Home Decor

This Crate & Barrel Furniture Collab Makes Everyday Pieces Feel *So* Special

It’s loaded with artful craftsmanship that we adore.

by:
August 18, 2021
Photo by Crate & Barrel

We love when two brands—that you’d never expect as collaborators—join forces and magic ensues. Such is the case with the new Shinola Detroit for Crate & Barrel collection: 115 pieces of furniture, lighting, and home decor that range from a $24 striped throw pillow to a $2,499 heirloom-quality leather and wood sofa.

Shinola launched in 2012 as an American-made watch brand headquartered in Detroit, and has since grown to include bikes, leather accessories, speakers, and even an eight-story hotel that opened in 2018. Though these products might seem disparate, they’re connected by the brand’s ethos—a dedication to quality craftsmanship (its motto: make it well, or not at all).

This was clearly the guiding philosophy for its collab with Crate & Barrel, another American company with an origin story centered around good design. Established in Chicago in 1962 after Gordon and Carole Segal returned from their honeymoon in Europe, their mission was to bring simple, beautiful, and practical housewares to the US.

While focusing on their mutual commitment to purpose-led design and detailed craftsmanship, the brands spent two years developing a collection loaded with thoughtfully-considered details like Japanese-style joinery, exposed topstitching, and leather accents that beautifully patina with use.

Below, a few of our favorite pieces from Crate & Barrel x Shinola that are all about craftsmanship and details.

1. Utility Arm Chair with Striped Cushions, $1,599

Not only is this chair made from solid oak using traditional dowel-joint construction, but its cushions are crafted from a limited-edition plaid fabric that’s produced in a mill in Pennsylvania using a old-world needlepoint technique and inspired by early 19th century quilting. So special, that only 23 of them were created. The range also includes a version with linen cushions—available in less limited quantities.

Photo by Crate & Barrel

2. Runwell End Table, $499

Named after Shinola’s first watch, the Runwell end table is made from solid walnut wrapped in raw, vegetable-tanned leather (which is designed to get better with wear) and finished with contrasting topstitching—a nod to the weight and gauge of the stitching on Shinola’s bike seats and watch bands. The sling-style lower shelf is held in place by metal hardware that references watch lugs. The Runwell is also available as a console table for $999.

Photo by Crate & Barrel

3. Utility Coffee Table, $1,599

Another artfully crafted table range from the collection (this one available as a console, end, or coffee table) is the Utility family. The tables in this group, finished in a way that highlights the oak grain, are constructed by master furniture makers using a puzzle-like, Japanese-inspired joinery style called finger joints. It’s a technique, often used in Shaker furniture, that puts the end grain of a solid piece of wood on display. Such a seemingly simple design detail, but one that gives these pieces their wow-factor.

Photo by Crate & Barrel

4. Parker Table Lamp, $399-$479

Wood and leather are once again paired to create the Parker table lamp. Its beautifully simple cylindrical base is topped with a drum shade that’s basket-woven with large-scale strips of cognac leather—inspired by a new bag design from Shinola’s Fall 2021 collection—and finished with a braided electrical cord. It’s also available with a woven canvas shade for $399.

Photo by Crate & Barrel

5. Makers Centerpiece Bowls, $99.95-$129.95

A group of versatile mid-century-inspired ceramic pieces were added as a final layer—one that the designers felt brought a nice, organic quality (and a little bit of drama) to the collection. The large designs are finished by artisans in Portugal who hand-apply a textural, reactive glaze for a charming wabi-sabi vibe.

Photo by Crate & Barrel

What’s your favorite furniture style? Drop some inspo in the comments below!

This post contains products independently chosen (and loved) by our editors and writers. Food52 earns an affiliate commission on qualifying purchases of the products we link to.

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Cat Dash

Written by: Cat Dash

Design editor & prop stylist—on the hunt for beauty always

1 Comment

OliverJames August 23, 2021
Note for those interested: The leather couch is $4,299. The fabric version is $2,499.