New finds | May 2022

Another new month has rolled around, so it’s time for my regular round-up of interesting product launches and minimalist design finds. On my radar for May are beautiful rugs and artwork, sustainable furniture from a new British name, relaunched icons from 1971 and a twist on a 2013 design that’s already become a contemporary classic. Just read on to find out more…

The ‘Papercut’ artwork collection from MOEBE

I’m starting with Copenhagen-based MOEBE, which has just unveiled its first in-house art collection. Instead of simply printing a motif on paper, the company has turned the paper into the artwork itself, using embossing, folding and cutting to create a series of simple yet striking geometric patterns. There are four different designs to choose from, all available in A5, A4 and A3 sizes, and they look wonderful displayed on their own or in clusters. I particularly love the way new shapes reveal themselves as you look more closely, and the way the layers of paper create areas of light and shadow that shift throughout the day.

The collection is produced in Denmark on uncoated FSC-certified paper and is available now, with prices starting at €20 / £17. You can opt to buy an artwork only, or pair it with a MOEBE frame in a range of colours.

Wellness-focused furniture from Ōragi

Next up is Ōragi – a new British furniture company which I discovered at sustainable and biophilic design event Planted Country last weekend. Founder and designer-maker Joshua McGrath wanted to create environmentally considered and wellness-focused pieces inspired by holistic Japanese principles, while avoiding the use of toxic materials and allergens. His first collection is called ‘Kumo’ after the Japanese word for cloud and consists of minimalist sofas, ottomans and tables made from sustainable bamboo, natural fibres and wool. They’re beautifully simple in their appearance yet very clever in their design, as they can be combined in numerous different ways to suit changing needs and spaces. What’s more, the chunky cushions mean the sofas are incredibly comfortable (I tested them out in person), and ‘cloud’ certainly seems like an appropriate description!

Pieces in the collection are hand-crafted to order, and prices start at £120 for a table, £500 for an ottoman and £2,800 for a sofa. They can also be customised if needed.

A new twist on Muuto’s ‘Oslo’ family

I’ve always admired the clean lines and quiet curves of the ‘Oslo’ seating series, created for Muuto by Norwegian duo Anderssen & Voll and first launched in 2013. Now there’s a new addition in the form of the ‘Oslo’ lounge chair, which pairs the same sculptural aesthetic with deep, enveloping back and armrests. It’s designed to be lightweight yet supportive, and there’s a beautiful contrast between the molded upper and the slimline tubular legs.

The new ‘Oslo’ chair comes in a range of upholstery options, and prices start at €1,895 / £1,749. There’s also a variant with a swivel base.

The ‘Rey’ collection from HAY x Dietiker

Sticking with furniture, HAY has announced that it’s teamed up with renowned manufacturer Dietiker to put a collection of pieces by Swiss designer Bruno Rey (1935–2019) back into production.

Rey was known for his love of organic forms and this is evident in the most famous piece in the collection – a chair created in 1971 and said to have been inspired by the curves of the classic bentwood Thonet chair. There’s also a dining table, a coffee table, a stackable stool and a bar stool, all featuring his innovative screwless wood-to-metal connection and displaying the same simple, honest expression. HAY has slightly adjusted the dimensions of Rey’s designs to suit contemporary requirements and added a range of new colours – some understated, some bold – alongside the originals; there’s also now the option of an upholstered chair seat. Prices start at €465 / £425.

The ‘Found’ rug series from Louise Roe

In more news from Denmark, Louise Roe has introduced a new rug series that celebrates the earth we live and walk on. Called ‘Found’, it’s designed to provide a sense of grounding and features four beautiful colourways inspired by different soil layers: ‘Sanded Beige’, ‘Moss green’, ‘Stone Grey’ and ‘Rusty Iron’. Each is handmade from pure wool using four different tones, which adds a wonderful depth and warmth to the finished weave, and some have soft fringing at the edges. There are four rectangular and two circular sizes to choose from, with prices ranging from 3,900 DKK / €520 to 21,900 DKK / €2,920.

The ‘AE7’ vanity unit from Ask og Eng and Lundhs Real Stone

Finally, Oslo-based design studio Ask og Eng has joined forces with another acclaimed Norwegian name, Lundhs Real Stone, to create a series of bathroom vanity units. Each is made from bamboo and topped with an anorthosite basin, resulting in a beautiful marriage of natural materials. The collaboration first came about when Ask og Eng founders Kine and Kristoffer contacted Lundhs about their own bathroom renovation, and the contrast between the pale golden tones of the bamboo and the deep browns, greys and blues of the stone is absolutely stunning. I’m also very taken by the look of the interior drawers, which combine exquisitely crafted details with lots of useful storage.

There are three different sizes of ‘AE7’ unit to choose from, and prices start at £4,400.

All images courtesy of the above brands