Capsule: Beautiful Budget-Friendly Furniture Straight from Designers
By EileenO
We've all been told we need a capsule wardrobe — a few, essential items that create a signature brand or look and that can be thrown together in many different and savvy combinations. Well, here's the furniture version: the Los Angeles-based Capsule budget-friendly furniture brand. Capsule's direct-to-consumer interior design products are brought to you straight from the manufacturer and are built to cover all your basic furniture needs.
Sleek Affordable Sofas
Partnering with Art Center College of Design in 2013, Capsule asked students to create a budget-conscious, stylish chair. John Ismus made the winning design (above), the Knook Sectional Sofa, which launched at Wanted Design in New York City. It retails at $1,467
"We are a design startup that partners directly with emerging designers and manufacturers to produce beautiful and affordable furniture,"said Justine Kalisz of Capsule Design Studio. "It is our mission to support emerging designers and bring good design to everyone."
Matthew Grayson's Open Frame Dresser epitomizes elegance, and it's useful too.
Capsule furniture is created for the aspirational lifestyle — typically for those residents of starter homes or "new nesters" that need a cool style injection but don't necessarily have the budget to back it up. By cutting out the retail middlemen and by working directly with the manufacturer together with talented young US-based artists and designers, Capsule can cut costs to the consumer and make it all viable.
The Big Arm Sofa, designed by fellow Art Center College of Design graduate Chelsea Park, comes in indigo, cream and grey felt. It's long, strongly built and streamlined… with arms! If you want to balance things on the arms (instead of using side tables or leaning down to use the floor), then this is for you — for $1,499.
"We look to foster creativity in the greater community by supporting emerging design talent with product development expertise and resources. This synergy of talents and our direct-to-consumer platform allows us to produce beautiful pieces that are surprisingly affordable," according to the Capsule website.
Minimalist Black Cafe Chair
The Marie Chair is made from black or silver powdered coated steel, and it looks like a bentwood cafe chair — a new design classic, in fact, for $299. Its effortless style will fit anywhere, and it can be used outdoors too.
Bringing exceptional home design to everyone is a worthwhile goal, and by pairing up with established children's furniture brand The MBD Family, it looks like Capsule is gearing up to achieve it. Manufacturing children's products requires expertise in creating robust design that adheres to rigid safety specifications, and the company has a long established relationships with factories in the US and Asia.
Every home can benefit from a sleepover sofa, and the Abbey Sleeper has a backrest that flips back to accommodate your overnight guest, effortlessly and with style.
The mid-20th century feel of Capsule furniture gives a lightness of touch and a desirability to all its capsule design collections. When you're bringing design to the (style-savvy) masses, it's always a good idea to focus on simplicity, together with good, sound construction. Sprinkle in a bit of je ne sais quoi that only truly talented designers can bring, and you have a potent formula for success.
Capsule does accessories too! (Pictured) The Chris Earl Capsule Nesting Bowl
"Taking cues from the fashion industry to elevate modern interiors, Capsule produces unique pieces, often with mixed materials and multi-function use that are intended to add dimension to any home," according to the Capsule Design Studio website.