Simply Abu Dhabi XXVII

Q&A with Smallbone’s Special Projects Director Q: What is your starting point when beginning a new project? What are you trying to achieve? A: When beginning a new project, the starting point is invariably a ‘design phrase’ which we then take and expand into a cohesive design language. It could be a detail chosen from the architecture of the building in question, or some of the luxurious materials we work with and discover. We have a 40-year legacy and provenance, so it’s important that we adhere to the brand values with whatever we bring to market; we strive to have the Smallbone DNA whisper from each piece of furniture that we create. Q: Is there a team of artisans involved in the production of each project, and what are their roles? A: Each project begins with a drawing and CGI, which will have been developed by the design team, and then handed on to our drafting department to work up detail drawings. During this process, there will be ongoing discussions with the makers to ensure that the more complicated aspects of the build have been fully considered. Our craftsmen are time-served cabinet makers who are as comfortable with high-tech cutting machines as they are with their own meticulously prepared hand tools. Once the item of furniture is built, it is then stripped down for the finishing process, which could either be a lacquered application or painted in preparation for final decoration on site. The finish of Smallbone furniture is one of the most important aspects of a rigorous QC process, particularly since it is the element that our clients see and touch when it is installed by our specialists in their home. We currently use a range of luxurious materials and are working with a significant amount of exotic veneers and timbers. We operate in the super-luxe environment and our clients’ aspirations and expectations drive us to always be ‘on-point’ in understanding what materials are out there for us to work with. Q: Have you made any bespoke furniture for unusual places? A: We have been called upon to create beautiful furniture for several unusual abodes, including beach houses, tree houses, castles, and these include indoor kitchens, outdoor kitchens, as well as pretty much everywhere else! It’s our capacity to create truly bespoke products that invites the interesting enquiries. We have installed our furniture in the most exclusive apartment developments in uptown Manhattan and have the reputation for being the first choice for developers and real estate professionals when they are setting the bar for quality and reputation. Q: Do you ever team up with known artisans/ craftsmen to make limited editions? A: We have just collaborated with the Paris-based men’s couture designer, Paul Helbers, for a beautiful wardrobe which featured at the Wallpaper* Handmade event in Milan this April for Salone 2017. This was particularly exciting, and the piece will be on show in London for Design Week. We also work collaboratively with some of the world’s most famous interior designers and ‘starchitects’ to help them achieve furniture that reflects the language they are striving for with their buildings. Q: What are you still yet to accomplish with your furniture? A: The mosaic artisans of Ancient Rome used to say, “Perfection is for the Gods”, and to that end they would always leave a small discreet imperfection to reflect the mortality of their clients. At Smallbone, however, that doesn’t work for our clients! We continue to strive for perfection whether it be in the execution of the making, the beauty of the materials used to build our pieces, or by encompassing the technological advances in cooking equipment and in the working parts of our furniture. Q: What do you think people are looking for when they buy Smallbone? A: Our clients are drawn to us because of many compelling reasons. Our legacy reminds them that we will match — indeed exceed — their expectations on quality, service and design. We bestride our marketplace with a product range and core values that are the envy of others. But its more than that; it’s a little like when you first put on an article of clothing that has been tailored to your requirements and fit, and you finally realise how good something can be. Iain O’Mahony