While I didn’t get out to Salone del Mobile Milan this year – the annual furniture and design extravaganza – a host of new homeware launches have caught my eye recently. So here are five new finds for April, from affordable smart lighting solutions that can easily be incorporated into the home to modular sofas and simple side tables, enjoy!
Lune sofa by Jaime Hayon for Fritz Hansen
Fritz Hansen has launched a new modular sofa called Lune designed by Jaime Hayon. Born out of Hayon’s previous designs for the Danish company – the Ro wingback chair and the cocooning Fri armchair – Lune has the same curvaceous lines and smooth, sculptural contours. The name in Danish means the feeling of everything being just right or something being at an ideal temperature – a little bit like hygge, it could be lying on the sofa under a favourite blanket or the snow falling outside while a fire burns warm inside.
The Lune sofa comes in a multitude of possibilities, from a small two-seater to a large, L-shape to recline on.The neat armrests have a neat, gentle incline and the cushion pads look welcomingly comfortable. Says Hayon: ‘Sofas tend to be presented from the front. I wanted to highlight the beauty of the Lune profile and the harmony between the backrest and the seat.’
Lune is upholstered in a cotton-linen fabric blend and the cushions are made of four layers of materials with a top layer of duck and goose feathers ensuring the softest of seats.
Smart Lighting from IKEA
IKEA have launched a smart lighting range and app, which aims to make complex, and often expensive, smart lighting solutions simpler, and more accessible and affordable to everyone. It’s all part of their ethos to improve our everyday wellbeing in the home. My boyfriend, the tech expert in the house you could say, has been nagging me to get all our lighting operational from the click of a button on our phones, so this is definitely something I’d buy into myself.
Launched this month, the collection includes energy-efficient LED bulbs, lighting panels and doors which are all managed through a remote control. An app allows users to personalise their lighting and control the settings. Prices start at £15 for a kit with a steering device and LED bulb.
IKEA have tried to make incorporating smart lighting into the home much easier than you think – it’s all plug-and-play, so no need for new wiring or hiring an electrician. Light sources and steering devices come pre-paired. All you need to do is install replace existing traditional bulbs with TRÅDFRI smart lightbulbs and you’re good to go. Pretty smart I’d say.
New Vipp side table
Danish brand Vipp has introduced a new side table to their furniture collection. The new Vipp421 side table is a simple, functional design. It’s designed to fit into small spaces, next to an armchair or sofa, or used as a bedside table. The durable tabletop is made of fine porcelain stoneware and stands on a simple black frame with three slender legs.
Says Morten Bo Jensen, chief designer at Vipp: ‘With the side table, we take another step towards the category of furniture, but as always, the design is determined by functionality, durable materials and refined craftsmanship.’
Slow Collection by Space Copenhagen for Stellar Works
Launched at this year’s Salone del Mobile 2017 in Milan, Danish design duo Space Copenhagen have created the new Slow Collection for Stellar Works. Inspired by the chair they designed for Restaurant 108 in Copenhagen (below), the Slow Collection is a range of upholstered wooden furniture that explores the beauty of the silhouette.
The collection comprises a lounge chair, dining chair, side chair, dining table and a coffee table, crafted from walnut and ash with leather seats for the chairs. Referencing mid-century Danish design and Japanese aesthetics, the simple pieces feature elegant, beautifully crafted, narrow legs.
Space Copenhagen say: ‘We often use the term ‘slow aesthetic’ to describe the intention of our work. One of the aims for this collection has been to design a series of organic-shaped, sculptural and long-lasting furniture. Curious about the future – still embraces the qualities of refined detailing, comfort and craftsmanship. The collection also celebrates the feel of slow pace – of leaning back, hanging out and enjoying life.’
Image of Restaurant 108: Joachim Wichmann
New speckled stoneware from Minor Goods
Minor Goods has launched a new range of simple, speckled tableware for Spring. The brand, founded by Zoe Hannam in 2014, sources beautifully designed products made for everyday living. A champion of ‘simple living and a keen cook who splits her time between Stockholm and London, Minor Goods sells simple kitchenware and accessories that have an understated design aesthetic with a Scandinavian influence.
The new range includes a divided plate, dinner plate, everyday bowl and large salad bowl. They’re made of sturdy stoneware in a small, traditional factory in Portugal where 80% of the production process is still made by hand. Prices start from £8.
So, does anything catch your eye?
Main image: Joachim Wichmann
