The right brothers

Despite their considerable reputation for flare with food and clothes, the French are not normally noted, with one or two exceptions, for their furniture design. A new exhibition at London's Design Museum of the work of the Bouroullec brothers - Ronan and Erwan - aims to change that perception.

The brothers are relatively new on the design scene but have already caught the eye of leading manufacturers of contemporary furniture. In their Paris studio in St-Denis they are working on future projects for Cappellini, Domeau et P?res, Habitat, Ligne Roset and Vitra. Not a bad portfolio when, like Ronan, you are just 30 or, as with Erwan, a mere 26. Yet the pair have already created interiors for Issey Miyake and furniture for Christian Dior.

The Bouroullecs aim to design for people like themselves, that is, for those who want flexibility in the objects with which they surround themselves, so they can be adapted to their changing needs. Their practice has become one of the hottest in France and is rapidly establishing a worldwide reputation. "Their design notion," explains Design Museum curator Gemma Curtin, "is to give a little bit extra, as in their Glide sofa, which has a hole pierced through the back. The hole folds down to form a shelf. Also, their easy chair, 1 et Demi, has a stool attached to the side that could be for your computer, clothes or as a seat for a visitor."

The Bouroullecs like to play with perception of space. Their bed, Lit Clos, to be manufactured by Cappellini, is a kind of postmodern four-poster that creates a mezzanine bed on legs of variable height. It has shades of childhood tree houses but, more practically, is a way of creating a private sleeping area for people who live and work in the same flexible open-plan space.

Cuisine Desintegr?e, a kitchen designed by Ronan, deals with similar issues of flexibility and change. Based on a simple frame, the owner clamps on drawers, worktops, hooks and shelves to suit their changing needs. If the owner moves home, the kitchen can as well. Similarly, the brother's Zip carpet is based on strips of carpet that can be zipped together in a combination of colours and sizes to suit any space or interior.

"The brothers reject the idea that everything should be minimal and disappearing," says Gemma Curtin. "They want to create objects that appear like sculpture in a landscape, but they don't want to dictate how the home should be. They are keen that their furniture can sit beside an antique or something that's been handed down in the family. They use a lot of natural colours and materials. They don't shout about a way of living."

Nevertheless they are likely to influence interiors as their designs, which include ceramics, lighting, carpets and jewellery, come on stream. Watch out for a new office system from Vitra and ceramics from Habitat.

The Fabulous Bouroullec Boys is at the Design Museum, 28 Shad Thames, SE1, from 1 February to 16 June, 10am to 5.45pm daily. Tickets £6, concessions £4, family tickets £16.
Tel: 020 7940 8790