Born in Dublin, Ireland, Conor Coghlan is the Co-Founder of Hoek Home, a high end, flat-pack furniture company based around the idea of making sustainable, easy-to-assemble furniture. Conor first came to the US in 2012 where he received the Peter Rice Scholarship to the Harvard Graduate School of Design and earned his Masters in Architecture. After graduating, he worked for world-renowned Architect Toshiko Mori before stepping away to found the design-build firm A05 Studio. Conner has received many awards and accolades such as being selected as a top emerging designer by ICFF. Learn more about Conor Coghlan in this week’s Maker Monday.
This elegant, beautifully crafted 6-seater dining table is a showstopper in any home. Its ultra-slim profile creates a striking silhouette but also allows it to be easily stored away
Andrew Joseph: Describe your design style as if you were explaining it to someone who cannot see.
Conor Coghlan: Material efficiency. At Hoek our main goal is to not only develop products that elevate interior design, but primarily to elevate the convenience and functionality of the space. Allowing spare bedrooms to easily convert to sleek work from home offices, terraces to become the ideal spot to host game night, etc. When we first started designing our products, the aesthetic of the pieces was a lot more dynamic and our first batch of prototypes had a very “Jetsons” vibe. Through developing the products we’ve since landed on a much cleaner and more timeless look, allowing pieces to complement a variety of styles and continue with customers whether they’re moving, redecorating, or changing their home’s entire aesthetic.
AJ: What would be the name of your debut album?
CC: ‘Sympathy and Biscuits’. When we were kids, my family dog Max walked into the kitchen and my mom shouted out “awww, he’s looking for sympathy and biscuits”. That one stuck with me!
AJ: Who was the nicest person you worked for? Dare you want to share the worst?
CC: Nicest: Toshiko Mori. Toshiko was my professor at Harvard and really took me under her wing as a foreign student. She is such an accomplished and busy person but always took the time to make sure I was enjoying and getting the most out of my time at the GSD. I then went on to work for Toshiko after graduation for a couple of years before branching out on my own. I see Toshiko as a mother figure in my life and will always be so grateful for what she has done for me.
A stylish, perfectly sized home office desk can be assembled and disassembled in seconds with just a few clicks so you don’t always have to be in work-mode.
AJ: What are you most proud of?
CC: Designing something accessible that makes people’s lives better, even if only in a small way. Our day-to-day experiences quite literally make up our lives, so it’s very rewarding to improve our customer’s day-to-day experiences within the places they love and call home.
AJ: Are you a pet person? Why either way? Dogs or cats?
CC: Dogs! They’re always down to party.
AJ: What are your beauty secrets?
CC: AKA Skin Basics! My wife’s Instagram skincare account. My wife Amy is passionate about skincare and sharing her knowledge with as many people as possible. She works for Covergirl cosmetics and has now grown a great following online!
AJ: Style (or design) icon?
CC: Frank Lloyd Wright and Charles & Ray Eames. Their innovative approach to design has always inspired me and has helped guide us throughout the development of Hoek and the decisions we make on a daily basis. Charles and Ray Eames’ motto “the best, for the most, for the least” is a foundational philosophy at Hoek and something we try to live by as we grow as a brand.
AJ: What’s your biggest fear in life?
CC: Somebody ruining the end of ‘Love Island’ for me.
This sleek coffee table is a great companion for your sofa. The beautiful round shape and low height make it perfect for entertaining friends or just taking it easy.
AJ: What are some of the podcasts you listen to and why?
CC: Blind Boy Podcast – Irish musician and comedian. He has such a depth of knowledge in music, history, mental health … and he’s damn funny.
AJ: Has there been a shift in what clients are requesting post-covid?
CC: Our business Hoek Home came about as a response to the pandemic. Our system was created to allow people to easily set up and break down home office desks, and address the lack of space in many apartments. Post-COVID, many companies have maintained a hybrid model but most individuals are back in the office. With that said, there’s definitely been less of a need for desks in particular, however, this has given us the chance to expand our offerings and develop new and exciting products and partnerships, like our most recent with world-renowned artist Shantell Martin.
AJ: Where is the first place you want to travel now that everything is opening up?
CC: Japan with my wife for our Honeymoon. Getting married was another exciting venture we embarked on amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, but due to the necessary travel restrictions throughout the world, we haven’t been able to celebrate with a honeymoon just yet. – but soon enough!
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