Irish Bespoke Furniture
February 23, 2009
On occasion we have the opportunity at Largom to feature not just the final results of the furniture that comes from showrooms and catalogues, but also to talk to and feature the work of bespoke designers and craftspeople working in the industry, as the head of the Horizon Furniture Studio in Cork, Fergal O'Leary fits the bespoke bill perfectly. He shares with Largom a few of his latest works and his ideas on design in Ireland.
How did you come to work in the industry ?
My father owned a shopfitting company when I was young so I suppose its in the genes , but all I can remember is the guard dog, the smell of lacquer and some curse words that a boy shouldn't know.
How long have you been working in furniture design / manufacture ?
About 12 years
Did you take the traditional route through an apprenticeship / joinery
shop or apply a different set of experiences to a new skill set ?
No, I took a rather circuitous route. After my primary degree in UCC I knuckled down to becoming a rock star . I spent some years honing my bass playing then decided it wasn't productive or rewarding enough and went back to study furniture design in Cork . Working for the summer making doors and kitchens I realised that I'd learnt more in the workshop in two months than in two years in school, so hi ho and off to work I went . Im a voracious learner and spent a good five years working and learning different techniques and styles .
What are the stages involved in producing a piece ?
If the piece is a commission it's really all about understanding the clients wants . Language can be a barrier to some when it comes to design so visualisation and good drawings are important. Ideas may be many but the right ideas for the right customer may take time . There has to be trust and ,as you know ,it takes time to earn trust.
Many of my pieces are not commissions. Their genesis may not be clear . Some , like the leemarvin credenza come straight from my impression of a film or era ( point blank ,the 60s) , others like the barcode tables are a comment on high street trade .
Dogma aside, a piece has to look right The proof of the pudding is in the eating.
What has been your most interesting commission ?
Its usually the next commission but at the moment I'm happy with my bauhaus desk . Its incredibly stable and strong and took ages to fine tune . Its basically Breuer's tubular steel desk in timber . Im into transparency, the reduction of form and functionality and this piece is reasonably successful in that endevour .
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Many of the pieces you produce are modernist pieces - where do you
take your inspiration from ?
A tag that I try to stay close to is – from bauhaus to your house via scandanavia . Both my brother and sister are architects so the house was full of visual references that stay with one forever , somewhere inside. It was modern furniture for living for everyone . Well not everyone -have you seen the price of an original barcelona chair! From there , Charles and Ray Eames bent plywood furniture, all the way in a line north easterly to scandanavia . At the moment I like Hans Wegner more than anyone . Just the shapes of legs , the clever , unfussy joinery , and it all has a beautiful practicality . Also, recently, I've seen some of Louise Bourgeois' work and its the first time in a while that ive been awestruck.
Given that Ireland does not traditionally have a 'modernist' bespoke
market, how difficult is it to source materials for your projects ?
Its getting better . Now that we are in recession people are trying harder to please . Its a customers market so suppliers are being more helpful .
We still have a good niche artisan base here and people are friendly and helpful toward young business .
Many of your pieces could be described as 'low fi', how easy is it to
get that look and how important is it to let the materials be the
focus?
I suppose this goes back to the scandanavia thing . Low lustre finishes , low cabinets, understatement . Its not italian anyway. Its tricky to mix colour and timber , hard lines and soft , and get it right every time . A good piece of furniture, I think , should have contrast and wood being irregular and natural fits the bill . A delicate counterbalance to man-made materials .
We love the flush walnut kitchen - how did the project come about ?
An existing client was lucky enough to build the home they always wanted on the top of a hill looking over cork city. They built a modern split level house for adults . Cool clean lines with minimal clutter .The gloss white of the island / preparation unit between the wall of walnut and the two full glass walls took a while to settle on but when it was finished they were very happy bunnies.
Is the market in Ireland widening when it comes to quality bespoke
furniture and interiors ?
Definitely. We dont have a history of understanding design or its benefits but the celtic tiger and global trends have made design less of a dirty word . People are prepared to go with ideas that may not be the norm, to look different but have style , that have character and transcience .
We saw the 'Lee Marvin' Credenza, its the first time we've seen TV and
cabinetry look so good in one place -what are you working on at the
moment ?
The tree shelving system . A flexible system that can be easily assembled and adjusted supported by a single wooden spine or expanded by addition spines to fill an office or showroom . Its at an early stage but I think its a practical and beautiful solution to an old problem .
Click Launch Gallery to see Fergus Oleary's work or follow his blog -
http://horizonfurniture.blogspot.com/2008/09/horizon-furnture-creative-comtemporary.html
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