surface is made up of individually cut pieces which are arranged by hand and then CNC milled to achieve the final product. The robust legs are then notched into place using traditional woodworking techniques.
For a complete look at the MatterMade and Roman and Williams lines see Matter online or in-store in NYC.
Images courtesy of Matter
