The Sharply Dressed Home Jonathan Charles introduces their second collaboration with award-winning fashion and furniture designer Alexander Julian.
| May 2013 - Jonathan Charles introduces their second collaboration with award-winning fashion and furniture designer Alexander Julian. Unveiled at Spring High Point Market, Julian’s collection references his iconic ready to wear motifs - herringbone, argyle, tartan plaid, houndstooth, shirting stripes and paisley. Jonathan Charles’ team of artisans in turn create hand-inlaid, tailored pieces that realize Julian’s vision. |
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| Julian pays homage to Claes Oldenburg with a whimsical, oversized “button” occasional table. The inlay references button holes and sewing thread, while three faux “sewing needles,” complete with eyes for the thread, form a tripod leg support. |
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| In a direct nod to his Scottish ancestry, Julian references the MacLeod Tartan (a fashion favorite) with a hand-inlaid tartan mirror, using fine marquetry of exotic woods to create the frame. |
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| Julian’s signature houndstooth chest is artfully hand-inlaid using two shades of walnut. Paisley drawer linings add another sartorial infusion and creates a juxtaposition of iconic pattern styles. |
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| Inspired by a runway look from his womenswear collection circa 1983, Julian combines a hand-inlaid houndstooth chest with a hand-inlaid striped cabinet for a loosely matching look (the stripes resemble the houndstooth fabric warp pre-weave). Set on a silver metal base with silver drawer and cabinet pulls, this versatile piece functions as a wardrobe, bar cabinet or china cabinet, to name a few possibilities. |
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| Inspired by a 1940s piece designed by a family newspaper editor, this desk fuses shirting stripe-inlayed drawer fronts, figured walnut sides, and a classic leather top. Custom horn button pulls and paisley drawer linings add richness and detail, while shelves built into the back (for books and display) make for a unique, functional feature. |
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| An expansion of Julian’s “Blazer Suit” story (see page 3), this herringbone design translates beautifully on rich satinwood, while a raw silk argyle vpattern lines the interior. Julian converts real Italian blazer buttons into drawer pulls, angled like a double breasted blazer. |
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| “Like a pair of fine bespoke oxfords or a couture gown, the height of practical design is characterized by the savvy integration of a customer’s specific tastes and needs into the design itself,” explains Julian. Many pieces in his Spring 2013 collection were designed with customization in mind... Inspired by the style and versatility of a classic double breasted suit, these pieces come with genuine Italian enamel blazer buttons (as drawer pulls), as well as a choice between 15 exclusive lacquer colors. |
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About the Designer:
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Award winning fashion and furniture designer Alexander Julian collabo-rates with Jonathan Charles to create a collection of unique fashion in-spired functional furniture. “I design with iconic fashion patterns which are proven to appeal to both women and men forever.” - AJ |
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Jonathan Charles Fine Furniture is the vision of Jonathan Sowter, an English furniture designer who excels at the art of fine antique reproduction. Though Jonathan draws inspirations from original antiques he discovers in his travels, his unique twists create contemporary translations of vintage treasures. With a keen eye for the smallest details, Jonathan employs traditional, hand-crafted techniques to create the most visually-stunning and intricate designs. As Jonathan always says, “It’s all in the detail…” |
