Hugh Miller: innovative furniture inspired by Japanese philosophy and the love for coffee

Hugh Miller is a designer and applied artist specialising in studio furniture in wood. Hugh trained as an architect prior to founding his studio, and seeing his work as small pieces of architecture, where the concept is embedded in the articulation of the details. Hugh is heavily influenced by his time researching in Japan as a Winston Churchill Memorial Fellow. This transformative experience led him to develop a set of design principles, inspired by Japanese making philosophy, that now underpin his studio.

As well as creating his collection pieces, and bespoke commissions, Hugh also designs for established brands including, with recent collaborators including Benchmark Furniture, Savoir Beds, The National Trust, and The IceHotel Sweden.

'In Shadows' Drinks Cabinet

Dimensions: 690mm x 1780mm x 350mm (w.h.d)

The cabinet takes inspiration from the Japanese philosophical text 'In Praise of Shadows', and houses a heavenly Japanese coffee set by renowned Japanese ceramicist Saiko Fukuoka. Light falls between the slats of bamboo and brass like sunlight coming through the leaves of a tree, illuminating the cream-fleck coffee set hidden inside.

The piece required more than 1000 man-hours to complete the handmade construction. The result is something quite extraordinary, and which can only be truly experienced in the flesh. A contemporary classic.

Coffee Cart No.1  /  Noir Coffee Cart

Also Available in Noir (stained black with Japanese calligraphy ink).

Dimensions: 1300mm x 780mm x 575mm (w.h.d)

Coffee Cart No.1 is the signature piece of our Furniture Collection. Made in solid British Elm, the piece is a homage to the Japanese tea ceremony, and invites the user to elevate the everyday task of making coffee into something special, to be savoured.

The coffee set, included with the piece, is made by ceramic artist Saiko Fukuoka, and the bamboo pockets in which they sit are made by bamboo artist, Sagawa Takehiko.

A set of innovative making techniques were employed in the creation of the piece. The wheels are formed from constructional veneer, and axled on bespoke brackets machined in solid brass; the hand-cut joints are wedged in Japanese smoked bamboo; and the rear frame is connected to the table top with a sliding dovetail joint.

Dining Chair No.7

Available in a variety of timbers.

Dimensions: 520mm x 780mm x 500mm (w.h.d)

Dining Chair No.7 is a gentleman of a chair. The piece is based on our Japanese-inspired design principles - the ideas of ‘lightness’, ‘quietness’ and ‘harmony’.

‘Lightness’ is achieved through the tapered edges of the seat, and the airy structure of the rails and backrest. ‘Quietness’ is achieved through a hierarchy the jointing of the legs. And ‘harmony’ is achieved through the carefully shaped and textured seat, and a backrest that cradles the user in a supportive and comfortable embrace.

The ‘No.7’ in the title stands for the number of full-scale mock-ups that were made in order to perfect the ergonomics of this supremely comfortable chair.