New finds | September 2020

The start of a new month – and in this case a new season – means it’s time for my regular pick of minimalist design finds. It’s a particularly Denmark-heavy selection today, as this week sees Copenhagen host its annual 3 Days of Design festival (originally due to take place in May but postponed). After a lot of deliberation, I decided not to go myself (upcoming hospital appointments mean I’m playing things very safe when it comes to travel), but I’m enjoying following along from afar. I’ll be sharing a peek at a few of my favourite exhibitions from the event soon, but in the meantime I’ve rounded up some of the product launches that caught my eye below. There’s also news of the latest accessories from Swedish brand Cooee Design (always a favourite), so just read on for details…

Sustainable hardwood designs from FORESTA

First up is FORESTA, an emerging brand founded by Spain-based Patricia Peinador and Honduras-based José Ángel Saavedra. It works with small Honduran plantations to supply sustainably sourced, ethically harvested and fairly traded timber for interiors projects and external furniture production, and is using 3 Days of Design to launch its first-ever collection of standalone designs for the home. Created by Rebecca Goddard (whose stunning Berlin apartment I featured last month), it consists of six pieces: a tray, a candleholder, a plinth, a lounge table, a side table and a wall-mounted clothes rail. All are hand-crafted by Honduran artisans using organically grown teak or mahogany and have a wonderfully understated aesthetic that showcases the natural characteristics of the wood. The aim is to keep traditional forestry and craft methods alive, as well as encouraging consumers to invest in timeless, considered pieces that will last for decades to come. I love the contrast between the clean lines and the rich grains, and the way every design is as functional as it is beautiful. The collection is already available from Foresta’s website, with prices ranging from €79 for the candleholder to €1,210 for the lounge table, and I can’t wait to see what else this ongoing collaboration has in store.

Minimalist lighting from Nuura

Next is Danish lighting brand Nuura, whose designer Sofia Refer takes her cue from nature and the ever-changing Nordic light. Its latest additions include new versions of the flower-inspired ‘Apiales’ chandeliers in brushed black with smoked-black glass and brushed brass with golden glass, plus a wall light and black floor lamp for the ‘Blossi’ collection, which features softly glowing LED discs inside mouth-blown glass shades. My favourite, though, is a circular chandelier for the minimalist sphere-based ‘Miira’ collection. It has an air of Art Deco elegance about it, with a dark bronze metal ring and a choice between opal or optic glass for the shades; it also hangs from a near-invisible wire system that can be used to adjust the height with ease. All Nuura’s designs can be ordered directly from its website, and prices start at €269.

An ingenious coffee table from TAKT

Copenhagen-based TAKT has featured in these round-ups several times thanks to its focus on sustainability and innovative design, and its newest launch is the ‘Plint’ coffee table, created by Cecilie Manz. It consists of a top and two side panels that are cut from a single, flawless piece of wood and then fixed together with flexible vegetable-tanned leather from artisan Swedish tannery Tärnsjö Garveri. This allows it to be shipped in a flat, narrow package, thereby reducing shipping costs and emissions, and assembled without the need for any glue, bolts or screws. The design also features an apron, which is attached by feeding leather loops through apertures in the side panels and holding them in place with octagonal wedges – a beautiful detail on an otherwise minimalist design. The table comes in pale Kalmar pine, darker Oregon pine or matt-lacquered oak and costs €649 / £599 to €769 / £699 depending on the wood you choose. I love how versatile it is, and I can imagine it working just as well as a book stand, bench or display table as it would by a sofa or armchair.

A new kitchen range from Reform

Another company that I’ve covered before is Reform – one of the early pioneers of stylish fronts for customising standard IKEA kitchen cabinets. It too has used 3 Days of Design to unveil a new range: the ‘Profile’ collection by Norm Architects. It balances clean, architectural lines with subtle textures and sturdy materials, and features integrated aluminium handles with a slightly rounded profile (hence the name). It comes in dark oak veneer, pale oak veneer or an array of painted finishes, with a choice between Fenix laminate or ceramic for the worktops, and can be made to look as understated or as eye-catching as desired. What’s more, the lip of the handle gives an added layer of protection from daily wear and tear and is available in four different colours: white, golden metal, silver metal or dark metal. The range can fit IKEA’s ‘METOD’ system or Reform’s own range of carcasses, and prices start at €92 per door.

Vipp’s first wooden pieces

Sticking with Danish brands, VIPP – known for its steel accessories, kitchens and, more recently, furniture – has just revealed its first-ever venture into wood. Called the ‘Cabin’ series, it’s crafted from solid oak and features a stackable chair, a rectangular dining table and a circular dining table. All are simple yet sturdy, with subtle details such as softly rounded components and grooved surfaces. There’s a choice between a dark or light finish, and the chair is available with or without padding; what’s more, the table comes with an oak or a marble top. The series takes its name from an upcoming architectural project which is due to be unveiled later this year, and I’m intrigued to see what it involves. In the meantime, all three pieces will be available in stores and on VIPP’s website from mid-September, with prices starting at €439 / £399.

The latest additions from Cooee Design

Finally, as promised, is Cooee Design, whose home accessories have developed something of an iconic status in recent years. Among its upcoming collections is ‘Drift’ – a collaboration with Norwegian artist Anders Pfeffer Gjengedal, which has transformed his wooden and stone works into ceramic vases. The rough surfaces and organic shapes are inspired by the way nature is sculpted by the elements, from wind-carved rocks to shifting sands on a beach, and the curves create wonderful shadowplay as the light changes. Other additions include ‘Electroplated’, which has seen the matte finish on selected Cooee classics replied with metallic gold and dark silver, and a series of knotted candleholders and table objects created by Danish architect and product designer Tim Torp Hansen. There are also a few new pieces in Cooee’s continuing partnership with Swedish sculptor Kristiina Haataja: an evocative cast-concrete hand called ‘Bless’, and metal sculptures representing the female and male forms. You can pre-order now via Cooee’s website, and prices start at SEK325 (around €32 / £28).

All photography via the respective brands above