Engrain Collection

In Design by Emily, March 13, 2017

Yael Mer and Shay Alkalay of design studio Raw-Edges have created the Engrain Collection, a group of furniture pieces (bench, armchair and console table) that are made using dyed woods to create colorful and artistic furniture pieces.

According to the designers, the collection is an elaboration of the Endgrain technique they had previously developed at the studio. The idea behind ‘Endgrain’ is to harness the grain of the wood in order to carry dye right through sections of timber.

Blocks dyed with different pigments are then glued together with the grains facing vertically to create three-dimensional patterns – then shaped with a computer numerically controlled (CNC) machine. ‘Endgrain’ is therefore a process that starts very crafty and ends quite industrial.

These three dimensional wooden pieces resemble checked textile patterns

When sculpting these 2D patterned blocks into the finish objects, the volumetric shape distorts the graphic patterns in a surprising and unexpected way that feels almost like a three dimensional marquetry. As the pattern relies on the form, all three pieces of furniture differ in shape, cuts and angles so various compositions are revealed.

Furthermore, the console table and its metal legs are reflected in a mirror, creating the illusion of an overall shape.