New finds | April 2018

It’s time for my monthly round-up of new discoveries, which for April features everything from Danish furniture to beautiful art for your walls. There’s also a new range of perfumed oils from one of my favourite Scandinavian brands, along with a few magazines and events that have caught my eye…

Fresh colours from Fritz Hansen

First up is Republic of Fritz Hansen, which has just launched ‘Colours’ – a new trio of shades for some of its most iconic pieces, including Arne Jacobsen’s ‘Egg’ and ‘Swan’ chairs. Created by the company’s own design team, the colours were conceived to be timeless and simple without being dreary. There’s a warm and earthy terracotta orange, a serene pale pink and a deep ocean blue, all applied to a wool upholstery fabric called ‘Capture’, which is produced exclusively for Fritz Hansen by Danish textile brand Gabriel.

New prints from Coco Lapine Design

Fellow blogger Sarah Van Peteghem of Coco Lapine Design has added a quartet of new designs to her gorgeous range of prints. ‘Pampus’ and ‘Kamut’ (€42.50 each) are beautiful photographs on a beige background, which can be hung vertically or horizontally; ‘La Feuille’ and ‘Romanesco’ (€52.50 each) are abstract representations of a leaf and a Romanesco broccoli plant, created from hundreds of tiny watercolour dots. I love the look of all of them but particularly the latter two – I could stare at the intricate details in the patterns for hours!

‘Object Blanc Collection 2018’ by Atelier Cph

Copenhagen-based multidisciplinary studio Atelier Cph also has a new collection of prints, all inspired by the work of famous Finnish architect Alvar Aalto and modernist artists such as Jean Arp and Fernand Léger. They feature cut-out patterns and abstract shapes, and come in colours such as black, taupe and grey – I was lucky enough to see some of them in person at Menu’s London show apartment and they really are beautiful. Prices start at €37.

The ‘Mimic’ mirror from Muuto

Danish brand Muuto has released a new table mirror called ‘Mimic’, designed by Paris-based Normal Studio and inspired by the handheld mirrors used in traditional French barber shops. It features a cylindrical resin base and a patterned back, and it has a wonderfully playful look. It’s available in grey, nude and midnight blue, and costs £110-125.

Perfume oils from Skandinavisk

Home-fragrance brand Skandinavisk features in these round-ups a lot and with good reason, as its new products never fail to delight. The latest is a trio of perfumed oils (€35 each) based on its popular ‘Escapes’ candle collection. The scents each evoke a different element of Nordic nature – ‘Lysning’ (Forest Glade) is a blend of moss, lichen, pine needles and cloudberry inspired by silent boreal forests; ‘Rosenhave’ (Rose Garden) is a delicate combination of alba rose, elderflower, blackcurrant buds and lily of the valley; and ‘Heia’ (Heathland) is a mix of heather, thyme, bearberry and leaf sap that conjures up the high-altitude fells of Norway and Sweden.

And, if you happen to be in Copenhagen over the next few weeks, Skandinavisk has a pop-up shop at Værnedamsvej 6. It’s open until the 26th April, and I can’t wait to have a browse when I head to Denmark in a couple of weeks’ time.

‘Close Contact’ – a photography collaboration from Norm Architects, Kinfolk and Paper Collective

Photographed by Jonas Bjerre-Poulsen of Norm Architects and directed by Kinfolk co-founder Nathan Williams, ‘Close Contact’ is a series of images exploring the relationship between the sphere and the human form. All juxtapose skin with leather spheres created by Sørensen Leather and have a tactile, sculptural quality. They were displayed at the Kinfolk Gallery in Copenhagen in October and are now available to purchase via Paper Collective, with prices starting at €40.

Versatile designs from MUNK Collective

I was very excited to discover MUNK Collective – a Danish brand which I hadn’t come across before. It was founded by Hans Peter Munk, who has teamed up with designers from all over the world to create minimalist, multipurpose furniture and home accessories. My favourites include Kristian Nørhave’s ‘Grow’ box, which can be used as a side table or stool or combined to make a shelving unit, and the clean-lined ‘Click’ lounge chairs, which can be clicked together to form a sofa. I also love the look of Johansen Faurschou’s dimmable ‘Blind’ pendant light and Noergaard Kechayas’ beautifully understated ‘Hook’ hanger, which was inspired by umbrella handles.

A few other things on my radar…

• Enki – a brand-new magazine devoted to architecture and design, which is now available to buy online and in shops across the UK. I’ve had a read of the first issue and it’s inspiring stuff
• The second issue of bi-annual travel magazine Rucksack, which is available now and themed around journeys. You might say I’m biased because I contributed to it, but it really is a beautiful publication!
• Warm Nordic – a new interiors brand set up to show a warmer, cosier side of Danish design. I had a sneak peek at its collection at the Stockholm Furniture Fair back in February, and it’s just gone on general sale
• Hans J. Wegner: Designing Danish Modern – an exhibition devoted to the life, work and enduring legacy of Hans J. Wegner, who created iconic pieces such as the ‘Wishbone’ chair and ‘Round’ chair. It’s open at the Vitra Design Museum in Weil am Rhein, Germany, until 3rd June
• ‘How to Build a Brand’ – an inspiring series of workshops aimed at creative entrepreneurs who want to develop their brands. There are events in Bristol, Brighton, London and Somerset, and I lead Instagram sessions at some of them

All photography via the brands named above; top image by MUNK Collective