The Tol collection is the latest creation from designer Cristina Bulat, a graduate of the Faculty of Interior Architecture at UAUIM. Cristina Bulat distinguished herself last year at the National Furniture Design Competition, organized by the Romanian Furniture Producers Association, where she won first place for her first furniture collection, entitled "The Unbutton".
The "Unbutton" furniture line has been featured in prestigious international magazines and showcased at industry trade shows. It draws inspiration from the Pin-Up art movement – the dressers allude to an unbuttoned shirt through curved frames reminiscent of a collar, crafted from MDF.
In 2015, Cristina Bulat created the Țol Collection, inspired by old Romanian carpets woven from wool and decorated with traditional elements, nominated for the Elle Decoration Romanian Design Awards 2015.
Cristina Bulat states that the Tol collection was inspired by a challenge to create furniture pieces with traditional inspiration, which were to be exhibited at an ethno-themed fair in the Republic of Moldova.
Cristina remembered that "at first, I was quite skeptical and considered it something that 'had to be done,' but gradually it transformed into a reverence that I wanted to bring to the place where I was born and raised.
This collection is very dear to me, and just as an object gains value through its uniqueness and authenticity, I can sum myself up in this line which I have invested with great spiritual significance.
Regarding preferred materials, the designer would like to work with felt and cork, natural materials that provide that sense of peace and warmth everyone wants to find in their home. In principle, I am a big admirer of clear and well-defined lines and shapes that impress only through a few details that give personality to the object.
My theory is that objects should be simple, ergonomic, functional, and have that "something" that catches your attention. These are the principles I try to apply when creating a design object, Cristina told us.
The pieces from the Tol collection, a dresser and a side table, follow a clean and simple line, with distinctive elements being the ripples suggesting an easily wrinkled fabric and perforations with traditional motifs in sheet metal.
The pieces are made from solid oak wood at the Delta Studio factory, and the perforated steel sheet with traditional motifs was created in the Vertigo Metal Design metal workshop in Bucharest.
The first prototypes were executed in white, but can be customized in any shade available from the RAL range. Additionally, custom dimensions can be made upon request. The TOL furniture, created by Cristina Bulat, is now included by the 100% Romanian furniture brand Formmat in the Designers Invited section.
