New design finds | September 2024

After a bit of a summer slowdown and a much-needed holiday in northern Spain, I’m back on the case with blogging – and I have plenty of interesting posts in the works, starting with a round-up of the latest design finds and product launches to catch my eye. There’s plenty to inspire, from sustainable twists on Nordic classics to new rugs, minimalist furniture and even super-stylish kitchen appliances. Just read on for details…

The ‘Bernadotte’ kettle & toaster from Georg Jensen

First up is Georg Jensen, which has expanded its iconic ‘Bernadotte’ collection to include an electric kettle and toaster.

First created by former Swedish prince and long-term Georg Jensen collaborator Sigvard Bernadotte in the 1930s, the tableware and home-accessory collection is known for its recurring geometric and linear forms. It was originally produced in silver but was relaunched in stainless steel in 2002, with additional products joining the line-up in 2019. The newly introduced kitchen appliances were developed by Georg Jensen’s in-house team and continue Bernadotte’s signature grooved surfaces, with other detailing kept to a minimum. The result is a clean-lined and timeless expression, with the kind of understated elegance that will look good on your counter for decades to come.

Both the kettle and toaster will be available to buy from this month, with a choice between mirror-polished and matte black finishes. The kettle has a capacity of 1.8L, with a detachable base and a double-walled structure for effective heat retention. The toaster, meanwhile, has seven settings (including defrost) and comes with a removable crumb tray for easy cleaning.

Artek’s ‘Forest Collection’

I was lucky enough to see a preview of Artek’s ‘Forest Collection’ at Stockholm Design Week back in February and it has now been officially launched. Developed in partnership with design studio Formafantasma, it features wild birch complete with natural variations and imperfections.

Artek has long made most of its pieces using wood from responsibly managed forests near its factory in Turku, Finland, but the search for perceived perfection meant a significant proportion was wasted. By rethinking its criteria so that knots, colour fluctuations and insect trails are embraced rather than rejected, Artek is able to use more of each tree. It’s a much more sustainable approach that celebrates the inherent beauty of the raw material, and I think it looks better, too – not only do the flaws lend tactility, warmth and character to the finished products, they also ensure that no two are identical.

The wild birch option is currently available across Stool 60, Chair 66, Chair 69 and a selection of Aalto tables and benches. These pieces count among Artek’s most popular and therefore have the greatest overall impact on material selection and resource usage, but there are plans to roll it out more widely in the future.

New pieces from Audo Copenhagen

New from Audo Copenhagen are a sofa, a glass-topped coffee table and a low-back lounge chair for the existing ‘Brasilia’ collection, which was conceived by Anderssen & Voll and fuses Scandinavian mid-century aesthetics with Brazilian Modernism. The latest additions have the same distinctive oak or walnut frames, curved upholstery and chunky cylindrical legs as the original designs and can be grouped together or used as standalone statement pieces. 

The ‘Brasilia’ extensions are accompanied by several other launches, including ceiling, wall and linear pendant lamps for Norm Architects’ popular Japan-influenced ‘Hashira’ lighting series, a black and Carrara marble version of Aleksandar Lazic’s travertine and bronze ‘Reverse’ table lamp, and a more compact size for Colin King’s striking ‘Interconnect’ candleholder. There’s also a stunning rug collection called ‘Duomo’, which was created by Norm Architects and features striped edges inspired by the repeating forms of classical architecture. Finally, the minimalist ‘Offset’ sofa is now available as a pull-out sofabed.

The ‘Archipen’ chair from Noom

The latest launch from Kyiv-based Noom is ‘Archipen’, a sculptural chair created by co-founder Kateryna Sokolova. Inspired by the kinetic work of avant-garde Ukrainian sculptor Olexander Archipenko, it combines oval-shaped cushions with wide, flat legs that are angled in different directions at the front and rear. The overall expression is simple yet striking, with an appealing air of movement and dynamism, and it reflects Sokolova’s desire to work at the intersection of art and design.

The chair is made of solid ash and available in a range of finishes, with a choice between leather, bouclé and various other fabrics for the upholstery. The seat and backrest are gently curved for comfort, with the latter appearing to sprout from the frame.

The ‘Linen Collection’ from Pappelina

Finally, Swedish rug maker Pappelina has marked its 25th anniversary by unveiling the ‘Linen Collection’ – a trio of designs that embody the brand’s ethos of blending traditional craft techniques with material innovation. Drawing inspiration from the natural hues of the Scandinavian landscape, they evoke a sense of harmony and are intended to suit a wide array of settings.

Over the years Pappelina has become known for its use of non-toxic, highly durable PVC and two of the rugs in the collection, ‘EMM’ and ‘SAM’, combine a PVC weft with a European linen warp. The resulting surface is long-lasting and able to withstand daily wear and tear, yet it’s also incredibly soft to touch and has a wonderful variation in tone. The third rug, meanwhile, is the limited-edition ‘LINA’, which was created by Pappelina founder Lina Rickardsson as a tribute to the company’s first-ever design and pairs 100% linen with beautiful fringing.

All the rugs in the ‘Linen Collection’ are available to buy now and come in a range of colourways and sizes, with prices starting at £109 / €128.

All photography courtesy of the respective brands