Rare chair revived at Decorex show
Discover the rare chair revived at Decorex show by Marchmont Workshop, a Scottish Borders studio founded by award-winning designers.
The Marchmont Workshop, a Scottish Borders studio, will present its first independent stand at Decorex International in October 2026, marking a significant milestone for the studio. Founded by award-winning designers Richard Platt and Sam Cooper, the studio has previously showcased its work in group settings and collaborations.
Richard Platt and Sam Cooper began their craft in 2018, apprenticing under master chairmaker Lawrence Neal to learn techniques passed down through six generations, including Arts and Crafts pioneers Ernest Gimson and Philip Clissett. Their apprenticeship was funded by the late Hugo Burge, a benefactor of Marchmont House.
Preserving a Rare Craft
Rush seating is one of Britain’s rarest surviving crafts, with fewer than 25 practising rush seaters in the UK, according to the Basketmakers Association. The Marchmont Workshop is one of only a handful of studios keeping the skill alive at a professional level, with a three-person team dedicated to rush-seating specialists.
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The studio has hired its first apprentice, Isaac, who has been awarded the QEST Jasper Weldon Apprentice for Furniture Making/Rush Seating, to ensure the craft carries forward to the next generation. The Hugo Burge Foundation, established to carry Hugo’s vision forward, has funded the first six months of Isaac’s apprenticeship.
Decorex International
The Marchmont Workshop’s stand at Decorex International will feature new designs, including two variants of the Evelix table and a new design with a woven column of rush inspired by Orkney’s traditional straw-back chairs. The stand will be divided into two connected settings, a dining space and a living room, allowing visitors to see the furniture in context.
A large-scale rush installation will be the centrepiece of the stand, running the full height of the back wall to form an immersive, textural backdrop. The installation is intended to draw visitors into the stand and tell the story of the studio.
Decorex International will run from 11-14 October 2026 at Olympia London, with The Marchmont Workshop located on stand G63. This will be the studio’s first opportunity to showcase its work to an international design audience on its own terms, highlighting the story of place, material, and inherited skill that underlies its craft.
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New Designs and Collaborations
The Marchmont Workshop’s new designs reveal the full breadth of its offering, from Arts and Crafts-rooted classics to more contemporary additions, all built on the strength and versatility of native timbers. The studio’s collaboration with Claire Welsh Interiors has resulted in the development of two variants of the Evelix table.
The studio’s commitment to preserving traditional crafts is evident in its approach to furniture making, where every piece begins with the same first principles: timber selected and harvested by hand, turned and steam-bent in the workshop, and finished without shortcuts. As they prepare to showcase their work at Decorex International, it is clear that their dedication to their craft has resulted in a unique and compelling offering.
The Marchmont Workshop’s appearance at Decorex International is a significant moment in the studio’s history, marking a new chapter in its development and providing an opportunity for the studio to share its story with a wider audience. As they look to the future, it is clear that their commitment to their craft and their community will remain at the forefront of their work.
