A question of quality

However, in this fledgling design market, the options for the local interior designer in finding the perfect piece of furniture could be somewhat limited. While many clients request custom designed one off pieces to add a touch of originality to a project, a common gripe among the local design community is the lack of experienced craftsmen in the area and a shortage of quality materials leading to poorly made, low quality furniture. Frances Fontana, general manager, Baituti comments: “You cannot get the quality in this region.

In Dubai I have seen many examples of badly made furniture. There are not enough skilled workers or quality materials to produce high quality custom designed furniture.”

Equally, in terms of quality furniture manufacturers and suppliers, the region still lags behind other design capitals in terms of sheer availability making the task of an interior designer in the Gulf somewhat harder.

According to Markus Stebich, managing associate of Hirsch Bedner Associates: “Compared to New York and London with design centres such as Chelsea Harbour this is still an immature young market. It is excellent to have high-end furniture suppliers here; but we are constantly wishing there were more in the region. Companies which have showrooms here are a huge help to us as we can take our clients there and show them the quality of the products.”

However there are signs that the region is heading in the right direction. Interior design departments at local universities are offering furniture design as an integral part of their courses and are showing a real dedication to promoting home grown talent. Dr. John Alexander Smith, professor of interior design at the American University in Dubai says: “We already have a furniture design course and our students have won prizes at exhibitions in the region for pieces produced in this class. Several works have been featured in design magazines in recent years and from time to time we have had requests to sell individual pieces.” In terms of furniture suppliers, an increasing number of manufacturers are now opening showrooms in the region offering ever-increasing possibilities to the interior designer.

Custom Design

Many designers opt to custom design their own furniture for the unique element this brings to a project.

Marie Noelle Swiderski, designer at Blanchard says: “We aim to custom design around 75% of the furniture in an interior. The remaining 25% will be something the client has seen and loves or we will design around a certain piece such as an armchair or a chaise longue. The client will understand it’s worth getting in a certain piece.” She continues: “There are many reasons for custom designing. It makes the project more individual as the clients have their own unique pieces. It also allows you to make the furniture fit the physical requirements — proportions and materials can all be specifically chosen. Some room volumes in Dubai are so huge as to require a bespoke element. The third aspect of having custom designed furniture is budget. Clients can have furniture quicker and cheaper if they get it custom made.”

In an intensely price driven market this is undoubtedly a huge advantage. Fontana from Italian manufacturer Baituti admits: “If an interior designer has their furniture made locally there will of course be a faster delivery time. In our high-end trade you must bear in mind that there is a minimum wait time of up to eight weeks, depending on the supplier. We manufacture everything to order. We allow four weeks for production and four weeks for delivery from overseas.” Cheaper materials and faster delivery time could result in huge cost savings for a designer working to a project deadline of only a few weeks.

However, there are some pitfalls. One is the potential lack of quality control — pieces made by a local manufacturer may not be of a standard quality across the board or come with a warranty. Swiderski admits: “It is tricky to find the right level of quality and workmanship. It means it just adds to the level of babysitting we have to do. So you have to build a relationship with the craftsman.”

Another problem is the danger of copying. Stebich, HBA, points out: “The pressure to save money and have furniture manufactured locally often leads unfortunately to copying pieces specified from originals. We actively discourage this because of copyright infringement and we advise our clients about their responsibility towards this subject. Although things are changing for the better there is still a tendency towards copying in this region.”

Off the Shelf

Recent years have witnessed a proliferation of international suppliers establishing showrooms in the Gulf bringing with them the latest styles and trends from Europe and Asia to the Middle Eastern market.

A seemingly insatiable thirst for highend Italian design has enticed a number of well-known brands to set up locally. Binhendi imports some of Italy’s best-known brands, including B&B Italia, Maxalto, Flos, Flexform, Casamilano and Promemoria. Similarly, recently opened Casa Nova imports Italian boutique labels: Bacher, Tische, Verardo Italia, Cattelan Italia, Calia Italia and Calligaris. Managing director Djawad Nawrozzadeh says: “We are finding that more and more interior designers approach us, because of the high quality finishing of our products. In a time when the interiors market in Dubai is rapidly maturing to a world class standard, these brands are the ultimate in quality.” Selva and Natuzzi are two other examples of high-end Italian brands, which have established themselves in the region. The latter, has opened their biggest worldwide showroom in Dubai.

A common theme among local suppliers is the stress on the quality of the product. Tanya Wakeham, manager of Selva says: “Furniture companies have researched long and hard to understand what the market wants. Their experience in the market, the materials, functionality and design must be well tested before launching a new item into the market. Therefore designers are on the safe side getting inspiration from furniture companies.”

House of the World imports furniture from various suppliers in South East Asia. “With our production teams, and contract manufacturers already in place, we are able to oversee the final quality of pieces with far greater confidence,” says Yvette Robeck, director of design and marketing. Robeck points out that by approaching a supplier such as House of the World, a designer can save valuable time normally spent sourcing furniture from abroad: “Interior designers are increasingly looking towards businesses such as House of the World regarding commercial contracts, as furniture companies have evolved from just manufacturing, into global designers at the forefront of trends.

We’re taking away a lot of the time-consuming sourcing, which frees designers to focus in other areas. We have a global presence in the Asia region as well as offices in many cities that ensure strict quality control. Combine this with a large warehouse of stored products already in Dubai – and you have the best of both worlds, with a boutique product able to be sourced with relatively short lead times.”

Recent international furniture and textile shows in Cologne and Frankfurt this year have indicated that the current global trend is a move toward high-end design using top quality materials. It appears that the international design world is willing to invest in luxury. As the Gulf grabs the global spotlight perhaps more will now be done to increase the value of design here, starting with the promotion of local talent and elimination of the culture of plagiarism. Dr. John Alexander Smith, AUD suggests: “To promote new talent we need the support of the design, manufacturing and client communities in a concerted effort to initiate furniture events that genuinely welcome and involve the students and their talent.

I can foresee improvements to the present situation partly through interior design departments introducing groups of subjects in furniture design. Furniture suppliers, manufacturers and clients also have a role to play.

Sponsoring students for travelling fellowship providing hands-on experience in design and manufacturing companies in, say Italy and the USA would be a good start.” Equally as an ever-increasing number of good quality furniture suppliers are encouraged into the region, quality need no longer be sacrificed to meet tight deadlines and time constraints.