The Istanbul School of Luxury
Journal
Notes from the atelier: craft, collections and the city that shapes them.
From the house
My father, 1974
Altuğ Tuğrul on his father Bülent Tuğrul, founder of Artlife 1974: apprentice years sleeping in the shop, a first workshop in a room at home, and the name Artlife in 1984.
The atelier: where the hand still leads
A short walk through the Artlife workshop in Istanbul, where every piece begins as raw timber and a drawing.
Guides
What Makes Classical Furniture Special?
Proportion, hand carving, the hardwood frame and the stages of workshop production: what separates a classical piece from a merely decorated one.
How to Recognise Quality Furniture
What to look for in the timber, the frame, the joints, the upholstery and the fabric before you judge a piece of furniture by its looks.
Can Furniture Be Both Beautiful and Comfortable?
Seat height and depth, back support, armrests and the space around a piece: how comfort is decided in classical furniture.
How to Use Classical Furniture in a Modern Interior
Classical pieces in contemporary rooms: where an interior project starts, how a piece is adapted to the client, and how colour, light and material are brought together.
How the Design Language of Classical Furniture Evolved
Baroque, Rococo, Neoclassicism and Art Deco: what each period gave to furniture design, and how that inheritance lives on today.
Why Materials Matter in Furniture
Hornbeam, lime wood and 35 HR foam: what each material does, and why the parts you cannot see decide how a piece feels every day.