Sebastian Carpenter Design LLC (SCD) creates furniture that draws on the aesthetic of the mid-century modern and the art deco movements. Sebastian Carpenter is inspired by the works of Poul Kjaerholm, Eileen Gray, and Frank Lloyd Wright to name a few. He draws from these luminaries and others to create furniture that is elegant, luxurious and comfortable. The upholstered pieces are clean-lined yet as comfortable as an overstuffed armchair. A contradiction...but it works!

When a man has a suit made, he knows what it will look like as he has seen it hanging in the window, but he can choose the fabric and it will be made to fit his frame. Sebastian Carpenter Design operates in this manner as each piece is custom made to order, hence the business slogan: Made To Order Modern. All dimensions, materials, and finishes are chosen with the client. Individual pieces are made to fit the environment into which they will be placed.

Every attempt is made to be as "green" as possible while still obtaining the desired effect. All woods used, with the exception of bamboo, are native to the eastern United States. Sebastian has been known to cut and mill his wood from as close as the back door of his studio. The woods of choice are ash and white oak because of their grain and figure. Because bamboo grows so rapidly, SCD recently began to incorporate it into its furniture design. SCD does not use exotic wood in its furniture.

SCD's metal of choice is aluminum. The aluminum used has a minimum recycled content of 50% and is generally powder-coated. Powder coating is a VOC-free finish where the powder/paint is negatively charged and blown at the positively charged metal causing the powder to cling to the metal. It is then baked in an oven creating a hard finish that is soft to touch. While Sebastian prefers to use clear, silver, or black, the powder coating can be done in any color.

Holding true to the "green" ethos, SCD finishes the wood with the least harmful finishes available. The white oak is offered fumed or natural. Fumed white oak is achieved by exposing it to ammonia gas in a sealed environment for up to 72 hours. This exposure to the ammonia turns the white oak brown and brings out the figure. Ash is painted or charred. Charred Ash is burned with a torch and then wire-brushed, accentuating the grain. The finish of choice is a hand-rubbed Linseed/Varnish Oil, but this is often not durable enough nor is it maintenance-free. If a similar effect is desired, one might choose one of the other finishes that SCD also offers: water-based lacquers and conversion varnishes. All have minimal VOCs.

Sebastian Carpenter Design LLC began as an interior design practice in London, England. While in Europe, Sebastian began to place vintage modern pieces in the homes of his clients. Eventually, he was filling entire projects with vintage Mid-Century Modern pieces. He was drawn to the sculptural aspects of these pieces, but felt that much was given up in the way of comfort. When he returned to the United States, and completed his own house, for which he received public recognition through several different publications, he set out to design comfortable modern furniture. The fruits of his labor are what you will see on the website today.