Design Guild Mark 2025!

We are thrilled to announce that we were awarded a Design Guild Mark yesterday for our Oleander sideboard in partnership with Heal's.

Shop the side board online and instore at UK retailer Heal’s

“Hi there, I am Leonhard Pfeifer from Pfeifer Design.

We were thrilled to be invited to collaborate with UK furniture brand Heals, who have just launched our Oleander sideboard, in-store and on-line.”

“Heals were looking for a collection of cabinets featuring contrasting wood fronts. In our approach to the project, functional and production criteria were paramount. But implicit in the brief was the need to use design to create value for the customer.  So our design process focused on areas of value adding - specifically the doors and the base.

For these elements solid timber was chosen to maximise value and open up possibilities to introduce novel design elements. As well, particular attention was paid to processes involved in volume production, in order to lower costs and keep the design accessible for the customer.”

“We developed a textured pattern featuring horizontal scalloping which creates a shadow that changes during the day depending upon the ambient light of a room, which is a fascinating and dynamic element of the design. The textured front defines the character of the piece and emphasizes the use of solid timber, which is also evident in the the bridle joint connecting the legs to the base.

To keep the form light we raised the legs, so needed a robust construction and the traditional bridle joint was a good option for its strength. The introduction of the chamfer created a similar shadow effect to the doors and further lightened the form. Raised door lips create handle-less doors, to improve accessibility for less abled users; and the inclusion of soft-close hinges prevent sudden closures, protecting children from jam injuries.

Importantly, the design maximises internal storage space and is adaptable with adjustable shelves in each of the three compartments.

The construction displays the conscious material selection alongside the quality and craft inherent in the production. The cabinet is constructed from veneer and substrate panels that are sustainably sourced, with FSC certification. The doors and base are solid oak and while not certified FSC, the material is generally considered a sustainability managed resource.”

“Our goal was to produce a furniture collection that was both contemporary, but that alluded to the design history of Heals, so our choice of materials and attention to manufacturing details was crucial.

We worked within the bounds of a minimal style and used the warmth of timber to increase the accessibility and longevity of the design, which allows the Oleander collection to integrate harmoniously within Heals current assortment.”

Design process words by Leonhard Pfeifer

Leonhard Pfeifer from Pfeifer Design talking us through his design process for the Oleander sideboard. Designed exclusively for Heal’s the sideboard was awarded a Design Guild Mark in May 2025.

FYI - turn your volume on to hear him!