A New Furniture Collection by Le Tenon et la Mortaise
After notable creations such as the Clara shelving unit, the Ketch desk, and the Aube side table, the artisan designers at the Le Tenon et la Mortaise workshop are launching a brand new collection. BOSQUET: three pieces of indoor furniture that, each in their own way, invite you to take a break away from the hustle and bustle of our lives.
“Contemporary architecture values increasingly open living spaces and we wanted to design furniture pieces that recreate intimacy and subspaces, reminiscent of groves in a garden.” – Caroline Roberge, ébéniste, designer et co-fondatrice de Le Tenon et la Mortaise.
With the idea of creating small hiding spots and secluded corners, the DOUGLAS screen was born. While this room divider naturally organizes living spaces and allows for intimacy, the MUGO armchair and BUIS stool enrich the collection by inviting relaxation and to slow down, with a book in your hand and the sun in your face.
To complete the trio of furniture, the designers had fun revisiting the famous Lazy Susan by offering a rotating flower-shaped tray which, by spinning the small dishes, becomes the ally of any impromptu aperitifs.
From De Stijl to Memphis: the inspiration behind Bosquet
The theme of the grove inspires the shapes of this new collection. Like trimmed or wild shrubs, the curved lines evoke a universe where harmony, simplicity, and cheerfulness have a special place.
“We drew a lot of inspiration from the De Stijl movement, the chairs of Gerrit Rietveld, or even the In Praise of Epicurus armchair by Ettore Sottsass. We liked the graphic shapes, right angles, and solid panels, but we also wanted something very functional and light. We also wanted to bring back the half-circle that we had explored with our AUBE side table.”
A collection that celebrates the essence of Canadian forests
Since its beginning, Le Tenon et la Mortaise has been working exclusively with hardwoods. For this collection, there was a desire to explore conifers, more characteristic of canadian boreal forests. While pine and spruce were considered, Douglas fir was chosen. “We liked its rich, straight, and stable grain, with less knotty character than pine or spruce,” says Benoit.
For Le Tenon et la Mortaise, the character of Douglas, a fast-growing wood, highly adaptable to different climates, and readily available in Canada, tipped the scales for ecological reasons. Also, the duo brings further their approach to make high-end furniture in Flat Pack shipping, available for delivery worldwide and easy to assemble (this time without tools or hardware).
The great entry of colors in the workshop
Accustomed to working exclusively with unstained solid woods, Le Tenon et la Mortaise introduces color into their creative process.
“With this project, we wanted to explore a single wood, the Douglas fir, but incorporating stain this time, opening up a whole world of possibilities. We chose shades inspired by plants, very spring-like, both calming and invigorating.” – Caroline Roberge, ébéniste, designer et co-fondatrice de Le Tenon et la Mortaise.
The collection is offered in a natural version to enjoy the warm, light brown pinkish grain of Douglas. In the colored version, the fir is dressed in a beautiful lilac or forest green, but retains its visible grain. Photo credit: Nancy Guignard
Le Tenon et La Mortaise
Since 2016, Le Tenon et la Mortaise has been offering useful, beautiful, and comforting furniture and objects that enrich spaces and those who inhabit them.
The approach of these designer-makers is part of a minimalist trend that values noble materials and traditional design methods, ensuring work of great skill and remarkable quality. Anchored in everyday life, their achievements embody the strength of slow and no-nonsense design, made to last.
Union of cabinetmakers and designers Caroline Roberge and Benoit St-Jean, who met at the Montreal school of fine woodworking 10 years ago, Le Tenon et La Mortaise designs and manufactures its creations in its workshop in Saint-André-de-Kamouraska, Quebec.
