Furniture Designer of the Year 2025: Marrimor Objects

When Swiss-born Tanja Breadner, already running Marrimor Interiors since 2013, hired Toronto-raised design grad Lauren Bugliarisi via Craigslist in 2017, neither could have imagined it would be the beginning of something extraordinary. Initially, the arrangement was straightforward: mentor meets protege. But after two years, countless late-night site visits and one particularly stubborn design challenge, the professional hierarchy had dissolved into a creative duet.

Their turning point came in 2019 while they were struggling to source the perfect dining table for a residential client. Determined to solve the puzzle themselves, the pair headed to La Mezcaleria on Vancouver’s Commercial Drive for brainstorming fuel—margaritas and queso. Soon, napkins filled with rapid sketches, each designer effortlessly finishing the other’s thoughts, as if sharing one mind. It was that electrifying “if we can’t find it, we’ll build it” moment that gave rise to Marrimor Objects, the product-focused arm now turning heads in the global design community.

“It totally caught me by surprise,” remembers Bugliarisi about their design chemistry. “But once it happened, there was no denying it.”

By 2020, their partnership had evolved into a distinct furniture brand, blending rigorous design principles with playful experimentation, luxurious materials and everyday livability.

Lauren Bugliarisi (left) and Tanja Breadner of Marrimor Objects, photographed at Livingspace in Vancouver. After connecting via a Craigslist ad in 2017, they found an instant creative chemistry that quickly grew into a lasting partnership, fuelling Marrimor Objects’ intuitive design process. Photo by Pooya Nabei

Their synergy is both remarkable and intuitive. “We’re very different yet very similar,” explains Breadner. “It’s less about what you communicate and more about how you communicate.” Bugliarisi jokes: “Honestly, divorcing my husband would probably be easier than divorcing Tanja.”

The Drape sofa: Inspired by Old Hollywood glamour, the Drape sofa’s fluid shape emerged from meticulous collaboration: Bugliarisi’s vision sparked the concept, while Breadner’s countless hand-drawn “wiggles” perfected its elegant curves. Photo by Galileo Rocca

Their intuitive collaboration shines through clearly in their standout piece, the elegant Drape sofa. Inspired by Old Hollywood glamour, it features the distinctive Marrimor “wiggle” that emerges from a dynamic handcrafted and digital design process. Bugliarisi initially visualized the sofa and iterated early prototypes with Tanja. Yet something felt off. Breadner stepped in, hand-drawing dozens of flowing lines until the sofa achieved its perfectly fluid, organic rhythm, just like the curtains it was inspired by. “Good drapery brings layering, luxury and, honestly, sex appeal,” says Bugliarisi. Breadner laughs, “I’m tired of drawing wiggles—next one’s square and simple.”

The Toof table: Inspired by the humble soda-can tab, the Toof table pairs a sculptural steel frame with a plush, removable pouf—transforming an everyday shape into clever seating or a cozy place to rest your feet.

Similarly, their Toof table—“sleek, sexy and surprising,” according to Bugliarisi—exemplifies their practical yet stylish ethos. Created to fulfill an interior design project’s need for a discreet footstool, its concept was inspired by a soda-can pull tab. The resulting plush pouf nestled within a sleek powder-coated steel frame allows it to act as either a side table or ottoman.

The Draft rug: Taking a page—literally—from the frustration of writer’s block, Marrimor’s Draft rug (a 2025 WL Design 25 winner) transforms crumpled-paper chaos into an elegant silk-and-wool statement piece. Photo by Lucas Finlay Photography

Their award-winning Draft rug—named one of Western Living’s Design 25 best designs of 2025—is another demonstration of their creative ingenuity. Crafted in wool and silk, its three-dimensional pattern mirrors the peaks and valleys of crumpled paper, transforming creative frustration into tactile beauty. “Creating beauty feels especially meaningful now, given how difficult the world can feel,” says Breadner. The Draft rug is both an “ode to writer’s block” and a tangible testament to the Marrimor team’s skill at turning obstacles into inspiration.

Ultimately, as Bugliarisi notes, Marrimor Objects designs pieces meant to be lived with and loved. “It’s magical when people live daily with your creations,” she says. Judge and acclaimed furniture designer Christian Woo commended Marrimor Objects for its “consistent brand appeal” and “exceptional clarity,” noting the duo’s thoughtful creativity. A partnership sparked by chance, fuelled by margaritas and sustained through mutual respect and playful creativity has evolved into an internationally acclaimed design brand: the Drape sofa and Toof table appeared at Milan Design Week in 2024 and 2025. It’s proof that great design isn’t just about function; when done well, it’s art woven into everyday life.

Tanja Breadner and Lauren Bugliarisi are an example of when mentor-meets-protege creates a magic spark. Photo by Pooya Nabei

Q&A: Tanja and Lauren on Design

What was your first design project?

TB: A big house on the water in Belcarra. I was way out of my league then, but the clients still loved it.

LB: A furnishing project on the west side of Vancouver. We did a lot of custom furniture in the house and I designed my first dining table for the project—it was a big aha moment for me.

Was there a childhood moment that hinted design was in your future?

TB: It wasn’t so much a moment, but rather I always liked building things with my hands, and I liked looking at beautiful objects and art when I was a kid. They gave me joy!

LB: As cliché as it sounds, I was always moving my furniture around as a child. Even as an adult I love the feeling of falling asleep in a bed that’s in a different spot than it was yesterday.

What do people often get wrong about design?

TB+LB: Proportions (in synchrony).

What are your design pet peeves?

TB+LB: The fear of not committing to a design or holding back in order to appeal to everyone. We really believe that fully and wholeheartedly committing to a design aesthetic or a concept is crucial for a successful outcome.