Normally at this time of year I’d be heading off to various design weeks to gather inspiration and take a peek at the latest interior launches. They’ve all been cancelled for 2021, of course, but details of new-season collections are beginning to emerge and over the next few weeks I’m going to share some of my favourites. I hope they’ll provide lots of styling ideas for your own projects, or help you find the perfect piece for your home.
First up is a Danish designer who has really come into her own over the last few years: Kristina Dam. She founded her Copenhagen-based studio back in 2012 and has since developed a distinctive style that combines minimalism with sculptural forms and geometric shapes, often inspired by her previous work as an architect and graphic designer. There’s also a wonderful mix of materials, with sleek glass and metal sitting alongside textural oak, stone, fabric and suede.
Among Kristina’s new pieces for 2021 is the ‘Modernist’ seating series, which combines steel frames with soft woollen upholstery. It was inspired by the 20th-century design movement of the same name and encompasses a lounge chair and two- and three-seater sofas, all available in beige or grey. I love the elegant curves and the way the frames are an integral design feature, rather than being hidden away beneath the cushions. And, despite the clear Modernist influences, I can see the range fitting seamlessly into a wide variety of settings, from contemporary homes to the more traditional period building shown in these press images.
Other furniture additions include the solid-oak ‘Minimal’ bench and daybed, whose visible spigot joints add a lovely touch of detail to their otherwise simple expression, and the ‘Stack’ wall and floor shelves. The latter are crafted from oak and walnut, and can be used on their own or combined to create a versatile modular system.
New accessories include the bold ‘Monolith’ vases, whose concrete-like surfaces and angular shapes resemble urban buildings or towering rock formations, and the elegant ‘Alumina’ tea light-holder, which comes in polished aluminium or matte black. There are also suede storage boxes topped with travertine lids, and a series of fine-art prints depicting abstract takes on two of Kristina’s favourite buildings: the James Simon Gallery in Berlin and Casa Sublim (the labyrinth-like concrete home of sculptor Xavier Corberós) on the outskirts of Barcelona. My favourites, though, are the ‘Offset’ candleholders, which pair rough sandstone with smooth travertine and make decorative sculptures even when empty.
Last but not least, Kirstina has expanded her range of textiles with bedspreads, cushions, throws and kelim-style rugs. Made from durable wool and brushed Oeko-Tex-certified cotton, they feature woven geometric grids and architectural shapes, and come in striking black and white or softer beiges, browns and greys. They all look absolutely gorgeous and can be mixed and matched to create a homely, inviting feel.
You can buy the new pieces directly from the Kristina Dam webshop, and they’ll be available via international resellers soon. Click here to see the full collection.
All photography via Kristina Dam
The bench is gorgeous!
Isn’t it? Simple but with such gorgeous detail