An unconventional bench made up of 1,625 bright pink sharpened pencils by a modest design company in Cornwall, England stole the limelight at the annual Cornwall Design Week, and eventually bagged the overall 'Best At Show Award 2007'.

News of this quirky bench subsequently rode the crest of the virtual waves, and sent a tsunami across the international design circuit. In less than two weeks, the bench’s creators, Boex 3D Creative Solutions, had appeared on major design and trend-hunting websites and magazines, propelling the little-known Porthleven-based company into global recognition.

According to Will Boex, one half of the dynamic duo at Boex, the idea for their award-winning Pencil Bench came about during a conversation to incorporate an everyday office object into a piece of furniture.

The pencils that make up the bench are individually sprung, so that the seat "moulds to the contours of your body". Each bench retails for £1,200. And in case you hatch a creative idea whilst sitting on one of these, just pull out a pencil and jot it down. Remember to stick it back after using though – with the sharpened end facing downwards.

Images courtesy of www.kirstinprisk.com.

www.boex.co.uk