Dezeen promotion: British furniture brand Ercol will present new products designed for both the home and the office during this year's Milan design week (+ slideshow).
Ercol will launch a new seating collection by London designer Matthew Hilton as well as contemporary interpretations of its classic mid-century designs at the Salone del Mobile fair from 12 to 16 April 2016.
Hilton's Rho seating collection, which is designed for both relaxed work environments and private living areas, will debut at the fair.
The collection includes a chair, and both a two-seater and a three-seater sofa, all featuring angular oak legs and a tilted, curved back that slopes down to form arms, with deep cushions and bolster pillows.
The upholstery is available in a range of fabrics, including Kvadrat Hallingdal.
The seating was created to complement Hilton's Pero furniture collection for a home study, which was first unveiled earlier this year at the Maison&Objet fair in Paris and will also be shown in Milan.
It includes a desk with a shallow drawer for storing stationary and paperwork, as well as two types of shelving. The Pero Low Shelving and Tall Shelving both have small pins behind each shelf to tidy away cables for equipment, while the desk features a black metal cable tray at the back.
The shelving units are also designed to be adaptable to other living spaces and the desk also functions as a dressing table.
An updated version of Tomoko Azumi's Flow Chair featuring a walnut seat and black-painted frame will also be on show.
Originally launched in beech in Milan last year, the chair was created by the Japanese architect and designer to be stacked in a way that saves space.
Other updates include a contemporary version of the Originals Room Divider, first designed by Italian furniture designer Lucian Ercolani in 1956, and the brand's Originals Drop Leaf Table.
First launched in the 1950s, the table seats four people and has hinged sides that can be folded down when not in use.
The Marino Sofa will be added to the Marino Two-Seater Sofa and Footstool designed by British designer Dylan Freeth and shown at last year's Salone del Mobile. Like the previous pieces, the frame of the sofa will be hand-crafted from steam-bent solid ash.
Ercol's products will be presented at Milan design week from 12 to 16 April 2016.
For more details visit the Ercol website: www.ercol.com
Read on for more information about the collections from Ercol:
Rho Collection by Matthew Hilton
Ercol is delighted to showcase the debut of a brand new collection of sophisticated seating by British designer Matthew Hilton for Ercol. The Rho Chair has shaped angled oak legs beneath a stylish, upholstered seat and back with smooth curves, deep cushioning and an accompanying bolster style cushions for extra comfort as well as a decorative detail.
The Rho Two-Seater Sofa shares the chair's soft curves and deep seating, and is also available as a three-seater sofa for those looking for more generous proportions.
Available in a range of fabrics, including Kvadrat Hallingdal, the Rho Collection's versatility and style will allow each piece to work equally well within a business environment or a living area
Pero Collection by Matthew Hilton
Matthew Hilton created the Rho Collection to accompany his new Pero Collection, first glimpsed at Maison&Objet in Paris in January. This range was designed to be aesthetically attractive yet functional in the office and the home environment.
The Pero Low Shelving and Tall Shelving units have a distinct elegance. Designed to work as a pair or independently, the linear framework, shallow depth and adjustable shelving offer flexibility and versatile storage for small spaces and city-living as well as awareness for cabling management. Small pins sit behind each shelf keeping cables secure and out of sight, allowing them to run neatly down the back of the upright.
Matthew Hilton has designed the Pero Desk with a similar, subtle attention to detail. At the front of the desk the shallow drawer runs full width offering useful storage for stationary and paperwork, as well as discreet space for cosmetics or jewellery.
Lined with soft-textured matt linoleum in a conifer colour, this versatile material is hard-wearing, modern alternative to traditional leather. At the back of the desk, an easily accessible black metal cable tray can store multiple cables securely and discreetly.
Flow Chair with Walnut Seat and Black Painted finish
First launched last year to international acclaim and on show at Salone del Mobile 2015, the Flow Chair in beech was designed by Japanese architect and designer Tomoko Azumi for Ercol. This April, the Flow Chair will be presented in a dramatic new way with a black-painted finish and a walnut seat.
The Flow Chair with Walnut Seat brings a fresh sense of modernity to the design with its curvaceous form and elegance with the use of the walnut's rich tones with the striking steam-bent black painted frame. The high level of craftsmanship – a trademark of Ercol furniture – is evident through the refined sweeping lines, tapered seat and the ergonomic stacking function that allows for space-saving.
New interpretation of classic Ercol designs
At Salone del Mobile, Ercol will also present a contemporary interpretation of the Originals Room Divider (first designed by Lucian Ercolani in 1956) which has been reissued in elm and beech. The Originals Drop Leaf Table (first launched in the 1950s) will be another classic piece on show, made in elm and beech a compact dining table ideal for urban living, has two flaps and seats four people. The Originals Bar Stool with Back in ash and beech will be on show too. These will be similar in design to the current bar stools but will have a back.
Marino Sofa and Footstool
A further new design from Ercol is the Marino Two-Seater Sofa and Footstool. Designed in Ercol's design studio by Dylan Freeth to complement the existing Marino Chair launched at the Milan Furniture Fair in 2015, the new Marino Sofa will share the same smooth lines – hand-crafted from steam-bent solid ash – and the considered and contemporary design aesthetic. Honed from solid ash, using traditional craftsmanship and modern furniture making techniques, the firm but luxurious seat and back cushions of the sofa and the padded footstool will be available in 75 fabrics. The Marino Chair in black with a new painted finish will also be on the stand.
Founded in 1920, design and craftsmanship have always been at the heart of Ercol, one of England's most enduring furniture makers. At Salone del Mobile, Ercol's stand will emphasise Ercol's sophisticated designs and heritage, its use of high-quality fabrics and rich painted finishes, and its distinguished use of beautifully crafted woods with a wonderful variety of grain that have become a signature of the company.
Ercol was founded in 1920 by young Italian designer, Lucian Ercolani. In 2016 the company remains private and family-owned and today is run by Lucian's grandson, Edward Tadros. Ercol furniture is designed and manufactured by our highly skilled workforce in our 16,000-square-metre purpose built factory in England.
Ercol is very committed to growing its already successful international business in Europe, the US, and the Far East with its retail and specifier partners.