Magnus Long

Magnus Long is a British furniture designer whose work at Heal's includes the Arched Pendant, a set of dining tables and considered occasional pieces. His practice balances honest materials, solid oak, blown glass, powder-coated steel, with proportional precision, producing pieces that feel carefully considered rather than styled.
  • Massimo 3 Seater Sofa Siena Cotton Deep Sea / Black Ash Massimo 3 Seater Sofa
    +5
    11 Fabric options
  • Massimo Armchair Luxury Leather Canella / Walnut Massimo Armchair Siena Cotton Deep Sea / Black Ash
    +5
    11 Fabric options
  • Archer Cantilever Chair Archer Cantilever Chair

    Long's British design practice spans furniture and lighting for Heal's, SCP and other UK retailers, with an approach that favours honest construction over applied detail. The Arched pendant light and the Bridge dining table are among the most widely referenced pieces in his catalogue.

    Production runs through small UK and European workshops, with cabinetry, glass and metalwork split between specialist manufacturers coordinated from Long's studio. Lead times reflect the small-batch approach but keep the quality tightly controlled.

    The stripped-back silhouettes and emphasis on material quality suit minimalist and contemporary homes well, the pieces read as considered objects rather than stylistic statements. They also work comfortably in softer, more eclectic schemes, where their proportional precision acts as a quiet anchor.

    The Arched pendant is a slim brass-and-opal glass fitting designed to hang as a graphic line across a dining table or kitchen island. A single fitting typically reads more strongly than a clustered grouping, because the arch form carries its own composition.

    • Designers On Lockdown: Magnus Long
      Designers
      Designers On Lockdown: Magnus Long
      For the third instalment in our Designers in Lockdown series, we spoke to London-based designer Magnus Long. He is the brains behind our exclusive Massimo Sofa collection, a design that showcases his love for refined, elegant design. We caught up with Magnus to find out how lockdown has affected him. How is lockdown treating you? Like everybody, I found it quite scary at first. We’ve managed to find a new rhythm within our family but our house has become a classroom, a nursey, a workplace and a part-time home. It has been great being able to spend time with together. My two year old can now say “wash your hands” and my four year old is really taking an interest in the design work I’m doing when working from home. But it has also been really frustrating at times not being able to go quite at full speed. Lots of projects have been a bit quiet and it’s only now that things are starting to pick up again. How has lockdown shifted the way you design? I’ve been thinking lots about how this could be the breakthrough that means people don’t travel so much to work. My studio is a 10-minute walk from my house so I’m quite lucky in that sense. I’m kind of imagining what it could look like if we have lots of local workplaces. This would mean people not having to work from home but also not having to commute for hours every day. So what would those spaces look like? What would the design for those spaces be? Maybe they could be on the high street. Maybe we could use empty shops as localised co-working spaces for lots of different people doing lots of different things. I’d really love to see that happening and the design opportunities that arise because of it. I’m just trying to think about what happens when we all get to the point where we realise that travelling is a waste of money, time and fuel. Maybe we don’t need to do that anymore and at the same time not need to work at home. Maybe there’s a third way that could fill this gap. I’d love to see communities coming back together on the high street again, even if they’re connected globally or nationally. How has your business adapted to social distancing? Most of the time it’s just me in the studio and ever since lockdown it’s just been me alone. So that bit has been quite easy to manage. In terms of social distancing it’s really about the travel and not being able to visit factories and trade fairs. Milan was cancelled this year and that’s usually a nice place to see new things that are being launched. So we’ll have to wait until next year to see the major launches that will happen. How have you stayed motivated when working from home? I think so much of my work is reliant on other people throughout the design project. From clients to manufacturers, there’s a lot of coordination between so many different people. Obviously lots of these people have gone quiet over the last few months. At moments it has been difficult to stay motivated and that’s the time I’ve taken to think about different things. But it feels like things are beginning to pick up again. Prototypes have begun being manufactured, for example. It’s just sad not being able to go and see them in the factory and not work as closely with the partners. So it’s a bit different in that respect but I’m sure things are beginning to change and open up again. It does raise the question whether we need to travel as much and if we can do things in different ways. Have you picked up any new hobbies or interests during lockdown? I don’t really feel like I’ve had much more time on my hands. Lots of juggling around of other things. I’m really interested in seeing what happens next, how things are going to change, the new normal. What is that going to look like in term of the work-life balance? I’m really interesting to see what the details will be and the restructuring of various aspects of our lives. Then, of course, how we as designers can respond. What has inspired you most during lockdown? The first one that comes to mind is 3D-printing PPE. It’s a brilliant use of the technology. Global groups of people working together to use their very localised manufacturing and get PPE to frontline workers quickly has been inspiring to see. Also, I’ve been inspired by projects that don’t require much investment and are things that everybody can do. For example, Paul Priestman launched a project that involved cutting up an egg box to make a smartphone stand. It’s something everybody can do and everyone can have a go at. The rainbows have been really great. Being able to walk down the street and experience that feeling of being in this together. Plus, saying thank you to frontline workers and NHS staff. That pulling together of organisations, businesses and communities has been really inspiring. We can do this together. Like what you see? Shop Magnus Long. https://youtu.be/gx-D0MJcKTQ
    • How Long Should A Sofa Last And Do I Need A New Sofa?
      Care Guides
      How Long Should A Sofa Last And Do I Need A New Sofa?
      Moving home, restyling your space or simply looking to invest in a new design piece are all reasons you might be looking to buy a new sofa. Read on if you’re looking to upgrade your sofa, are worried about its structural integrity or just can’t tell if you need a new one. Plus, discover some of the ways you can recycle your old sofa. How Long Should a Sofa Last? There’s no hard and fast rule with how long a sofa should last, but a well-made sofa will typically last at least 15 years. You may notice the sofa deteriorating after it passes the seven-year mark, but it still has plenty of good years left in it. That isn’t to say all sofas will last this amount of time. A cheaply made sofa will probably need replacing sooner, whereas a premium sofa could last a lifetime. In fact, we offer a lifetime guarantee on all our sofa frames, that’s how confident we are in their quality. How to Tell If You Need a New Sofa A creaking frame, tired upholstery and long-gone support will all have you hunting for a new sofa. However, there are plenty more reasons you might be looking for a replacement. Read on to discover some of them. If your sofa doesn’t fit your home properly When people move home, they tend to take their sofas with them. After all, the sofa was probably an investment, it suits their style and there’s plenty of memories associated with it. But for all the same reasons, many people cling onto their old sofa, even when it isn’t right for their space. Perhaps the old sofa is too large for your new living room. Or a growing family could mean you need an even larger sofa. Maybe your old sofa is so deep it leaves little space to walk past it. Or perhaps you found yourself with one-too-many sofas and it’s time to whittle down your collection. Whatever the reason, if your old sofa isn’t cutting the mustard then it may be time to invest in a new one. If your sofa doesn’t offer enough support When you bought your sofa, it was probably ergonomically designed and offered brilliant padding and support. However, this tends to get worse over the years and can make your sofa uncomfortable. Not only is this bad for your body and posture, but a supportless sofa also makes for unpleasant sitting. If this is the case with your sofa, you might need a new one. If you still like your sofa and its upholstery is in good condition, then you could always get it restuffed. Going to a specialist upholsterer is by far the best way to do this. Not only do they know their craft, but they’ll also know the best materials to use. You can always try refilling it yourself if your sofa has removable covers, but we’d definitely suggest finding a specialist. If your interior design tastes have changed Trends and tastes change over time, so it’s no wonder your sofa might feel outdated now. Perhaps it’s got a huge floral pattern that was fashionable in the 80s but not today. Or maybe you opted for a colour that was ‘in’ ten years ago that you can’t stand in 2021. Either way, if you really don’t like your old sofa anymore, it’s probably time for a new one. When choosing your next sofa, we recommend taking your time to find one that you know you’ll love for years. Once you’ve found the perfect sofa, you could even sleep on the idea for a week or so, just to be sure. Don’t just take your old sofa to the skip, there are plenty of second-hand shops or resale websites where it can find a new home. Just because it isn’t to your taste, that doesn’t mean someone else won’t love it. If your sofa’s upholstery has seen better days If your upholstery is looking a little worse for wear, that suggests you may need a new sofa. Sofas go through a lot; from kids bouncing on it to years and years of pets snuggling up with you. Repairing the odd fray or repadding it can help in the short term, but both could be signs your upholstery is on the way out. And potentially your sofa with it. If you still love the silhouette and style of your sofa, then reupholstering it is a great option. We’d highly recommend enlisting the services of a specialist reupholstery company to take on the task. Sure, you can give it a go yourself, but since upholstery fabric can get quite pricey, any mistake you make could be pretty pricey. Once you’ve invested in a new sofa or reupholstering your existing sofa, there are ways to keep it looking as good as new. For example, direct sunlight can fade your sofa’s upholstery and weaken the fabric’s structure. One way to prevent this is to move the sofa to a new position every year or so. This helps to make sure the sofa gets an even amounts of sunlight. Spillages are also big concerns for upholstery. To prevent staining, spot clean each spillage as soon as possible. Then, a professional upholstery cleaning every few years will keep the sofa in good nick and help with any odours. If your sofa won’t stop creaking If you sit down on your sofa and hear it creaking or making popping noises, its structure might be damaged. If possible, take a look under the sofa to check everything looks ok. Or you could enlist the services of a furniture specialist to offer their professional opinion. Unfortunately fixing a sofa’s structural damage can be a costly process so a new sofa might be on the cards. If you have a new sofa that’s already creaking, don’t panic. New furniture will often creak or squeak to begin with. That’s because it’s adjusting to use, the room’s temperature and the sofa’s suspension system. It should subside in a few weeks or so. Investing in a new sofa? Check out our collection. Need help removing your old sofa? We can help, in partnership with Clearabee and British Heart Foundation.