Level Up: 5 Layered Home Furnishings That Step up the Style
No matter how you stack it, layering—of furniture, fabrics, and objets—adds depth and dimension to any room. And while the more-is-more mantra is a no-brainer for maximalists, even the most pared-back spaces can benefit from an assortment of materials or juxtaposition of color while retaining their sleek edge. On a micro level, tiered furniture adds texture and often comes in a noteworthy silhouette that pushes the piece into art-object territory. If placed well, a stepped table, lamp, or console can produce a unique shadow when the sun strikes, enhancing the character of a room and drawing eyes to your refined style.
Take the Joris Poggioli Aglaé side table or Arvo Ray Studio’s Junius lamp. Each piece features repeated symmetrical shapes (a vertical row of ovaloid podiums in the table and three stacked cones as the base of the lamp) that exude balance and proportion while adding a sculptural element in an office, living area, or bedroom. With two Paris-based names—furniture brand Biobject and designer Fleur Delesalle—the French show that upholstery can soften the edge on itemsinfluenced by this trend. From Biobject comes the Pulse chair, a chic craft-forward seating option bordered in soft ridges; Delesalle’s contribution to the genre is the Marigold sofa, a modernist-leaning lounger, as stylish as it is spacious. For subtler striation, the many drawers in Atelier Pendhapa’s Mangala Desk bring a layered look while keeping a more traditional profile.
More from Robb Report
This $9.2 Million Mansion in Connecticut Has a Hidden Staircase to Your Bedroom
This Georgian-Style Estate in Texas Just Hit the Market for $5.5 Million
How a Young French Couple Transformed a Dated Department Store Into a Ultra-Modern Home
Best of Robb Report
Sign up for RobbReports's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
Click here to read the full article.
Aglaé, Joris Poggioli
Totemic in shape, Joris Poggioli’s Aglaé side table is a contemporary—and versatile—layering piece. Use it in the living room as a couch-side catchall, upgrade your standard nightstands with a pair in pink, or double down on a spirited art display by using the Aglaé as a sculpture pedestal. The table is available standard with a gloss-lacquered paint, or in other finishes and materials, such as marble, upon request. $4,294
Mangala, Atelier Pendhapa
For an ultra-organized office, Atelier Pendhapa’s Mangala desk offers rows upon rows (upon rows) of storage—six, to be exact, formed from a column on either side of the desk’s base, with two bonus drawers in between. Crafted with a niche in the top, allowing the user a closer sit to the desk, the handcrafted piece also features a raised edge to help corral stray pencils and a two-toned colorway (with bespoke options available) that enhances its stately presence. $27,660 through the Invisible Collection
Junius, Arvo Ray Studio
Lighting the way for the tiered trend is Arvo Ray Studio’s Junius lamp. Handcrafted in the emerging brand’s Brooklyn studio, this table topper blends serious craftmanship with a playful edge. A study in symmetry, the lamp’s stacked conical elements are capped by a bowl-shaped shade that balances the base. Junius comes in a variety of finishes, but we like the brass model, which has a rich, midcentury look that produces a warm glow when illuminated. $2,250
Marigold, Fleur Delesalle
Keeping a low profile, Fleur Delesalle’s Marigold sofa presents a sleek yet inviting seating solution with a hint of midcentury mod. Its shape aligns with minimalist sensibilities, but the silhouette is interesting enough to entice those who like to layer on decor. The terra-cotta hue is currently trending, but the Marigold sofa, which comes in single-arm versions for a more lounge-forward vibe, can be customized in a multitude of colors and fabrics. One-arm sofa from about $12,000; two-arm sofa from about $13,000
Pulse, Biobject
Imagined by French designer Joëlle Rigal, the Pulse chair is crafted in Paris and meticulously finished by upholstery artisans. Plush and pleated in front, with a scooped-wood back, this slipper chair is an ode to delightful contrasts and the perfect place to perch with a beverage of choice, morning or evening. The chair, which comes in a selection of fabric options with a solid French-oak or walnut base, is part of the permanent collection of the centuries-old Mobilier national, an institution committed to the collection and conservation of unique or significant furniture. $22,985