Brodie Neill

Brodie Neill is a dynamic designer of modern and minimalist furniture that features an expressive approach to function. He plays with seamless, flowing forms while maintaining a sensitivity to the environmental impact of his work. Known for his critically acclaimed pieces that use discarded materials, he always puts the conservation of resources and protection of the environment first.

Born in Tasmania, Neill built furniture as a teenager in his spare time, using any simple tools at his disposal, before studying furniture design at the University of Tasmania. He graduated in 2001 with honors and then completed his master’s degree at the Rhode Island School of Design in 2004. After a successful stint working for leading brands in New York, he established his studio in the East End of London, where he began experimenting with ocean plastics and converting them into eco-friendly furnishings.

His work includes the acclaimed E-Turn chair, the Jet table, the Remix chaise longue and the @ Chair, which was included in Time Magazine’s Design 100. His Flotsam bench, made from plastic waste extracted from the ocean, was one of the innovative furnishings introduced at the 2019 Salone del Mobile in Milan. 

Due to his sustainable design practices, he has been a guest speaker at the European Parliament and the United Nations. Since launching his atelier, Neill has worked with an impressive roster of clients, including Riva 1920, Swarovski and Kundalini, and has collaborated with international brands such as Microsoft, Mercedes-Benz and Alexander McQueen. He has won international design awards and exhibited extensively, including a solo show at the New York fashion showroom of Rubin & Chapelle.

On 1stdibs, find Brodie Neil seating, tables, storage cabinets and more.

A revival in the popularity of authentic Minimalist furniture is rooted in history while reflecting the needs and tastes of the 21st century. Designer Ludwig Mies van der Rohe’s aphorism that “less is more” influenced the evolution of 20th-century interiors with an emphasis on function and order. This was a shift from the 19th century, with its lavish Victorian decorating, and was spread around the world through design styles including Bauhaus and brutalism.

Yet Minimalism was present in furniture design long before the clean lines of modernism, such as in the simple and elegant utility of Shaker furniture. Although the Minimalist art movement of the 1960s and ’70s had little crossover with furniture design, artist Donald Judd was inspired by the Shakers in creating his own spare daybeds and tables from sturdy wood. (Judd, whose advocacy of symmetry also informed his architectural projects, furnished his Manhattan loft with unassuming but poetic works by iconic modernist designers such as Gerrit Rietveld and Alvar Aalto.)

Understatement rather than ornamentation and open space instead of clutter are central themes for a Minimalist living room and bedroom. As opposed to Maximalism, the focus for Minimalist furniture and decor is on simplicity and considering the design and purpose of every object.

Furnishings are usually made in neutral or monochrome colors and pared down to their essentials — think nesting coffee tables, sectional sofas and accent pieces such as ottomans. And Minimalist ceramics can help achieve a decor that is both timeless and of the moment. The organic textures and personalization of handmade craftsmanship associated with these works have served as a sort of anti-Internet to screen-weary decorators. That said, while the thoughtful ergonomics of Scandinavian modern furniture, with its handcrafted teak frames, are at home in Minimalist spaces, so are the quietly striking pieces by Japanese designer Naoto Fukasawa that employ industrial materials like stainless steel, aluminum and plastic.

Minimalist furniture is not for making flashy statements; it boasts subdued appeal and excels at harmonizing with any room. And, as it encompasses many different movements and eras of design, it also never goes out of style, owing to its tasteful refinement.

Find a collection of Minimalist tables, seating, lighting and more furniture on 1stDibs.