Common Room

Project Info

Celebrating the beauty of timber underutilised by industry, this furniture collection transforms knots, colour variation and irregular grain into defining features of its design.

Comprising a table, bench, stools and screens, Common Room is crafted from No. 1 grade cherry – a timber quality frequently overlooked in favour of cleaner, straighter boards. Rather than concealing the natural character of the wood, the collection embraces it, allowing variations in grain, colour and knots to shape the identity of each piece.

To maximise the potential of the material, a simple yet effective system of joining and patching was developed. The traditional butterfly joint was reimagined with rounded corners, making it quicker to produce while celebrating its machine-made origins. Repeated throughout the collection, this soft triangular motif becomes both a practical repair and a distinctive visual language, giving each piece strength, character and individuality.

By challenging established ideas of timber quality, Common Room demonstrates how more of every tree can be put to good use – helping reduce waste while encouraging a more resourceful and sustainable approach to furniture making.