Livingetc Style Awards 2022 winners: Furniture category

As chosen by our judges, Livingetc editor Pip Rich, Livingetc Editorial Director Sarah Spiteri, designers Alice Temperley, Eva Sonaike and Staffan Tollgard and journalist, broadcaster and tastemaker Pandora Sykes, these are the best pieces of furniture you'll want to use in your home now. 

Best sofa - winner: ARBOR SOFA BY MATTHEW HILTON FOR THE CONRAN SHOP

The curves of the two-seater Arbor sofa make it instantly inviting. Manufactured in a carbon neutral factory, the piece has hardwood framing and the foam interiors make it supremely comfortable. 

‘It looks great from different angles, which is quite unique for a sofa, giving it flexibility on where you position it’ says Staffan Tollgård.

Shop this sofa here.

BEST CHAIR - winner: EKSTREM BY VARIER AT BACK IN ACTION 

Ekstrem by Varier features playful curves and organic shapes that allow for endless seating positions. The judges felt no other chair offered such versatility tailored to individual comfort, personalisation being a key future trend. 

‘It’s a real talking point and I love the velvet knitted fabric used. It’s the perfect chair for adding a pop of colour,’ says Alice Temperley.

Shop this chair here.

Best dining table -  winner: GRISOLLES BY JULIAN CHICHESTER

With its polished red travertine top, aged brass inner square and contrasting African walnut legs, this dining table is all about the details that elevate it to exceptional status. 

‘The interesting combination of materials makes it an incredibly elegant piece,’ agrees Staffan Tollgård.

Shop this table here.

Best Furniture - Design Icon - winner: ANTELLA table for Cassina at the CONRAN SHOP

The judges were unanimous in their admiration for this piece, which can adapt to anything from a wall console to an oval table. 

Created in 1975 by Japanese architect and designer Kazuhide Takahama, its clean lines and minimalist design have stood the test of time. 

‘It is a beautiful, iconic piece – as relevant now as it was then,’ says Sarah Spiteri.

Shop this table here.

BEST VANITY - winner: STAMI BY GALLOTTI&RADICE

Designed by Studio Pepe, The Stami collection draws inspiration from the gentle curves of nature, from flower stems to leaf ribs. It works as both a vanity and a desk and the judges loved its beauty and multifunctionality. 

‘I like the flow and shape of this. It’s a very versatile piece. Gallotti&Radice always gets it right,’ says Sarah Spiteri.

Shop this vanity here.

BEST COFFEE TABLE - winner: LION PAW OTTOMAN BY STUDIO HÁM

This striking ottoman, upholstered in high-quality hessian with charming hand-carved paws, certainly grabbed the attention of our judges. 

An enthralled Pandora Sykes says: ‘I absolutely love the individuality of the piece and the attention to craftsmanship. It is so unique and will always make an impression.’

Shop this coffee table here.

Best furniture - wise buy - winner: SYMMETRY SIDEBOARD BY JOHN LEWIS & partners 

Made from a combination of high-quality acacia wood, veneers and MDF, this mid-century inspired sideboard provides useful storage with a retro feel. 

‘I really like the look of this. The price is reasonable and it is a classic look that will work in many different interior schemes,’ says Eva Sonaike.

Shop this sideboard here.

BEST USE OF SUSTAINABLE MATERIAL - winner: CORK BY TOM DIXON

The resurgence of cork as a tactile, beautiful and even covetable material has been taking the design world by storm. And Tom Dixon has managed to harness its beauty for this sculptural collection, made with virtually no waste for a range of rounded silhouettes.

‘Cork isn’t an elegant material, and Tom Dixon has played off this to instead create pieces that feel chubby, friendly even,’ says Pip Rich.

Shop this collection here.

BEST SUSTAINABLE FURNITURE - winner: HEMBURY CHAIR BY SOLIDWOOL AT ROGER OATES design

The Hembury chair shell showcases the beauty of Solidwool, which mixes unwanted wool with a bio-resin for a more eco-friendly alternative to injection moulded plastics and fibreglass. 

‘I am so impressed by the innovation of taking something unwanted and giving it another life and form,’ says Pandora Sykes.

Shop this chair here.

See the rest of the Style Awards 2022 winners