8 Young Furniture Designers Who Should Be On Your Radar
Take a creative cue from these trending furniture makers and follow them on Instagram
Thanks to social media—Instagram in particular—you don’t have to rifle through pages and pages of design magazines anymore for a quick dose of inspiration. Still feeling lost among the myriad of feeds, though? Don’t worry, we’ve done the hard part for you: We’ve narrowed down 8 must-follow furniture makers on IG. Trust us, you'll surely want to get a new piece or two for your space after reading this article:
1. Vito Selma | @vitoselma
A Cebu City native, Vito Selma is making waves with his nature-inspired creations, such as his RINGO collection (gorgeous lighting pieces that give a nod to planetary rings and spherical shapes), the Alegra swing chair that’s reminiscent of a beach hammock (the perfect addition to beach-ify any backyard or balcony), the LOKI bookshelf that any IKEA fan would love (thanks to its movable, adjustable shelves), and the CONSTELLA tables that sport a star-themed design and would definitely add drama to any space.
Vito’s designs are so in-demand that he’s also made some pieces available in Australia via @globewest. His philosophical musings behind his creations make his IG posts even more like-worthy.
2. Jim Torres | @zaratemanila
Founder of Zarate Manila, a design brand consultancy and studio focusing on lighting, furniture, and interior accents, Jim Torres got his big break when he won the Red Box Design Talent in 2015 for his Escapade collection—lighting pieces made of stainless steel in metal-shredding technique.
Need a creative nudge? Drop by his feed and you’ll get awesome inspo from his penchant for woven-backed chairs, metal-shaved designs, and lighting installations that, when done right, can be both edgy and elegant at the same time.
3. Jiezl, JL, and Lee Sunga | @upcyclemanila
The concept behind Upcycle Manila is simple: recycling, reusing, refurbishing, and repurposing old stuff into new, modern designs.
They have a showroom in Tiendesitas, Pasig but if you want to skip the headache-inducing Manila traffic, take a virtual tour of their creations instead—and pick up a few design tips and tidbits along the way, too. If you’re looking to spice up your space with customized pieces or need ideas on how to reuse and repurpose old furniture, swing by their IG account.
4. Carlo Delantar | @altumconcepts
Social entrepreneur Carlo Delantar is the head honcho of Altum Concepts, a circular design firm that creates custom designs for lighting, furniture, and home accessories.
His creations reflect his design philosophy: “sustainable options that don't sacrifice design and aesthetic.” Swipe through a few of his posts to see how Carlo seamlessly combines comfort, functionality, and aesthetics. We especially love his take on pots and vases, suggesting that one doesn’t need a spacious garden for a touch of nature—tiny, discreet pieces and strategically placed succulents would do the trick.
5. Joseph Rastrullo | @jrastrullo
Who knew there was such poetry in geometry? With his signature exaggerated lines, sharp edges, and dramatic shapes, former apprentice of renowned interior and furniture designer Budji Layug, Joseph Rastrullo, has managed to carve out a design aesthetic that’s truly authentic.
His feed, which mostly consists of black-and-white photos, is testament that it’s the little details that matter.
6. Nath Geluz | @dekko.ph
Clean lines, well-defined angles, and a bevy of wonderful wooden pieces are what you’ll mostly see in woodworking brand Dekko founder Nath Geluz’s feed.
Amazingly, his creations are able to convey something minimalist modern yet subtly nostalgic, such as a work cubicle-slash-reception desk made of reclaimed wood, a buffet table made of mahogany, and a shoe cabinet using acacia wood. If you’re looking for ideas on custom-made wood furniture, this is your go-to feed.
7. Roberta Limjap and Anna Zavalla | @raw.tura
Their IG tagline is “Not Your Ordinary Carpenters” — and we agree! Co-owners Roberta Limjap and Anna Zavalla of raw.tura dabble with every natural material available, coming up with unique, eclectic creations every time.
They’re not afraid to experiment and play with various designs, as seen in their custom console table made of copper-coated metal and acacia wood, wall cabinet-slash-bookshelf made of different kinds of wood with light gray and blue gray finish, and woven baskets (made of rattan, wicker, and cowhide) that can serve as catchall bins and a variety of other purposes, to name a few. Just a few swipes through their feed and you’ll have plenty of design inspiration for your home.
8. Paco Pili | @upcycleph
Upcycleph’s Paco Pili is a self-confessed upcycle advocate — and it shows through his work. His designs have a vintage, quirky vibe, such as the “bathtub sofa” with fruity-floral upholstery (the couch’s frame is really half of an old bathtub!), luggages and makeup kits that look like old-school boomboxes at first glance, old suitcases repurposed as side or coffee tables, and tennis rackets upcycled as “hand” mirrors.
Browsing through his IG account isn’t just taking a walk down memory lane; you’ll be inspired to do some DIY upcycling yourself, too!
Ed's note: Jim Torres, Jiezl, JL, and Lee Sunga, and Nath Geluz were part of this year's 25 Creatives to Watch featured in Real Living's July 2017 issue. Carlo Delantar, Joseph Rastrullo, Roberta Limjap, Anna Zavalla, and Paco Pili were featured in the 2015 Creatives to Watch.
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