The start of a new month means – yes, you’ve guessed it – my regular round-up of interesting product launches and minimalist finds. There are two common themes to February’s picks: flexible furniture that can adapt to your needs, and enduring design that will stand the test of time. Just read on for details…
A versatile cabinet system from Vipp
Kicking off the selection today is Vipp, whose latest launch is a modular cabinet system designed to accommodate the shifting needs of modern living and workspaces. A celebration of contrast that brings together oak, marble and the Danish brand’s signature material, aluminium, it consists of nine different unit types that can be used on their own or arranged in numerous configurations. There are wall-mounted compartments in various heights and widths, as well as floor-standing pieces set on spindly metal legs. All come in light and dark colour schemes, with optional marble tops and a choice between open shelving or fluted aluminium doors. Open cabinets can also be supplied with integrated LED lighting to highlight the objects on display.
The Vipp cabinet system is available now, with a choice between ordering one of four preset configurations (priced from €1,800 / £1,630) or designing your own.
Freestanding kitchen furniture from Neptune
There are also some very stylish and versatile new pieces from British company Neptune, which has just unveiled a collection of freestanding kitchen furniture. Intended to help people create a bespoke kitchen that suits their space and needs, the range encompasses standalone island units, butcher’s blocks, larders and cupboards, all crafted from solid oak and tulipwood. Their timeless aesthetic is designed to work with any style of interior, from traditional to contemporary, offering longevity and freedom to move – whether around the kitchen or from home to home. I particularly like the ‘Farlow’ cabinets, which have delicate wooden legs and reeded or plain glass fronts, and the minimalist ‘Borough’ island unit, which is topped with Carrara marble and features sleek shadow gaps around the drawers.
The freestanding furniture collection is available now, with an array of colours and finishes to choose from. Prices start at £1,195.
TIMELESS dining furniture from NJRD
New from NJRD – the lifestyle brand founded by Swedish design studio Bernadotte & Kylberg and online retailer Nordic Nest – is a collection of pared-back dining furniture called ‘VIOR’. Taking its name from the Norse word for wood, it embodies a simple, timeless Scandinavian aesthetic, blending the warm tactility of oak with inviting organic forms. There are two sizes of table, both featuring a handy built-in drawer for storage, plus dining chairs with either solid seats or woven wicker in an eye-catching curved-edge pattern. My favourite piece, though, is the kitchen bench – a reinterpretation of a classic Scandinavian item that balances traditional elegance with an informal homeliness.
All designs in the ‘VIOR’ collection are available via Nordic Nest [AD – affiliate link], with a choice between brushed and black-lacquered finishes. Prices start at €413 / £439.
Minimalist outdoor furniture from New Works
There’s more dining furniture – this time for alfresco use – from New Works, which has added several new items to its ‘May’ outdoor series. First launched in 2023, it was created by Johannes Breuer and Fritz Gräber of design studio Hannes & Fritz and consists of weather-proof powder-coated steel pieces with a refined, minimalist expression. The original tables and chairs have now been joined by a bench and square and round bistro tables, all with the same understated design details and matte finish in either light grey or dark green. The bench seat consists of a lightweight steel sheet that wraps neatly around the frame, much like the backrests on the chairs; it also features a similar water-drainage slit to the largest of the existing tables, forming a unified look when the two are used together. The bistro tables, meanwhile, have space-saving column bases and are ideal for small gardens and balconies.
All the new pieces are available now, with prices starting at €479 / £400.
New colours for the String ‘Pocket’ shelf
Finally, Swedish company String Furniture – maker of the iconic ‘String’ shelving system – has used this week’s Stockholm Design Week to launch four new colourways for its compact ‘String Pocket’, all of which take their cue from the city itself. It coincides with the 20th anniversary of the versatile wall-mounted unit, which was the final contribution from founder and designer Nisse Strinning before his death in 2006 and which has become something of a Scandinavian classic in its own right.
Two of the colours reflect Stockholm’s natural features. ‘Tegnérgrön’ is a deep, restful green inspired by the tranquil Tegnérlunden park, while ‘Nybroblå’ is a dark, inky blue reminiscent of the Nybroviken waterfront. There are also two hues that echo its architecture: ‘Sergelgrå’, which evokes the Brutalist concrete forms and monochrome tiles of Sergels Torg square, and ‘Oxtorgsröd’, a brick-like red sparked by the functionalist 1920s buildings around the hidden Oxtorget square. All are available to order now, with the ‘String Pocket’ unit priced at €178 / £155.
All photography courtesy of the respective brands
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