Furniture winners: Yael Mer and Shay Alkalay

For Raw-Edges - TWB Chair and Settee for Cappellini

Yael Mer and Shay Alkalay of London-based Raw-Edges are partners in work and in life. Born in Tel Aviv, they studied industrial design at Jerusalem's Bezalel Art & Design Academy and London's Royal College of Art. "We have a constant dialogue about things we are working on - two brains to think and two hearts to feel." Shay is fascinated by the mechanics of movement: his Stack chest, a tower of drawers that can be opened from either side, won a Homes & Gardens Design Award in 2009. Last year, they designed the Tailored Wood Collection for Cappellini.

What inspires you? "Everything around us - films, music, dance, street life, shops, nature."

What now? "We hope to stay fresh in our thinking. We want our objects to have such spirit their owners will keep them for a lifetime. We should try to make few things that last longer."

Judges' comments: "Tailored Wood looks so delicate but is actually a robust piece of furniture." "Intriguing shape - the wood is almost like a fabric." "Nice that each one is different." "These designers are packed with potential."

Chosen by Homes & Gardens