Simon Johns: Back To The Roots

Set within the secluded woods of East-Bolton in Southern Quebec, Canada sits the studio of Simon Johns. The fine arts-trained designer is known for his one-off and limited-edition pieces of sculptural furniture and lighting, defined by raw materiality and poetic compositions.

“I did my BFA in Montreal and was working building sets for theater and video, and building the occasional piece of basic furniture for friends,” says Johns. “My partner and I decided to move to the country and were charmed by a crumbling fixer-upper on a beautiful piece of land, bordering the Missisquoi river, with cliffs and giant hemlocks. I wanted to work from home, in this inspiring and calm environment, but I still didn’t know how to make it work.”

It was a visit to design week in New York that proved vital to John’s next career step that would ultimately shift the course of his life.

“I realized there was more freedom and expressive potential in making furniture than I ever knew, and that I might have an interesting perspective to share,” he explains.

After building a studio on the same seven acre lot as his home in the mountainous wooded region that is an hours drive from Montreal and a day trip from New York, Simon Johns was established.

“I make sculptural furniture inspired by my environment, sometimes subtly, sometimes blatantly,” says Johns. “Pieces are often large in scale and some have textural elements that are unique in that part of their process and involves chance.”

The collections include hanging console tables resembling crumbling sedimentary stone, a series of one-of-a-kind end tables made from found stones, statement mirrors, dining tables, and credenzas.

“I am moved by the volumes in stone formations, the subtleties in natural patterns, and the way light hits textures so perfectly,” says Johns. “I hope to make pieces whose presence can translate these feelings and bring them to interiors.”

Simon Johns predominantly uses ash and white oak in his woodwork, as well as aluminum, mirror, found stone, and even plaster. All products are made-to-order, allowing him to take requests for details and overall dimensions.

“My work is really the result of my own experience,” says Johns. “There are many amazing studios right now that operate at my scale making work that feels personal. We all have something to share, I think our model differentiates us from any company that is pumping out orders that are on-trend, so I guess my brand is making work that speaks to you or it doesn’t. It has its own voice.”

Currently, Johns is working to integrate plaster and stoneware into his material vocabulary and intends to show some of the work at NYCxDesign in May. He also recently purchased a small chapel built in 1965 where he hopes to experiment with new work and possibly open an occasional exhibition space. Keep up with Simon Johns at @simonjohnsdesign and simonjohns.com.