Meet two more designers working wonders with wood
MADELEINE BIGDEN, LAYERTREE
@layertree
My husband, Myles, and I design and make functional, customisable wooden homewares and lighting using the low-energy, ecological technique of steam bending. We met while studying product design at university, and our love of wood began when we made furniture and accessories to decorate our first home. Then, a few years ago, we read about steam bending and had a go on our kitchen hob. We were amazed at how strong solid wood could be twisted and turned like spaghetti. We started selling our creations via places such as Etsy – and by 2012, our side hustle became a full-time job. We now create pendant and wall lights, as well as smaller pieces like wall hooks. Friends think we’re mad living and working together, but we enjoy it, doing everything from the design work to the bending, finishing and oiling.
Doing it all in-house means customers can choose the type of wood we use, the metal fitting finish and the cable colour for our lights, and we love seeing where they choose to put them.
Sustainability is key, and we plant a tree for every online order made, as well as using compostable or recyclable packaging. We also love sharing our passion and knowledge, so from this summer, we’re going to run steam-bending workshops, including ones for parents and kids. It’s great knowing we’re inspiring people to step away from mass-produced products and decorate their homes with handmade things that will last.
VIPUL & SHIVANI NANA
@keiyosa
We make wooden desk accessories and homewares from our garden studio in Wolverhampton. I actually
