During the 18th and 19th centuries, English military officers rarely left home without their creature comforts. These men traveled to the edges of the British Empire with campaign furniture—bureaus, desks, beds, and chairs that could be taken apart, packed into trunks, and reassembled without nails or tools. Often made from mahogany or rattan and hinged with leather, camp furniture was sturdy yet elegant—“a chic study in form meets function function,” says interior designer Virginia Tupker.
Campaign-style furniture can bring a sense of history to a space and at the same time lighten the mood, says designer Kirill Istomin: “A folding table has a temporary feeling, but temporary in a good way. It makes a room more casual.” And don’t worry if contemporary pieces only appear to be portable, he adds. “Most…
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ELLE DECOR (Digital) - 1 Issue, May 2017