It’s that time of the month – time for my latest ‘On My Radar’ post. Here I’ve rounded up a selection of new furniture launches and simple homeware finds that have caught my eye in the last month or so. There’s everything from solid wood chairs and secondhand furniture to stylish pet beds and scented candles.
Daumiller Armchair by Rainer Daumiller for GUBI
Danish brand GUBI has relaunched the Daumiller armchair by German-born designer Rainer Daumiller. Originally designed in the 1970s, the pine wood chair has a solid expression, with a simple, curved form that was ergonomically designed for maximum comfort.
Inspired by traditional Danish milking stools and Hans J. Wegner’s China Chair, Daumiller developed the idea for the armchair while living on Denmark’s Jutland coast in 1975. He wanted to create a design that was strong enough to withstand children’s play and grown-up parties, but sculptural enough to endure and be timeless. The resulting chair was first shown at the Bella Centre furniture fair in Copenhagen in 1977 and was in production for over two decades.
Pragmatically, Daumiller says of the design: ‘I do not perceive the chair as ‘design’, but as a logical result of good materials and good craftsmanship, made with today’s tools, to meet the ergonomic and aesthetic requirements I expect of a good chair.’
GUBI has been working with Daumiller himself to bring the original design back into production. It’s now available in lacquered golden pine.
The Daumiller Armchair is priced at £599.
All images courtesy GUBI
New designs for the hallway from eco furniture brand TAKT
Sustainable Danish brand TAKT has launched two new products – both designed to encourage people to switch off from the digital world and reconnect with each other in the home.
I love the simplicity of a peg rail. Depping & Jørgensen’s Curve Coat Rack for TAKT takes the design a step further. Made from solid oak, the rack not only features a set of hooks, but a little add-on shelf to hold small items and a discrete L-shaped lip at the back so you can lean postcards or post against it. The design comes in three lengths and can be mounted side by side to create a coat rack of any length.
The Arc Dining table, also by Depping & Jørgensen, is a functional, extendable design with a solid timber frame. It was created in response to the changing needs of the modern family home, where the dining table becomes a place to not only eat, but work and play too. The table comes with a fixed-size tabletop in oak or light grey, black or deep red laminate, or with two different sized extension lengths. The extension mechanism is hidden by oak stretchers, keeping a refined, minimalist look, whatever size is required.
TAKT has recently been named a ‘Best for the World’ B-corp, placing it in the top 5% of companies delivering on best social and environmental practice. The two new designs are made from traceable, FSC-certified wood and are certified with the EU Ecolabel. TAKT’s products also come with information on the design’s full lifetime CO2 emissions, so you can know you’re making an informed choice.
All images courtesy TAKT
Autumn Winter 2022 Kids Collection by ferm LIVING
ferm LIVING always has the sweetest accessories for children. Their AW22 collection is a celebration of the children’s bedroom; a place reserved for play, creativity and rest, free from the restrictions and limitations of the outside world. Centred around themes of love, nature and humanity, the collection features natural, tactile materials, playful shapes and charming embroidery.
My favourite from the new collection is the Settle table cloth house. Every child likes making a den or building a fortress from cushions and blankets. This tablecloth easily transforms the family dining table into a playful house to hide away in, complete with roll-up door and three windows. It’s made from un-dyed, recycled post-industrial cotton. There’s also the matching Settle bed canopy, which can be suspended from the ceiling using a wooden bar, creating a cosy sanctuary to snuggle up with a book.
Shop the new collection at fermliving.com
All images courtesy ferm LIVING
OYOY Living Design launch their first pet collection
Our furry friends deserve only the best and that especially applies to the things you have in the home for them. I know I want my dog’s bed to blend seamlessly into my home and become part of the furniture. Danish brand OYOY Living Design has introduced OYOY ZOO, a new collection of stylish pet accessories for everyday family life. Inspired by the brand’s Danish heritage, the range comprises beautiful ceramic bowls, striped pet beds, adorable toys and neutral dog leads, all in a soft, muted colour palette.
Available now from oyoylivingdesign.co.uk
All images courtesy OYOY Living Design
New Soft Minimal book by Norm Architects, published by Gestalten
Norm Architects have launched a beautiful new coffee table book that’s part design manifesto, part monograph. Published by Gestalten, Soft Minimal brings together a collection of insightful essays alongside a series of stunning images from all of Norm Architects’ projects.
Offering a version of minimalist that is warm, tactile and enduring, Norm Architects share everything they have learnt about human-centric design over the past 15 years. They believe that spaces and furniture should, above all, serve and support the user, rather than just be a means of artistic expression.
The book is priced at £55. Available in selected stores worldwide, including here [Ad – affiliate link]
All images Christian Møller Andersen, courtesy Norm Architects
New Olfacte Scented Candle Collection by MENU
I got a sniff of these during 3 Days of Design and can confirm you’re in for a treat. MENU has launched Olfacte, a collection of scented candles designed to inspire both body and mind. There’s five fragrances in the collection, from purifying En Passant with jasmine petals and geranium, through uplifting Wet Ink with grapefruit, fresh mint and cedarwood, to soothing Midnight soak with notes of fig, lavender and bitter orange. Free from parabens and phthalates, they’re all made using natural essential oils and plant-based wax. The candles come in three sizes, each presented in a beautiful smoked glass vessel.
From 37 euros, shop the collection on menuspace.com
All images courtesy MENU
Ælfred, a new showroom of vintage Scandinavian furniture in London
Finally, if you love Scandinavian furniture as much as me, you’re going to want to bookmark this new secondhand design destination. Located alongside the canal in London’s Hackney Wick, Ælfred offers a range of mid-century furniture and Nordic designs in an industrial 300 sqm warehouse. Described as a ‘curated flea market’, prices start at £15 and designs will cost no more than £2,500, ensuring there’s everything from affordable accessories to classic collectibles.
Rather than sharing everything online, Ælfred founder Nina Hertig wants to celebrate ‘the dying art of discovering treasures in real life’. There’s nothing like the thrill of having a good rummage and finding the perfect piece for your home. Even more so, when you get the satisfaction of secondhand often being better for the planet. From the mid-century armchair in my living room to a bargain vintage Fritz Hansen office chair, I can remember where I bought each of these special pieces in my home. They each tell a story and add so much character to a space. Ælfred’s stock will be constantly updated so you really need to head to the showroom to get the best picks.
And once you’re done mooching about and shopping, head to the new Moro restaurant next door for a bite to eat. The interior has been designed by Hertig’s friends Nina Tolstrup and Jack Mama of Studiomama.
Ælfred opens on the 3rd November, find out more at aelfred.co.uk
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