Furniture polish

Residential Architect, July, 2002 by Meghan Drueding

To hear staff architect Stephen Brockman explain it, the launching of Deborah Berke Architect's new home furnishings line was almost inevitable. "It wasn't like any of us were lying in bed one night and just decided we should start a furniture line," he says. "We've been designing custom pieces for clients for the past five or 10 years, and the collection grew organically out of that." The furniture complements the New York City firm's interiors and architecture departments and is designed by principal Deborah Berke, AIA; Brockman; and staff interior designer Caroline Wharton.

The sleek, simple pieces are made from natural materials such as wood, stone, and steel. Berke and her team have enlisted craftspeople from all over North America, enabling the firm to keep shipping costs down and stay intimately involved in the production process. "We feel we can control quality better by working with other small businesses who share our values," says Berke.

The collection features a subtle ecological bent. "The wood we're using is rescued, salvaged, or farmed, which we're very excited about," says Berke. "We're conscious of the fact that we live in a world of limited resources."

Prices range from $60 for a blackened steel shelf bracket to $4,500 for a queen-size bed in oak or ash with an oiled or painted finish. For more information on Deborah Berke Architect Furniture, visit www.dberke.com, call 212.229.9211, or e-mail furniture@dberke.com.