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Ryan Frank Strata Lower Slot Stool Review

Ryan Frank Strata Lower Slot Stool
Typical price:
£105
We like:
Rescuing desks that would have gone to landfill; that it is comfy to sit on; that we can put magazines on its base
We don't like:
That it gets a little grubby quite quickly
SmartPlanet judgement:
This stool -- and the Strata range in general -- is the epitome of eco-chic when it comes to sleek furniture design. It's good quality, comfortable and we're impressed that Ryan Frank has managed to make chipboard from old office desks look so good.
Score:
Editors' Score
8.6
Contact:
Nice Car Company at http://www.ryanfrank.net/
Telephone: +44 (0)7984 146 383
Review:

Having trialled Ryan Frank's Strata stool for a few days in the office, we're very sad to see it go. It brightened up the office, as it will brighten up any room. Its birch colour may make you instantly think IKEA, but we like it -- although it's not the most practical of shades as any little bit of dirt that sticks to it is pretty visible. Nevertheless the stool’s style and sturdiness makes it immediately obvious that this is a piece of designer furniture.

As for the actual design, we love the 'inbuilt magazine shelf', which both the stool and the Bourke's Luck chair have, as well as the noticeable stripes of FSC wood and recycled bits of old office desks, coated with a natural vegetable oil wax. Though the stool looks unfussy and simple, it has soft, inviting curves that make you want to sit on it even though you can tell from the material that it's going to be pretty hard. There are still divided opinions within the SmartPlanet team over whether we prefer the stool as it is or with a cushion on top.

The Strata range comprises a stool, chair, coffee table and dining table. We would love to see it all together in a dining/living room -- it would look amazing. Green Works charity and social enterprise works with Ryan Frank, the designer, to collect redundant office furniture around the UK for the future production of Strata furniture.

Check out the rest of the range and Ryan Frank's other designs here.

Score breakdown:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
9.0
Quality
7.7
Value
8.5
Ethics
9.0
Green
8.6
Score
 
Read more reviews of green and ethical products at www.smartplanet.com