Lichen + Karimoku reimagine familiar forms for modern living with a collaboration that revives everyday objects from film sets and meeting rooms. The partnership transforms utilitarian appleboxes into the modular CMPT system, allowing them to function as seats, side tables or storage, while updating materiality with milled chestnut wood. An archival Karimoku sofa from the 1980s also returns refreshed as a ZE Sofa collection featuring 2- and 3-seater versions, lounge chair and ottoman, with restored stitching and modern proportions.
Throughout the collection utility is balanced with craftsmanship. The applebox components stack or connect using joints, and glass-topped tables accommodate them seamlessly. The sofa preserves its architectural essence while using new textiles and structure to suit contemporary homes. This project demonstrates how looking to overlooked forms from the past can yield design objects that feel both rooted and relevant.
Image Credit: Carbon Stories
Why This Trend Is Growing
- Modular Furniture Design
- The modular CMPT system innovatively repurposes appleboxes to function adaptively as seats, tables, or storage, showcasing the versatility of multipurpose furniture.
- Heritage Furniture Reinvention
- Reviving archival designs like the 1980s Karimoku sofa into the modern ZE Sofa collection illustrates a fresh take on timeless pieces with updated materials and ergonomics.
- Craftsmanship and Utility Synergy
- Balancing intricate craftsmanship with functional utility in furniture design highlights new market opportunities for products that are both aesthetically pleasing and practical.
Industries Being Reshaped
- Home Furnishings
- The collaborative approach in reimagining everyday furniture could inspire innovation within the home furnishings industry by integrating modular and adaptable designs.
- Interior Design
- The reintroduction of vintage designs with modern updates provides interiors a blend of nostalgia and contemporary appeal, pioneering a new direction in interior aesthetics.
- Film and Television Production
- Utilizing objects from film sets to create adaptable and functional design solutions represents a promising cross-industry application for film and television production resources.
