New finds | January 2019

It’s time for my monthly round-up of design news, and the recent IMM Cologne and Maison & Objet trade fairs mean there have been plenty of exciting product launches over the last few weeks.

I’ll have more inspiring finds to share in February, too, as I’m currently on my way to Sweden to visit the Stockholm Furniture & Light Fair – the biggest event in the Nordic design calendar. Stay tuned for a full report soon, but in the meantime feast your eyes on these beautiful pieces…

New designs from &tradition

First up is Danish brand &tradition, which has a raft of new designs for spring. My favourite is the elegant ‘Loafer’ sofa – an extension of the ‘Loafer’ lounge chair created by Space Copenhagen for the 2018 refurbishment of Copenhagen’s famous Radisson Blu Royal Hotel. There’s also a new version of the chair itself with gently sloping sides to comfortably accommodate people’s arms, and a dining chair called ‘Betty’, which was designed by Sami Kallio and Jakob Thau to showcase the seat webbing (an element that’s normally concealed). I also love the look of Sebastian Herkner’s Art Deco-inspired ‘Sillon’ mirror, which comes in three sizes with a choice between brass or chrome for the frame.

Muuto’s first outdoor furniture collection

Sticking with Danish brands, Muuto has just launched its very first collection of outdoor furniture. Called the ‘Linear Steel Series’, it was designed by Thomas Bentzen and features minimalist tables and benches in two different sizes and five different colours. I love the contrast between the circular legs and the clean-lined tops, and the way folded edges and small gaps have been incorporated into the design to aid water drainage. The powder-coated steel surface ensures protection against the elements, too. Prices start from €395 for a bench and €749 for a table.

A new pendant light from Northern

Next up is Norwegian furniture and homeware brand Northern, which has just released details of its latest lighting design: a beautiful pendant lamp called ‘Reveal’. Created by Silje Nesdal, it features an LED tube inside a blown-glass sphere and represents a fusion of contemporary technology and traditional craftsmanship. The subtle tones and pale colours were inspired by the Nordic dawn and the shimmering light along the Norwegian coast, and it looks stunning on its own or hung in pairs or clusters. The lamp will be available to buy from April, with prices starting at 4,790 NOK (around €495 / £430).

Tableware from Iittala x Jasper Morrison

Another new launch that’s caught my eye is ‘Raami’, a range of simple yet striking tableware created for Iittala by British designer Jasper Morrison. The name is Finnish for ‘frame’, and Morrison’s aim was to produce a collection where each individual piece can be used on its own but also forms part of a wider entity – much like a group of friends or family, who each bring their own characteristics to the table. It features plates, bowls, mugs, wine glasses, tumblers, tea-light holders, serving boards and more, with prices ranging from €18.90 to €109. I particularly love the grooved glassware, which casts beautiful reflections over the surrounding surface.

Relaunched design classics from Gubi

I was excited to learn that Gubi is bringing back a few of the iconic pieces created by modernist French designer Marcel Gascoin (1907-1986). Among them are the ‘C-Chair’ (from €899), which features chunky legs topped by a woven seat and back rest, and the striking split-seat ‘Trèfle’ stool (€474). Both were first launched in the late 1940s but work brilliantly in contemporary settings thanks to their study design and clean aesthetics.

Affordable art from The Olivia Collective

Last but not least is a brilliant new source of affordable wall art: The Olivia Collective. Based in Barcelona, it sells a small but carefully curated range of travel photography and minimalist prints, often with a whimsical touch. I particularly love the line drawings, which are beautifully simple yet incredibly evocative, and one now hangs in my dining room (kindly gifted). All are giclée-printed on fine-art paper and come in a range of sizes, with prices starting at just €12.

Most photography via the brands named above; penultimate image by Abi Dare