Seeking out the special with Bullfrog

‘We’re a creative lot, a close-knit team that enjoys nothing more than coming up with something new. We’re innovative, unpretentious, open-minded and stubborn,‘ says designer Kurt Beier of Bullfrog, summing up the essence of the company he founded. He grins as he continues: ‘Stubbornness stands for our conviction. We’re convinced of our ideas without seeking confirmation for them. We’re aware of our stubbornness and we know how to use it.‘

Bullfrog has been creating furniture that inspires people for more than a quarter of a century. The town of Michelau in Bavaria is the epicentre of the Bullfrog family’s activities; it’s from here, in close collaboration with local suppliers and global partners, that the furniture is sent on its way around the world, sofas and armchairs that whisper a hint of poetry and exude an upbeat, light-hearted feel.

‘Bullfrog stands for passion, a passion for design, for the synthesis of form and function,‘ says Jan Beier, who is Kurt Beier’s son and today CEO of the innovative furniture manufacturer. It’s the details, enhanced by craftsmanship, that bring the furniture to life and make it so unusual. Individually selected covers made of the finest fabrics or top-quality leather, perfectly cut and specially sewn, engage in an inspiring dialogue with surprising, technically perfected functions – all in the service of creating comfortable favourite spots.

In 2014, Kurt Beier and Kati Quinger created Akito – a light, laid-back sofa system that can be individually configured and blends in with any ambience. Manually or electrically adjustable seating elements with variable functions, a solid base made of wood sourced from domestic, sustainably managed forests and covers in natural leather or playful fabrics make every sofa one of a kind. The Iwan system stands for a new way of living too.

Whether it’s used to create a standalone sofa, a corner solution or a gorgeous sectional arrangement, the seating system is sensuous and puristic at once and permits almost infinite freedom. And then there’s Isola, a design that brings a flamboyant, exotic flair to any space. All three furniture systems cut an equally fine figure outdoors too.

‘We combine contemporary design with German engineering,‘ says Kurt Beier. ‘And living up to such a high standard of creativity, function and quality means we have to be free thinkers.‘ At their own design studio, Kurt Beier and Kati Quinger have been seeking out the special with their team for many years now. ‘We take the time to write new design stories and find new techniques, new materials, new craft and much, much more besides. We take our inspiration from other sectors and from everyday life in general. Lateral thinking is a must. Our passion takes time, dedication and sometimes patience. We stick with it, because today’s design is tomorrow’s culture.‘

Text: Roland Merz | Photos © Bullfrog

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