Every year, our designers travel the world in search of inspiration for fresh new designs for everything from furniture collections to pillows and decorative accessories. According to Vice President of Product Design Keshi Akino, the initial idea for our cast-aluminum Tourelle Outdoor Seating Collection started with a trip to Europe. “While strolling through a Parisian flea market, we found a French neoclassical antique bench sitting outside and instantly fell in love with it,” she said. “It felt perfect as an inspiration point for our brand.”
Keshi Akino, Frontgate Vice President of Product Design
During the design and development of Tourelle, everything that Keshi and her team loved about that original French antique had to be translated into a seating collection that lived up to Frontgate’s high standards for outdoor furniture. “We went through several rounds of development to make sure that the scale and seat depth were just right so there was plenty of space to stretch out and relax,” Keshi said. “Of course, we took the design and translated it using rust-resistant aluminum and a multilayered finish made for outdoor use. And then extra little details like the floral medallions enhanced the overall look.”
According to Keshi, a few of Tourelle’s new features stand out as favorites. “I love how we were able to capture the neoclassical look in the frame arches while updating the traditional details to give this collection a more relevant aesthetic. I also love that the narrow slats on the seat provide a nice counterbalance to the openness of the airy curved motifs on the arms and back. The end result is a beautiful new seating collection that complements a variety of decorating styles,” Keshi said. “Tourelle is a perfect fit for classic outdoor decor, although the simplicity of the design makes it exceptionally versatile, so it’s also a great choice if your style leans more toward transitional.”
