ANDREW MUGGLETON
Nature’s Gentle Curves Inspire Contemporary Furnishings Crafted of Exotic Woods, Glass And Stainless Steel By Jesse Bratter

Situated nearly 5,000 feet above sea level, Longmont, Colo. and its 300 days of sunshine, 1,500 acres of open spaces, and spectacular views of the Rocky Mountains give one English-born designer just the inspiration he needs to explore and create furniture that mimics the calming character of Mother Nature. “Everything in nature is curved — from the smooth pebbles on a beach to the oval rotund of an egg,” says Andrew Muggleton, creator and owner of his namesake company. “Sharp, jagged edges do not make you feel at ease, but a field of straw bending in the wind — that is inviting.”
It is with this design philosophy of simplicity and romanticism that Muggleton carves contemporary curvaceous furnishings, bending and shaping native U.S. and exotic African woods to achieve his desired effect. Muggleton has always applied his Nottingham Trent University-taught manufacture engineering skills combined with structural and architectural elements when creating each piece. But it wasn’t until he received sage advice from his brother that his creativity really took flight. “He told me to stop hindering the design process with knowledge and my perceived limits of ability, and to start designing furniture from the soul. ‘Design something you only dream of,’ he said, ‘and after you have done this, then the process of developing a way to build it begins.’”

And so Muggleton dreams, and then finds ways to bring these dreams to fruition. Joining thin layers of wood together, Muggleton places them on a mould that is then inserted into a vacuum press. The press delivers a cumulative pressure of almost four tons, shrinking and contorting the wood over the new shape. He then uses the same method to apply veneer onto the newly curved surface.

When homeowners admire Muggleton’s style but can’t pinpoint a piece that fits best with their decor, they turn to his custom furniture design services, in which Muggleton generates computer renderings to bridge the gap between what he envisions and what the client imagines. “I really enjoy the custom design process,” he says. “A bond forms between myself and the client and we work together toward making their home just perfect.”
Muggleton brings his work to the Smithsonian Craft Show and Palm Beach Fine Craft Show each year. His designs can be seen in Sherwood Gallery in Laguna Beach, Calif., Pismo Gallery in Denver and Beaver Creek, Colo., and Function + Art in Chicago, Ill., among others. For more information, call 888/886-1805 or visit www.andrewmuggleton.com.