OUR STORY

OUR STORY
OUR VALUES

Tandem Studio was founded in 2005 by Simone and Jonathan Wright to create beautiful and durable furniture and spaces

How we began
Our story is rooted in our shared belief that good design can improve the quality of peoples lives through using and experiencing it everyday.

We are Jonathan and Simone Wright, an English designer and furniture maker and a German architect. We met in a London architectural practice in 1997 and set up Tandem Studio in 2005, bringing together our diverse set of skills and experiences to create modern interiors and bespoke furniture.

After Graduating from The University of Applied Science Munich, Simone worked for several leading architectural practices in the South West of England and Jonathan established his own studio whilst running a degree course in Furniture and Interior Design at the University of Plymouth.

For the past 13 year we have worked with a range of architects, interior designers and private clients that share many of our values. They come to us because they like our approach as well as the design and quality of our work. This makes our work all the more enjoyable the relationship with our clients often lasts beyond the duration of a project.

The move to Germany
With a young family in tow, Tandem Studio relocated to Murnau in 2018, at the foot of the Bavarian Alps. Here we plan to grow the business, offering our innovative service to the Munich area, Stuttgart and beyond. We feel ideally placed to make the most of the regional woodworking tradition combined with our modern processing technologies to further enhance what Tandem Studio can offer. We are very excited about the next chapter in our lives and look forward to the possibilities ahead.
Tandem Studio
For us the word tandem expresses the ‘more than one’ :
the combination of working with both furniture and space;
the design and making; and working collaboratively.
Our Values
Good design for everyday use.
We both have a background in architecture and share many of the values associated with Scandinavian design. Our ethos promotes simplicity, quality, functionality and accessibility. We love good design. Good design should be accessible to everyone. Spaces, furniture, everyday objects – they should all work well and be beautiful, and therefore enjoyable to use. Just as one of the most influential architects of the Scandinavian modern movement put it: Beauty is the harmony of purpose and form (Alvar Aalto, 1928).


Ethics and sustainability
We have always used materials honestly and create our furniture for longevity from sustainable materials and natural finishes. We feel this is reflected in the simplicity and elegance of our designs. We believe that we have to do our best, in private and in business, to look after the environment and after people. We try to do this whenever we design, source, make, travel, eat, teach and dispose of. We want to live as ethically as we can. And we want to give the best we can with all our designs and the things we make: if something is beautifully designed and made carefully and to a high quality, it will last and have a true value.
Please get in touch to discuss your project.
Call us on 0152 02428327 or fill out the form on our contact page.

CLIENT TESTIMONIAL

  • Tandem Studio worked with us and the architects to design the fixed and loose furniture for the fit-out of this great space at Gara Rock. We wanted to achieve a ‘light’ feel with the furniture to reflect the large amount of glass in this space. Jonathan and his team were very helpful at every stage of the design and worked with other contractors to ensure that the fit-out went to plan.

    Simon Baldwin, Director of Aminghurst Ltd

  • I worked with Jonathan for upwards of four years on the overall design of the Ford Park Cemetery Visitor Centre and Exhibition Space, and on the detailed design, costing, construction where appropriate and installation of the display and other furnishings. In all he did he always aspired to the highest professional standards. He thinks deeply about design, his drawings are accurate and well executed and the display furniture and other items he provided us with reflected a high degree of craftsmanship with a good balance between function and appearance. He has a good eye for space, colour, ambience and detail.
    The outcome is that we have a modern, vibrant, high quality space, which meets our conflicting needs as well as it is possible to do so.
    It was a pleasure to work with someone so utterly reliable.

    Dr Henry Will MBE, Chairman, Ford Park Cemetery Trust

  • Tandem Studio has done some wonderful projects with us – and each time has taken our outline design and gone above and beyond to realise our vision while meeting the client’s needs and ensuring every practicality is covered.

    Jonathan has a great eye, understands what we are trying to achieve and completes this with an excellent technical knowledge and creative flair. Never phased by trying something for the first time he happily researches new materials and gets as excited as we do about the possibilities of new things. We usually hand over the last details for him to deal directly with the client as he has an excellent client manner as well.

    Jennifer Hamilton, Interior Designer, The Vawdrey House, London

  • We admire and value Jonathan’s enduring commitment to achieving excellence. He is prepared to do his utmost to strive for the best possible outcome. His experience as an architect, and environmental awareness, brings a wider context to his understanding and evolution of creative furniture designs.

    We find the furniture he has made completely fits our design brief, is visually pleasing with great attention to detail, robust and satisfying to use, and we are certain will have longevity. He brings a rare quality of care and consideration to his work, and we feel fortunate in finding someone who exceeds our demanding expectations.

    Geoffrey Larder, private client

  • We were beyond thrilled with the project Tandem Studio completed for us. Jonathan and Simone went above and beyond to ensure every detail of the project was perfect. The combination of this attention to detail and their creative approach puts them head and shoulders above in our opinion. Our clients, new and old, continue to comment on the ‘individuality and style’ of our salon – this is largely down to Jonathan and Simone’s vision for the space. Professional, approachable and creative – we would highly recommend them and their energy.

    Jon Fulton, business owner

  • The commission was to construct and assemble some new multifunctional breakout furniture to be installed at Orleans Infant School in Twickenham. Tandem Studio won the commission through a competitive tender process, coming out on top in quality and value for money.

    Straight away Tandem Studio understood the concept, recognised our expectations for the space and provided clear communication and creative support throughout. The furniture was installed over the Christmas holiday period, with no fuss, in order for us to meet our design programme. The results are an exceptionally high quality piece of work, which we are all extremely pleased with and will be enjoyed by the children, teachers and parents for many years to come.

    Ian Liptrot, Architect, Associate DLA Architecture

  • Tandem Studio were fantastic to work with, designing and making a large quantity of chairs, tables and shelving for our new office to a very high quality and to a demandingly tight deadline. As an architectural practice we have very high standards of design and quality, and found Tandem after an extensive nationwide search. The result has transformed our new office into something very special. It has been much admired by numerous visitors and is much enjoyed by all of us. I cannot recommend Tandem Studio too highly.

    Jonathan Hines, Architect, Partner at Architype

  • I received excellent and very personalised advice refurbishing my office. My input was put into an affordable and very stylish design, alterations were incorporated at my request. The work was executed swiftly and neatly . I now hope to get some of the beautifully designed chairs to match the rest.

    Dr Agnies Calkoen, GP, Pathways Surgery

  • Jonathan and his colleages gave us options and choices about the design of the furniture. Their approach was innovative and flexible. They have a sound grasp of how to get the best out of space and room. The quality of materials is outstanding, they are attractive and thoughtfully chosen and a pleasure to live with. It's sustainable and sympathetic to our ideas- an oasis.
    Their service was always friendly and accessible, we always got prompt answers. We have a dream room at a good price - functional and inspiring - the whole process was a delight.

    Anagrett Ward, private client
We have a passion for good design, quality and invention that is reflected in everything we do
Process and Materials
Residential
Commercial