New design finds | August 2023

Well, August has rolled around very quickly (and it’s the month I turn 40 – eek!). Anyway, after a bit of a break while I shared all the news from Copenhagen’s 3 Days of Design, my regular round-up of interesting product launches and minimalist design finds is back. So, read on for details of an updated take on the traditional Shaker kitchen, an elegant sofa collection, hand-crafted accessories from Portugal and exciting new twists on some Nordic classics…

New colours for the ‘Kubus’ candleholder

I’m starting with Audo Copenhagen (the just-launched brand born out of the merger of Menu and by Lassen), which has unveiled three gorgeous new colours for the ‘Kubus 4’ candleholder. First designed by Mogens Lassen in 1962 and originally reserved for his friends and family, the ‘Kubus’ has since become a true Scandinavian icon – and it has a particularly special place in my heart, as it was the first design classic I ever treated myself to after starting my first job. The new options – the soft nature-inspired ‘Ivory’ and ‘Olive’ and the textural, mottled-looking ‘Zinc’ – were curated by Audo’s brand director Joachim Kornbek Engell-Hansen and bring a contemporary expression to the timeless cube-shaped frame. They’ll be available to buy from September.

A MINIMALIST Shaker-style kitchen from Reform

Danish brand Reform is known for its stunning kitchens created in collaboration with internationally acclaimed architects and designers. Its latest collection is ‘Shaker’ – an updated twist on a classic kitchen style, with the archetypal embossed frame being narrowed to give it a modern, minimalist look. It comes in a choice of clear-lacquered oak, or a textural painted veneer or semi-matt spray-painted finish in 18 different colours – and, like all Reform’s ranges, it can be used with the company’s own cupboard and drawer carcasses or IKEA’s standard ‘METOD’ system. I’m not exaggerating when I say that the pale stone-coloured version is my dream kitchen – one that’s existed inside my head for a while but which I hadn’t seen available in reality until now. Time to get saving…

The ‘Jasper’ sofa collection by British Design Shop

Next up is British Design Shop, who supplied my own much-loved sofa and whose latest seating collection, ‘Jasper’, instantly caught my eye. Designed by Russell Gillott, it’s characterised by soft geometric forms floating on a bespoke metal underframe. The slimline arm and cushion profiles are beautifully elegant, but their rounded edges have an inviting cosiness about them. What’s more, the ingenious legs simply slide into the frame as a one-piece side unit, giving the impression of delicate support while actually providing a lot of strength. The collection encompasses two- and three-seater sofas, a loveseat, an armchair and two sizes of footstool, all available in numerous different upholstery options. Prices start from £699 and, like all British Design Shop pieces, they’re handmade in the UK and supplied with a 10-year structural guarantee.

‘Experimental Editions’ by Origin Made

I’ve long been a fan of Origin Made, which was co-founded by Singapore- and Porto-based designer Gabriel Tan and which works with small-scale Portuguese artisans to make craft collectibles for the home. It’s just announced the launch of ‘Experimental Editions’, a new collection intended to foster a greater appreciation for craftsmanship while encouraging a shift towards more conscious consumption. It will feature 15-20 products at a time, all one-off pieces representing form and material explorations, off-production designs or items with beautiful imperfections. The first three to be unveiled are Zoe Moat’s ‘Quarry’ bowl, which consists of three fused segments of Portuguese marble that are hand-carved by stonemasons Pedro Eira and Emanuel Matos; patinated brass versions of the existing ‘Poise’ candleholders by Signe Hytte and metalsmiths Paulo Martins and Alberto Cunha; and a special edition of Tan’s ‘Weaver’s Stool’ with a walnut frame and a bespoke black seat by Maria Adelina, the last-known weaver in the furniture-producing town of Paços Ferreira. All will be available from September, priced at €249, €99 and €749 respectively.

Classic Paavo Tynell lighting from Gubi

Finally, Gubi has added several more lamps to its collection of reissued lighting by renowned Finnish designer and metalsmith Paavo Tynell (1890-1973). Brought back to life in close collaboration with Tynell’s family, the chosen designs date from the 1940s and 50s, when brass had become his signature material. My favourites are the ‘1967/A1967’ and ‘1972/A1972’ pendants, which pair slatted bamboo shades (used in place of Tynell’s original aspen due to its sustainability) with decorative brass detailing and optional brass counterweights. Similar in expression is the ‘9602’ floor lamp, which had already been relaunched in canvas and wicker and is now also available in bamboo. In addition, there are two table lamps: the elegant ‘9205’, which tops a twisted brass stem with a simple canvas or textural bamboo shade, and the eye-catching ‘9209’, whose gleaming brass dome is perforated with holes that create a starlight-like sparkle and offset by a rattan-wrapped stem. All will be available from next week, with prices ranging from €699 / £699 to €1,499 / £1,299.

All photography courtesy of the respective brands above