Doshi Levien for John Lewis
Continuing its journey into designer furniture, John Lewis has enlisted the help of acclaimed London-based designers Nipa Doshi and Jonathan Levien for a new collection that will push design boundaries for the British department store. The 13-piece collection called Open Home is to be officially launched in February 2017. The British home is definitely evolving and so the Scandinavian influences of this latest collection will help changes the way you think about modern living spaces.
Meet the designers
Doshi Levien is founded by designers Nipa Doshi and Jonathan Levien. Nipa grew up in India and studied design at the National Institute of Design, founded on the manifesto by Charles and Ray Eames. Jonathan trained in fine cabinet making followed by industrial design.
They met at the Royal College of Art and have been working together for over 10 years in their London studio creating work for industry leaders Moroso, Kvadrat, B&B italia, Cappellini, Camper, Swarovski, Galerie Kreo, museums and cultural institutions.
Jonathan Levien and Nipa Doshi - Portrait by Jamie Morga
The Collection
The collection is based around light and dynamic pieces inspired by the elegance of Scandinavian modernism and mid-century Italian design. The Open Home pieces can be deployed in a variety of spatial constellations that break down the traditional four-wall structure of rooms; the collection replaces strict living room layouts with sculptural furniture that looks beautiful from any angle.
Above: Phulkari rug £495, Sangam low table £899, Nami chair, £1,119, Doshi Levien for JL
“Open Home is a set of objects that can be moved around to let you quickly change a room”, says Nipa Doshi. “There’s something sensual about the pieces which means they work together, but equally they’re strong enough to stand on their own. They’re about helping you create a space.”
Above: the Mudra chair £999
Doshi Levien’s collection is made up of armchairs, sofas, occasional tables, lighting and rugs. The seating features elegantly curved backrests that envelop you while you sit and which seem to float above their wooden frames. I loved the wooden armrests of the Mudra chair (above), perfect for setting a coffee mug while texting my husband to say he can stay out with his colleagues just a little bit longer if he likes.
Mudra chair £999
The looping legs of the tables are airy and delicate, while the lamps cantilever dramatically over their bases. Elsewhere, the woollen rugs are emblazoned with a pattern of intricate coloured chevrons (Phulkari rug £495).
Falcon lamp, £199
“We wanted to design furniture that wasn’t static, but which could show that modern rooms are flexible spaces,” says Levien. “We’ve translated that into geometries which incorporate sculptural qualities and which offer an idea of how you can start defining spaces with individual pieces.”
Above: Ballet console table, £499 and Falcon lamp, £199, both Doshi Levien for John Lewis
The collection is the result of a two-year research project. The final objects are produced using cutting edge manufacturing techniques in a dedicated factory.
Nami chair £1,119
“People are going to live with these pieces for a long time, so you have to invest in quality,” says Levien. “Traditionally, there has been a huge gap between the world of design and what is actually available to people. We wanted to close that gap.”
Sangam low table £899
Open Home represents the introduction of high-end design thinking to the British high street. Part of the John Lewis Design Collective, a curated collection of ranges developed in collaboration with design studios, it is the most contemporary furniture collection that the brand has ever created.
Above: Pondok sofa, £2,499
This is a sponsored post but all opinions are my own.
