tom raffield's steam-bent wooden home in cornwall

serving as an extension to an existing gamekeeper’s lodge, this two-storey dwelling in rural england has been wrapped with stream-bent wood. conceived and built by furniture designer tom raffield, the scheme is located in six acres of ancient woodland near the cornish town of helston. raffield’s company is known for using a pioneering form of steam-bending to create hand-shaped items of furniture and sculptural works of art.

the two-storey dwelling has been wrapped with stream-bent wood

together with his wife danielle, tom raffield bought the property five years ago with a view to building a dream family home. the residence is an architectural take on the couple’s steam-bent furniture and lighting, with sustainability sourced wood harvested from the surrounding woodland. the entire project was filmed by grand designs, a british television program that documents the realization of ambitious residential schemes across the country.

the residence is an architectural take on raffield’s steam-bent furniture and lighting

the timber-clad extension seeks to blend into the surrounding landscape with a natural palette of materials that will mature over time. the structure is concealed behind the original cottage and outbuildings, which have all been fully restored. the project took two years to complete. many items of furniture found within the home, including the amble hanging chair, the kern light, and the gwelsen screen, are available as part of raffield’s latest collection.

wood has been sustainability sourced from the surrounding woodland

‘we wanted to build a house with the same consideration and attention to detail we put into our furniture and lighting,’ explains tom raffield. ‘designing objects for other people to put in their home is an incredible privilege, we’d never design anything that we wouldn’t have in our own home, but we’d never had a chance to design for our own space before.’

many items of furniture found within the home are available as part of raffield’s latest collection