Bert Frank is an award-winning British luxury lighting brand founded in 2013 by designer Robbie Llewellyn and Adam Yeats, owner of a high-end metalwork factory.
Designed by Robbie Llewellyn, the collection references mid-century furniture through its use of rosewood and brass, finishes that are both signature for furniture from the 50s and 60s. The influence of the industrial era - but with a modern twist - can be seen throughout Bert Frank’s product range. The furniture was originally designed to complement the lighting products at trade shows, but it soon became so popular that Robbie designed a new piece, a coffee table, and therefore created a full range of furniture ideal for both home and office.
Robbie Llewellyn and Adam Yeats of Bert Frank
We asked Robbie a few questions to give you an insight into the creative process and inspiration behind the furniture collection.
It was really an extension of our lighting range style, I love mid-century design aesthetics and forms, I take these style codes and beliefs and interpret them in my way for today’s interiors.
Not really a particular designer but defiantly an era – the 50's and early 60’s is an era of design that I have always loved, especially when it comes to furniture. A freedom and quest for something new and different from the past are so obvious in the forms, and colours that were used and I find it very appealing.
The amazing thing about working with Decca is the scope they offer as their depth of production capabilities is so great. There are almost no restraints put on the creative process because you know they will be able to realise your vision. This was very liberating and ultimately contributes to a better end product.
The sofa has two armrests that are built in the seat pad, wooden back and two buttoned back cushions, and tapered legs with brass detailing that extends to the bottom of the chair leg.
The design has also been adapted into armchairs.
The armchairs have square-shaped armrests.
The largest piece in the collection is the display cabinet with glass shelves.
The sideboard has 4 drawers in the middle section and 2 doors with interior shelves.
The collection also has a tall display table that is useful particularly at trade shows.
The coffee table is the latest addition to the collection. The top is in rosewood with a brass inlay detail and a metal magazine rack below, matching the metalwork of the legs.
As Mark Cox, Decca’s senior project manager, is a big fan of mid-century modern designs, we asked him what was it like for him to help produce the furniture collection that represents his favourite style.
"As a fan of mid-century, I am all too familiar with the works of Hans Wegner and other Danish masters, so when Bert Frank approached us to develop a range which is a nod to one of the most interesting periods in modern designs history I was very excited. A retrospective view of the past is always interesting, as the little details which carried forward can say just as much about what we value now. The furniture has a formal quality, upright and constrained which is why the contrast with a very bright contemporary pink fabric works so well. But they also invoke a sense of quality with the use of brass plated metal and Rosewood veneer, which has been cleverly laid up around the base of the sofa and armchair feeding out from the centre. It’s hard to pick my favourite – I love the scale of the armchairs, the metal work on the sideboard but for me, the sofa is the centre piece."
The collection was first shown at Maison & Objet in Paris and London’s Decorex in September 2016. Since then, Robbie slightly adjusted the designs of the upholstered pieces and changed the colour of the velvet to dusty pink.
The furniture can now be seen in our Chelsea showroom. For more details and enquiries, please contact us by email at deccalondon@deccafurniture.com or call us on 0207 352 9578.
6 September 2016