A USM Collection Making a Home
Almost thirty years ago, when this couple were starting their business, their decisions were guided by simplicity, functionality and endurance – design principles that the influential New Zealand interior designer Peter Haythornthwaite instilled in them. Design integration should be a core value rather than a peripheral concern. This lesson has stayed with them in life and business, at the office and at home – qualities that USM embodies through and through.
When did you move into this new house? Did you already have USM modular furniture in a previous location?
We moved into this house in 2018 after thirty years overseas. The circa 1905 villa met the needs of a large family and the extensive community of friends that come with a large family. We brought together our USM pieces from previous lives and combined it with two large new additions and later with bedside cabinets in a variety of colourways.
How many pieces do you have at home and in which colours?
We have close to 20 pieces in this home – bedside tables, home based workspaces and shelving of various sizes and colours. Adding USM to the existing collection and using new USM modules to enhance spaces was not a difficult decision. In fact, it was the obvious choice.
The bedside cabinets are more recent purchases in Pure Orange, Beige, Golden Yellow and Ruby Red.
“More than twenty years ago, when our children were still young, we purchased each of them a bookshelf in Golden Yellow, Gentian Blue, Green, and in Ruby Red. We feel these are legacy items they will eventually take to their own homes. In fact, one of our daughters has already started her ‘collection’, she has recently purchased the special edition True Pink desk for her home office. ”
Did you have a clear idea of what you wanted in terms of usages and shapes?
We have used USM Haller in our dining and kitchen space for many years so adding a large new module to this kitchen was an obvious choice. Colour is wonderful, we have no fear of colour, but shapes are a bit more challenging, so we opted shelving that was straightforward in utility and function but combining glass and metal.
How did you balance aesthetics and functionality when selecting furniture for your home? Do you have any favourite combinations or unexpected pairings?
Our family is a combination of cultures and experiences that generate unexpected outcomes, so the simplicity of form offered by USM pairs well the eclectic mix of the individuals in the home. We use USM furniture to bring balance in some spaces or add depth in others. The large module in the living room in Pure White and glass, offsets the ‘noise’ from the books, art and general busyness. The see-though aspect gives the space a sense of separation but togetherness.
The kitchen is an important communal space and the tall USM shelving incorporating glass cabinets and drawers provides an anchor point – it houses items for daily use and the drawers have become the go-to place to find those lost items – keys, pens, sunglasses, and chargers.
You seem to have quite a few glass elements to display beautiful objects. Was this aspect important in your furniture choice?
The glass elements of the USM system were definitely an important component. We first used it as part of our bedroom modules in 2002/3 and gradually incorporated it into most configurations. In the kitchen, a piece of rural art from India may sit against the back of a glass USM cabinet which also holds the expresso cups for daily use. In the living room a collection of photographs honouring friends who are no longer with us occupy a shelf along with the books they left in our care. Nothing is just an object, almost everything has meaning and context to a life lived.
If you were to choose today, would you design some pieces of furniture differently?
I would like the courage to experiment with different shapes. USM offers that opportunity, but I haven’t taken advantage of that. When I browse the USM stories and see the creativity of uses I am inspired to reconfigure some of my existing pieces into new pieces of furniture. Amando Cabral’s installation was particularly inspiring, one can almost feel his heritage expressed in his installation.
At first, were you hesitant to mix USM with your wooden wall unit in the living room?
It was always clear that USM modular furniture would be the right mix in this space, there was no hesitation. Tall model with bays of glass and metal is used in the living area for spatial complexity and definition, creating two intimate spaces; one for conversation and family time defined by ‘shared ‘ furniture, sofas by Antonio Citterio, Ligne Roset, the wood burning fire; the other for entertainment be it visual or reading defined by individual seating - Arne Jacobson egg chair, Eames lounge chair and single arm chair, also by Antonio Citterio. We felt that the existing wood-based wall unit was complemented by the USM Haller unit and vice versa.
A low USM unit in Golden Yellow that house some of the many books also features as the stand for the entertainment screen and gaming console.
“When I browse the USM stories and see the creativity of uses I am inspired to reconfigure some of my existing pieces into new pieces of furniture. ”
USM has become more than furniture for this family, it’s a reflection of their values, memories, and evolving lifestyle. As they continue to adapt and reconfigure their space, USM continues to support a home that reflects who they are and where they’ve been.
USM sales partner: ECC
If you want to purchase a USM Haller piece yourself design it now in our online configurator or find your local sales partner.
