New finds | October 2018

I’ve already shared my favourite discoveries from London Design Fair and Design Junction, but there are plenty of other new launches that have caught my eye over the past few weeks. So, here are my top picks this month, together with details of some other interesting bits and bobs on my radar…

The ‘Co’ chair by Menu and Norm Architects

First up is the latest collaboration from Menu and Norm Architects, who have been jointly responsible for many of my favourite furniture and homeware designs: the ‘Co’ chair. It was created for The Office Group, who provide design-led co-working spaces across the UK and wanted a stylish, stackable chair for their meeting rooms. The result is an elegant, slimline piece consisting of a black metal frame, a gently curved back rest and optional arm rests in natural oak, black oak or dark-stained oak, and a huge variety of Kvadrat upholstery options for the seat. Although it was originally conceived for work spaces, I think it would look equally good in a home environment, perhaps around a dining table. It will be available to buy later this year after an initial roll-out across The Office Group’s locations, with prices starting at around £265.

Minimalist ceramics from Mleko Living

Next is Krakow-based studio Mleko Living, whose handcrafted, understated designs I’ve covered a few times before. Founders Katarzyna and Michal Zaluski have just extended the range with a brand-new collection of ceramics, whose minimalist forms are designed to show off the beauty of the clay. There are mugs, plates and candleholders, all available in three muted colours inspired by the natural world: dark and moody ‘Slate’, a soft blue-grey called ‘Fog’ and a delicate beige named ‘Almond’. They’re available online now, with prices starting from €18.

New pieces from Kristina Dam Studio

I’ve been a fan of the sculptural, minimalist designs of Copenhagen-based Kristina Dam for a while now, and she’s recently announced several new launches. Most eye-catching for me are the clean-lined ‘Grid’ sideboard (€2,014), made from powder-coated steel with perforated panels, and the ‘Relief’ mask (€215-362) – a contemporary spin on ancient relief carvings. I also love the look of the aniline-leather ‘Curved’ pouf (€470), whose simple, graphic shape was inspired by magnets, and the powder-coated steel ‘Curved’ side table (€269), which incorporates handy spaces for storing magazines.

A sustainable kitchen from Reform

Another Danish brand whose designs always catch my eye is Reform, which makes stylish door and drawer fronts for standard IKEA kitchen cabinets. Its latest range, ‘UP’, is no exception: created by the architects at Lendager Group, it pairs a sleek, minimalist aesthetic with beautifully grained Douglas fir. Most important, though, are its sustainability credentials. It’s made of surplus wood from world-renowned flooring manufacturer Dinesen, and it’s great to see material that would otherwise go to waste being given a new lease of life. The range can be finished in light or dark oil, and prices start at €110 per panel.

A minimalist pendant light by Vitamin x Someday Designs

Created by British brand Vitamin for online interiors shop Someday Designs, the new ‘Case’ pendant light is made from glazed earthenware and designed to be simple, tactile and versatile. It’s handmade in Stoke on Trent, the UK’s pottery capital, and produced in small batches to ensure the same colour, texture and form are achieved every time. It comes in natural, blush and charcoal, with a choice between a clear LED bulb, a round opaque bulb or a Tala ‘Oblo’ bulb. It should be in stock by November and you can pre-order now; prices start at £65 for the clear-bulb version.

A Japanese-inspired collection from Earl of East London

I was very intrigued by the latest collection from British candle brand Earl of East London, which was inspired by Japanese bathing culture. It consists of oils, candles and bath salts in two calming scents: ‘Onsen’, a blend of peppermint, eucalyptus and mandarin based on onsen thermal baths, and ‘Shinrin Yoku’, and earthy mix of cedar, oak moss and black pepper inspired by the ritual of ‘forest bathing’ (spending time in a woodland environment). Prices start at £16 for the oils, £20 for the candles and £24 for the bath salts, and they’re available online now.

New colours from Farrow & Ball

Finally, world-renowned paint brand Farrow & Ball has just launched nine new colours – its first since 2016. All come in a range of finishes and were created to work equally well in period and contemporary properties; I can also see them suiting both rustic and urban spaces. They range from soft ‘School House White’ to vibrant ‘Rangwali’ pink and deep, dark ‘Preference Red’; there’s also a mid-century modern green called ‘Bancha’, an elegant blue named ‘De Nimes’ and the Georgian-inspired ‘Paean Black’. My favourites, though, are ‘Treron’ (a gentle grey-green), ‘Jitney’ (a relaxed and sandy natural) and ‘Sulking Room Pink’ (a beautiful muted rose).

A few other things on my radar…

• Danish brand Moebe, which has featured in a few of my posts, has produced a fantastic online guide listing the team’s favourite places to eat, shop and explore in Copenhagen. You can also read my own Copenhagen tips here
• Speaking of Copenhagen, I was excited to hear that H&M Home has launched its very first standalone concept store in the Danish capital. I can’t wait to visit next time I’m in town; in the meantime I’ve been admiring the photos in this post from September Edit
• A new crowd-funding campaign has been launched to restore ‘E-1027’, the modernist French Riviera villa of Irish furniture designer and architect Eileen Gray. It’s a great way to help preserve an important part of design history and celebrate the extraordinary life of Gray, who was a pioneer of the modernist movement. Contributions to the campaign, which aims to raise €55,000, start at just €50
• Skandinavisk has introduced another fragrance, ‘SKOG’, to its growing range of hand and body care. Inspired by the boreal forests of northern Scandinavia, this blend of spruce, pine, lily of the valley and musk has been available in candle form for a while, and it’s great to see it being extended to other products
• You might have seen it in my latest monthly newsletter, but if not please do check out ethical brand directory More This, Less that. It was put together by two of my favourite Instagrammers and covers fashion, homeware, food and more
• I love the look of Weaving: Contemporary Makers on the Loom (affiliate link), by UK writer Katie Treggiden. It explores the revival in weaving and should interest interior-design fans, textile lovers and craft aficionados everywhere

All photography via the brands mentioned above