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Cutting edge furniture

Carmel Thomason
21/ 7/2008

MANCHESTER Furniture Show celebrated its 10th year in the city with the launch of several new product ranges. 

Style went along to get a preview of what stylish looks will be hitting the stores in the autumn.

PINETUM chose the four-day event at Manchester Central to launch its new Pop-up coffee table (1), with centre lift where you can tidy away quickly all your newspapers and magazines.

The table (RRP £800) is the latest design in the UK company's flagship Como range, a solid-oak collection, also including bedroom and dining furniture. All pieces are hand-crafted and made to order, which means that you can certain items can be made wider, taller or deeper to fit your home. Products are solid oak or pine throughout with no use of chipboard, veneers or foils. For details visit pinetum.co.uk or call 01985 216160.

THE Orchard Guest Bed from Ecofurn (2, £135 plus vat) is a functional and environmentally-friendly way to make the most of your space.

The solid wood frame, which holds two standard single mattresses, can be used as a single, double or twin beds, with the hidden guest bed converting to the same height as the top frame. All Ecofurn beds are made using A-grade timber, which is cut and replanted every 15 years and a percentage of its profits go to charity Tree Aid, which supports communities in Africa through forestry-related projects. Visit ecofurn.co.uk or treeaid.org.uk

BLACKPOOL-based furniture group Febland was displaying its incredibly high-backed Potenza chair (3) as part of its latest quirky collection.

The striking piece, which is proving popular for the bride and groom at weddings, takes its inspiration from a 16th Italian design. It was originally thought to have been a security device so, although the sitter could hear steps approaching from behind, no one could tell if the seat was occupied until they were right alongside.

Feblands make the chair in a variety of fabrics with one arm, either left or right, and there is a lower dining chair version. From £350 to £650 depending on the fabric used. For details call 01253 600604 or visit febland.co.uk

WILDE Java based in the West Midlands is a fair trade company specialising in imports of handcrafted furniture and accessories from the far east.

Its ranges include recycled materials such as re-claimed teak, roots and aluminium. We particularly liked the new Hutan collection made from aged solid teak tree roots (4). The individually carved sloping chair can be used either in or outdoors. From £89. Call 01922 612555 or visit wildejava.com

THE new Cayman multifunction (5) could soon become a popular feature of student homes and those looking to save space. The versatile design, depending on how you fold it, can be a table, foot-stool, double bed, low-level sofa or luxury play mat. It's not an investment piece in any sense, but is to be applauded for its simple practically, being light enough to move easily from room to room as well as fitting into a car for ease of transport. For details call 0845 342156.