We ship our products across North America and have come to trust FedEx to deliver our crated furniture safely.

Last year, in the heat of the uncertainty of 2020, FedEx stepped up to support small business in Canada through their #SupportSmall Grant. We are a proud recipient of their grant, which supported our efforts to continue to grow our local Western Canadian based business to shipping throughout the United States and Eastern Canada.

We love seeing our furniture head to New York, Florida, California, Toronto - to name a few. To say we're honoured to share our work abroad is an understatement!

Thank you FedEx Canada for supporting small businesses across Canada!

Our designer, Kirk Van Ludwig, walks you through a studio tour showcasing a few of our latest products, including the Ben credenza, Tillikum Black bench, Clair end tables, and Jack dining table. This tour was filmed for ICFF + WantedDesign Manhattan CLOSEUP in New York - a virtual trade show.

Last Fall, in lieu of displaying at the International Contemporary Furniture Fair (ICFF) and WantedDesign Manhattan, Autonomous Furniture took part in a two-day virtual trade event that was broadcast live from New York, including live conversations, trend presentations, virtual studio visits, and product launches from established and emerging brands alike.

Editor-in-chief of Dwell, William Hanley, led the conversation with the North American studio sessions that included Autonomous.  Kirk took the audience through a behind-the-scenes of our studio and launching of our latest pieces. We hope you enjoy the tour here!

Photo by Bryce Barry.

Many of you know our brand and furniture already.  But go behind the scenes and you'll find a lesser known part of our business not often communicated.  For eight years now, the Autonomous Furniture crew have honed our social and environmental practices to better strengthen our neighborhood contributions and decrease our impact on the environment.

Our furniture’s origins are rooted by the forests of beautiful British Columbia, we take great care in nurturing the environment in all aspects of our furniture design and manufacturing. First, we source as close to home as possible, starting on Vancouver Island, and expanding to Pacific Northwest with an eye for local distribution. We research and vet all wood suppliers for sustainable forest management and best practices.

Only natural oil and wax finishes are used on Autonomous pieces, comprised of renewable raw materials, ensuring its safe for humans, animals, and plants, and healthier for our craftsmen applying it.

Our sheet goods, such as acrylic and matte black composite material (made of 65% recycled paper) are optimized to ensure almost zero waste. An extensive recycling and waste program within our shop results in as little as one garbage bag per week. Our ‘Material Bank’ program offers Interior Designers free wood for use in mood boards.

Shop photos by Bright Photography.

Circular Economy for Furniture

At Autonomous, we strive to design and manufacture furniture to benefit the circular economy. Our natural materials and finishes, limited use of adhesives, as well as furniture designed for easy repair, and the potential to return to us to reform a furniture piece to another. Our packaging materials are collected from large manufacturers that would otherwise be discarded and are upcycled for local deliveries before being used to ship to other cities.

The goal is to pass Autonomous Furniture pieces down through generations, rather than discarding to a landfill, with an ability to maintain its pristine condition.

Coming Soon ... Autonomous Furniture Registry

Part of what we offer in our furniture is bespoke customization, and the ability to re-purpose and re-use.  Consumers are moving away from consumption of standardized mass produced products.  All our designs can be tailored, this is what we call customized.  The goal is for the piece to fit perfectly into your lives eliminating the desire for change.  However if change is needed, we have also designed the pieces to re-purpose.  As an example, turning an acrylic console into a bench, easily changing the colour, or refreshing the piece before moving to another family member.  And re-use - we are working on a registry program for all our clients.  Because situations change, and we want your piece to go to someone else to enjoy for years to come.  Soon, our clients will have the opportunity to sell their pieces on our Autonomous Furniture Registry site.  Certain pieces such as our Freeman bench, are very difficult to make and time consuming.  There is often a waiting list for such pieces.  Someone else might be the perfect recipient. 

In the end, we pledge to put as much of our revenue back into the local economy as possible.  Wood purchases from a local family-owned sawmill, our street person window cleaner, or the local roaster supplying us with copious amounts of coffee on a daily basis.

The Ben credenza is a totally customizable solid wood unit.  Uncommonly built with only solid wood.  Handcrafted in Victoria, BC, Canada, the Ben begins with a blackened steel base, black steel door pulls, and soft close hinges. 

The cantilevered unit can be used for audiophiles, as a sideboard to hold dishes, or as a stand-alone piece perhaps as a hallway credenza.  Designed by Kirk Van Ludwig, and available in Ash, Oak, or as shown in Walnut.  Functionally customizable for cable management, component heat dissipation, doors or drawers - it's your choice.

See specifications of the Ben here, and contact us with any questions or requests on this credenza.

In other news, we're honoured to be a Western Living Designer of the Year finalist in Furniture in 2020. What a year it's been, so we're very pleased that our beloved West Coast design magazine was able to continue running these esteemed awards. Thank you Western Living!

The pandemic has been an illuminator for us, highlighting why we started our business in the first place.  Your home is a place of comfort and peace.  The things you fill it with should be with purpose and soul, what makes us smile.

Inspired by this thought, Kirk Van Ludwig started designing a dining table with the goal of something we could produce quickly, using sustainably sourced wood, embody the Autonomous spirit, at a price most could afford.  The Jack was designed, engineered, and built in four weeks.

In spirit of the Case House Study of the late 1940s, it uses minimal materials, made of solid Ash boards optimized to yield both top and legs.  By transposing the leg direction, and using a double tenon to attach, the result is an incredibly grounded table.  Available in whitened or blackened ash.

The Jack is finished in food safe, all-natural hardwax oil, flat packs for easy assembly, and measures 84" x 36" x 29" high. Designed at an approachable price, the Jack is ready to host many family conversations and delicious meals.