Contemporary furniture
March 13, 2009
By Hilda Allen
Belfast born, self-taught furniture maker Michael Bell left a job in the corporate sector to design and make fine furniture in 1992. He and design partner, American Susan Zelouf and their team of master cabinetmakers make warm contemporary furniture to commission in their workshop on a dirt road in the midlands of Ireland. I spoke to them about the influences behind the designs.
How did you arrive at the particular design of Monolith?
We're interested in texture, and the contrast between crisp, fine joinery with a smooth, hand rubbed sensuous finish, and the idea of tearing into the finished piece with a chainsaw. We had a wonderful commission to design and make furniture for the Residence of the Joint Secretary in Belfast, where Michael is from and where we lived until 1992. The brief asked us to address texture in the functional pieces. We had become friends with Danish sculptor Jorn Ronnau, and asked him to work a pair of 3 meter long low tables with a chainsaw. We made of series of these 'interior landscapes', including the Monolith console in solid walnut, L2400 x W 400 x H 800 mm. Each piece is different, scarred and healing, mountainous and riven.
How did you get involved with furniture design?
Michael is a self taught designer/maker, who left Gallagher Tobacco to make furniture. Susan Zelouf's background is in music and theatre, and although she doesn't make furniture, she and Michael work together as a design team.
Which designers or design movements have influenced your work?
Both of us are influenced by fashion, and our travels abroad. We keep our eyes and hearts wide open, and respond to interesting briefs from our interesting clients. Form in all of its forms influences us, in nature, in buildings, in jewellery, in packaging, in clothing, in our dreams.
Do you think there is a relationship between the two disciplines? E.g. furniture design and music?
I am a singer, and listen to a wide variety of music, including a lot of instrumental jazz. I am always aware of the melody, even in its absence. I like to riff on ideas and form when designing. For Michael, listening to techno frees his mind.
Do you prefer to work with hand or power tools?
Although we machine and dimension timber with power tools, much of our work is done at the bench, using traditional joinery techniques, hand work and finishing.
What projects will you are working on next?
We just completed a second games table and chairs, and are working on a variety of designs for private and corporate clients, including outdoor seating in virgin oak and bronze, a wall hung hall piece for shoes with thermocollage glass by Killian Schurmann, a sexy desk in silvery gray figured tanganika, a Gentleman's wardrobe and several boardroom tables.
Do you use any reclaimed materials?
We've worked with railway sleepers, and 60 year old rosewood, as well as felled timber staked out and air dried before being kiln dried, from a client's own land.
What kind of evolution do you see in your own work?
Our work is a reflection of our dreams, a response to our clients' requirements, the talents and skills of our wonderful makers.
To view some of the designs click on launch gallery above.
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