| When people talk about working with plywood many | | | | designs with a classic edge, that are affordable, |
| think about boat building or stylish modernist furniture | | | | durable and could serve more than one purpose. |
| like the Eames chairs but now a Sydney based | | | | Keryn also wanted to include a funky aspect to her |
| designer, Keryn Hughes, is applying these Modernist | | | | creations so she has added the ability to include a |
| principles to furniture for kids. | | | | splash of colour using a laminate. |
| The earliest examples of plywood furniture appear in | | | | Keryn's company philosophy is to combine the use of |
| the 18th century but it was not until the 1850s that it | | | | environmentally sensitive materials with designs that |
| went into commercial production in the United States. | | | | enable the one piece to be used in numerous ways |
| Innovation continued during World War I when the | | | | thus maximizing the efficiency of the piece. |
| aviation industry contributed to the continuing success | | | | The making of plywood is an environmentally sensitive |
| of plywood by creating a product with additional quality, | | | | technique that creates a material of outstanding |
| flexibility and durability. | | | | strength and stability that also weights little. The wood |
| When the furniture makes of the 1920s were looking | | | | used to make the ply is a natural renewable resource |
| for a cheap alternative they turned to plywood. The | | | | harvested from plantation forests. |
| first to make a breakthrough in using plywood was | | | | Keryn's love affair with wood continues into her design |
| Dutch cabinet maker Gerrit Thomas Rietveld, who in | | | | studio, designed by eminent architects Peter |
| 1927 built a chair with a seat made from a single piece | | | | Stutchbury and Sue Harper, it looks like an overgrown |
| of plyboard. | | | | tree house in the back garden. |
| This single seat set in motion a domino effect in design. | | | | Her tree house/office combines the best of both |
| Many examples of classic modernist furniture have | | | | worlds creating a short communte to work but also |
| been designed and built using plywood during the 20th | | | | keeping the office separate from her home life. The |
| century among the most famous are the Eames | | | | open plan design uses recycled blue gum and glass to |
| chairs by Charles and Ray Eames. These chairs are | | | | create an airy feel and, of course, her beloved |
| still prized as design icons to this day. | | | | plywood creates the ceiling, floors and a large deck for |
| Keryn Hughes continues this tradition by creating a | | | | work. |
| stunning collection of contemporary moulded plywood | | | | Keryn's hard work has paid off with her Y-Front Side |
| furniture for children. Her style reflects the early | | | | Table being selected as a finalist in the Furniture |
| modernists using uncluttered lines in functional pieces | | | | category of the Home Beautiful Product of the Year |
| embracing the warmth and quality of wood and | | | | 2008 awards. |
| laminate. | | | | The panel of judges chose only 3 finalists, based on |
| In the beginning Keryn created a small range of | | | | the criteria of excellence in design, innovation and |
| children's furniture made by hand. When demand | | | | practicality. |
| became too intense Keryn took time to reflect and | | | | Keryn's collection is designed and made in Australia. |
| thus created her current signature range of | | | | And in 2008 they were formally initiated into the |
| contemporary moulded plywood furniture for adults | | | | not-for-profit Australian Made, Australian Grown |
| and children. | | | | campaign. |
| The aim of the collection was to create contemporary | | | | |