Leanne Ford was staying at the Hotel Magdalena in Austin when, on her way to breakfast, the Pittsburgh-based designer and HGTV star spotted the Willy pedestal side table she designed for Crate & Barrel in the lobby. “I love seeing these pieces used in hospitality settings because they get to live such a larger life,” she says.
Pieces in Ford’s latest collection for Crate & Barrel reflect her signature pared-back style
The concrete-like plaster Willy table, a hit from her first collection for Crate & Barrel in 2020, has now expanded into larger coffee and dining table formats, coinciding with this year’s release of her second comprehensive modern farmhouse-inspired series for the brand. These new arrivals include such eye-catching discoveries as the woven cane Jeannie accent chair, the voluptuous bouclé Hugger sofa, and the plank-topped, trestle base Aya dining table crafted from pine that is meant to graciously weather over the years. The cozy Ever bed is another highlight, distinguished by an oversized headboard, so “you don’t have to put it against a wall,” Ford points out. “It creates its own space, so you can place it in the center of the room.”
When Crate & Barrel first contacted Ford about a collaboration, she was excited because “this is such a well-established company that is associated with craftsmanship and quality, and they wanted me to share my strong point of view. I design furniture with the eye of a designer, creating pieces I wish I had for jobs or want to use in future projects,” she explains. “It’s my happiest creative moment. It’s all an evolution of how I want to see the world. Having an idea for a chair come out of your brain and then sitting in it a year later is wild.”
Ford’s “neutral color story,” also a hallmark of her interiors, reflects her desire to “transcend time, space, and style with beautiful, clean lines in a warm but minimalist way.” All of her objects for Crate & Barrel express Ford’s philosophy of “foolproof design” as she puts it. “The tonal blacks and whites, the creams, the woods, it makes design easy for any style of home. You should be able to mix these items with what you already have.”
The Mast leather director’s chair is flanked by the Fields cane counter stool, offered in charcoal and natural options
This article originally appeared in HD’s 2021 Product Marketplace issue.
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