13 furniture designs from Hermes, Louis Vuitton and more that add a touch of luxury to your home

If one were to look at the home as an embodiment of certain values and passions, then the furniture pieces adorning the interior should go beyond pure functionality or necessity. Given that we use or view these objects daily, furniture – be it a small side table or a large sofa that is the highlight of the living space – can tell a story or create long-lasting memories as we sit, use and touch them.

Here, we curate 13 exquisite pieces that are sure to be conversation starters in your home.

DS-600 SOFA FROM DE SEDE 

The modular DS-600 (or 'snake') sofa is named after the mythical alpine creature, the Tatzelwurm. Launched in 1972, the famous design has even found its place in the Guinness Book of Records as the world’s longest sofa. If you find it familiar, it could be because you’ve seen it in movies such as The Hunger Games, Scarface and Robocop.

The L-shaped hard foam core modules are covered with leather cushions, and can be combined with stool elements to create free-flowing configurations made from an infinite number of modules. It is designed by Ueli Berger, Eleonore Peduzzi Riva, Heinz Ulrich and Klaus Vogt, and handcrafted in Switzerland. Available at Royal Interiors.

DILIGENCE SIDE TABLE FROM HERMES

The Equipages d’Hermes collection marries sophistication with discretion, and combines leather, wood, wicker and copperware into elegant valet pieces. The Diligence side table from the range is conceived as a miniature stagecoach, reminiscing a bygone era. It can be used in all sorts of ways, from the living room to the bedroom – as a drinks trolley, a clothing valet or simply as a statement piece in the hallway to place keys.

The natural maple frame has four brass wheels clad in the brand’s signature fawn-coloured H taurillion leather. The detachable baskets are made from natural wicker and the trays of brass with fawn H taurillion leather handles.

SUKI ARMCHAIR FROM DRIADE

Chair collectors may want to include the Suki armchair to their list. It was designed by Pritzker Prize laureate Toyo Ito for Italian furniture brand Driade in 1987. Works of the famous Japanese architect, known for his experimental approach, include Tod’s Omotesando Building in Tokyo, the Sendai Mediatheque in Miyagi, Japan and CapitaGreen in Singapore with its unusual scarlet windcatcher funnel on the roof.

Ito brings a similar progressive attitude to this chair, which uses double steel mesh sheets intersected by many springs. The mesh exposes the seat’s inner workings that are usually hidden with upholstery. Despite its appearance, it is unpredictably comfortable. Available from Made & Make. 

OIPHORIQUE LAMP FROM PARACHILNA

On the website of Switzerland-based trans-disciplinary design studio atelier oï, the Oïphorique lamp falls under the categories of ‘dancing, scenography, installation, material manipulation, moving, textile, expansion, light, breathing, sculptural’. Designed for Spanish lighting brand Parachilna, it is more than just a luminaire. The elegant pleated textile diffusers on a steel structure start to move accordion-like when switched on.

A quote on the studio’s website embodies the creative philosophy behind its products such as this lamp. “Purist, minimalistic and always skilfully realised according to the most rigorous standards, atelier oï’s creations seduce by arousing emotions, memory, senses and conscience,” it reads. The lamp comes in a floor-standing or ceiling version, and is available from Xtra Designs.   

FAROUCHE MIRROR FROM FREDERIC SAULOU

French designer Frederic Saulou’s avant-garde approach is embodied in the use of unconventional materials like black slate, smoked glass and ornamental stones, which are typically associated with construction. “I wonder about the post-industrial heritage of local mineral materials and widen the range of possibilities in creating functional objects for the house and in questioning history, material and its usual impact between art and design,” he stated.

For example, the Farouche mirror from the Domestiquer collection inserts the reflective element into a solid block of natural black slate – a design that is raw yet elegant. Each piece is handmade by Saulou so expect slight variations in colouration, size and finish, but therein lies the beauty of a crafted object. Available from Sol Luminaire.

RIFLESSO CABINET FROM CASSINA

Designed by Charlotte Perriand 65 years ago, the Riflesso cabinet still remains as relevant as ever. Its subtly rounded edges and expression of the original materials in their true forms allude to the Japanese influence often found in the French modernist designer’s works. Shelves of anodised aluminium sheet metal contrast with the robustness of the structure.  

Originally produced in only one size and two heights with black lacquer finish, Italian furniture brand Cassina offers a new version that Perriand produced in 1938 for the Parisian editor Steph Simon. The latter has more generous dimensions and a choice of solid mahogany wood, with natural or black anodised aluminium doors. Available at W Atelier.  

CHUBBY TABLE BY ARTHUR VALLIN

The Chubby table’s playful, poufy form with folded profiles belies its exquisite craftsmanship. This particular piece of sculpted stone is made from Navona Travertine. The table is also available in Lava stone and Pietra di Medici (a beige limestone).

The designer is Arthur Vallin, a French-born, New York-based multi-disciplinary creative director who enjoys experimenting with shapes, materials and new manufacturing techniques. Each piece is handmade in France, signed and comes with a serial number. Available for order at theartling.com.  

WHISKY LOUNGE CHAIR FROM HOUSE OF FINN JUHL

When first shown at the Cabinetmakers’ Guild Exhibition in 1948 as part of Finn Juhl’s ‘The Living Room of an Art Collector’ concept, the Whisky Chair was not put into production. It was re-launched in 2022 under the House of Finn Juhl. Crafted in American walnut timber with a leather or upholstered seat, it features a handmade brass tray and brass feet.

The half moon-shaped tray can unfold into a full circle, where a hole in the surface is designed to hold a glass. Like the ageing of whisky, the brass parts embrace their changing environment and time to produce patina. Upon purchase, customers will receive a unique mouth-blown glass crafted by Danish glassmaker Mikkel Yerst. Available at Danish Design Co. 

BOMBOCA SOFA FROM LOUIS VUITTON

Co-founded in 1984 by brothers Fernando and Humberto Campana, Estudio Campana has disrupted the furniture industry with its unusual designs. The Brazilian-born duo are not confined to definitions, and have experimented with ‘materials’ such as soft toys, plastic bubble wrap, broom bristles and garden hoses on their furniture designs.

For Louis Vuitton’s Objets Nomades Collection, the cloud-like Bomboca sofa – named after a traditional Brazilian confection – is an elegant seat with graceful curves wrapped in soft calfskin. A mirrored version made in celebration of the first decade of the Objets Nomades venture is available in an extremely limited edition – there are only eight produced.  

BRICK SCREEN FROM CLASSICON

Fascinated by the centuries-old craft of traditional lacquerware, Irish designer Eileen Gray headed to Japan to learn the art from a craftsman, perfecting her skills over many years. One of her most famous creations, the Brick Screen is a folding screen that is both a room divider and sculpture. The 28 fixed and moveable wooden panels are lacquered by hand layer upon layer in a process encompassing several weeks as each layer has to dry before the next one is applied.

The famous design is part of the permanent design collection of the Museum of Modern Art in New York, with each screen signed and given a serial number. They are now made to order in a limited edition of 75. Available at Space Furniture Singapore. 

DUO BOOKSHELF FROM POLTRONA FRAU X CECCOTTI COLLEZIONI

Very rarely do different furniture companies collaborate. Hence this collection created by Italian furniture companies Poltrona Frau and Ceccotti Collezioni is a rare one, with the former contributing elevated upholstery skills and the latter’s artistic cabinet-making expertise coming to the fore.

One of the pieces is this bookshelf designed by Roberto Lazzeroni. It comprises Ash wood frames and shaded bronze finish details. Upon request, a marble or black-painted glass top can be inserted inside the shelf frames for a more elegant profile. It comes in two or four tiers, and is available at Proof Living.

ROBOT STORAGE FROM ALIAS

The Robot Storage is designed in 1989 by Swiss architect Mario Botta, who worked alongside other reputed Modernist architects like Le Corbusier and Louis Kahn. Like its namesake, its mutable form gives to many uses and appearances. It was re-released by Alias during Milan Salone del Mobile 2023. Design collectors covet original pieces all over the world, making this a valuable addition to the home.  

The nine overlapping drawers are connected to each other with a metallic supporting structure, resulting in its column-like profile. The top part can open up to become a writing desk, making this a multifunctional piece that takes up little space when not in use. Available from Made & Make Studio.

DC2108 BENCH BY VINCENZO DE COTIIS

The DC2108 Bench features stromatolite legs made up of some of the oldest living organisms in the world. Built up layer by layer over billions of years, this sedimentary rock is used by architect and artist Vincenzo De Cotiis to embody the concept of temporality. The columns are highly polished to express the natural variations of the rock’s horizontal bands, which demarcate its age in similar fashion to the rings on a tree trunk.

The Italian architect creates pieces that fall into the category of ‘design art’. His unique, limited-edition projects are made by hand in his atelier, and often provoke with their material choice, assemblage, originality and duality of old and new. Available from carpentersworkshopgallery.com.