Inspiration

Families were big and boisterous in Outport Newfoundland. Multiple generations and branches piled into small salt box rooms to dine, debate, dance, make music together and space was never a hindrance.

Putting design in its place, The Long Bench reinterprets historic Newfoundland Outport furniture for the modern context of the Fogo Island Inn. Outport Furniture reflected the contrasting parts of the Newfoundlander’s personalities being both plain; practical in using what was available locally and building what they needed themselves and fancy; bold colour, expressive decoration and humor that fused styles with a disregard for rules and a strong sense of the individual.

Dutch Designer Ineke Hans reinterpreted the classic settle, a wood sofa that evolved from kitchen touch down spot made for rough use to front room settee with upholstery. The classic wooden spindles are split to create a comfortable flat surface for a body to rest and are a homage to the outport practice of taking old chair spindles and splitting them to decorate cabinetry when they were no longer useful.