Chairs Grown From Trees: A 20-Year Labor of Love

For two decades, Alice and Gavin Munro have been meticulously cultivating trees into functional furniture, with their unique tree chairs taking between six to nine years to grow. This intricate process involves guiding young branches around specially designed recycled plastic molds, with the branches eventually grafted together to form a solid, chair-like structure. After the growth phase, each piece undergoes a year of drying.

The Munros, who established their venture Full Grown in Derbyshire in 2006, have developed this craft over 20 years, viewing it as a long-term journey. Their inspiration stemmed from Gavin's childhood observation of a bonsai tree resembling a chair and his personal experiences with a congenital condition that fostered patience. The first generation of their tree furniture emerged in 2012.

Currently, their orchard houses dozens of growing pieces, including stools and benches. The couple plans to launch the Full Grown Academy soon, aiming to share their expertise with enthusiasts eager to grow their own tree furniture. A bronze cast of one of their chairs will be showcased at the upcoming RHS Chelsea Flower Show.

Full Grown's creations have garnered significant acclaim, with pieces featured in a Louis Vuitton display and acquired by institutions like the Saint Louis Art Museum and San Francisco Museum of Modern Art. Several chairs are also on permanent display in notable museums across Europe and the UK.