Faye Toogood crafts products inspired by the interiors of Chatsworth House

A cohesive and aesthetically pleasing atmosphere is achieved by opting for furniture designs that complement or are inspired by the interior design of a space. The choice of furniture is crucial in determining the atmosphere of a space, whether one goes for sleek modern pieces that fit a minimalist style or elaborate vintage-inspired pieces to accentuate a traditional decor. Choosing furniture that complements the overall interior design improves the room's aesthetic appeal and guarantees comfort and functionality, creating a space that appears well-thought-out, balanced, and assembled with attention.

"I was approached by curator Glenn Adamson, who wanted me to respond to one of Chatsworth House’s incredible rooms,” shares British designer and artist Faye Toogood who designed furniture pieces inspired by the interior design of Chatsworth House in England. Toogood was immediately drawn to the chapel, sensing an untouched essence that resonated with its origins dating back to the first Duke, captivated by the difference between the Oak Room and the Chapel. To Toogood, the chapel had a calm, timeless quality, while the Oak Room, with its German monastic panelling, presented an entirely different ambience. As she continued her research, Toogood became increasingly intrigued by the ability of materials to evolve and astounded by the varied treatments, carvings, and colours that can produce a wide range of moods and environments from the same material.

“This commission arrived as I was in the middle of Assemblage 7, my most ambitious work with wood and stone. The shellac-stained, polished oak pieces of Assemblage 7 were in part inspired by the refined polished wood found in stately homes like Chatsworth. The Purbeck marble we were using is normally seen in ecclesiastical buildings. Wonderfully serendipitous,” the furniture designer shares. Toogood was enthusiastic about maintaining the chapel's calm and reflective ambience since she saw it as the ideal location for her designs. The pieces work well together without overpowering the chapel's natural serenity. Without any additional embellishment, the towering marble plinths serve as independent sculptural art that commands attention.

“Not far from Chatsworth, you'll find Stanton Moor and a 4000-year-old stone circle known as the Nine Ladies. There's a story that they were originally ladies who were turned to stone for dancing on the Sabbath, along with the lone fiddler who provided the music,” Toogood adds. Toogood found great resonance in this story, which she incorporated into her design's conversation with the Chatsworth House chapel. She saw immense appeal in the way her creations bridged thousands of years of human experience and creativity by tying in with the long-standing terrain and rich local history that predated the estate's founding.

Toogood felt that the Oak Room looked vacant as though it were ready for a luncheon. This discovery spurred her on to a creative endeavour to bring warmth and conviviality to the area. Toogood used 'bog oak', a material rich in antiquity with some specimens dating back hundreds or even thousands of years, to build a massive table and a collection of stools that draw inspiration from the natural beauty and rich history of the area. Each object carried the weight of ages, giving the space an enduring feeling of history and importance. ‘The pieces I have made from this wood feel incredibly traditional and refined, but also primordial as if the objects have been dredged from the bottom of a peat bog. On one of my trips to Chatsworth, I found out the Duke collects treen, and his collection of carved wood inspired the stools,” Toogood explains.

The journey of Toogood's furniture designs inspired by the interior of Chatsworth House exemplifies the profound impact of furniture selection on the overall atmosphere of a space. Toogood crafted pieces that not only enhanced but also matched the organic qualities of their surroundings by carefully examining the interplay between materials, historical context, and the soul of each space. The designs provide witness to the transforming power of furniture in moulding the narrative of interior spaces, owing to Toogood's rigorous attention to detail and profound understanding of the stories woven throughout the estate's fabric.