MAKING CONNECTIONS

By ALEX BRIDGMAN

My father, Peter Bridgman, followed his father into the furniture industry, founding Bridgman in 1977. We began as a manufacturer of reproduction chairs and TV cabinets from mahogany and soon began supplying JVC, Grundig and Toshiba. The now King Charles III was even photographed alongside his family on one of our beautifully crafted chairs. In 1989, we introduced premium-grade teak timber garden furniture to our range, and that’s where the beginnings of the Bridgman our customers know and love today really came into fruition.

We’re always looking ahead at the future of home design by constantly innovating across the decades. In 2003, we quickly identified a demand for low-maintenance rattan garden furniture and began working with the finest rattan handweavers in the world to become the first UK company to supply premium rattan furniture. Then again, in 2011, we introduced water-protective and stain-resistant technology to create premium fully waterproof cushions, the only ones of their kind to this day.

Alongside our award-winning handwoven rattan furniture, we are proud to have expanded our outdoor o ering to include premium rope, aluminium, resin, outdoor fabrics and new mixed materials. We’ve also returned to our roots in home furniture with our exquisite handcrafted sofas and a suite of design led dining furniture, coming very soon.

There’s a distinct look of luxury that marries all of our collections, despite their unique design styles. But it’s very much in the feel of our furniture that you know you have a Bridgman piece. The quality of our materials and the attention to detail you’ll find, from the stain-resistant fabrics on our sofas to the sumptuous comfort of our waterproof cushions, that is distinctly Bridgman. It is our commitment to the core pillars of quality, comfort and style that has constantly guided us throughout our four and a half decades.

Looking at our popular creations, for the garden our Kensington Collection is truly the finest around and always a favourite of our customers. Each luxurious piece of dining and lounging furniture is handwoven by our master craftsmen using luxurious Hularo wicker, the best synthetic rattan in Europe, and complete with our exclusive Fully Waterproof Cushions. And for the home, the theme of premium comfort continues with our bestselling Buckingham Collection, an elegant collection of sofas, armchairs and footstools that blends timeless simplicity with modern design.

We’ve viewed our homes and gardens as separate and unlinked for so long, but the two spaces are more and more often being seen as an extension of one another. By blurring the boundaries and unifying them, a sense of cohesion that extends the style and character of your indoor rooms out into your outdoors is being created. We’ve led the way in creating furniture designs that align with the style of the home, whether that’s contemporary, colourful or classic, while being durable enough to remain outdoors. This has resulted in more time relaxing, entertaining and enjoying the fresh air.

I always suggest to our customers that they start with their needs. It sounds simple, but di erent spaces and lifestyles have di erent requirements, and it’s essential that you establish these, as it will make choosing the perfect furniture so much easier. Think about the activities you'd like to do in the space before you choose your garden furniture.

We have two very exciting new collections arriving for the outdoors; the first, our limited edition rope woven Barcelona bridgman.co.uk

Daybed was inspired by the individual design language, original materials and traditional craftsmanship of Spanish design. The other, Tropez, is our first mixed materials collection that you’ll be seeing more of next year. In the home space, we’re excited to announce the launch of our new Best of British sofa collections, available in autumn, as well as all new handcrafted dining furniture that celebrates the natural elegance of wood with the tactility and sophistication of the most luxurious fabrics.

Our beautiful Old Amersham Showroom in Whielden Street opened in 2016. The area’s rich blend of heritage and modernity reflects our brand history and identity – traditional values of excellent craftsmanship and longevity with contemporary design and comfort.