Design
Orior Furniture
Michael sofa, available in two sizes. Venetian velvet and Orior leather upholstery combined with brass gives the sofa a distinctive look; specifically, the arms which connect to the brass frame rather than to the sofa’s body create negative space.
Image courtesy of: Robb Report
In 2019, Architectural Digest said this about Orior Furniture, “The Chicest Furniture Company You’ve Never Heard Of.” That statement is certainly false today. Orior was founded in 1979 by the Irish husband and wife team of Brian and Rosie McGuigan. The pair previously designed and built furniture in Denmark; however it was moving back to Ireland in 1979 that was the catalyst for Orior’s birth.
The company’s ethos was built on (courtesy of the brand’s website) “commitment, hardworking, trust, and loyalty.” Inspired by Scandinavian design and combined with a strong Irish heritage, Orior quickly became the vision they had for the “family company.”
Orior philosophy is to design and make high-end heirloom furniture.
Image courtesy of: Orior Furniture
These days, Ciaran McGuigan, Brian and Rosie’s son, is at the helm as Orior’s Creative Director. He is adamant about expanding upon the foundations built by his parents more than forty years ago. Based in Newry, Northern Ireland, the company has become a cult-favorite among many of interior design’s leaders.
All the construction is done in the workshop in Ireland; however fabric and leather is sourced from mills and tanneries throughout Europe. For example, upholstery fabrics from Pierre Frey, Schumacher, Kvadrat, and Loro Piana are used. Small family-owned French and Italian tanneries provide the hides. With regards to stone, the Irish Green marble used, Connemara marble, is one of Orior’s most notable materials; it is sourced from Connemara, Ireland, its namesake.
Bianca Chair- a low profile frame with a curvaceous seat. Walnut legs underline the seat and a structured leather wrapped-back provide unparalleled comfort.
Image courtesy of: Orior Furniture
Today, as forty years ago, McGuigan collaborates with local artisans who are adept at using their expertise, manufacturing skills, and local materials to produce (courtesy of Elle Decor), “modern design pieces realized with traditional techniques with highly refined artisanal finishes.” It is not uncommon to see Orior artisans closely collaborating with the designers… a true testament to the company’s values. Timeless design and functionality is at the heart of Orior; this shows that you CAN have beauty and comfort.
The designers are masters at using fabric and finishes in unexpected ways… they experiment with new colors, shapes, and accents. The balance of the traditional and the contemporary is further accentuated by amazing quality. Luckily, McGuigan realizes that Orior is unique primarily due to the pieces’ handmade quality and utmost attention to detail. He told Architectural Digest Pro, “In recent years, everyone’s getting into craft. Everyone’s a maker. To me that’s kind of like a prerequisite. Let’s look at it as an attitude and a personality.”
Left: Brian, Rose, and Ciaran McGuigan at Orior’s headquarters in Newry, Northern Ireland.
Right: Artic Wardrobe in open-grain ash with blackened steel doors.
Image courtesy of: Wallpaper, photographed by: Ellis Grace (left) and Alex Salinas (right)
The contract business has been so busy for Orior, that McGuigan decided to spin that part of the business off… it is now called Orior Contract. He says of this part, “the contract business is a form of design that’s “reactive,” responsive to a client’s creativity. So with a renewed energy and focus on original design.” The showroom will remain home to Orior’s in-house designs; however the details and finishes will stay somewhat customizable.
For this new endeavor, McGuigan sought out a friend from his time at SCAD; Jordan Trinci-Lyne was brought on as senior designer to help breathe new life into the brand. The company’s archives are the inspiration behind many of the designs… however the future inspires also.
The new SoHo showroom with pieces from different collections.
Image courtesy of: Interior Design
Last year, Orior opened a 2,500-square-foot global flagship store in SoHo; it is a perfect representation of the brand’s offerings. Connemara marble floor tiles wait for visitors at the entry and a series of oak-trimmed archways (handmade in Ireland) delineate zones. McGuigan was excited to bring his sister into the fold; Katie Ann’s collection of rugs warm up the showroom.
The showroom was designed as a space to allow visitors and customers to experience the collections in person. McGuigan said (courtesy of HypeBeast), “The evolution of Orior over the past three years can be attributed to the collective efforts of many incredibly talented and dedicated craftspeople and designers. The response we have received from design lovers all over the world has been unbelievably energizing and it feels like we are only just beginning.”
