Form Follows Outdoors

As new kids on the design block, Blunt & Co gives outdoor furniture a bold, architectural twist. Meet the brand turning steel, aluminium, and wire into enduring design.

WORDS Gina Dionisio PHOTOS Courtesy of Blunt & Co

Blunt & Co may have launched earlier this year, but the foundations of the South African furniture design business had been taking shape long before.

Founded by Melissa Tredoux – whose journey began in accounting before a growing passion for architecture and design led her in a different direction – and her husband Francois, an engineer, Blunt & Co was born from a fascination with the way furniture shapes everyday living. More recently, Adriaan Louw – an architect and President of the Pretoria Institute for Architects – came on board as a partner, bringing his extensive experience and discerning design approach to the brand.

Together, they approach furniture with the same principles that define thoughtful architecture: clarity of form, structural honesty, and meticulous attention to detail.

The design philosophy behind the brand is rooted in preserving the nostalgia and character of traditional South African furniture while reinterpreting it through a contemporary lens. “For us, the relationship between tradition and contemporary design is not necessarily about preserving the original material or form of traditional South African furniture, but about retaining the feeling and nostalgia associated with familiar objects while allowing them to evolve,” says Melissa. “We often start with something recognisable like a typology, material or construction method and then reinterpret it through proportion, form and making.”

With Blunt & Co’s debut collection – the Archie and Charlie outdoor ranges – there is a strong emphasis on material, structure, proportion, and construction. Crafted with steel, aluminium, and wire, the collection celebrates materials chosen for their durability, structural integrity, and suitability for outdoor living.

“Our background in architecture influences the way we approach steel not simply as a material from which a piece of furniture is manufactured, but as both a structural and visual element that can define the form, character, and experience of the design. Architecture tends to operate at a larger spatial and contextual scale, whereas furniture is much more immediate and intimate, but that difference is precisely what interests us,” says Melissa. “The furniture becomes almost like a small piece of architecture where structure, material, human use and spatial experience are resolved within a single object.”

For Melissa, a collection of outdoor furniture provided the ideal foundation for the brand and its exploration of materiality and nostalgia. “I remember a simple traditional wire furniture set in our family garden that, over many years, became part of countless family moments and memories, and what stayed with me was its ability to remain relevant and meaningful through time. That led us towards outdoor furniture because it sits naturally between architecture, landscape and everyday life,” she says. “The outdoor environment is unforgiving, so sun, rain and changing weather demand honesty about material, construction, durability and maintenance, which ultimately led us to explore steel not only for its robustness but for its structural and aesthetic possibilities.”

The Archie and Charlie ranges, each comprising a three-seater bench, a lounge chair, and a table, are manufactured locally in small batches, allowing the team to remain closely involved throughout the process.

At its core, Blunt & Co believes that good furniture should embody the same qualities as good architecture: simplicity, permanence, and the quiet confidence to become more beautiful with time. @bluntcodesign

Don’t forget to sign up to our weekly newsletter for the latest architecture and design news.