Design

Discover the Studio Whose Elevated Mix Adds to the Artfully Layered Home

A curated collection of furnishings by Four Hands draws influence from European antiques, Brazilian midcentury design, and crafted minimalism

By Galerie editors

March 29, 2023

Modern outdoor chair on a brick patio with a rustic side table, drink and sunglasses, surrounded by plants. — Photo: Courtesy of Four Hands

Designers often experience a sense of exhilaration at discovering something new—a yet unheralded craftsman, a boundary-pushing home goods collection, or a reinterpreted material relatively unseen. The team at Austin-based furniture studio Four Hands has made it their mission to offer that opportunity for revelation all in one place.

“I believe our dedication to constant evolution is a grounding principle and unique quality we possess,” says Adam Dunn, VP of Design. “Four Hands is an incredibly curious, experimental brand and we believe there are limitless possibilities when it comes to home design. We don’t wait for inspiration to come to us. Instead, Four Hands actively seeks out fresh ideas from all across the world and seeks to continuously expand our knowledge to bring diverse concepts back home, allowing our customers to curate the perfect spaces for their ever-changing lifestyles.”

Rustic wooden cabinet with open doors, displaying pottery and books, next to a table with flowers and candles. — Hitchens cabinet from Four Hands. Photo: Courtesy of Four Hands

Modern dining table with wooden accents, plates, glasses, and snacks on a patterned rug with two chairs. — Four Hands ping pong table. Photo: Courtesy of Four Hands

By drawing inspiration from myriad global destinations, Four Hands is able to cultivate a wide-ranging collection of tables, case goods, seating, lighting, and more that appeal to diverse audience. “When designing our collections, we aim to honor the idea that every person has a unique style,” says Dunn. “There is no single way to furnish and design a home, therefore it’s important to prioritize variety in selection. At the same time, we want to ensure the pieces of our collections can still be cohesive in various combinations. By offering a wide variety of styles, we allow clients to put pieces together to achieve very minimalist, even monochromatic looks, or to create multi-textured, mixed material spaces that look intentional and thoughtful, despite the combination of a variety of design elements.”

Modern bedroom with a beige upholstered bed, wooden nightstand, abstract wall art, and cozy bedding. — Mitchell bed from Four Hands. Photo: Courtesy of Four Hands

Indeed, Four Hands’ collection of indoor and outdoor pieces draws influence from European, Scandinavian, Chinese, and Brazilian styles, carefully balancing expressive details like tufting and fluting with tonal woods, upcycled leather, and sumptuous performance fabrics ideal for modern living. “One way to achieve what we call the ‘mixed era’ design look is to combine timeless design elements, such as those inspired by Chinese antiques, with contemporary features and post-modern accents,” says Dunn. “Bridging traditional and contemporary elements infuses a newness into familiar styles, creating tactile, intriguing designs. Mixing, matching, and layering styles creates endless possibilities—you can mix metal and wood, leather and boucle, dark shades and light hues, all to tell one-of-a-kind design stories that breathe new life into any space.”

Vintage black leather armchair with wooden frame in a cozy room with a sideboard, vase, candle, and decorative items. — Halson chair from Four Hands.

Modern dining room with a textured round table, a white upholstered chair, and a decorative vase on a patterned rug.

To help add the finishing touch to any carefully composed living space, the company also introduced Four Hands Art Studio, which offers a selection of handmade artworks. “Four Hands Art Studio plays a very important role in the creation of Four Hands’ furniture offerings,” states Dunn. “The studio partners with independent and emerging artists from all over the world, allowing our team to work with several of the world’s most creative minds. This helps us continue to diversify and elevate our product designs across both the furniture and art offerings. The work of Four Hands Art Studio continues to inspire our furniture design, creating a natural cohesion as a result of our continued collaboration with artists.”