Vonnegut/Kraft Makes Wood Furniture (and Collect Home Items) That Bridge Old and New Ideas

Katrina Vonnegut and Brian Kraft, the husband-and-wife founders of the design studio Vonnegut/Kraft, have taken up a temporary residence while their permanent house in upstate New York is being renovated. So, at the moment, they can only envision what their living space will look like but Vonnegut already has a general idea: "We have a pretty eclectic taste when it comes to collecting antiques but what’s really important for us is to be surrounded by our friends’ and other designer friends’ work—that's become our starting point for designing the rooms while working within the parameters of an 1820s, 1830s colonial farmhouse. Finding that balance between old and new is important," she says. 

The duo makes what Vonnegut calls "contemporary wood furniture" with pieces featuring the pair’s distinct smooth, curved lines — it’s modern, clean, and minimal but the rounded motifs are also reminiscent of Art Deco or elements of ‘80s vintage interior style as well. It’s an aesthetic that will seamlessly fit into their future home, in all its historic glory. "We want our pieces to have movement and character, that feeling of sweeping lines and an element of surprise in something that is made out of wood," says Vonnegut. "We try to push these graphic silhouettes that the wood highlights."

Vonnegut and Kraft started working together in 2012 but their origin story began on the G train in Brooklyn—it turns out, they lived across the street from each other and happened to be in the same line of work. "Pretty immediately we started to get things going with our own designs; Katrina had a lot of ideas," says Kraft of the era when the couple was working out of his shared studio space. Vonnegut helped Kraft on custom millwork projects which helped them figure out how to run a business and eventually put together a collection. As soon as they had the means to get a shop of their own, "that was the real turning point," he says of their brand, which has since been tapped to design furniture for both residential and commercial spaces including the Bottega Veneta store in Manhattan. Vonnegut/Kraft since have left the city and now lead a small team at their wood shop in Chatham, New York where they make everything in-house, with the exception of certain materials, like glass, hardware, and metal pieces in stone which they outsource to local vendors.

"In any partnership you have a separate set of ideas and it’s figuring out how to let each other be the best at what they do. It took a second to create the language that we have now," says Vonnegut. "I mean, people’s taste evolves over a long period of time but I do think we try to create something that might be visually sculptural, somewhat forward-thinking in how it comes together. We do want these pieces to be timeless." 

Some of their favorite home items ahead, in the same vein, are pieces to be lived with for a long time—artful throw pillows, ceramics-inspired glassware, and a lamp in the shape of an oversized leaf will eventually be outfitting the renovated farmhouse. "Overall it’s about the material integrity and the story behind an object," says Vonnegut. "We tend to surround ourselves with objects that remind us of the people we love."

Autumn Sonata Alma Bath Towel

"We saw this bath mat in Su Wu’s home (a curator/writer with the most impeccable taste). We love the design motif and it reminds us of Victorian wool coverlets."

Correll Correll Silk Velvet Pillow

"Correll Correll is a fashion company but they make these pillows that are works of art. They have an experimental approach to implementing traditional forms of production, using recycled fabrics and local manufacturing and resources."

Natalie Weinberger Optic Twist Glass

"Natalie Weinberger is an incredibly talented ceramicist and designer who has started working in glass more recently. We love and use these simple and perfectly delicate everyday glasses. We love the way the ice cubes sound clinking in them in a cocktail on a hot summer night."

Chen Chen & Kai Williams Thank You Clock #1 and Catena Paper Towel Holder 

"Chen and Kai can elevate any material to feel miraculous. They’ve ingeniously warped in the iconic visuals from various classic NYC plastic bodega bags in this clock. This design preserves some of the gritty beauty that once was NYC."

Almost Nothing Lantern by Likeminded Objects

"Elise McMahon’s company Likeminded Objects is known for its material integrity of recycling and reusing while creating beautiful and playful objects and furniture. We love these lamps and have them lined up for our boys’ room in our new home that we’ve been renovating."

In Common With x Sophie Lou Jacobsen Vera Sconce

"This entire collaboration between Sophie Lou Jacobsen and In Common With is gorgeous. Our favorite piece is this Vera Sconce."

Nordic Knots Loops Rug

"Giancarlo Valle is a masterful architect and interior designer with really great taste. We love this collection that he designed for Nordic Knots."

Nana Lure Pelle Lamp

"Pelle started creating the most beautiful handmade paper sculptural lights. We’ve been pining for this Lure Chandelier since it was released."

Vonnegut/Kraft Sapele Relevé Stool

"Adapting the visual language from the dining table, our Relevé Stool features a pared-downset of curved leg elements in a minimal structure that give rise to a comfortably slumped seat.This piece is a study in simplicity and connection between the the upholstery and solid sapele sides and is available in mohair, blue velvet, and white bouclé as well as COM."

Vonnegut/Kraft Bole Dining Table

"This sculptural centerpiece was inspired by its very namesake: the flaring flutes are a nod to a tree trunk’s roots, while also channeling the naively rendered volumes of plant materials seen in a Henri Rousseau painting. It looks great surrounded by the Relevé stool as well."

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