The power couples of furniture and design
February 19, 2021
In the words of legendary designer Charles Eames, “At all times love and discipline have led to a beautiful environment and a good life”. Charles achieved this with the help of Ray, his wife and co-founder of the EAMES office. Inspired by Valentine’s Day, here are five couples who – together or side by side – changed the world of furniture and design.
Lucienne and Robin Day
Textile designer Lucienne and furniture designer Robin Day believed that good design could improve the world. After making their mark at the Festival of Britain in 1951, they went on to transform the interiors market with their affordable yet durable pieces, which could be mass-produced and enjoyed by as many people as possible. Robin’s stackable polypropylene POLYSIDE chairs are still in production today, while Lucienne’s CALYX textile pattern brought colour to post-war Britain.
Hans Knoll and Florence Knoll Bassett
Hans and Florence Knoll, co-founders of KNOLL Associates, brought some of Europe’s most iconic mid-century furniture designs to the American market – including Mies van der Rohe’s BARCELONA chair, Harry Bertoia’s DIAMOND chairs and Eero Saarinen’s TULIP range. Florence modestly called her own furniture designs for KNOLL the “meat and potatoes” of the company, but these pieces remain highly valued today. After Hans’ death in 1955, Florence remarried (adding her second husband’s surname, Bassett, to her own) but continued leading KNOLL as President and later Design Director until 1965.
François-Xavier and Claude Lalanne
Together they were known as ‘Les Lalanne’, but husband-and-wife duo François-Xavier and Claude Lalanne are also celebrated designers in their own right. He is best known for his playful yet functional animal furniture. She is famous for her intricate, electroplated botanical jewellery and surrealist sculpture. François-Xavier and Claude met in 1952 but did not have their first joint exhibition until 1964. It was panned by critics. The couple stayed true to their vision, however, gradually attracting patrons including Yves Saint-Laurent, Serge Gainsbourg and the Rothschilds.
Charles and Ray Eames
For over four decades, Charles and Ray Eames were the power couple of American mid-century furniture and industrial design. Celebrated for their iconic chairs – which are still imitated in schools, hospitals, offices and homes across the world – they also created architecture, films, toys, textiles and exhibitions.
But it was not always this way. Starting with humble beginnings, the Eames' first studio was in their apartment in Los Angeles. During the day, Charles was a set architect for MGM Studios and Ray painted covers for Arts & Architecture magazine for a regular pay-check. At night, they worked on their concepts. “The most important thing is that you love what you are doing, and the second that you are not afraid of where your next idea will lead,” Charles said of their design philosophy and the world he and Ray created.
Image credits:
Amos Marchant Design Studio, Architectural Digest, AnOther Magazine, Vitra