Industrial meets ethnic in DUTCHBONE

I don't want to bore you with the usual "I saw this piece and my heart skipped a beat" dear reader. I know your time is precious so I will skip to the juicy bits of this post. You love design, and so do I, and I know we both have this magic power of ALWAYS falling for what seems to be the most expensive piece in a collection, catalogue or magazine. How do we do it?! We have good taste, that's all, and an eye for products that have quality written all over them.

Houseology introduces DUTCHBONE

Whether you are an interior designer, stylist or a consumer looking for ways to update your clients' interiors or your own home, it is very likely that you have browsed at the Houseology website. They feature a variety of well known brands like Eichholtz, Tom Dixon, Andrew Martin (and many more), all known for producing high quality furniture and homewares. Some brands invariably cost more than others.

Looking at their latest 'new in' products I came across Dutchbone, a - you guessed it - Dutch company that works the industrial/ethnic look. While this could well have been just another one in a long list of excellent brands, it stood out because it is a lot more affordable than I expected. And I am sure you will be pleasantly surprised too. Their products are edgy and some are even statement pieces. And the team behind the brand seems to be really nice too!

And by the way, this is not a sponsored post, I really liked what I saw on Houseology and thought you'd like to know more about this brand too!

Inspired by travels

Dutchbone claim they make products with a soul. With a signature. Products they discover during their travels. Inspired by the colours of the earth. The last part is definitely obvious as they use warm coloured wood, brass and copper and the end result is just so, well, soulful.

When they said quality = expensive, they lied

Look at this picture. A truly beautiful setting that is just the right amount of bohemian. So let's break it down shall we? The coffee table (which I have my eyes on right now) is only £359. SHOCKED?

Well maybe you should be, because it has an acacia wood veneer and herringbone pattern (trend alert) on the top (so no worrying about scratches or placing your feet on it) and features an antique brass base. So yes, why would you expect it to be only £359?

Close by, you can see the Arabica tripod lamp (£249), an antique brass side table (£89) and in the background a shelving unit and their Eclipse brass table lamp (£89).

Lighting by Dutchbone

Also worth mentioning separately are their lighting fixtures. I am particularly liking the Louis Table lamp (£79) which is a future classic with it's designer frame and beautiful marble disc. The lamp is completely exposed in the back so you should be getting a fair amount of light out of it.

Coffee Tables

I run a poll some time ago asking my newsletter subscribers "which piece of furniture they want to change but it's taking them the longest to decide on". Guess what? 60% answered that the coffee table is the piece they most want to change but take their sweet time to decide on.

For me it is exactly the same. There are certain rules that you need to remember when choosing a coffee table, depending on the rest of your living room design. For example, don't have too many feet in a room - which means, if you can see your sofa's feet and there are other chairs with tall feet in there, try a coffee table that has a frame touching the floor instead of 3-4 tall slim feet.

Or, if everything is very square and symmetric, try a round coffee table to relax the symmetry. After all, it is your home, not a hotel lobby!

Favourite pieces in the collection? The Class coffee table with the herringbone pattern (as above), the Arabica round table in XL combined with a taller similar one (£179 for the XL and £129 for the L) and the Saffra side tables which I will be shortly adding in my home (makeover coming up in the living room!!).

Above: the Saffra side tables

Storage

I previously made a little guide on styling your shelves which will come handy if you go for one of Dutchbone's industrial inspired pieces. But if you are looking for something more eclectic and have the space, their Class sideboard is a proper standout piece that will feel like it's floating with those discreet brass feet.

Looking at the styling in the pictures, you will no doubt notice some beautiful carpets. Well the brand also has a couple of oriental themed rugs in their collection, in taupe and grey but you can easily use Ben Ourain or plain wool (or shiny viscose) rugs in similar colour ways. I would even try something more colourful (of course I would!) like a red Bukhara rug under their coffee tables.

A great piece that can rock a designer's office is the SOL cabinet, which will store mostly paperwork and designs or even samples of fabrics/wallpapers and more.

Who is this brand for?

Dutchbone say that theirs is a collection "with a precise blend of handcraft and industry. An affordable collection that is always in motion. Whether you live in a loft in New York, a houseboat in Amsterdam or somewhere in the country". And I think that statement is true. Their pieces are versatile and can fit in most homes - not just in expansive New York lofts!

It is definitely a brand that can help you boost the allure of ethnic design, without treading too far into the bohemian decor. By using different accessories you can tone the ethic vibe down for example. Try some plain coloured cushions on your sofa and add modern black accessories (trays, candle holders).

So yes, as you can tell I have been well impressed by this brand and looking forward to seeing it up close - the Saffra side tables are on their way for the living room makeover. Let's see how that one works out!