What first attracted me to Marble Basics wasn’t their homewares (though they are absolutely stunning!), it was their philosophy that the best designs come down to both functionality and aesthetics.
“We don’t really feel homewares have any meaning or significance if you can’t use them,” explains Bonnie Adams, one half of Marble Basics. “This is not to say that we do not appreciate art or sentimental objects – but it is a point that we would like to express through Marble Basics, that our products specifically factor in both functionality and aesthetics. A chair can be beautiful and incredibly visually appealing, but if you cannot use the chair, the chair is art, not furniture.”
Co-owned with her sister Bliss, the girls began their business this time last year. Since then, they’ve got themselves quite the following, creating one-of-a-kind basics made from marble. “We love that every piece is beautifully unique and has its own story to tell,” says Bliss. “The natural beauty is miraculous and the vast, distinctive nature of each piece means that no two are the same. All of our customers purchase their own remarkable piece of marble and nature. Marble is also durable and if you treat your pieces with love and care, they will be everlasting.
With Bliss previously an interior decorator and Bonnie a student of visual arts, they’re both well versed when it comes to being creative. As a result, they both play key roles in the design process, always placing emphasis on functionality and simplicity. “Our minds are always ticking, questioning new ideas and what designs we can immortalise in marble to create the perfect piece that our customers are missing and yearning for,” explains Bonnie. “We are very tactile so we create our shapes first by drawing and then by creating paper models to represent the shape, so we can perfect the size as dimensions are very important to what we create.”
With Bliss’ favourite product The Basic Step, which is both sculptural and a functional door stop, book end or paperweight and Bonnie’s the Big Basic Round Tray for its never-ending versatility, the sisters have even more designs in store for 2015. “We are adding many new products to our range and are excited to keep designing and growing,” says Bliss. “Our next collection launches in July and we are bursting out of our skin with excitement, so you will have to wait and see what products we have up our sleeves!”
