Tim Rundle

Tim Rundle is a British furniture designer whose work at Heal's includes modular seating, upholstered sofas and considered occasional pieces. His practice combines strong structural logic with a quiet British sensibility, the pieces are compositionally resolved without being obviously styled, and the upholstery specifications match or exceed heritage British makers.

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    Rundle's London-based studio produces furniture with a strong architectural logic, upholstered pieces on precise frames, crisp silhouettes and considered material pairings. His work sits alongside SCP, Heal's and Deadgood, and is held in a number of UK design collections.

    Production runs through established UK upholstery and cabinetry workshops, with solid-hardwood frames, sprung seat construction and fabric options drawn from Kvadrat, Bute and other premium European mills. Lead times reflect the small-batch UK production.

    The construction specifications, hardwood frames, serpentine springs, feather-wrapped foam, place his sofas and armchairs in the same category as long-life upholstered pieces from heritage British makers. Expect 20+ years of service from a well-cared-for Rundle sofa.

    Several of his sofa and armchair designs are scaled for urban flats, with slimmer arm profiles and shallower seat depths than typical British upholstery. The modular pieces allow assembly around the specific proportions of the room rather than forcing a standard silhouette.

    • AW20 | Interview With Tim Rundle
      Designers
      AW20 | Interview With Tim Rundle
      Tim Rundle is the designer behind our new and exclusive Marlow Four-Poster Bed. For over two centuries, the four-poster bed has been a symbol of Heal’s. Now, the London-based designer has cleverly reimagined it for modern homes. We sat down with Tim Rundle to discover more about the Marlow Bed, his process and what inspired it. How did the collaboration with Heal's for the new AW20 collection come about? We'd had a couple of discussions about working together previously. But, for one reason or another, we hadn’t struck the perfect project to collaborate on. When this one came along however, I jumped at the opportunity. A four-poster bed isn’t something I’d be likely to get the chance to work on with my other. Plus, the link with the Heal’s history made it a great brief. What was your inspiration for the Marlow bed? It always starts with a search for simplicity. I wanted to create something formally reduced so that it was instantly recognisable as a representation of its typology. A simple, almost architectural frame; with a nod to Heal’s reputation for craft showing through the details and finishing. How did it feel to design a piece of furniture that is so intrinsically linked to the brand's heritage? The word 'icon' gets thrown around lots in design these days, often before a product is even on the market. However, a product can’t be an icon until it has gained meaning for people who identify with it. Given that the four-poster bed was the Heal’s logo, and that the Tottenham Court Road sign bearing it was a meeting place for Londoners of a certain era (not to mention the commemorative Royal Mail stamp) it really was like designing something that already had an element of the iconic. This was more than a little daunting, especially given that it would be Heal’s first four-poster for many years. It had to be just right. What is it about the Marlow Bed that makes it such a special piece? While overall it’s a relatively minimal piece, the way the junctions blend into each other in an organic way really elevates it. The joinery highlights the combination of machine and hand craft that goes into producing the frame. We are launching it in walnut, a beautiful timber that brings warmth and understated quality to any space. What was the design process behind the Marlow Bed? It started in a fairly typical way. I began researching the history of the typology – in medieval times four-poster beds allowed for curtains to be drawn around it. This lent extra warmth in draughty castles as well as privacy from your chamber staff. I then thought about the contemporary context. Not many of us live in vast castles these days, so I didn’t want it to be imposing. Using circular profile uprights meant we were able to achieve a visual lightness in the frame while maintaining necessary strength. After spending a bit of time sketching, we went straight into technical drawings. Normally I would produce prototypes in the studio, but with a product of this scale, that wasn’t possible. So, we started prototyping with the factory in Portugal from a relatively early stage in the process. We managed one trip to the factory to make some minor refinements before the world shut down. Luckily the next revision was perfect. Why do you feel that your design ethos is a good fit with Heal's? Heal’s has always struck a balance between quality and accessibility. I’m not so interested in creating products that hold such little value that they feel disposable after one season. I also feel most comfortable working within commercial constraints, creating products that are relatively accessible to a wider group of consumers. What would you say are the key trends for AW20? I think the obvious one will be people being more aware of the spaces they live in, after spending so much more time in them. I think that this will mean people will make more considered purchases, and invest in pieces that really improve the experience of being in the spaces they live their lives in. Like what you see? Shop the Marlow Four-Poster Bed here.
    • How To Spot A Fake Eames Lounge Chair
      Buying Guides
      How To Spot A Fake Eames Lounge Chair
      As one of the world’s most iconic chairs, it probably comes as no surprise that the Eames Lounge Chair is the victim of untold inferior copies. In fact, fake Eames Loungers sit unknowingly, or knowingly, in peoples’ homes across the globe. Maybe you’re looking to buy a vintage Eames Lounge Chair online. Or perhaps you’ve seen a new one in a shop but aren’t convinced it’s authentic. It’s completely understandable that you want to make sure it’s authentic before splashing out on it. To help you decide, we’ve compiled some of the ways you can tell a real Eames Lounger from a fake. These sure-fire ways to spot a fake Eames Lounge Chair should help you make this important decision. Read on to find out. The size of an original Eames Lounge Chair Aside from a taller version introduced in 2010, the Eames Lounge Chair hasn’t changed sizes since it was designed in 1956. That means you can tell an original Eames Chair from its size. Fake Eames Lounge Chairs tend to have completely wrong proportions. So, if the size is off, then the odds are that it’s a knock off. If you’re buying an Eames Lounger from a second hand or vintage shop, then get your tape measure out. A classic Eames Lounge Chair measures 84cm tall, 84cm wide and 91cm deep with a seat height of 38cm. A tall Eames Lounge Chair is 89cm tall, 84cm wide and 92cm deep with a seat height of 38cm. Labels on an authentic Eames Lounge Chair Whether your Eames Chair is vintage or brand spanking new, it should have a label to prove its authenticity. When looking for a label on an Eames Chair, we tend to start with the base. It will normally be at the point where the base connects with the chair’s shell. If it isn’t there, then try sliding off the chair’s cushions and you may find a label underneath. Once you find it, a label should have one of two names, Hermann Miller or Vitra. To European and Middle Eastern audiences, Vitra is renowned for making Eames furniture. If you’re buying the chair here, then that’s what you should expect to see a Vitra label. However, Hermann Miller was the original manufacturer of the Eames Lounge Chair in the USA and even commissioned it in the first place. Of course, some Vitra loungers will have made their way across the Atlantic and vice versa. So, don’t be surprised if it has a Hermann Miller label attached to it. Whether it’s a Hermann Miller or a Vitra tag, either tag should guarantee its authenticity. Both brands have gone through a wide range of labels since the chair was first produced. That means there are many different labels that could be on your chair. It could be a small metal plaque, a sticker with Charles Eames’ signature or a roundel. If you can’t find a label on your Eames Lounger, then don’t despair. If the chair’s old and the right size, with all the quality fixtures and features then it’s probably just missing a label. How much does an Eames Lounge Chair move? An authentic Eames Lounge Chair should swivel 360° in a fluid motion. That is, the shell swivels on the base itself. If the base has wheels or castors, then it won’t be an original. Many people think that this type of chair is a recliner, but it isn’t. Yes, an Eames Lounger will tilt slightly when you lean back on it, but it’s no reclining chair. So, if the chair in question reclines far back or has mechanisms to help it recline, then it isn’t an original. An Eames Lounger’s premium finish Always remember the prestige reputation manufacturers like Hermann Miller and Vitra have. Not to mention the exacting standards of Charles Eames himself. That means original Eames Chairs are always finished to the highest possible standard. All authentic Eames Lounge Chairs are made up of three wooden shells. That’s one for the seat, one for the back and one for the headrest. Then there are two shells that make up the armrests. The shells all appear as though floating with no visible screw or bolts. The only place you may spot a screw is on the armrests and original ones will be black. Effort has been made to ensure the design is structurally sound whilst concealing the screws. So, if screws stick out like sore thumbs, it won’t be an original. The base of an Eames Lounge Chair The chair’s base is also a tell-tale sign. It should have five legs and be made using die cast aluminium. Since they’re made using this technique, the base should be one solid piece of aluminium, rather than having individual legs screwed together. Each leg will have a slight angle and taper off into a rounded end, rather than a squared end. The base isn’t always the same finish, in fact, expect to see it polished, chromed or matte black. So, if there’s less than five legs and steep angles on the base, you’re probably looking at a fake. How much does an Eames Lounge Chair cost? The price of an Eames Lounge Chair differs depending on the leather and wood finishes that you choose. But needless to say, the price tag that comes with them reflects the work that goes into making them perfect. That isn’t to say it’s a walk in the park to create a replica. The many elements of an Eames Lounger’s design means that a new replica could still cost upwards of £1,000. However, a used replica will set you back a few hundred pounds. So, if the price is substantially lower than those advertised by Vitra or Hermann Miller then it’s likely a fake. Interested in buying an original? See our authentic Eames Lounge Chairs here.