Wrexham-based Silverlining Furniture is renowned for its pioneering approach to new materials. The company was formed more than 35 years ago, and has forged a 70-strong team of designers, makers, project managers and specialists that apply the very best of old and new techniques to transform flora and fauna into exquisite furniture finishes
“Working with natural materials abundant in nature, and turning them into robust, structural materials, that can withstand the toughest conditions, whilst creating a spectacular finish, is our big focus,” affirms Daniel Lloyd-Davies, Silverlining’s head of R&D. “Whether it’s ordinary woods, straw or cork, these materials can be sourced responsibly from widely available sources, and then through creative processes, be turned into luxury finishes.”
Here, Daniel shares his top new materials:
Honeycomb straw
“This finish sees naturally dyed straw cast in cacti or soya bio resin, to create a translucent, decorative composite surface material.”
Karuun™
“Karuun™ is a new material made out of rattan palm’s stems, which are a naturally renewable resource. The stems are transformed into a high-tech, high-performance material that’s a natural alternative to plastic. The material is also fully recyclable, and flame-resistant due to its silica content.”
Flow
“Cork and its natural high-performance properties are at the heart of Flow. The design tells the story of the Alentejo region of Portugal, famed for its production of natural cork. Beyond its obvious environmental benefits, cork is celebrated for its durability and resilient qualities. Its natural composition provides water resistance, anti-microbial properties, and an innate ability to withstand wear and tear, positioning cork as an ideal material for both interior and exterior furniture.”
Flax fibre
“We can now replace man-made carbon fibres with extremely durable flax fibres, derived from abundant in nature linseed. To achieve this finish, the bark is first removed and the plant then scraped to remove other layers, gums, and pectins. Finally, the residual cortex material is washed, dried and degummed to extract the spinnable fibre.”
Leaf leather
“Technological advancements now allow us to turn Alocasia Macrorrhiza or ‘Elephant Ear’ plant leaves into leather-like material – beLEAF™. The material company tans the leaves using an exclusive process which is entirely heavy metals-free and uses 100% reclaimed water and natural fertiliser.”
Bark leather
“We’re exploring the potential of turning pine bark into a durable leather finish for Silverlining’s designs, working with Studio Sarmite PineSkins’. To achieve that finish, the bark is harvested when the trees are felled and treated with a bio-softening solution. All ingredients are natural and don’t contain any harmful or synthetic substances.”
