Behind The Design: 25 Years Of The Balzac Armchair

We wanted to give an insight into how the beautifully made pieces you see in our stores and around the world, are designed and created. We want to get an understanding of how a design company comes about. What are the best ways to succeed? What are the key ingredients? Who's great to work with, and how the industry has changed over time. We're kicking off this insight with a question and answer session from Tim Cox, owner of Coakley and Cox who manufacture such classics as the Balzac Armchair and the Oscar Sofa, both designed by Matthew Hilton.

Tim Cox – Coakley and Cox Ltd. How did you get into the furniture industry?

I studied at Buckinghamshire College, High Wycombe after a recommendation from my wood work teacher. Their degree course in Furniture Production & Management was the only one offered in the UK. In 1995 upon graduation, I was fortunate to join SCP. Years later when the owners of the small workshop that made SCP upholstery retired, Sheridan and I took the opportunity to acquire the business. Building on the original workforce of 4 people, Coakley & Cox now have a team of 15.

How does the design process work – is it a collaborative process in that you help the designer refine their piece? Any examples?

Our customers come to us with designs they would like to produce, we then design the internal structure and material content and make full size mock-up’s of the piece which is then reviewed and refined for both comfort and design at the factory. The designers spend a day or more making adjustments to create a piece they are happy to sign off on and show a production sample usually at a fair or other launch.

You’ve been in business for over 30 years now, what have been the major innovations / changes in furniture making?

While technology has made improvements to production processes with regards to technical drawings models renders which has enabled us to produce more accurate samples quicker resulting in in some cases less development costs. The biggest change for us in recent years is to revert back to using traditional materials instead of petrochemical based foams, such as Jute Webbing, natural rubber, recycled wool etc. The Upholstery process remains largely unchanged and reliant of the skill of the craftspeople in our factory. We pride ourselves on making all our pieces traditionally by hand from frame assembly to upholstery.

What have been your favourite projects to work on?

There have been many with SCP, James Uk, Pinch, The Future Perfect, Linley but Last year working with SCP producing the 6 sofas for Sofa in sight and SCP’s 30th anniversary gave us a phenomenal challenge to develop the 6 pieces all to launch in September 2015 with exceptional designers Michael Anastassiades, Konstantin Grcic, Faudet-Harrison, Matthew Hilton, Lucy Kurrein and Terence Woodgate

http://www.scp.co.uk/collections/sofa-in-sight

Have you got any exciting projects or surprises lined up for the coming year that you can share with us?

We are just about to start working on a new modular sofa system for SCP being designed by Matthew Hilton which will be launched next year.

What advice would you give to any aspiring designers out there looking to get a piece made?

Gain practical experience through time in workshops. Try and learn the processes of production for the product/s you are designing so you know the possibilities and pitfalls of the production process.

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