Here, we ask designers to take a selfie and give us an inside look at their life.
Names: Kristi Bender and Wendy Schwartz
Occupation: Founders of Cuff Studio
Instagram: @cuff_studio
Home Town: California born and raised.
Studio Location: Los Angeles (Melrose Hill) and New York (NoMad)
Describe what you make: We design and produce furniture, lighting and objects made-to-order in California – all inspired by geometry and driven by meticulous craftsmanship. Our collection masters the balance of indulgence and approachability, form and function.
The most important thing you’ve designed to date: The C Back Chairs and the Rope Wrapped Globes are the top performing designs, but perhaps the most important design to date has been the design of Kristi’s home. Enlisting Wendy as the designer 18 years ago was the start of an amazing partnership.…we worked just as well together then as we do now!
Describe the problem your work solves: Design done differently – this includes how we structure our business, the way we interact with our customers, the types of highly thoughtful, functional, well crafted, and layer-worthy pieces we create, the service we provide – We solve multiple problems with the sum of all of our parts.
Share the project you are working on now: We are weeks away from introducing our newest collection of furniture, lighting and objects — ‘Petal Promenade’ at NYCxDESIGN. This collection is our love letter to NY, and the culmination of us looking back (towards historical references and our own archives) to bring new pieces to life. On the heels of the ‘Petal Promenade’ launch, we get right back on the court…A pickleball court. ‘The Pickleball Project,’ a true Cuff home, is coming this Fall. A first for Cuff Studio and we’re excited!
What you absolutely have to have in your studio: Vibes — If you have met us, or anybody on our team, you know that we are all about our guests, our clients, our partners, our peers. Curious and welcoming, with some big personalities , and some more reserved. At Cuff Studio, we work hard and without egos or pretense. Our studio always emits warmth and friendliness, then comes the scent, sunlight, beautiful furniture and lighting, a playlist, flowers, art and of course a haul and feast supplied by one of our incredible neighborhood food spots.
What you do when you’re not working: We are both very active outdoors. We lift heavy weights and sauna (because that’s what women in their 50’s do!), spend time with our husbands and our kids (we will both be empty nesters in the fall), love to travel and explore and when time permits, listen to a great podcast or audio book.
Sources of creative envy (dead or alive): We are always very curious, very invested in learning the paths, the lessons, the ways of all sorts of creatives. To name a few… Family operated fabric houses like Dedar, Schumacher, Pierre Frey and Scalamandre – fabrics that bring our furniture and interiors to life. Modern movement design pioneers including Eileen Gray and Pierre Chareau. And, all of the wonderful interior designers who imagine and reimagine ways to make Cuff Studio pieces their own.
The distraction you want to eliminate: We are really hard workers — to the core. We finish what we start. We’re meticulous and prompt. So distractions are typically a good thing for both of us! Gets us out of our heads, off of our laptops and into nature, good conversations, discovering something or somebody inspiring.
Concrete or marble? Marble.
High-Rise Or Townhouse? Townhouse.
Remember or Forget? Remember.
Aliens or Ghosts? Ghosts.
Dark Or Light? Dark.
