André Joyau’s gorgeous furniture line was a definite show stopper last weekend at BKLYN Designs 2010. We were so impressed by his use of reclaimed wood in his narrative furniture pieces that we awarded him Inhabitat’s Best Use of Recycled Materials. Joyau places strong emphasis on minimalistic and modern aesthetics while incorporating natural elements that tell an evocative story about each individual piece’s historic characteristics.
André Joyau is inspired by nature and all of his pieces are either rough-hewn or worn smooth. In order to acquire a strong narrative, Joyau prefers to use reclaimed or repurposed materials to highlight a history or tradition within older objects. In one of the tables featured at BKLYN Designs, Joyau explains that many of the beautiful old blemishes actually come from worms that earlier pierced the wood. These holes swelled up with water and over time created appealing natural stains.
André Joyau’s studio is made up of a small, cooperative work space consisting of designers and cabinetmakers. The studio takes pride in creating modern furniture that showcases impeccable attention to detail and long lasting craftsmanship. While he has studios in both Brooklyn and Minneapolis, Joyau spends most his time in Brooklyn overseeing the design and production processes.
Although all Joyau’s furniture expresses high levels of modern design, each piece also owns coherent, serene warmth. “Juxtaposing a clean, minimalist aesthetic with natural “flawed” materials allows for modern design that makes a strong, but quiet statement.” The studio combines sustainable and traditional methods of craftsmanship with new technology to design furniture that holds a strong form, impeccable detailing and quality fabrication.
Each furniture piece is made from solid lumber and is polished by hand to create rich patinas that become deeper over time. All items are entirely hand-crafted and can be customized to suit individual needs and preferences.
+ André Joyau
