2024: The Year of Collaboration & Creativity with Inside Out Contracts
As 2024 draws to a close, it’s time for us all to pause for a moment and reflect on the highlights of what has been an incredibly busy and exciting 12 months. In a year of so many prestigious projects and creative output at Inside Out Contracts, there has been one side of the business that needs to stand up and take a well-deserved bow: bespoke furniture. Inside Out Contracts had the pleasure and privilege to work with some incredible interior designers and architects who have helped to transform venues and commercial spaces using their bespoke furniture solutions.
2024 takeaways: Impactful designs
There are so many memorable projects to choose from – co-working spaces, cafes, boutique hotels. Every space is unique and that’s what inspires their bespoke furniture designs. Some briefs require robust and hard-working furniture, while others place aesthetic values at the top of the list of priorities. Individuality is key but there are some themes they’ve seen emerge over the year; features that clients have either requested in their designs, or that have proven popular when choosing furniture. They’ve summed them up below and think these trends will continue into 2025.
Vibrancy
Big, bold statements have seen a comeback in commercial and hospitality spaces this year. Pops of strong colour, darker neutrals and contrasting fabrics have all been highly requested and used in a huge variety of spaces.
Innovation
There’s been a big shift towards innovative shapes and designs that also offer flexibility for spaces that might have multiple uses. This theme includes modular furniture.
Durability
This is another dual-themed trend. Clients in the hospitality sector often request bespoke furniture that’s both robust and visually pleasing. These pieces have a tough job to do in high-traffic venues, but they also need to stand out and make the venue memorable.
Looking back and moving forwards
Earlier this year Inside Out Contracts identified key design trends in their Milan Trend Report . The themes of vibrancy, innovation and durability have popped up repeatedly throughout the year but there have also been some specific standout projects. They’ve pushed the boundaries of bespoke design, working with prestigious venues to create exciting interiors that speak to their brand values while offering a unique space for visitors and clients. the team value their collaborations with designers, architects and venue owners – great working relationships are essential for the success of their projects. And they love the challenges that each project presents.
So, let’s look at some of Inside Out Contracts’ project and product highlights of the year. Not only will this cement the themes that they’ve laid out in their Report, but it will also help to anticipate what’s coming up in 2025. If you look into the Inside Out Contracts crystal ball, you’ll see design themes such as earthy tones, wellness design and multifunctional furniture. But first, here’s a rundown of the year in their project picks by month.
Signature pieces through the year
January: The Stacking Chair starts the year
Inside Out Contracts kicked off 2024 with a trend that’s likely to stay the course: curved furniture. Their bespoke Stacking Chair embodies the trend with its minimalist design that makes it the perfect fit for a wide range of interior design projects. The stainless steel frame makes this a flexible piece too, as it can be moved around any space and, as the name suggests, stacked to save space when not in use.
February: A melting pot of modern and retro
What’s not to like about our Andy Warhol inspired sofa? It more than lives up to its famous moniker with its striking appearance and time-travel design credentials. Taking on the iconic sofa from the 1960s was no mean feat but the Inside Out Contracts team think they’ve pulled it off. They used Vescom Ariana fabric to upholster the piece. And if you recognise the colour, it’s with good reason: Peach Fuzz is the 2024 Pantone Colour of the year and that’s what this shade is based on. Sit on this sofa and you could be sipping martinis in a chic Manhattan bar in the 1960s but their design is very much a modern piece that’s as durable as it is chic.
March: Collaboration with the Maldron Hotel
This gorgeous hotel on Manchester’s Chapel Street needed a bespoke table that featured integrated power sockets. Inside Out Contracts designed a piece that is super sleek; constructed from ash veneer that’s finished with a beautiful walnut stain, the table is unique but also functional.
April: The month for taking it easy
That’s the idea when clients relax in this bespoke armchair. With Natural Luxe a hot topic on the design trend chats, this piece falls naturally into that category. Crafted with a black walnut frame and upholstered in crest leather, this bespoke armchair is a piece of both beauty and comfort.
May: Getting grand ideas at the Royal Exchange
Inside Out Contracts worked with Engel Bar and Jang restaurant at this prestigious postcode in London to create an incredible bespoke fluted sofa. By bringing together historical splendour and modern crafting, they created a piece that is truly spectacular. Upholstered in opulent deep-buttoned Linwood Omega Mulberry, this sofa emulates another of this year’s trends: Vibrant Jewels. Our design team loved working on this project: “Creating a piece that respects heritage while modernising comfort was an incredible challenge and privilege.”
June: A dramatic makeover at Curzon Victoria
The bar area in this popular cinema craved a furniture makeover and our L-shaped banquette was the perfect solution. The dramatic contrast between the powder-coated black legs and the tactile Parotega fabric means everyone want to sit back and relax before the start of their film. The modular design and clean lines sum up the Modern Minimalism trend and perfectly define the Curzon space.
July: Benchwork at GAIL’s Bakery
The Elephant Park branch of this national bakery chain briefed us to create a table and bench set that embodied Natural Luxe. Using sustainably sourced ash, this beautifully crafted set added a natural, yet modern, aesthetic to the space.
August: Something special for a showroom
The prestigious Atelier development at London Dock needed a standout bespoke sofa for a two-bedroom show flat. The Inside Out Contracts team came up with something both original and luxurious when they created this piece, which fits the Modern Minimalism trend to a tee. The black ash veneer base is finished with the stunning Casamance Camego fabric, and the result is very impressive.
September: Changing up a gear at the Royal Automobile Club
September saw Inside Out Contracts embrace another design theme; this time it was Bold Eclecticism. The walnut and brass bespoke side table commissioned by the Club for their bedrooms combines sophistication with functionality.
October: A sofa to complement skincare
The Kin Skin clinic wanted a bespoke sofa that matched its wellness credentials, and this piece fits the brief. With its beechwood plinth upholstered in Linwood Omega Chestnut fabric, the sofa is warm and inviting. It also fits neatly into the Natural Luxe design trend, with its organic tones and curvaceous design.
November: Going green in a collaborative workspace
Inside Out Contracts brought planting into their design with this Planter Booth commissioned for a workspace. Combining elements of the Natural Luxe and Biophilic design trends, the earthy tones of the Sunbury Sorsdal Pesto upholstery helped to upscale the planting and give an outdoors-indoors feeling.
December: Collaborative working for luxury pieces
The team worked with Ellis Design Studio to create a bespoke table. The remit was the perfect combination of luxury aesthetic and functionality. By using premium materials and a striking design, we slotted this piece neatly into the Modern Minimalism trend.
Working with this year’s design trends
Now that we’re at the end of 2024, it’s interesting to note how closely Inside Out Contracts bespoke furniture designs aligned with the trends featured in our Milan Trend Report. From the natural tones in the sofa they created for the Kin Skin Clinic and the table for GAIL’s bakery, to the punchy jewel tones used for the Royal Exchange Sofas, the colours have hit the brief. When it comes to materials, the focus has been on sustainability and natural fibres, as well as bold patterns and tactile finishes. And shapes have matched our trend predictions too, with angular designs and striking profiles hitting the mark with their clients this year.
What to watch out for in 2025
The team think some of the key trends this year will get even bigger stints in the limelight next year, with some evolving further. Earthy tones are likely to take centre stage, as the nature connection continues to flourish; wellness design is an exciting trend that we’ll almost certainly see more of next year; and multifunctionality will evolve as we continue to meet the demands of multi-purpose spaces.
This has undoubtedly been the year of collaboration and creativity at Inside Out Contracts. It has inspired us to push even further and to head into 2025 with more ideas for beautiful, practical and inspirational furniture. A huge thank you to all Inside Out Contracts’ clients and partners who’ve worked with them this year on bringing creative visions to reality. The team are looking forward to working together again soon. In the meantime, please take a look at the full Bespoke Furniture collection and get in touch to see how they can help you create your future spaces.
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