Babel Crane, BE

Lionel Jadot is as much an inventor as he is a designer. The Brussels-based furniture maker and tinkerer defies categorization with a body of work linked only by the use of repurposed materials. His one-of-a-kind chairs, statement-making tables and eclectic lamps overflow with personality and charm. Jadot is also an interior architect known for creating energetic spaces with a retro yet futuristic feel.

Jadot comes from a long line of custom furniture designers and was born in Belgium in an apartment above a design studio. As a child, he would walk through the family workshop every day after school, picking up the scrap material to experiment with in his room. He took over the family business when he was just 18, and the self-taught Jadot reveled in the freedom to create whatever designs he wanted.

At his eponymous atelier, Jadot works on projects for private homes as well as restaurants, bars and hotels. While his designs and interiors can look chaotic at first glance — with his stone chairs and imposing Organic Modern-style tables of marble and wood — the disparate elements come together in a harmonious balance underpinned by quality and craftsmanship.

In 2019, Jadot also established Zaventem Ateliers in the village of Zaventem outside of Brussels. The former industrial space has become a hub for a community of established and emerging designers and artists.

Jadot's creations are regularly exhibited at design fairs and events in Brussels and around Europe. In 2020, his Crushed Seat (2018) was presented by Todd Merrill Studio director Dallas Dunn at the Brussels Collectible Design Fair. His work was once again exhibited at the Collectible Design Fair 2021 with Antwerp-based Everyday Gallery. Jadot has also expanded into Milan, Italy, with a project called Baranzate Ateliers, which enjoyed a strong showing at Milan Design Week 2022.

On 1stDibs, find Lionel Jadot seating, tables, lighting and more.