| people talk about working with plywood many think | | | | purpose. Keryn also wanted to include a funky |
| about boat building but furniture designers have also | | | | aspect to her creations so she has added the ability |
| been big fans of this versatile material. | | | | to include a splash of colour using a laminate. |
| The earliest examples of plywood furniture appear in | | | | Keryn’s company philosophy is to combine |
| the 18th century but it was not until the 1850s that it | | | | the use of environmentally sensitive materials with |
| went into commercial production in the United States. | | | | designs that enable the one piece to be used in |
| Innovation continued during World War I when the | | | | numerous ways thus maximizing the efficiency of the |
| aviation industry contributed to the continuing | | | | piece. |
| success of plywood by creating a product with | | | | The making of plywood is an environmentally |
| additional quality, flexibility and durability. | | | | sensitive technique that creates a material of |
| When the furniture makes of the 1920s were looking | | | | outstanding strength and stability that also weights |
| for a cheap alternative they turned to plywood. The | | | | little. The wood used to make the ply is a natural |
| first to make a breakthrough in using plywood was | | | | renewable resource harvested from plantation |
| Dutch cabinet maker Gerrit Thomas Rietveld, who in | | | | forests. |
| 1927 built a chair with a seat made from a single | | | | Keryn’s love affair with wood continues into |
| piece of plyboard. | | | | her design studio, designed by eminent architects |
| This single seat set in motion a domino effect in | | | | Peter Stutchbury and Sue Harper, it looks like an |
| design. Many examples of classic modernist furniture | | | | overgrown tree house in the back garden. |
| have been designed and built using plywood during | | | | Her tree house/office combines the best of both |
| the 20th century among the most famous are the | | | | worlds creating a short communte to work but also |
| Eames chairs by Charles and Ray Eames. These | | | | keeping the office separate from her home life. The |
| chairs are still prized as design icons to this day. | | | | open plan design uses recycled blue gum and glass to |
| Keryn Hughes continues this tradition by creating a | | | | create an airy feel and, of course, her beloved |
| stunning collection of contemporary moulded plywood | | | | plywood creates the ceiling, floors and a large deck |
| furniture for adults and children. Her style reflects the | | | | for work. |
| early modernists using uncluttered lines in functional | | | | Keryn’s hard work has paid off with her |
| pieces embracing the warmth and quality of wood | | | | Y-Front Side Table being selected as a finalist in the |
| and laminate. | | | | Furniture category of the Home Beautiful Product of |
| In the beginning Keryn created a small range of | | | | the Year 2008 awards. |
| children’s furniture made by hand. When | | | | The panel of judges chose only 3 finalists, based on |
| demand became too intense Keryn took time to | | | | the criteria of excellence in design, innovation and |
| reflect and thus created her current signature range | | | | practicality. |
| of contemporary moulded plywood furniture for | | | | Keryn’s collection is designed and made in |
| adults and children. | | | | Australia. And in 2008 they were formally initiated into |
| The aim of the collection was to create | | | | the not-for-profit Australian Made, Australian Grown |
| contemporary designs with a classic edge, that are | | | | campaign. |
| affordable, durable and could serve more than one | | | | |