• Furniture by Style
• Oriental Furniture
• Black Lacquer
• White Lacquer
• Eco luxury bamboo
• Brown Boutique
• Caramel Boutique

• Furniture by Room
• Living
• Dining
• Sleeping
• Working
• Other

Latest Articles

Spring/Summer 09

East meets West

Birgitt van der Matten, is in charge of styling at 4 Living Furniture and has overseen the introduction of Chinese influenced design and manufacturing methods across the company’s principle ranges. She believes strides made in recent years have opened the door to a new era in furniture conceived for the UK.

“The mystical East has given birth to many great things over the centuries; furniture design and manufacture being one them.

“Of course nowadays we’re all too aware of the manufacturing that goes on in China and the Fareast, though without necessarily considering the wealth of design and manufacturing tradition that can still be seen in furniture from the region today.”

“An awareness of symmetry and proportion and the finest attention to the smallest detail, has, for centuries, produced beautifully crafted furniture. It’s these binding principles that make furniture from the orient so popular to this day.”

“We have endeavoured to characterise these traits in our black lacquered Shanghai and Beijing collections, combining tradition with contemporary styling, to present pieces for virtually every corner of the home. We have also taken in to consideration the sustainable nature of the material we use in their creation and therefore each piece is made using 80% reclaimed pine, in keeping with 4 Living’s commitment to producing furniture that doesn’t cost the earth.”

“Consumers are now realising that regardless of the size of their living space, furniture with colour and style can create warmth, ambience and a sense of living. Subtle wall shades are creating the canvas for furniture that breathes life and energy into a room and dark coloured furniture is taking up residency with increased frequency it would appear. The charming character of our Shanghai and Beijing pieces deliver a subtle sense of style and occasion.”

“There is a certain romance to be enjoyed by embracing the elegance and tradition of the orient, which largely evaded past generations here in the West. The smaller world in which we now live has brought design and lifestyle together in ways unimaginable not so long ago, a lasting marriage that can be seen in homes across the UK.”