Lasting excellence

Does the design have longevity? This is one of eight criteria our panel of distinguished judges employ to assess whether a piece is worthy of being classified as an ‘excellent’ design, and awarded a Design Guild Mark.

For designer Nathalie de Leval, creating products that can effortlessly complement other pieces within a room, thus enduring the test of time, is key.

The beautiful simplicity of the Holworth Chair  (DGM 165) epitomises this philosophy.

Launched at Decorex 2016, the Holworth Chair was one of two pieces – along with the Tailor Chest- designed by Nathalie for Benchmark that received a Design Guild Mark in 2017.

With its slender frame and distinctive tapered leg, Holworth is a classic dining chair in walnut and oak with a natural oiled finish or ebonised oak. Its bowed back sits low and wide around a table, emphasising the generosity of the upholstered seat.

Originally a sculptor, Nathalie studied cabinet making to improve her making skills and discovered a passion for furniture, which led to an MA in furniture design at the Royal College of Art.

In the last of our series of short films about the Design Guild Mark, Nathalie tells us more about Holworth and why she put the chair forward for a Design Guild Mark.

For more information about Nathalie, go to: deleval.co.uk/