My top picks from the Stockholm Furniture Fair | Part 2

I’ve already shared a peek at three new companies which launched at the Stockholm Furniture Fair, so for the second part of my round-up I’m taking a look at my favourite new products from existing brands, together with a few trends that caught my eye. There’s a lot to cover, so get comfortable and settle in for a big dose of Scandinavian design inspiration…

Rounded shapes and architectural arches

Circles, spheres, ovals and arches were a major feature of many brands’ collections. Examples included the new ‘Arc’ mirror and ‘Stand-out’ coat rack from Friends & Founders, and Luca Nichetto’s striking ‘Lato’ side table for &tradition, which combines an egg-shaped marble base with a slimline structure. I also loved Note Design Studio’s arch-framed, terrazzo-topped ‘Tabula’ coffee table and Swiss studio Diis’ compact ‘Hawu’ and ‘Gito’ side tables, all created for Fogia – and in the case of the latter, not just because its name is a contraction of ‘Gin & Tonic’!

The popularity of curves extended to wooden pieces too, among them Skagerak’s newly launched ‘Turn’ coat stand. It’s the latest addition to Line Depping’s ‘Turn’ range of pale-ash furniture and accessories, and is designed to show off the age-old craft of steam-bending.

Sculptural minimalism from Kristina Dam

Circles and spheres are also a hallmark of Copenhagen-based Kristina Dam, and the fair gave me the chance to view her latest collection in person. Her pieces encompass lots of graphic lines and sculptural forms, with a focus on timeless materials such as oak, marble and mirrored glass. New additions for 2018 include a daybed and bench, the striking ‘Grid’ coat hanger, and a series of three-legged bowls which can be used for anything from nibbles to plants.

Black furniture, fittings and accessories

I’ve already blogged about the growing trend for black, and at the fair it appeared on everything from shelving units to ceramics. It was a particularly popular choice for lighting, and the stand-outs for me were Danish company HANDVÄRK‘s eye-catching ‘Globe’ and ‘Studio’ series.

Black also featured in two other HANDVÄRK designs debuted at the fair: Camilla Stærk’s moody ‘Dark Spine’ rug, which was inspired by Karen Blixen’s tales of Kenya in the 1920s and 30s, and Iskos-Berlin’s ‘Mantle’ dining chair, which imitates a cloak casually draped over a frame.

Opaque white lighting

Opaque white was another strong lighting trend, especially when combined with shapes that echo oriental paper lanterns. Examples included Fogia’s first-ever lighting series – Note Design Studio’s ‘Persimon’, which was inspired by the segments hidden within a persimmon fruit – and Anderssen & Voll’s ‘Lantern’ collection for New Works, now extended to encompass table and floor lamps as well as pendants.

Statement chairs galore

I love a statement chair, and there were plenty of exciting new designs on show at the fair. Some of my favourites were Timo Ripatti’s elegant and understated ‘Eve’ chair for Fredericia, and the cocooning ‘Mame’ and ‘Enclose’ lounge chairs, created for Fogia by Luca Nichetto and Norm Architects respectively.

I was also smitten with Stockholm-based Massproductions’ ‘Rose’ chair, which is named after the daughter of British co-founder Chris Martin and designed to resemble a flower coming into bloom. Made entirely from layered wood, it will be available in black-stained oak, walnut and maple, plus an additional colour to be decided by Rose herself.

New launches from Domo Design

I’ve long been a fan of the minimalist steel furniture from Domo Design, which is based in the Swedish region of Småland, and it launched three new products at the fair: a dining table, a chair and a stool. They all display the slimline, angular look for which the brand has become known and make great additions to its existing range of shelving, sideboards and coffee tables.

Domo also showcased two new colour options developed in conjunction with interior styling duo Sundling Kickén: muted beige and galvanised steel. I particularly loved the mottled patina of the latter, which was inspired by the moss, bark and stone found deep in Småland’s forests.

Earthy colours

Speaking of nature-based colours, they represented another common theme. Ferm Living’s stand was decorated in powdery peach and terracotta hues from Norwegian paint brand Jotun, while Republic of Fritz Hansen debuted four new earthy colourways for Cecilie Manz’s ‘Caravaggio’ pendant lamp: ‘dark ultramarine’, ‘warm silk’, ‘dark sienna’ and ‘archipelago stone’. In addition, Fredericia launched a range of muted grey and beige shades for Nanna Ditzel’s ‘Trinidad’ chair in celebration of its 25th anniversary, and I thought they worked beautifully with the design’s striking cut-out silhouette.

Japanese influences

Finally, there were numerous examples of design which fuses Japanese and Scandinavian influences. I’ve already covered the fantastic Ariake exhibition, but other instances included the new cylinder-shaped ‘Sawaru’ lamp, designed for Flos by Japanese studio Nendo, and Massproductions’ graceful ‘Icha’ chair, which won ‘Chair of the Year’ at the Swedish Design Awards 2018. Both showcase the minimalism, versatility and appreciation for craftsmanship that are common features of the Japanese and Scandinavian aesthetics, and I can’t wait to see more of this fascinating trend in the future.

All images via the brands named above