Founded from a deep passion for the emotional impact of furniture, Erisse is not just about manufacturing—it's about transforming living spaces into immersive experiences. Erisse was born from a passion of how furniture can influence emotions, much like music shapes a mood. By carefully studying history, social norms, and cultural influences, Erisse develops designs that reflect evolving needs while maintaining aesthetics and functionality. We interview Ana-Maria Ilusca, design lead at Erisse, to learn more about their practices and recent exhibit at the January Furniture Show in Birmingham.
Cristina and Ana-Maria Ilusca of Erisse at the Romanian Pavillion at the January Furniture Show.
The genesis of Erisse: a vision rooted in emotion
The story behind Erisse began with the idea that furniture could do more than just serve a purpose. It could stir emotions and create an environment that actively influences the way we feel. As Ana-Maria explains, 'It's very deep for me. The spaces can act as a song around you, changing your mood. Living spaces can have this impact. Products act in this way intentionally. I wanted to translate furniture into emotions.'
From the very beginning, the company set out to design products that would act as emotional spaces, transforming rooms into immersive environments that could change the way people experience their surroundings. Ana-Maria elaborates, 'We spoke to architects, psychologists, and many other experts to understand how spaces shape human emotions. We also looked at historical periods, how spaces and furniture interacted with society and culture at different times.'
Design philosophy
Drawing inspiration from centuries, mostly the 19th century, Ana-Maria's team looked into the evolution of decorative art and how it interacted with social norms and etiquette. 'Social norms influence what's popular at the time,' she notes. 'That's what led to the idea of creating furniture that felt timeless, but with a modern edge.' This fusion of historical context and contemporary insights helped shape the distinctive style that defines Erisse today.
Their research itself, however expanded further out to India, the Middle-east, Byzantine areas, ancient cultures, and it is continuing to expand. It has also not been limited to the 19th century across these platforms. For Europe they had a focus on the 19th - beginning of the 20th in terms of social construct, but went back through to the Renaissance, and antiquity (which was a strong influence in itself). For other regions, they adjusted their compass according to the level of attention they distributed upon the built environment across time, within the limitations of available literature.
The Erisse stand at JFS.
One of the standout features of Erisse's designs, seen at the January Furniture Show this year, is its innovative use of metal, which challenges the traditional perception of the material as cold and rigid. Instead of relying on the harshness typically associated with metal, Erisse applies it in a way that evokes the delicacy of past design traditions. 'The metal filigree are incredibly thin—less than 1mm thick—allowing light to filter through and creating an ethereal, almost fragile look. This delicate approach to metalwork harks back to a time when designers dreamed of achieving such effects but lacked the technology to do so at this scale ,' Ana-Maria explains. 'Metal is usually very harsh, but we've managed to make it feel delicate. It lets a lot of light in and feels warmer somehow, creating a softer, more inviting atmosphere.'
Erisse's debut at JFS
January this year, Erisse made its first appearance at the January Furniture Show, showcasing its innovative approach to furniture design for the first time. The brand introduced its concept of furniture as emotional spaces, displaying decorative panels and multi-functional pieces ideal for libraries, bars, or other semi-public spaces. Ana-Maria reflects, 'Our launch at JFS was incredible. It was the first time we were able to showcase our vision of how furniture can change the feeling of a space, and we were thrilled with the reactions.'
The response from the audience was overwhelmingly positive, with many impressed by the company's unconventional approach to design. While the brand is still building its collection, it has already garnered attention for its distinctive use of materials.
Textiles embedded in glass.
Looking ahead
As the brand continues to grow, Erisse is setting its sights on international markets. Currently based in Romania, the company is looking to expand into Europe and beyond, catering to customers seeking custom furniture that captures the feeling of emotional spaces. In 2025, Erisse plans to showcase its designs at some of the world's most prestigious events, including during Milan Design Week, Dubai Design Week and at Maison&Objet in Paris, with the Romanian pavilion.
Ana-Maria reveals, 'We'll be launching our ideas further at Milan and Dubai, pushing the concept of emotional spaces even more. And we're also working more with textiles—like laminated glass with textiles embedded in it—which we first showcased at JFS.' Erisse's exploration of textiles is informed by historical patterns, including embroidery techniques from 100 years ago. 'There are stories in these patterns, stories that we're excited to bring to life in a modern context,' she adds. 'Creating these pieces is a true labour of love for me,' Ana-Maria shares. 'The places we live in speak about so much more than what is let the surface. Who we are, who we used to be, and the question we ask ourselves most - Who can we be tomorrow?' she concludes.
More information:
Erisse
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www.erisse.eu
Romania