Design House Stockholm Crate and Barrel Grey White Lined

December 22, 2021 Post a Comment

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Crate & Barrel's Sebastian Brauer and Leanne Ford in chairs from her collection.

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"Oh my gosh, there were so many," says Leanne Ford when I ask about the inspiration behind her new line of furniture and decor for Crate & Barrel, launching today. It makes sense, then, that the collection is as wide-reaching as it is, comprising everything from ceramics handmade in Portugal to cane furniture woven in Indonesia to prints by Austin artist Alexandra Valenti. It's Crate & Barrel's first ever design collaboration, and the company wanted to get it right—hiring Ford was the first step.

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"I definitely have my palette I like," laughs Ford of her tendency towards neutrals. Natural materials with rich textures add depth, like on this plaster pedestal table.

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"Leanne has been on my radar since I joined the company a little over a year ago," says Crate & Barrel's VP of Design Sebastian Brauer. "We've always stood for modern, effortless and warm American comfort. And Leanne is helping truly redefine American style with her attitude and her super relaxed vibe."

To Ford, that means "taking things you're seeing in Europe, or influences from around the world, and making that look more accessible." Part of why the star of HGTV's Restored by the Fords is so beloved is for her ability to take high design and make it feel effortless—and even comfortable.

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"Design is global these days, and working with Crate, we were able to go straight to the source," Ford says. This bar cabinet was made by artisans in Indonesia from a black cane Ford developed with the company.

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That sense of elevated ease is prevalent throughout the 109-piece (yes, you read that right!) Crate & Barrel collection, which includes furniture, bedding, accessories, tabletop, rugs, and art. The collection's centerpiece, a trademark Ford white sofa, for example, has a slipcover that's machine washable. "I always think people shouldn't be afraid to live in their homes," Ford says. "And I wanted to make things that would last a long time." It goes without saying, then, that quality was of the utmost importance in the collection, and Ford's selection of natural elements are designed to patina over time.

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Many of the items in the collection serve multiple purposes. "These baskets would be great for storage, or you could use them as a hurricane with a candle inside," says Ford.

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That's not to say they're your grandmother's antiques, though: "I wanted a modern take on natural elements," says Ford. "So I tried to bring in a lot of wood, wicker, sisal, caning, but play with modern shapes. It's a little bit 70s, a little bit future—it's almost like a 70s disco."

"Leanne was bold about standing behind things that she didn't find in the market but needed either in her own personal life or a client's life," says Brauer.

The result is pieces that are at once unique and versatile. Or, as Ford puts it, "everything is special but not everything is screaming." It's a collection, she hopes, that "you can fill your home with everything from it—I would love if you wanted to!—but you can also just have a few pieces that will live well with anything else." Count us in on the former.