It’s time for my first monthly round-up of minimalist design finds of 2025, and I have some wonderful things to share with you today. There are newly launched home textiles, ceramics, lamps and furniture pieces, all with beautiful pared-back style and a perfect balance between function and form. And Japanese and Scandinavian influences feature strongly, so if the ‘Japandi’ aesthetic is your thing then make sure to read on…
The ‘PK23’ lounge chair from Fritz Hansen
Kickstarting the selection is Fritz Hansen, which is putting Poul Kjærholm’s sculptural ‘PK23’ lounge chair into production for the very first time. Conceived in 1954 when the renowned Danish designer (1929–1980) was exploring moulded plywood and industrial techniques, it’s characterised by its wide, low profile and bisected veneer shells bridged by an elegant metal connector. It represents a key stage in Kjærholm’s design journey, blending elements from his earlier ‘PK4’ and ‘PK0’ models while foreshadowing the minimalist steel pieces that would come to define his later work.
The chair has only been made once before, when it featured in a major 2006 retrospective of Kjærholm’s work at Denmark’s Louisiana Museum of Modern Art. Kjærholm’s wife Hanne collaborated with Fritz Hansen to translate his sketches into the exhibition piece, and the company has now worked with his children, Thomas and Krestine, to adjust it for full manufacture while remaining true to the original design.
The ‘PK23’ lounge chair is available to order now in four variants: oak or walnut veneer with stainless-steel legs, and black ash with stainless-steel or black powder-coated legs. Prices start at €979 / £929.
The latest linen collection from Cultiver x Colin King
Following on from the success of their first collaboration, Australian linen brand Cultiver and New York-based stylist and designer Colin King have launched a second collection of home textiles. Inspired by the hues of nature, it features timeless bedcovers and cushions in four beautifully earthy shades: ‘Cinnabar’, ‘Turmeric’, ‘Flax’ and ‘Artichoke’. It also encompasses the eye-catching ‘Collide’ bedcover, which is crafted from interwoven colours for a patchwork-like effect, and the two-toned and gently textured ‘Thatch’ bedcover and cushion.
All the pieces are produced in Portugal from heavyweight OEKO-TEX® certified linen, which is both durable and breathable. The bedcovers fit every bed size, with enough leeway to hug pillows and pool gently on the floor, while the cushions have long bolster-like dimensions and feather inserts.
See the full Cultiver x Colin King collection here. Prices range from £120 / $180 to £420 / $700.
New lighting variants from New Works
Danish brand New Works has begun the year by announcing new additions to two of its most popular lighting series, ‘Kizu’ and ‘Tense’.
Joining the ‘Kizu’ table-lamp family and available across the large, small and portable models is a new material option: Kunis Breccia marble. Known for its creamy beige tones and visible mineral fragments, it offers an elegant, understated and gently warm update to the sculptural design and contrasts beautifully with the high-white acrylic shade. The cloud-like ‘Tense’ pendant range, meanwhile, has been extended to encompass a smaller 55cm light that’s ideal for bedsides and sofa corners, or for hanging in clusters over tables and island units. It has the same recyclable Tyvek diffuser and LED light source as the larger sizes and opens up a raft of new possibilities for the series.
Both designs are available now, with the 55cm ‘Tense’ pendant priced at €399 / £335 and the Kunis Breccia ‘Kizu’ lamps starting at €219 / £185.
Nature-inspired ceramics from Norm Architects x Ancher Studio
Next up is the ‘No.16 Collection’ – a ceramics collaboration between Norm Architects and tableware maker Ancher Studio. Originally developed for a guesthouse on the Danish coast but now available to all, it draws inspiration from both the serene aesthetics of Japanese design and the clean, functional lines of Scandinavian tradition. The resulting pieces – all hand-thrown by Ancher’s skilled potters – embody a refined simplicity and a profound connection to nature, with light-coloured glazes and speckled clay reminiscent of stone and sand. They’re also as functional as they are beautiful, combining durability, stackability and a dishwasher-safe finish with a comforting, organic feel designed to enrich everyday rituals.
The collection encompasses bowls, cups and plates in various sizes, as well as a teapot and several vases. It’s available to buy now via Ancher Studio’s website, with prices starting at €28.
Artistic additions at Kristina Dam Studio
Also taking inspiration from Japanese aesthetics is Kristina Dam Studio, which has extended its ‘Japanese’ furniture collection to include an elegant pedestal and a glass-fronted cabinet in two sizes. Made from oak, they combine minimalist forms with subtle details such as contrasting dark-stained corner joints, and are ideal for displaying objects, books, vases and artworks.
They’re just two of a raft of new designs joining the studio’s line-up this year. Other pieces that caught my eye include the sculptural black marble and brown travertine ‘Archetype’ bookend, the elegant ‘Collar’ vase, and the clean-lined and incredibly versatile ‘Artisan’ stool / side table. I also love the look of the earthenware ‘Aspect’ sculpture, which was created by Danish artist Henning Tais Hedin and represents a geometric take on the female form. Perhaps my favourite, though, is the ‘Coherent’ candleholder, which features a textured travertine sphere balancing delicately on a smooth marble base.
All the new pieces are available to buy or pre-order now, with accessories starting at €99 and furniture at €349.
The ‘Ita’ collection from &Tradition
There’s yet another fusion of Japanese and Scandinavian design from &Tradition. Its newly unveiled six-piece furniture collection, ‘Ita’, was created by Copenhagen-based OEO Studio and takes its cue from miyadaiku carpentry – a centuries-old Japanese craft which uses integral cuts to join elements together without the need for screws or glue. The name ‘Ita’ comes from the Japanese word for ‘plank’ and reflects the pared-back expression, which showcases the beauty and tactility of wood by blending simple shapes with meticulous attention to detail.
The collection encompasses two benches, two low-profile coffee tables and a dining table in two sizes, all in a choice of natural or dark-stained oak. The coffee and dining tables are characterised by two planks that sit across wide yet slender wooden legs, and the latter are available with integrated cable-management systems that mean they can double as desks. The benches, meanwhile, can be paired with cognac leather seat pads that are fixed in place by discreet straps that make a subtle reference to Japanese Obi belts.
The ‘Ita’ collection will be available to order from February. All the pieces come flat-packed to lower transport emissions but are easily assembled using a single tool.
All photography courtesy of the respective brands
Leave a Reply