Great design doesn’t always begin with a blank slate – it often starts with something overlooked. That’s the case with Lichen’s latest collaboration with Karimoku Furniture. The New York–based design incubator and studio has reimagined two unassuming objects: the applebox, a backstage workhorse of the film industry, and an archival sofa originally made by Karimoku for meeting rooms. By bringing their eye for form and function to these utilitarian beginnings, Lichen gives each piece a new life – one that feels fresh, familiar, and perfectly tuned for contemporary living.
Photo: Carbon Stories
Inspired by the trusty applebox, the CMPT by Lichen distills the film set essential into a modular storage box system. Like its predecessor, it’s designed for versatility. It seamlessly shifts from seat to side table to storage, making the most out of small spaces while taking up a small footprint itself. Lichen preserves the sense of utility but elevates it through craftsmanship and materiality, using beautifully milled pure chestnut wood. With three components – the AppleBox, the AppleBox Joint, and the Glass CMPT Table – users can choose their own adventure in deciding how to incorporate the collection into daily life. Stacked horizontally or vertically, used individually or connected with the AppleBox Joint, the AppleBox becomes storage or a seat. The table itself can perfectly store four AppleBoxes neatly underneath, from edge to edge, creating dual functionality.
Photo: Carbon Stories
Photo: Carbon Stories
Photo: Carbon Stories
Photo: Carbon Stories
Photo: Carbon Stories
Photo: Carbon Stories
Photo: Carbon Stories
Photo: Carbon Stories
Photo: Carbon Stories
Photo: Carbon Stories
Photo: Masaaki Inoue, Bouillon
Originally introduced in 1982 as a leather sofa for reception and meeting rooms, the Karimoku Re:issue by LICHEN ZE Sofa collection now finds new relevance in today’s homes. “When it comes to furniture design, you sometimes have to get as close to the origin as possible,” explain Ed Be and Jared Blake, co-founders of Lichen. “We always look back at past designs to see how we can reinterpret them for contemporary ways of living. Taking a sofa from the 1980s and making it feel timeless in 2025 shows how tradition can evolve into something new and relevant.” Lichen strips the piece back to its architectural essence, updating proportions and materials while reinstating the original differential feed stitching technique that creates the gathers along the seams of the sofa. The updated design, which includes the ZE Sofa (2- or 3-seater), ZE Lounge Chair, and ZE Ottoman, feels rooted in tradition yet refreshingly modern.
Photo: Masaaki Inoue, Bouillon
Photo: Jared Blake, Lichen
Innovation doesn’t always mean reinventing the wheel – sometimes, it just means giving past objects a second look. With Lichen’s contemporary lens and Karimoku Furniture’s manufacturing expertise, old stories are retold in ways that feel both relevant and new.
Photo: Jared Blake, Lichen
Photo: Masaaki Inoue, Bouillon
Photo: Masaaki Inoue, Bouillon
Jared Blake and Ed Be, co-founders of Lichen. \\\ Photo: Masaaki Inoue, Bouillon
To learn more about Lichen and Karimoku Furniture’s latest collaborations, visit karimoku.com.
