The Cow Cabinet (and other furniture) from Not on the High Street

Cow Cabinet by Lime Lace via Not on the High Street

Until quite recently I chiefly thought of Not on the High Street as a great online resource for gifts and small items for the home. Over the last couple of weeks, though, as I’ve been browsing NOTHS’s furniture section (vital research!). And I was surprised (and delighted) to discover they have an extensive, and very covetable, range of large interiors items. These include chairs, tables, sofas, wardrobes and all manner of original pieces of furniture – including cow-shaped cupboards – that you definitely won’t find on your local high street.

I’ve also found that it’s a favourite retail platform for a good number of the designer/makers I meet who are just starting out. It offers them a simple way to have an online storefront without investing a lot of time and money in an e-commerce site. Which is a godsend when they need to be nurturing their fledgling businesses and concentrating on creating and producing their designs.

Coincidentally (or maybe not?), in my newly arrived November copies of Elle Decoration and LivingEtc I see full page ads for Not on the High Street. And what is the star product? The very same and rather wonderful Cow Cabinet. They’re obviously keen to make everyone (not just me) more aware of the wide range of original, quirky, and often handmade products that they offer, including home furnishings.

I can quite understand if a sideboard in the shape of a cow isn’t your thing. In which case, here are a few other items of furniture that caught my eye in this online Aladdin’s cave for the contemporary home:

1950’s style Cocktail Chairs upholstered in textiles designed and produced by Sian O’Doherty, who I had the pleasure of meeting at the New Designers “One Year On” show in July. I’ll be writing a longer feature on Sian and her work in a few weeks, but in the meantime, these very neat and fabulously patterned chairs are perfect for bedrooms, hallways or any small space that needs an extra occasional chair. Or a whole set would look quite amazing around the dining table.

The Manhattan Industrial Console Table by Daisy West, made from reclaimed mango wood and heavy duty steel, has just the right balance of refined proportions and industrial luxe detailing. A coffee table and side table are also available in the same range.

Bryonie Porter is a company that produces bespoke, hand finished, papered furniture. As a huge Timorous Beastie’s fan, I love the French Tallboy, above, that has been transformed using their London Toile wallpaper, whilst the mid century style Small Map of the World Chest of Drawers, below, has been turned into a geography lesson and storage unit in one – ideal for children’s rooms, but also sophisticated enough for anywhere in the house. Bryonie Porter say “Any piece of furniture can be covered in any paper, so the sky’s the limit!”. Specialising in one-off commissions, they’d love to hear from you if you have an idea you’d like turned into a very special piece of furniture.

The solid oak Derry Rocker from Rowan & Wren, with its soft, wool-mix upholstery, combines comfort with a simple, understated style. Teamed with the Ebben Wool Stool and Halle Wool Cushion you’ve got the perfect, cosy combination for snuggling into this winter. I’m particularly fond of the woolly footstool; it reminds me of Highland Cattle with their long, shaggy fringes.

The Pear Coffee Table above, and Trio Coffee Table below, are handmade in Somerset by Obi Furniture using high quality, ethically sourced materials and come in a range of contemporary colours, as well as white, for the lacquered tops. The Pear Table is also available with an oak top, and the Trio table has the option of American Black Walnut or English Oak legs.

The FDC1 Leather Armchair from Bodie and Fou was designed in the 1950’s by Flávio de Carvalho, who was described by Le Corbusier as the “Romantic Revolutionary’. De Carvalho had many talents, including design, architecture and art, and designed this sculptural, tribal-art influenced chair as part of his Capuava ranch project. Made from black lacquered carbon steel and vege-tanned full grain leather in either black or brown.