One of the more interesting
shifts in contemporary design is taking place at the intersection of interiors
and product design. The latest example is Assembler I, the debut furniture
collection from the studio of Athena Calderone, the interior designer, author
and founder of the EyeSwoon platform, as well as a leading figure in refined,
polished interior style. Presented by The Future Perfect, one of the most
important galleries and platforms for collectible design, the collection marks
her first major foray into the world of furniture and objects.
The 14-piece collection explores
the relationship between form, material and historical references, particularly
through the influence of French Art Deco and the Vienna Secession. Rather than
literally replicating historical styles, Calderone draws on their principles:
geometry, proportion, rhythm and a sensitivity to detail, translating them into
a contemporary language. As Calderone herself explains to Vogue, her interest
was not in creating a “retro” collection, but in exploring how historical
design languages can be reinterpreted through contemporary life. Her work
consistently returns to the idea that spaces and objects should possess
emotion, depth and a story.
From interiors to objects
Calderone is known for interiors
that resemble carefully composed scenes: stone, wood, metal, vintage
references, art and natural materials. Through the lifestyle platform EyeSwoon,
she has built a distinctive visual world, not only through decorating spaces
but by creating an entire lifestyle language. Assembler I is a natural
continuation of that approach: what she previously expressed through selecting
pieces and styling interiors, she now translates into objects of her own. It
also seems to reflect a successful formula that is becoming increasingly
common, as interior designers no longer simply choose products for a space, but
increasingly conceive, create and produce them. And that is perfectly fine!
Art Deco and the Vienna Secession
are back
The collection draws on early
20th-century design, especially French Art Deco and the Vienna Secession.
Calderone studied their principles: precise geometry, the balance between
luxury and simplicity, and the way a detail can define an entire object. One of
the collection’s key motifs is chamfered edges, inspired by a glass vase from
the 1930s that the designer had been studying. This detail recurs across the
furniture, lighting and hardware, becoming the visual signature of the entire
collection. Large, almost sculptural proportions are balanced by delicate
finishing details, making the pieces feel monumental yet highly understated.
The handmade quality is visible
here because the designer focused on contrasts: between precision and warmth,
architectural form and traces of craftsmanship. Calderone uses high-gloss
lacquered wood, sustainable parchment, nickel details and hand-finished
surfaces, creating objects that feel sophisticated and warm at the same time.
“Design today is simply moving in a warmer, more layered and perhaps slightly
less singular direction,” Calderone notes. That is precisely why the small
imperfections, textures and marks of craftsmanship in her collection give the
pieces the sense of objects that have already lived a life.
It seems that slow luxury is still making its
presence felt among the trends, with value placed on pieces grounded in
proportion, longevity and a sensitivity to detail. Objects we do not buy
because they are “on trend”, but because they become more valuable over time.
