59 Exclusive Home Collection , designed by Nikki Bisiker Interior Design, launches. Nikki Bisiker gets into the detail of the project
Q How long have you been designing furniture and why did you start?
I have long designed and produced unique items for the luxury private residences I’ve worked on. It started in 2004, at a time when so much furniture had no colour or life and I wanted to make things more interesting. Many clients’ houses had larger spaces or specific corners to fill, and to design something to fit that space, and the look and feel of the property. It was often more efficient, and resulted in better precision of work for the space, if I produced it myself. It also allowed me to be more creative and develop ideas in terms of design, and providing clients with unique conversation pieces
Q Is this the first collection the studio has produced?
It’s the first time a distinctive collection has been launched for luxury environments. The collection is also constantly evolving – we add new pieces all the time. It’s a work in process!
Q Who designs the furniture?
Concepts, Inspiration, finishes, and designs come from me with the studio teams’ creative inputs also, all technical are worked on in house. Our studio designs all the furniture –. The 2020-line items are our own celebration of the Dubai Expo being held here in 2020. All items are currently manufactured and produced here in Dubai. We have also collaborated for the first time with British rug brand Riviere, which produces exclusive rugs hand tufted in Tibetan wool and Bamboo silk with three very special designs for this year
Q How would you describe the collection?
These are transitional, modern, contemporary pieces defined by sleek lines and luxurious detailing, conceived as conversation points and style highlights in the home. The finishes and attention to detail are beautiful and the pieces are comfortable and durable, balancing function with art and design. This furniture is much higher quality than many high-end brands, because they are produced on an individual, one-off basis with personal quality checking throughout rather than being mass-produced. Each piece is commissioned to order.
Q How would you describe the style?
We have developed a range of eclectic styles, differentiated by unusual materials, fabrics and leathers and enhanced by skilled artisans in our workshops with in-depth detailing.
Q Why is the UAE a great place to produce furniture?
The Emirates is a repository of talented artisans from India and Pakistan with incredible knowledge of traditional techniques, from stitching to hand carving, and impressive attention to detail. Dubai has evolved as an international hub of design, art and fashion, and the vast quantity of homegrown talent reflects this.
Q What is challenging about furniture design?
The challenges are in the proportions. For upholstery, it’s how to create support and structure within different shapes. We create a prototype, then adjust and tweak it to perfection. You have to consider everything – people of different heights, where they head will rest, where their knees will be, everything! I think it is also necessary to temper the possibilities of super crazy designs to something that will actually be used and enjoyed within the wide spectrums of luxury homes and that will appeal to a cross culture and tastes of individuals
Q Do you create bespoke pieces?
We personalise on sizing and fabrics. For commercial projects, we create beautiful bespoke pieces that align with companies’ environmental and corporate marketing strategies. For example, we recently created a ten-metre-long concrete table of different heights, which had the company name embossed along its length. We are interested to create something special and unique for any client or customer that wish to commission us.
Q What do you love about it?
I use similar skills in furniture design to those I need for interior architecture – you need to be creative in outlook, but practical and functional in purpose. I love playing around with materials and finishes, whether that’s fabrics, metal meshes, metals or paint finishes. I also love the complexities of function and use and how the two interact with each other to bring a successful conclusion the ideas can be endless. It makes life more fun!