Kevin Frankental spent over a decade working as a graphic designer until he discovered what makes him tick.

​

Watching a friend working with steel amid a lush, tree-wrapped oasis in his native Johannesburg stirred something within him. “I realized that that's actually where my real true passion lies—in the making of things,” Kevin, the co-founder of Lemon, explains. “I'm not a trained industrial designer, so there’s a naivety in that I don't always know what is and isn't possible, but it’s to my benefit because I can’t take no for an answer.”

​

Taken with a chunk of pink travertine, Kevin conceived a sculptural side table that resonated with the design community. Inspired by Italian and Greek ruins, the Vondel Side Table was an antidote to the sameness in the decor world. “People can feel when something is generic,” he says. “This piece felt authentic to us and resonated with others like us, who like what we like.”

​

Although Lemon—which started out supplying bespoke wallpapers direct to the trade back in 2007—has evolved and diversified, the brand’s values have stayed the same. The segments of the tangy citrus fruit continue to represent the brand’s collaborators, partners, and customers.

​

Our design philosophy

When we pivoted from wallpaper (which is carried under sister brand Lemon Papier) we decided to simply make what we desired. We never create for the sake of it: we always ask ourselves if there’s really a need for it.

​

We're not in the game of mass production, but we also need to run a business and make decent volumes. It’s imperative that everything is made by hand, so we focus on choosing the right partners who share similar values about perfecting all the little details. Our seating is made in the UK because upholstery there is excellent. Our woodwork is crafted by an artisanal, family-owned business in Cape Town, and our marble pieces are made in Italy.

​

What makes us different

Our products are the same quality as collectible design pieces, but without being precious. They’re designed to be used, loved, and passed down. There’s a lot of romance and nostalgia in what we create, but it stems from a mix of influences so our aesthetic can’t be pigeon-holed. Part of our secret sauce is not over-designing, and we’re always questioning if we’d use something. If it’s a no, then we start again.

​

What inspires us

We never look at trends or what's happening in the current day—ever. We always look to the past. Inspiration can come from anything: a photograph, a piece of jewelry, an artwork, it’s so varied.

​

I’m taken with the interesting detailing of the Arts and Crafts movement, and the decorative nature of Art Deco. The basic lines and simplicity of mid-century modern design also come through a lot in our work.

​

The materials we’re loving right now

I appreciate the unexpected. At the moment that means using interesting woods in different ways. For example, applying a beautiful glass piano lacquer to a Japanese cedar wood, or not treating it at all, and appreciating its natural beauty.

​

The recipe for an excellent nightstand

It's a very practical piece: you have to have the right height and materiality, but it also needs to be beautiful. Since it’s almost always ordered in pairs, it's important in the way it balances and anchors a space. My favorite changes constantly but currently it’s the Various Positions. I like the tension between the lacquered polished top and the super-matte frame.

​

The hero products we’re excited to introduce on The Expert

The Constant Nightstand is interesting because the rounded shape is so modern, but poplar burl isn’t. It took us so many years to get the finish just right and by the time it was ready, burl was trending—which broke our hearts a little bit—but it came from a genuine place. I’m also excited for people to discover the La Plume Armchair. It's so, so comfortable. It’s the sort of seat you never want to get out of!

​

The heirloom piece to pass down from one generation to the next

I absolutely love our Riviera Plinth. It’s a funny thing because a plinth isn’t something you’d typically think to buy, but with a great vase or sculpture on it, it’s such a beautiful piece to have in a house. It’s made from a rich, African mahogany, and the trellis-style design plays with the light.

​

Our idea of luxury

I think it's a mindset: people who appreciate luxury generally want quality in their lives and refinement in everything that they do. It’s not necessarily about what you buy.

​

Our biggest “pinch me” moment

When we started designing pieces we wanted to use ourselves in our own spaces. Being true to that, and not sacrificing our ethos around what we believe constitutes good design, was a revelation.

​

What’s next…

We’re excited to partner with The Expert. The designer Showrooms are excellent—what I like about a lot of the studios is their rich schemes filled with narrative. I think American design, in general, is very good at the moment; people are braver with their decisions, and that suits Lemon because we never want to be ‘vanilla’.

​

We've got a lot to say and show, so we’re excited to introduce ourselves to the American market. So that, and our debut lighting collection.

​