A change of pace for this issue’s interiors, as we sit down for a natter with Alex Ratcliffe of Konk Furniture, Bristol-based maker of beautiful pieces that are the very antithesis of throwaway culture
By Kirsty Lake
When buying furniture you want it to be beautiful, yes, and sturdy. You want it to be pleasing to use, and – ideally – impressive too, something to get guests cooing. And there are other factors to consider, not least how sustainable it is. When you see an exotic piece of wood, where did it come from? We’re destroying the rain forests, and for what?
At Konk, a multidisciplinary design studio and workshop that won a Bristol Life award for Homes and Interiors three years back, they make bespoke pieces for both homes and offices, and all to four strict rules. First up, they have to last a lifetime; these guys are no fans of the throwaway. Two, everything’s handmade to order, so there’s no wasted wood or excess stock. Three, they only use timber from approved, sustainable forests. And last but not least, they’re desperate to give back more than they take. To that end, and working in partnership with non-profit charity One Tree Planted, the guys plant a tree for each item sold.
It’s all the brainchild of architecture graduate Alex Ratcliffe, who one day decided that he didn’t want to be an architect after all, and instead has built up one of the South West’s leading bespoke furniture makers, employing over 20 full time staff at their Bristol workshop.
“Konk started in my mum’s garage about eight years ago,” Alex says. “Within a year we’d moved workshops three times, and have continued to grow year on year ever since. The interiors industry in Bristol is actually extremely strong. Not only are there plenty of talented furniture makers around, but potters, weavers, interior designers and a whole host of skilled craftsmen. It’s important to support Bristol’s craft industry, I always say – get away from the large brands and shop local.”
Konk doesn’t just make freestanding pieces, but can provide bespoke fitted furniture, which they’ll install themselves. This could be a shelving system, a kitchen, office workstations, or anything else you can think of; there are all sorts of inspirational examples on the website. And though there are standard designs they make again and again, they’re happy to give virtually anything a go, working from as little as a customer sketch and description.
“I think good work comes from consuming as many different sources of design and culture as you can,” Alex says. “Art galleries, books, music, Instagram, films and television are all filled in some way with inspiration, whether consciously noticed at the time or not. To be honest, I find it hard to ever directly link a new design to one single influence. But what I do think we do well is combine quality with simplicity. We’re hopefully offering craft and bespoke furniture-making at a reasonably affordable price point, which is an important USP. Coming from a background in architecture has, I think, helped ground me in terms of making the most of the materials available, while keeping the structures fairly simple.”
And you can see this in the pieces, for sure. Nothing is cheap here, exactly, but you can buy their smaller desks and coffee tables for under a grand. But how, I wondered, do you ensure that each piece still feels luxurious and special, while maintaining such simplicity of form? Turns out, it’s all to do with the materials.
“The key is starting with quality timber,” Alex says. “We pretty much exclusively use oak and black American walnut. When finished to a really high standard by a skilled team, the material itself is elevated above cheaper alternatives. What really sets us apart is that we can customise any of our products to suit the room it’s going into. Whether that’s just a simple change of size or colour, or designing something completely bespoke, it’s our ability to tailor furniture to the clients’ needs that gives us a real edge over ‘off-the-shelf’ furniture.”
It sounds exciting, but also fraught with potential confusion. How, as a layperson, do you go about designing a decent piece of furniture?
“Sometimes a client might have a very clear vision, and we’re simply there to work out the joints and details,” Alex says. “But on other occasions, they’ll put their trust in us to come up with something, which involves narrowing down near-infinite possibilities.”
Favourite items from the Konk catalogue…
1. Yume day bed in oak, £1,765
The name means ‘dream’ in Japanese, and the gentle curves and minimalist design are sure to bring on the calm; it’s seen here, of course, without the dedicated cylindrical foam bolster cushion and mattress.
2. Søm table in oak, from £3,929
With hand-cut splines to create a striking tabletop and an exposed sliding dovetail joint, the glorious Waney Edge oak of the top is contrasted with contrasting dark legs in either American black walnut or ‘oak with an intense black stain’.
Konk Workshop, Units 1-2 Bristol Vale Trading Estate, Hartcliffe Way, Bristol BS3 5RJ; tel: 0117 329 4114; konkfurniture.com
Caught my eye
Kirsty’s interiors edit for July
1. Skipper pendant by Tom Raffield, in ash, £295; www.tomraffield.com
2. Finn Juhl Japan Sofa 2 by Holloways of Ludlow, £3,675; www.hollowaysofludlow.com
3. Kayia acacia wood mirror by Nkuku, £325; nkuku.com
4. Acacia Mezzaluna set by Pro Cook, £19.99 (was £29); procook.co.uk
The Big Tip
Should you mix woods? I say yes, as long as there’s some contrast between them – so a dark wood and a light wood, or a wood with a pronounced knots paired with a smoother, less dramatic grain. I wouldn’t mix high gloss varnish with unfinished wood, though, and – as with check patterns – two that are similar (but not the same) are risky…
This Yuki desk in American black walnut (but also available in oak) is built around a simple, smooth curve, making it simultaneously both classic and modern – timeless, in other words. The desk itself is from £2,195, and the drawers below, standing on three little round legs, are from £1,905. Of course, the drawers would also make the perfect bedside table…
Image Credits: See published article
Magazine Published by Media Clash, Bristol Life
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