New finds | December 2020

Is it just me, or has 2020 somehow stood still and flown by at the same time? Anyway, December is here already and I’m going to squeeze in one last round-up of design news before the year draws to a close. This month’s selection features minimalist lighting, a just-launched Swedish homeware collaboration and a new twist on an iconic Danish chair, along with a few other interesting product launches that have caught my eye. Just read on for details…

The ‘Cuba’ chair in paper cord

I’m starting with Carl Hansen & Søn, which is launching a new variant of Morten Gøttler’s ‘Cuba’ chair. Designed in 1997 and already a Scandinavian classic, the chair is made from a solid-oak frame that’s contoured to support the body, and can be folded away when not in use. The original uses cotton webbing for the seat and back, and it’s now being joined by another version featuring hand-woven paper cord. It’s a material with which Carl Hansen has a long history of working, and it gives the chair a lighter and more refined expression; it also adds a wonderfully tactile note to the otherwise sleek and understated design. The paper-cord option will be available from January, priced at £765 / €840 plus VAT. Like all Carl Hansen’s furniture, it’s crafted at the company’s workshop on the Danish island of Funen and takes about eight hours to weave, using a special technique to ensure it looks just as beautiful from the back as it does from the front.

‘Nomad’ – the debut furniture collection from Nathalie Deboel

Next up is Belgian interior Designer Nathalie Deboel, who has launched her first-ever furniture collection. Called ‘Nomad’, it’s built around the idea that well-designed items can become ‘travelling companions’ and journey with you across different homes and life stages. It consists of a daybed, an armchair, a bookcase and rectangular and round tables, all handcrafted in Belgium from solid oak or walnut. The basis for each piece is a rounded wooden stick – a simple, versatile form inspired by the sticks used by nomadic peoples around the world and throughout history to create temporary dwellings and furniture. The resulting designs are strikingly minimalist, with subtle brass detailing that contrasts beautifully with the grain of the wood. The collection is available now (visit Nathalie’s website to make an enquiry), and further additions are in the pipeline.

NJRD – a new collaboration from Bernadotte & Kylberg and Nordic Nest

I was excited to learn that Swedish duo Bernadotte & Kylberg (aka Prince Carl Philip Bernadotte and Oscar Kylberg) have teamed up with retailer Nordic Nest to create new brand NJRD. Pronounced ‘Njord’, it aims to bring Scandinavian design to a global audience, with a focus on minimalism, functionality and graphic details. The launch collection features tufted and woven rugs, soft throws made from recycled cotton, and a range of tableware in black, white, pink and grey. All were inspired by the colours and shapes of Scandinavian nature, which have been reinterpreted in an abstract and gently playful way, and designed to fit seamlessly into a wide variety of homes. They’re available online now, with tableware staring at £15, throws at £79 and rugs at £349, and can be shipped to more than 70 countries worldwide. Bernadotte & Kylberg have already been responsible for some of my favourite contemporary Scandinavian homeware (including the Georg Jensen ‘Helix’ collection, which I use everyday), so I’ll be fascinated to see what else is to come from this new venture.

The Reinvention of Forms by Jonas Bjerre-Poulsen

There’s also an interesting new project from Jonas Bjerre-Poulsen – photographer, designer and co-founder of Norm Architects. Called The Reinvention of Forms, it’s a monograph book consisting of striking black and white photography centred around the recurring motif of spherical shapes. There are human figures, fragments of architecture, plants and more, all captured in a cinematic and often abstract way and accompanied by writing exploring how forms have shaped his work as a designer. The images are elegant and intriguing, and I love the way they invite you to look again and imagine what lies beyond the frame. The book and a selection of limited-edition prints from it are available exclusively via ALIUM, which is also hosting an accompanying exhibition at its Copenhagen gallery space until 22nd December.

New additions at Gantri

Moving on to lighting, California-based Gantri has added two collections by UK designers to its range of sustainable lamps, which are made from plant polymers and 3D-printed to reduce overproduction, waste and shipping emissions. From Tony Elkington of Studio Elk is the ‘Arpeggio’ series, which is a response to our growing need for simple, purposeful products that help us create calm and uncluttered homes. It consists of two table lamps, a wall lamp and a floor lamp in three earthy colours – ‘Forest’ green, ‘Sand’ beige and ‘Carbon’ black – and features a wonderful balance of curves and straight lines inspired by hand-thrown ceramic vessels. Sam Gwilt, meanwhile, has designed ‘Encore’ – a table lamp which takes its cue from curtains and comes in ‘Stone’ grey, ‘Coral’ pink and ‘Canyon’ red. It not only reflects how curtains can be used to control and enhance light, but also the emotional experiences associated with them – for example the anticipation before the curtain is raised in a theatre, and the warm, ethereal feeling we get when the sun shines through curtains at home. Both collections are available now, with prices starting $148; at the moment they’re only available with US plugs, so you’ll need an adaptor if you’re based elsewhere.

The ‘Ora’ collection from Stelton

Finally, Danish brand Stelton has released a new series of decorative objects called ‘Ora’. The work of Italian designers Daniel Debiasi and Federico Sandri, it encompasses bowls, candleholders and tealight holders in various sizes, which can be used on their own or arranged in stylish compositions. All are characterised by sculptural organic shapes (they remind me of acorns and apples), and by a striking combination of materials. The bowls, for example, have a raw steel edge that contrasts with their calming, nature-inspired matte colours, while the candleholders mix stainless steel, solid beech and glass. All are available in stores and online now, with prices starting at £24.95 / €29.95.

All photography via the brands named above; top image by ALIUM