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8 Furniture Brands Taking a Different Path Than Joybird

Steve McClain

Steve McClain

Co-Founder @ Marmalade

Published on: November 14, 2024
Hero Image of product munro-credenza
Hero Image of product field-stool-white-oak
Hero Image of product temi-chair-mto
Hero Image of product the-bur-rug
Hero Image of product walnut-bookshelves
Hero Image of product henrik-floating-nightstand-side-table-with-drawer
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Joybird's mid-century aesthetic has become almost synonymous with accessible modern furniture. But there's a whole universe of lesser-known furniture makers crafting pieces that tell more intriguing stories. We've uncovered eight brands that blend innovative design approaches with old-world craftsmanship, sustainable practices, and distinctive points of view.

Sundays Company
: Turning Down the Volume on Furniture Shopping

Most furniture shopping feels like sensory overload. That's what drove four retail veterans with young families to launch Sundays Company, where they've stripped away the endless options and anxiety-inducing decisions that typically accompany furniture hunting.
Their Field Stool in White Oak illustrates this refreshing philosophy - it's a versatile piece with organic curves that can serve as seating or a side table without making a fuss about it. We're particularly intrigued by their practical approach to materials, using performance fabrics that can handle real life without sacrificing aesthetics. The founders seem to get it: beautiful furniture shouldn't require treating your home like a museum.

Why we like Sundays Company

  • 1

    Simplified Decision Making

    Curated collection reduces choice paralysis

  • 2

    Practical Durability

    Performance fabrics suitable for real-life use

  • 3

    Versatile Design

    Pieces that serve multiple functions without compromise

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Hedge House Furniture
: Where Amish Craftsmanship Meets Modern Restraint

In the woodworking heartland of Indiana, Hedge House Furniture is doing something that raises eyebrows among their Amish collaborators - creating furniture so understated it's considered "too plain" by traditional standards. Their Douglas Tall Bookcase exemplifies this fascinating tension between time-honored techniques and contemporary minimalism.
The studio's relationship with local Amish craftsmen adds an unexpected layer to their story. While they honor these traditional methods, they're not bound by them. We appreciate how they've managed to preserve the soul of handcrafted furniture while speaking a thoroughly modern design language. Their blanket-wrapped delivery service and sustainable sourcing practices suggest a thoughtfulness that extends beyond mere aesthetics.

Why we like Hedge House Furniture

  • 1

    Amish Craftsmanship

    Traditional woodworking techniques with modern design

  • 2

    Sustainable Practices

    Thoughtful sourcing and delivery methods

  • 3

    Minimalist Aesthetic

    Understated design that honors craftsmanship

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Gus Modern
: Reimagining Mid-Century Through a Scientific Lens

For two decades, Gus Modern has been conducting an interesting experiment: what happens when you take mid-century modern DNA and splice it with 21st-century innovation? Their Munro Credenza answers this question with real wood veneer and glass inlay that nods to the past while feeling distinctly current.
The brand's material exploration reads like a chemistry experiment gone right. They've developed Vegan AppleSkin Leather and incorporated recycled P.E.T. cushion fill, proving that environmental consciousness doesn't require aesthetic compromise. We're fascinated by how they've managed to honor mid-century principles while pushing furniture making into new territory.

Why we like Gus Modern

  • 1

    Innovative Materials

    Pioneering sustainable alternatives like Vegan AppleSkin Leather

  • 2

    Modern Evolution

    Fresh take on mid-century design principles

  • 3

    Environmental Focus

    Commitment to eco-friendly manufacturing processes

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Abrego
: California Cool Meets Global Design Traditions

From their Southern California workshop, Gabriel Abrego and Bergen Wood are creating pieces that feel like they've absorbed design influences from a world tour. Their Salty Open Bookshelf manages to channel both Spanish warmth and Scandinavian restraint, creating something entirely its own.
The founders' approach to materials feels refreshingly grounded. Their use of reclaimed wood and natural fibers isn't just about sustainability checkboxes - it's about creating furniture that develops character over time. This commitment to pieces that age gracefully rather than wear out speaks to a deeper understanding of what makes furniture truly sustainable.

Why we like Abrego

  • 1

    Global Influence

    Fusion of international design traditions

  • 2

    Material Intelligence

    Focus on materials that develop character over time

  • 3

    Sustainable Vision

    Commitment to reclaimed materials and longevity

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Sun at Six
: Ancient Chinese Joinery for Modern Living

Some furniture carries generations of knowledge in its joints - literally, in the case of Sun at Six. This family-run studio creates pieces using traditional Chinese joinery techniques that founder Antares learned from his mother, who studied with a Beijing master three decades ago. Their Temi Chair shows how these ancient methods can yield surprisingly contemporary results.
The studio's work has caught the attention of institutions from the Forbidden City to the Asian Art Museum in San Francisco. We're drawn to how they've maintained the integrity of traditional joinery while creating pieces that feel at home in modern spaces. It's like watching an ancient language evolve to express new ideas.

Why we like Sun at Six

  • 1

    Traditional Expertise

    Authentic Chinese joinery techniques

  • 2

    Cultural Heritage

    Preservation of ancient craftsmanship

  • 3

    Contemporary Application

    Modern interpretation of traditional methods

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Mush Studios
: When Furniture Meets Fine Art

Jacob Winter and Franki Peroff of Mush Studios seem to approach furniture design like abstract artists approaching a canvas. Their Bur Rug demonstrates this artistic sensibility - it's a functional piece that somehow manages to capture the fluid energy of a sketch.
The studio's work challenges our assumptions about what furniture should look like, yet never sacrifices livability for spectacle. We find their ability to balance visual drama with practical comfort particularly compelling. Their pieces feel like they belong in a gallery, yet they're designed for daily life.

Why we like Mush Studios

  • 1

    Artistic Vision

    Furniture design with fine art sensibility

  • 2

    Balanced Design

    Dramatic aesthetics with practical functionality

  • 3

    Unique Expression

    Fresh perspective on furniture as art

Hayley Villapudua

Hayley Villapudua

07/31/24

If you have this, you totally watched Lizzie Mcguire as a kid, and it shows.

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57st. Design
: Engineering the Future of Furniture

Chicago-based 57st. Design approaches furniture making with an engineer's precision and an environmentalist's conscience. Their Ada Side Table showcases this systematic thinking - even details like self-closing drawers feel carefully considered rather than merely added.
Their Design Circulation service represents a fascinating experiment in furniture ownership. Instead of following the typical life cycle of purchase-use-discard, pieces move from home to home in a carefully managed system. We're intrigued by how they've expanded the definition of sustainability beyond materials to address the entire furniture ecosystem.

Why we like 57st. Design

  • 1

    Engineering Precision

    Technical excellence in furniture design

  • 2

    Circular Economy

    Innovative Design Circulation service

  • 3

    Systematic Approach

    Thoughtful consideration of every detail

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Domenic Fiorello Studio
: When Digital Tools Meet Hand Craft

In Domenic Fiorello's studio, traditional woodworking meets modern technology in unexpected ways. Their Henrik Floating Nightstand demonstrates this synthesis - it's a piece that couldn't exist without both old-world craftsmanship and contemporary manufacturing capabilities.
The studio's focus on domestic wood species - primarily walnut, white oak, and cherry - creates an interesting creative constraint. We're fascinated by how they use tools like CNC routing not to replace traditional techniques, but to expand what's possible within them. It's craftsmanship for the digital age, without losing the human touch.

Why we like Domenic Fiorello Studio

  • 1

    Technical Innovation

    Blend of digital tools with traditional craft

  • 2

    Local Materials

    Focus on domestic wood species

  • 3

    Modern Craftsmanship

    Evolution of traditional techniques

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The View Ahead

These eight brands represent a shift in how furniture can be made and sold. While they each chart different courses, they share a commitment to questioning industry conventions. Whether through ancient joinery techniques, innovative materials, or new approaches to sustainability, they're proving there's room for fresh perspectives in furniture design. For those willing to look beyond the obvious choices, these makers offer alternatives that come with compelling stories and distinctive points of view.