Ghost Furniture

Philippe Starck's Ghost collection for Kartell takes the silhouette of a Louis XV chair and reissues it in a single piece of transparent polycarbonate. Louis Ghost, Victoria Ghost and the Ghost stool sit in dining rooms, hallways and bathrooms alike, adding form without visual weight.
  • Victoria Ghost Chair Crystal Victoria Ghost Chair Smoke Grey
    5 Finish options
  • Ghost Buster Side Table Small Ghost Buster Side Table Small
    4 Colour options
  • Charles Ghost Bar Stool Crystal Charles Ghost Bar Stool Black
    6 Finish options
  • Ghost Buster Side Table Large White Ghost Buster Side Table Large Transparent Crystal
    3 Colour options
  • Francois Ghost Mirror Black / Small Francois Ghost Mirror White / Large
    2 Colour options
  • Lou Lou Ghost Child's Chair Crystal Lou Lou Ghost Child's Chair Gloss Black
    3 Colour options
  • Francois Ghost Large Rectangular Crystal Mirror Francois Ghost Large Rectangular Crystal Mirror
  • Victoria Ghost Chair Solid Black *Min 2 Chairs* Victoria Ghost Chair Solid Black *Min 2 Chairs*

    The piece solves a real problem – how to add a chair to a small room without making the room feel smaller. Starck's decision to reissue a historical silhouette in transparent polycarbonate rather than design a new one turns furniture history into a material exercise. It's been in production continuously since 2002, which is the commercial proof of concept.

    The curved backrest and generous seat make it more comfortable than most transparent chairs. For dinner parties of two to three hours, it works well; for all-day meetings or sustained desk work, a chair with upholstery is the kinder option. The seat moulds visually to the body thanks to its transparency, which is part of the appeal.

    Kartell produces an outdoor version that is UV-stabilised for garden and terrace use. The standard indoor Ghost should stay out of direct sunlight as colours can fade over prolonged exposure. For covered outdoor dining, the outdoor version is the specified piece.

    A soft cloth and warm soapy water handles everyday dust and fingerprints. Avoid abrasive cleaners, scouring pads and solvent-based products, which scratch or cloud the polycarbonate. For a deeper clean, a polycarbonate-safe plastic polish restores the surface to its original clarity.

    • Top 5 British Furniture Brands
      BrandsDesigners
      Top 5 British Furniture Brands
      When we opened our doors back in 1810, we committed ourselves to showcasing the finest British furniture these four isles have to offer. We continue to do so today, with an unrivalled collection of designer furniture that’s made in both the UK and further afield. Each British furniture brand in our collection is specially selected to make sure it meets our high standards. Within our collection you’ll discover everything, from world-renowned British designers to up-and-coming brands who are just making their names. We also work with premium workshops across Britain to craft our exclusive collection. In this article we showcase some of the best British made furniture brands and their key designs. ercol Founded in 1920 and based in High Wycombe, ercol is one of Britain’s most famous furniture brands. Still family owned today, ercol has its own team of in-house designers who work alongside other UK designers to create wooden furniture that will last a lifetime. Integrity and quality are at the heart of everything ercol crafts, and you can tell just by looking at their creations. The ercol collection is full to the brim with responsibly sourced woods, expert craftsmanship and instantly recognisable silhouettes. Whilst taking their cues from traditional design, ercol’s furniture is firmly planted in the modern age, with gentle curves and functional shapes. If you like what you see, then why not discover more ercol furniture? Tom Raffield Cornwall based designer Tom Raffield is celebrated for his steam-bent lighting and furniture. Each piece within his collection is inspired by nature and beautifully handcrafted in the UK to the highest standards. Using traditional steam bending techniques, Raffield and his team work to create modern designs that are steeped in design heritage. Steam bending is also a surprisingly eco-friendly way to craft furniture. Not only are Raffield’s designs crafted using FSC-certified wood, but the labour-intensive technique uses less energy, creates little waste and shuns nasty glues. That makes it one of the more sustainable crafts around. Plus, the nature of steam bending means it’s hard to mass produce, meaning you can be sure every piece is expertly handcrafted. Discover more of Tom Raffield’s British made lighting and furniture. Heal’s beds We hate to toot our own horn, but a list of the best British made furniture would be incomplete without mentioning our own collection of beds. As you know, we like to offer our customers the very best. That’s why we work with a handful of specially selected British workshops to craft our Heal’s branded beds. Each of our UK made beds is expertly handcrafted using both traditional and modern techniques to guarantee it’s made to the highest standard. Did you know that we’ve been making beds since we started in 1810? Well, with over 200 years’ experience we like to think we know a thing or two about what makes a good night’s sleep. We infuse all the knowledge we’ve garnered over the years into each Heal’s bed, to make sure it helps you drift off to sleep in comfort. Interested? Then explore our collection of beds. Vispring mattresses Vispring has been improving the way Brits sleep since 1901, when its founders introduced their cutting-edge springs to the market. The British brand quickly became synonymous with luxury mattresses and was soon kitting out the beds on the world’s finest ships, a list of clients which notably includes the Titanic. But their mattresses aren’t stuck in the 1900s. Vispring continued to innovate throughout the years, and is still the name behind some of Britain’s best mattresses. Over time, they’ve experimented with fillings, using locally sourced natural materials like Shetland wool to pad their mattresses. Combined with their innovative spring technology, Vispring’s premium fillings help make their mattress some of the best in the business. For a luxurious night’s sleep, check out Vispring’s mattresses. Heal’s sofas When it comes to quality British made sofas, look no further than our own collection. We work closely with some of the UK’s most prestigious workshops to make sure every sofa is crafted to our exacting standards. That means solid hardwood frames and luxurious upholstery that will look great for years to come. Between them, our workshops have centuries’ worth of experience, meaning they’re well versed on how to craft a premium sofa. They draw upon this expertise with every creation, using a winning combination of traditional and modern techniques depending on the project. Best-selling British made sofas include the Tortona (pictured), Brunel and Lilli sofas.
    • How To Choose Investment Furniture Pieces
      Buying Guides
      How To Choose Investment Furniture Pieces
      Furnishing your first apartment, new home or redesigned space is an exciting time. With so much choice, it’s tempting to go out and splurge on an array of furniture and home accessories at your nearest chain store. But before you exhaust your budget, consider the following key factors for every piece you want to buy: Is it necessary? Is it adaptable? Is it high quality? Is it well-designed? Is it a fake? Is it a trend item? Will it still have the same appeal in five years’ time? Answering these questions helps to decide when to invest in a piece of furniture and when you can get away with something inexpensive. Lot of elements can make a piece of furniture a good investment. It could be a classic that will never go out of style and can be passed down to future generations. It could be a great quality item that you rely on every day. It could be a piece that serves multiple functions in your home. Ultimately, investment furniture pieces are the ones that will give you top value for your money. Let’s look at investment pieces that are worth spending a bit more on. Invest in classics – both past and future What makes a piece of furniture classic? It’s a design that’s stood the test of time and looks just as good now as it did decades ago. Interior design trends are great, but they come and go. You don’t want to be stuck with a whole flat full of dated furniture in a decade’s time. Save your biggest splurges for pieces that will last a lifetime and beyond. The Mistral Sofa & The Wallis Sofa These days, people are spending more time than ever on their sofas. More people work from home, eat meals on their sofa rather than at the dining table, or binge-watch box sets in their free time. With all the hours spent on it, it’s important to select a quality sofa that’s well-designed and constructed to last. The Mistral Sofa in Midnight Blue velvet Our sophisticated Mistral Sofa brings 1950s style with a contemporary approach, offering timeless interior design for your space. Inspired by a mid-century modern aesthetic, this sofa adds a touch of vintage glamour to the home, remaining one of our most popular pieces for over a decade. Choosing a sofa with a sturdy birch wood frame, like the Mistral, provides a lifetime guarantee – making it a great investment furniture piece. The Mistral sofa’s available in a range of sizes and fabrics to suit your home. If you’re looking for a statement furniture piece that’s also a great investment, explore our skillfully upholstered Wallis Sofa. An exclusive collaboration with acclaimed designer Russell Pinch, it brings a modern take to the classic wingback sofa. The Wallis sofa in Emerald Varese Velvet A compact yet spacious design, the Wallis sofa is available as a generous three or four-seater style. Echoing a classic shape, it will no doubt add an elegant touch to your home's interior. The Eames Lounge Chair & The Egg Chair Ensuring comfort and longevity, the Eames Lounge Chair from Vitra is crafted with soft leather and plywood, allowing it to age beautifully. Regarded as one of the most iconic designs of its time, this piece personifies mid-century cool, making it the perfect investment piece for years to come. The Eames Lounge Chair While our elegant Egg Chair ensures the same, it offers a design that’s still as futuristic as it was in 1958, when Arne Jacobsen designed it. This cutting-edge style brings modernist luxury to any room. Use these leather chairs as a corner piece or an addition to your sofa arrangement. The Egg Chair The Cross-extending Dining Table If you’re looking for the perfect dining table that your family can gather around for years to come – look no further! Our cross-extending dining table is the best furniture piece to enhance both your dining experience and dining space. It’s practical and adaptable; simple lines make this design one with a lasting impression. The Cross Extending Dining Table The extending table is adjustable, designed with a contemporary shaped base and two panelled leaves cleverly concealed within the frame. It quickly reconfigures for extra dining space, or for moving to a smaller or larger room. Our extending dining table complements any living space. Invest in quality – where it really counts All furniture is important, but some pieces can really affect your quality of life. You might not notice the lack of quality in a cheap side table, but you definitely will in a cheap mattress. Invest more money in the pieces that will impact you the most. A great mattress Investing in a quality mattress is essential. It ensures that you get a good night’s sleep, reduces the risk of back pain and allergies, and helps keep you healthy. We spend a third of our lives sleeping, so it’s important to get the most out of our slumber. When buying a mattress, be sure to select a type that best suits your needs: A pocket-sprung mattress with hand nested springs perfectly supports your movements while you sleep. Latex foam mattresses also offer hypoallergenic temperature regulation. To combine the best of both, choose a hybrid mattress. Luxury Mattresses It’s also important to choose the right mattress feel: A soft mattress is best for those who sleep on their side, while medium mattresses are great if you tend to change positions during sleep. Firm mattresses suit those who tend to sleep on their backs and need extra back and neck support. Generally, it’s safe to say that the more you pay for a mattress, the better quality you’ll get. Investing in a quality mattress means investing in quality sleep. All our mattresses come with a 10-year guarantee or lifetime guarantee. Sturdy outdoor furniture When considering outdoor furniture, it’s important to go for pieces that are highly adaptable, durable and built to withstand extreme weather conditions. Be prepared to pay more for garden furniture made from high-quality materials and built to last. The Tanso Range Our robust Tanso garden furniture collection is made from weather resistant Grade A Teak. The range is perfectly suitable for outdoor use, yet its well-designed and detailed aesthetic means it looks just as good indoors as well. Invest in adaptability – to get more from each piece What’s better than one great piece of furniture? A great piece of furniture that can double as different pieces. It’s worth spending more on an item if you’ll get multiple uses out of it – think of it as saving the money you’d spend on buying two pieces. A versatile sofa bed A sofa bed is a great option when space is at a premium. Our adaptable sofa beds effortlessly turn any space into a bedroom or spare room. It’s one of the most versatile and hard-working pieces of furniture you could own. Providing the perfect sit or sleep day and night, a great sofa bed is as comfortable as a regular bed. Perfect for overnight guests, a sleeper sofa provides great style and a contemporary touch to your home. The Snooze sofa bed A reversible rug Not all investment pieces have to be expensive. Decorate your space with rugs to transform your room without having to pay a fortune. When picking a rug to splurge on, go for neutral tones to not risk growing tired of brighter colours. Our reversible rugs give two equally stunning patterns in subtle light tones, allowing you to refresh your seasonal décor. Making a great investment item, rugs tend to get better with time and are easy to take with you when you move as well. The Menda Reversible Rug When selecting investment furniture pieces for your home, keep in mind that there’s more to consider than the piece’s initial appeal. Ensure that each piece is highly functional, well-designed and well-constructed, so that your furniture will last a lifetime, be integral to your home and can be handed down to the next generation.
    • Furniture Pub Quiz | The First Edition
      In People’s Homes
      Furniture Pub Quiz | The First Edition
      Think you know your Grossmans from your Eames'? Our furniture pub quiz will test your knowledge about your favourite designers, designs and design houses. Plus, with virtual quizzes taking place left right and centre during lockdown, you can test your friends and family too. Furniture Pub Quiz Questions Begin the Heal’s furniture pub quiz below and find the answers at the bottom of this page. 1. What is a credenza? 2. Approximately how many steps are involved in making a Wishbone Chair? 3. What object inspired Marcel Breuer’s iconic Wassily Chair? 4. Ludwig Mies van der Rohe designed the Barcelona Chair in 1929 alongside who? 5. What nationality was Eero Saarinen? 6. What ancient civilisation is said to have created the first chair? 7. Which famous naturalist is said to have invented the office chair? 8. Arne Jacobsen designed the Egg and Swan Chairs for a hotel in which city? 9. Which design duo created the Soft Pad Lounge Chair? You might also recognise it as the chair used on Mastermind. 10. Yrjö Kukkapuro’s Karuselli Chair is named after the Finnish word for what? 11. Which model famously posed naked astride a copy of Arne Jacobsen’s Series 7 Chair? Hint: She also sat front and centre of the Profumo Affair. 12. What language does the term ‘chaise longue’ come from? Furniture Pub Quiz Answers Wondering how you’ve done? Find the answers below, along with a little more information if you want to know more. 1. A sideboard That’s right; a credenza is the less commonly used name for a sideboard. Its name comes from the Italian words for belief and trust. This is because a credenza was historically used to hold food whilst it was being tasted for poison. The word originally described the act of tasting the food and was gradually passed onto the furniture. 2. 100 Most of the 100 steps required to crafted Hans J. Wegner’s iconic chair are done by hand by Carl Hansen’s skilled craftspeople. The seat alone takes an hour to hand-weave and uses around 120 metres of paper cord. Discover more about the iconic Wishbone Chair and how it's made here. 3. The handlebars on his bicycle Marcel Breuer’s 1925 design for the Wassily Chair was largely inspired by the lightness of his new bike’s frame. This led to his experimentation with tubular steel and the birth of a whole new design approach. 4. Lilly Reich One of the artistic directors behind the German Pavilion at Barcelona’s International Exposition of 1929, Lilly Reich collaborated with Mies van der Rohe to design the iconic chair. Reich is often overlooked but is said to have made large contributions to the Barcelona Chair’s design. 5. Finnish-American The son of Finnish architect Eliel Saarinen, Eero and his family migrated to the USA when he was 13. He became a naturalised American citizen 17 years later. Discover more about the iconic designer here. 6. The Ancient Egyptians According to modern historians, the Ancient Egyptians were the first to invent the chair over 5,000 years ago. Paintings that show chairs, alongside well-preserved chairs, have even been excavated from prominent tombs. They were typically a sign of wealth and were adorned with wood, ivory and ebony. 7. Charles Darwin Despite being most renowned for his study of evolution, Charles Darwin is also said to have invented the modern office chair. The story goes that he added wheels to his desk chair so he could get to his specimens faster. 8. Copenhagen The two chairs were designed for the lobby areas of the Radisson SAS Royal Hotel in Copenhagen. Arne Jacobsen was the architect behind the hotel and he designed it down to the finest detail. This included everything from the exterior façade to the stainless steel cutlery. 9. Charles & Ray Eames Originally designed by the husband and wife design duo in 1969, the Soft Pad Lounge Chair remains remarkably contemporary today. The chair has taken centre stage in Mastermind since the show launched in 1972. Find out more about the design duo here. 10. Carousel Originally designed in 1965, Kukkapuro’s seven-year-old daughter Isa gave the chair its playful name. Apparently, upon seeing the chair’s prototype, she exclaimed “This is like a carousel” and so the chair’s name was born. 11. Christine Keeler This photograph was scandalous when first released, not least because Keeler was coerced into stripping for the photo. Taken by photographer Lewis Morley as publicity shots for a film, the picture was leaked to the Sunday Mirror. The chair was originally thought to be Arne Jacobsen’s Series 7 Chair. On closer inspection the handle hole and subtly different silhouette proved it wasn’t. Both the chair and the photograph now reside in the V&A’s archive. 12. French The term ‘chaise longue’ is a literal translation for ‘long chair’. With origins in Ancient Egypt and the Roman Empire, the modern chaise longue was popularised in France during the 16th century. During the Rococo era, an opulent chaise longue was a symbol of wealth and social status. Nobles would use them to rest on rather than retiring to the bedroom. How did you do? Let us know how you scored on the Heal’s furniture pub quiz on Instagram.