Embracing Utility Design in Modern-Day Spaces
The first piece of furniture Nathan and I ever sold was back in August 2022 – the same month HAME was born. It was a 1940s utility tallboy, made from oak and oak veneer. It had a simple yet classic look to it, with panelled doors and a striking zebra-print grain pattern on the front.
I remember it being in a somewhat tatty (but much-loved) condition when we picked it up from its previous custodians, a young couple living in West London. I also recall the two, slightly unnerving Oriental Shorthair cats, with their satellite ears, who watched us intently from the stairs as we shuffled our way out of their hallway shouting ‘PIVOT!’. Luckily, neither of them bolted out the front door and we left with what would become the first of many pieces we’d go on to restore for HAME.
Since that day, we’ve been fortunate enough to work on several other 1940s utility pieces. Most have been in a similarly frazzled state as the first. But with every piece we take on, we find ourselves falling deeper in love with the functional, unassuming aesthetic typical of the period.
The term ‘utility design’ refers to the period between 1941 and 1952 when furniture production in the UK came under government control due to timber shortages caused by the ongoing war.
As with food, furniture came under a strict rationing scheme and only those deemed to be a priority such as those whose homes had been destroyed by air raids were permitted to buy it.
Manufacturers across the country were asked to produce a limited number of state-approved designs, overseen by the Utility Furniture Advisory Committee (later rebranded as the Utility Design Panel). Anything outside of these designs was prohibited, which meant choice was severely limited. This was in stark contrast to the Victorian era when you’d have a lot of highly decorative pieces in circulation, a lot of which was gothic- or Tudor-inspired.
Utility dining room and living room furniture, 1945. Source: Design Council Archive, University of Brighton Design Archives
Heading up the Utility Design Panel was chairman Sir Gordon Russell, one of our favourite twentieth century designers. Growing up near Chipping Campden in the Cotswolds, Russell was heavily influenced by the Arts and Crafts movement, which placed huge emphasis on the functionality of the item, along with quality of materials and craftmanship.
He saw the wartime period as an opportunity to put these guiding principles into practice and reform British design for future generations. As such, all utility furniture followed a straightforward, inornate design, made from hard-wearing and well-crafted materials. Every piece was stamped with a Utility mark (‘CC41,’ colloquially known as ‘the cheeses’) and the designation number of the manufacturer.
Designated firms for Utility furniture production, February 1944. Source: compiled from Board of Trade, Utility Furniture Distribution Committee (1942–1944), The National Archive, BT 64/1749
The production of utility furniture stopped around 1952 following the end of wartime rationing. However, its legacy lives on and there are still a good number of pieces in circulation today.
Due to their simplicity and good quality craftmanship, they’re extremely versatile and are perfect if you’re looking to add a touch of modernist style to your living space.
The trick is to not overdo it; you’re not trying to recreate a 1940s home. One or two select pieces are enough. Most offer plenty of storage, and if looked after correctly, will last you a lifetime (and more).
