New finds | May 2020

The start of a new month means it’s time for my regular round-up of minimalist design finds. We may be living through a very strange and disconcerting period at the moment, but there have still been plenty of interesting launches in recent weeks – not least because April should have seen the vast Salone del Mobile trade show taking place in Milan, when many brands would have unveiled their latest additions. It was of course cancelled, but most have pressed ahead with new pieces anyway, and I’ve rounded up some of my favourites below. There’s also news of a beautiful linen bedding range, plus a chair by the late, great Nanna Ditzel which is going into production for the very first time – just read on for details…

The ‘IOI’ collection from GUBI

First up is ‘IOI’ – a brand-new collection that celebrates the beauty of Italian materials. Created for GUBI by Danish-Italian design duo GamFratesi, it consists of a wall mirror and three differently sized coffee tables topped with grey Emperador marble or white Carrara marble. Each piece combines geometric Art Deco references with a contemporary aesthetic and features a recurring ‘sticks and sphere’ motif, which is reflected in the shape of the letters that form the collection’s name. The tables’ twin black or chrome legs and the mirror’s protruding prongs are all linked by a small solid-brass sphere, which acts as an interesting design detail as well as a strengthening spacer. The result is functional yet elegant, with a lightweight expression and an interesting vertical rhythm that’s ‘paused’ by the spheres. The collection will go on sale later this month, with prices starting at £640 / €719 / US$1,009.

Norm Architects for L. Ercolani

Next is L. Ercolani, a new sub-brand of renowned British furniture maker Ercol. Launched to celebrate the company’s centenary year and named after its founder Lucien Ercolani, it focuses on timeless, understated design and brings together a classic collection with new pieces from international names. Details of two of the product series, created by Norm Architects, have just been released and they instantly caught my eye. The ‘Reprise’ chair is made from whitened, natural, darkened or stained ash, with a choice between hide, webbing or upholstery for the seat, and is elegant yet humble. The ‘Canvas’ cabinets, meanwhile, consist of a wooden frame decorated with fabric panels, and come in a range of finishes and sizes. I love the way both designs distill the essence of Ercol’s aesthetic but take it in a slightly new direction, and I can’t wait to see what else is in the pipeline. They’ll be available to buy from approved Ercol dealers soon, though prices have yet to be announced.

New pieces from TAKT

There are more elegant, understated designs from TAKT. Founded last year, the Copenhagen-based brand makes sustainable and durable wooden furniture, all supplied as easy-to-assemble flatpacks to cut down on shipping emissions. Its latest launches include the ‘Sling’ coffee table and side table, created by Sam Hecht and Kim Colin of London studio Industrial Facility. Made from oak and available with a clear matt lacquer, a dusty green lacquer or a black finish, they combine elliptical-shaped tops with rectangular sides and, on the coffee table, two rounded legs, creating a simple yet distinctive look. There are also two new additions to the existing ‘Cross’ range, designed by PearsonLloyd – a square dining table in matt- or black-laquered oak, and a chair that combines a wooden seat and back rest (with or without upholstery) and tubular legs made from recycled steel. All the new pieces are available to order from Takt’s website now, with prices starting at £169 / €179. Free shipping is available across Europe.

Nanna Ditzel’s ‘Arkade’ chair

The latest addition at Danish family-run furniture maker Brdr. Krüger is a previously unreleased chair by the late architect and designer Nanna Ditzel, whose other work includes the famous ‘Trinidad’ chair for Fredericia. It was conceived in 1983 during Ditzel’s decade-long collaboration with fourth-generation master craftsman Niels Krüger but was never put into production. Its curved chrome frame and arch-shaped legs-cum-armrests embody Ditzel’s fondness for curves and circles; they’re also reflected in the name ‘Arkade’, which is the Danish word for arcade. The chair is available to order now and costs €750, with a choice of white wax-oiled or darker fume-oiled oak for the legs and armrests, and oak veneer or Kvadrat upholstery for the seat and back. It’s hand-made to order but can be delivered worldwide within 10 weeks.

The latest launches at Muuto

Another Danish favourite, Muuto, has a raft of new pieces that it had been set to release in Milan. Among them is the ‘Rime’ lamp (from £179 / €199 / US$249) – a new perspective on the glass pendant created by TAF Studio. Inspired by acorns, it features a mouth-blown shade with a sandblasted surface, plus a power-coated top and matching cord in grey, white, black or orange. I love the way it can be used to add a subtle dash of colour, or kept more muted if you prefer. Also just launched is Cecilie Manz’s ‘Workshop’ table, which combines pared-back craftsmanship with subtle detailing. It consists of an oak-veneer or linoleum top carved into a clean-lined, solid-oak frame, and is priced from £1,295 / €1,395 / US$1,749.

Seating-wise, there’s a new deep sofa designed by Anderssen & Voll and available from £2,395 / €2,648 / US$3,349. Called ‘In Situ’, it fuses Scandinavian simplicity with the refined grandeur of traditional Italian sofas and can be configured in all sorts of different ways thanks to modular elements that are cleverly hidden by its steel frame. A couple of existing seating lines created by Anderssen & Voll have been extended, too, with a daybed joining the ‘Outline’ rang and a bar stool being added to the ‘Oslo’ series.

Linen bedding from Bedfolk

Last but not least is British bedding brand Bedfolk, which has just added beautiful, laid-back linen to its collection. It was founded in 2018 by couple Nick and Jo after they struggled to find good-quality yet affordable bedding for their own home, and its cotton ranges have proved very popular (I have the ‘Relaxed’ one in my bedroom). The linen versions look just as comfortable and come in a choice of three colours: ‘Snow’ (a soft white), ‘Rose’ (a delicate blush pink) and ‘Ink’ (a dark blue-grey). Like the cotton designs, they’re made at a family-run mill in Portugal and are Oeko-Tex certified, meaning they’re manufactured to the strictest environmental and social standards. Prices start at £40 for a pillowcase, £60 for a sheet and £99 for a duvet cover; there are also bedding bundles from £139.

All images via the brands above