A deep dive into the brands Sketch, Tolv & Natadora
From classic and timeless designs, to contemporary and modern concepts, Sketch, Tolv and Natadora have it all and it is no secret why these brands are some of our most asked about and most popular. With designs such as the Pensive sofa, Inlay dining chair and the Native coffee table in their collection, we are lucky to have Wooden stories be apart of the Trit House family, to be able to showcase what interior design looks like in 2023.
Wooden stories first began with their brand Sketch Interiors. Some of their most iconic pieces are the Sloopy Sofa, the Humla series and the Odd counter stool. Then came Tolv and Natadora. You will find more contemporary pieces in the Tolv collection, such as the Portobello lounge chair and the Islet Sofa. Natadora exudes a more defined, masculine energy with pieces such as the Archive Sofa, and the the Scribe lounge chair. Each brand has their own distinct identity, yet a common theme runs throughout the three, unique designs with a classic feel.
Recently our flagship Hawthorn showroom was lucky enough to be visited by Robin, the sales director for Wooden stories, for an intimate brand training session. It was a special opportunity for the team to learn directly from the brand itself, and have some insider knowledge on the iconic brands, Sketch, Tolv and Natardora. We asked Robin what our customers, trade clients and of course ourselves, wanted to know.
Robin, we would love to know what your personal favourite piece from either Sketch, Tolv or Natadora is right now?
Hmm, tricky question. I would have to say the Odd Stool. It looks quite simple but it is a fairly modest little kitchen counter stool. It is aesthetically very pure and it involves a lot of craftsmanship that we feel we are very good at. Even though it appears as such a simple item, you could almost say we built our brand around that as it has all of the characteristics we feel are important. It looks kind of humble to look at, but there is a lot of thought and detailing that goes into it.
What is the best selling piece from Wooden Stories?
This changes quite constantly, but I would say the Nysse Chair. Similar to the Odd stool, it has our handwriting all over it. It is not a flashy piece, yet it does showcase a lot of craftsmanship as well as the time and skill it takes to make that. It is more of a modest luxury, or a sublet luxury. It is not bling, it is just very homey and cosy. I think that is why it has been such an amazing performer since it launched around 7 years ago.
Is it typical to see designs last that long in your collection, or do you find designs only lasting a certain amount of time?
Almost all of our best sellers have been around since the beginning. The Humla series would be an example of one of those. It started as maybe two or three round coffee tables and now it has branched out to TV units, shelves, consoles. Again this is probably due to the simple yet affective design that makes it have a wide appeal and continues to please people.
Does Wooden Stories have any trends forecasted in the next 12 months, that we should keep our eyes out for?
Trends is a tricky one to answer, I don’t know how deeply into trends we are. We are almost into ‘non-trends.’ We work with designers that they have a certain thing that they show us because they think it will suit our brand or we have asked the designer to do something that we think is in their wheelhouse or their comfort zone. It is more to do with the relationship between us, the designer and the partners that we work with where we want to create something, whether it has been inspired by a shape or function or a material, we almost ignore trends in that way.
What would you say are the unique characteristics of each Sketch, Tolv and Natadora?
I’d say Sketch is the one that is the most approachable, it is fairly agnostic where we aren’t too precious about “What is the style of Sketch?” We are open to trying out new styles, working with new designers and also continuing to work with the original designers who really helped create the identity of what Sketch is now. We aren’t looking to be edgy or provoking in anyway, it more open. It is essentially Scandinavian in its roots, it is very danish. However we are also very interested in interacting and discussing with our dealers and because we are very strong in Australia and New Zealand, it is kind of informed by the feedback we get from our partners here, so since it’s beginnings it has been heavily influenced by the success we have had in this region which has fed back into us. You could almost say it is a hybrid between Australian and Danish design.
Natadora is more of a stronger, sharper and harder feeling to he visual aspect of the brand. Most of the designs in Natadora are coming from Cameron Foggo, who is a New Zealand designer, and his taste is quite eclectic. There is a strong mid century feeling, with also an Italian vibe going on, but more 70s Italian. There is no one way to sum it up, but visually we would hope that it has got that more moody feeling to it.
Lastly Tolv is more strongly designed focused. With Tolv we aren’t too concerned about the wide appeal, we are focused on each design individually. They can stand alone, it doesn’t have to integrate into a continuous flow with the other pieces. We find the designs interesting and sometimes quirky. I think we get more attention for Tolv from the like of other designers as it is so design focused.
In terms of working with designers, what does that process look like? Do you seek out designers to work with or do designers come to you?
Both actually, it works both ways. Sometimes we come across from work or a designers profile and see what they have done, and ask if they would want to do some pieces for us. We also get a lot of design offices reach out to us to show their designs, so it works both ways. Our relationships with our designers are very important to us, as the output from the designer will influence the overall tone, identity and the personality of the brand which is something that is an important factor for us.
Now we know there have been a lot of new fabrics and leathers that have been added into the Wooden Stories collection. Is there anything in particular you are looking for when you are adding in new fabrics or leathers, or does it come down to appearance?
They are many different factors, but the main thing is you either like it or you don’t. It is more of an emotional thing. Now and then different mills from Belgium or Italy will send us stuff or we might request a certain brief for a new fabric, and once they send it to us we will look at it, touch it and it feels kind of instinctive whether we will carry it or not. We also don’t want too much overlapping of fabrics that look the same or do the same job which also comes into consideration. As well as the performance of the fabric, there is no point having a beautiful fabric that is going to fade too quickly or doesn’t stand up to wear and tear. So all of the fabrics are put to the test, and once we get the results we can either categorise it as a residential fabric, a commercial fabric or a fabric we just won’t carry at all. We also discuss with our designers and partners to see what certain colours or materials they would want to see, so there is quite a bit that goes into it. It is quite a commitment bringing in a new fabric so we don’t take it lightly.
Lastly, what would you say are the key signature pieces from each Sketch, Tolv and Natadora?
I think the key piece from Natadora would be the Archive Sofa. Partly I say that because that is the product that connected us to Cameron Foggo, so that is quite a special piece to me. For Tolv I would probably pick the Inlay Chair, again that is another piece that looks very simple and minimal if you have a quick look at it but in terms of the manufacturing details, there is quite a bit going on there. It is not meant to be obvious to the casual viewer, in fact if they are obvious we have failed our job, as we want these details to go unnoticed. We want it to be a subliminal thing where you see it and you like, but you might not be sure why. It is more of an effortless look, but the end result is very elegant. For Sketch I would say currently, the Eden table. This is a Patryk Koca design and it has a really organic shape, there is not a single straight line. It also is combining materials together which is something we do quite a lot. The design of this table was inspired by stone rock formations, by the beach in the town of Eden in New South Wales, where Patryk would visit as a child. So the inspiration behind the piece has a really nice back story, and I think overall the Eden tables are quietly stunning.
Sketch, Tolv and Natadora are some our most favourite brands here at Trit House. You can find their amazing pieces on display in your nearest showroom. Make sure to take your time to discover their collections, and ask our friendly staff to talk you through the wide range of fabrics and leathers on offer. Each piece has the opportunity to be customised, so you can take home a special one of a kind product made just for you. We know you will love these brands just as much as we do, so we look forward to seeing you in our showrooms to explore the beauty that comes from Wooden Stories.