Moving Mountains’ Distinctive Furniture Pieces Are Inspired By 1970s Italian Interiors
- Name
- Moving Mountains
- Words
- Steph Wade
Designer Syrette Lew founded Brooklyn-based studio Moving Mountains in 2014; in the years since, her collections of handcrafted sofas, coffee tables, mirrors, and lamps have made an impact on the American design scene.
Moving Mountains is known as such for two distinct reasons: foremostly named after the volcanic mountains of Lew’s home state of Hawaii, and secondly, in reference to the challenge of opening a design studio—a feat that could perhaps be akin to moving mountains. Inspired by elements of modernism and minimalism, her pieces take visual cues from Italian lounge interiors of the 1970s whilst retaining a contemporary look. The ‘Assemblage Table’ is an example of this: an oval concrete top balances upon a thin bronze support and a cylindrical concrete base; acknowledging its mid-century design origin, yet creating a new and unexpected shape. The ‘Puffer Chair’ references armchairs of eras past, taking its cues from “laid-back west coast living”. Both casual and refined, the distinctive taupe-colored chair appears to hover just above ground thanks to its swivelling base.
All images © Moving Mountains