The Logbook - Welcome
Our Values and History
About us
At Tom Raffield we create contemporary wooden lighting, furniture and bespoke projects that blend traditional techniques with modern technologies to break new ground – from our steam bending origins right up to our pioneering range of products and design services today. With integrity, sustainability, passion and innovation at the forefront of everything we do, we handcraft heirlooms of the future that pushback against modern throwaway culture.
History
Tom Raffield was founded by an eager, ambitious graduate in 2008. Inspired by his degree in 3D Sustainability and Design undertaken at Falmouth College of Arts in Cornwall, Tom sought to further his interest in the traditional, eco-friendly practice of steam bending by starting his own business. Through hours of hard work, designing through making, experimenting and prototyping, Tom forged our origins and the iconic curved aesthetic that we are still excited by today. Over a decade later and still passionate about education, Tom has passed on his skills and taught his steam bending craft to our team of talented workshop makers.
Taking inspiration from the organic shapes, movements and sequential patterns that surround us, our designs invite you to put nature back in the spotlight and celebrate sustainable craftsmanship.
Suited to a myriad of spaces – old, new, traditional or modern, our dynamic lighting pieces are guaranteed to make an impression.
Here at Tom Raffield a responsible and sustainable approach is at the heart of everything we do. As a design-led brand, crafting functional pieces with long lasting quality, sustainability has always been our goal. But great design is about more than just the products we make. Sustainability is the bedrock of our business and binds our ecological processes, nature-inspired designs and the culture of our team.
Process
Steam bending drives our passion for sustainable design and informs the aesthetic of every creation we make. Time consuming, a little unpredictable and labour-intensive, steam bending tends not to be commercially viable for large-scale production. However, this low energy and ecological method of manipulating wood reaps beautiful, memorable results that last a lifetime.
Materials
Wood - We’re committed to exclusively using sustainably sourced timber from responsibly managed forests, weighing up credentials, carbon footprints and woodland techniques to inform what we buy and where.
Fabric - Our furniture pieces are covered using only 100% natural upholstered fabrics manufactured from sustainable, recyclable fabrics - mainly high-quality wool derived from free range, pasture fed and ethically reared sheep.
Packaging – Sustainable cardboard is, and has always been, used to package goods ready for dispatch as well as recycled papers (for our product instructions and care guides), labels and bespoke-made packaging, all of which is widely recyclable and decomposable.
People
We believe in providing great opportunities for future generations and pride ourselves on being able to create new careers and job roles in a rural part of the UK. We run an apprenticeship scheme, work with small local suppliers whenever possible and forge long-lasting, strong, ethical relationships with our suppliers and partners.
“I truly believe that sustainability should be synonymous with good design, much like quality and function are, and that this is the answer to over-consumption and the environmental challenges we face. It’s fantastic to see consumer expectations changing to recognise this too and I hope sustainable design principles will become more widely adopted by leading designers as time goes on”.
Tom Raffield, Founder
Tom and Danielle Raffield took a dilapidated gamekeeper’s cottage and transformed it into a beautiful and unique family home, a project captured by Channel 4’s Grand Designs in the Autumn of 2016. A feat of steam bending craftsmanship, the low-impact, instantly recognisable house captures the essence of the Tom Raffield ethos.
Blurring the boundaries of the natural and domestic worlds, Tom and Danielle’s Grand Designs home invites the outside in whilst bridging the gap between honest tradition and inventive new techniques.
Our iconic furniture
Our conversation-sparking furniture is created using the natural and ecologically sound process of steam bending to form inspiring, ergonomic wooden designs.
From tables to chairs and stand out designs like the Amble Hanging Seat and Arbor Armchair, our sustainably sourced wood is unique and durable, creating products that will last more than a lifetime.
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Our Arbor Armchair invites you to take a moment for yourself, and feel the expert craftsmanship beneath your fingers. Demanding the concentration of three skilled makers, solid Pyrénéen oak yields with breathtaking results.
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A balancing act of craftsmanship and creativity. Timeless while contemporary. Trusted while surprising. The Crib Stool's steam bent twist of sustainably sourced wood brings our signature aesthetic to the fore. Perfect in a hallway, porch, bedroom or dining set up.
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With a weightlessness that is testament to our skilled craftsmanship and design, the Amble hanging seat is formed from two creamy lengths of sustainably sourced ash, steam bent and scarf joined together by hand. The appearance of a perfect circle from the side, it holds itself with striking effect.
This year-long project set out to create innovative and aesthetically striking structures across London, including Hyde Park, Green Park and St James’s Park. Showcasing the amazing talent of our steam bending team, each wooden kiosk is united by a sculptural canopy that swells out like a tree’s crown and gives the designs their dynamic silhouette.
"It’s been a pleasure to work on this collaborative project with Mizzi Studio and Colicci. The reception of the steam bent kiosks has been phenomenal, the sustainable designs marry beautifully with the Royal Parks landscape and promote a healthy, active lifestyle."
Tom Raffield
Discover our ever-growing range of accessories, including original storage solutions, practical pieces and versatile gifts all handcrafted from sustainably sourced wood.
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Effortless and elegant, the Harlyn Mirror's frame and hanging loop are simultaneously handcrafted from sustainably sourced oak to create a minimalistic design worthy of reflection.
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Cradling the logs stowed within, the simple organic curved form of the Log Loop is handcrafted from sustainably sourced oak. A conversation-striking yet practical design, available exclusively from Tom Raffield.
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Furling steam bent oak arms around a temptingly curved macaron-like form, the Beeble Pouffe offers a resting place for weary feet. Handcrafted from sustainably sourced wood and featuring a leather handle detail, the Beeble Pouffe comes upholstered in the highest quality, contract grade wool, complementary to the Tom Raffield collection.
Our craft - steambending
At Tom Raffield, steam bending sits at the heart of our story, an ancient skill remastered for modern times – bending solid wood beyond its perceived limits. Steam bending drives our passion for sustainable design and informs the aesthetic of every creation we make.
Every design draws on the curves, lines and twists epitomised in the steam bending discovery which started our journey...
Time consuming, a little unpredictable and labour intensive, this low energy, ecological method of manipulating wood uses no nasty glues and creates very low levels of wastage.
From the hull of a boat to the waist of a violin, steam bending has been a vital craft across industries for centuries. Today our designers and craftspeople continue to push the bar using the timeless technique to create our iconic designs.
Using this unique approach we create lighting, furniture and bespoke projects that will become heirlooms of the future.
Tom Raffield showcase at Cornwall Pearl
We caught up with Cornish interior design agency, Boex Design, to discuss how they specified Tom Raffield lighting for their latest nature-inspired project for Cornwall Pearl.
TR: How did you approach the initial design?
BD: Cornwall Pearl was looking for a design that was sensitive to the nature of its product and would give context to the coastal areas where oysters can be grown and found. We developed a design that both complemented and illuminated the beauty and simplicity of the jewellery. Referencing the Cornish coastline with a natural palette of materials and textures, we reflected the quality of the brand through high-end, detailed joinery.
TR: Talk us through the use of materials included in the project.
BD: We chose to use parquet flooring to create natural islands, guiding customers through the store, while highlighting areas of particular interest such as the popular ‘Pick a Pearl’ service. A rock pool environment was created using a stone basin filled with water and hand carved timber boulders and pebbles sit as a backdrop for the oyster pearls. Coastal references are continued in the counter front with a timber sand ripple panel. By including tactile sensory materials, the intention was for customers to be encouraged to touch and pick up the jewellery.
TR: Why did you choose to include our pieces in the project?
BD: We used lots of timbers and curved lines in the scheme, so we were looking for light fixtures to complement these design choices. Tom Raffield’s pendants provided the steam bent timbers we were after but also subtly pick up on the craftsmanship echoed in the bespoke pieces of jewellery made in store.
Posted: 07.09.20
Updated: 08.06.23