It’s that time of the month – time for my latest ‘On My Radar’ post. Here I’ve rounded up a selection of new product launches and simple furniture finds that have caught my eye in the last month or so. There’s everything from rentable outdoor furniture to space-saving portable lamps.
Two new portable lamps from New Works
Portable table lamps are everywhere at the moment; every brand seems to be releasing one. It seems we no longer wish to be tied to one place by wires! For Spring 2022, Danish brand New Works has launched two new portable lamps as extensions to existing collections.
First up we have the cloud-like Tense lamp designed by Panter & Tourron. Available with a black or white base, the sail-like shade is made from a lightweight, 100% recyclable, non-woven material that has been washed to achieve an organic, crinkled effect. The battery-powered light is charged with a magnetic charging cable and both the temperature and brightness can be adjusted.
The Kizu portable lamp offers a smaller, cordless version of the same table lamp in the collection. A nice detail is that the light can be dimmed to three different levels by gently tapping on the small metal disc on the top of the lamp. The marble base comes in three colour variants and has a battery life of 10 hours.
The Tense portable lamp, from €449, is available from 1st April. The Kizu portable lamp, €219, is currently available in stores. Images courtesy of New Works
New Farmhouse pond and side table by FRAMA
FRAMA has introduced two new sculptural, organic-shaped tables into its furniture collection – the Farmhouse Coffee Table I Pond and the Farmhouse Side Table I Pond. As the name suggests, the wavy, solid oak design was inspired by traditional farmhouses. A chunky yet tactile tabletop rests on sturdy wooden trestles, mimicking the familiar form of the exposed beams seen in rural architecture. Fusing the rustic with the contemporary, FRAMA describes the Farmhouse table as ‘a versatile and ornamental piece with a whimsical twist.’ To me they have a slight Japanese feel – there’s something about the fluidity of the lines and the slender legs that remind me of Japanese design.
The Farmhouse Coffee Table I Pond is priced at €1,681 and the Farmhouse Side Table I Pond at €1,143. Images courtesy of Frama
New stackable chair made of 100% waste materials by Space Copenhagen for Mater
Design duo Space Copenhagen have designed a new stacking chair for the ethical, conscious-minded brand Mater. The shell of the sustainable Eternity chair is made from 100% waste materials; made up upcycled fibre-based waste materials from Danish coffee producer BKI Kaffe and plastic waste from Grohe. The new circular waste composite material has been coined the Mater Circular Material.
Henrik Marstrand, founder of Mater, says of the material: ‘Furniture manufactured using Mater Circular Material offers a new look and tactile experience out of the ordinary. Once moulded, unlike any other material on the market, it has its own distinctive history and organic structure, providing almost unlimited options for the finished material.’
I love the texture the material seems to have – it almost appears like a hybrid between stone with its unique vein patterns, and metal with its rusty patina.
Available on materdesign.com, priced at €331. Images courtesy of Mater
New outdoor designs from GUBI
Aren’t these images just stunning?! They’re from GUBI’s new Spring 2022 Al Fresco collection. For the first time the Danish brand is introducing outdoor furniture to its range, with a mix of new collections from archival and contemporary designers, as well as outdoor versions of existing pieces. They say: ‘It is all about bringing iconic designers’ visions for la dolce vita to life in these threshold spaces, with a refined bohemian aesthetic and a celebratory vibe.’
My favourite from the new collection is the charming Obello lamp by Bill Curry – yes, another portable table lamp! First designed in 1971, the mushroom form of the lamp took inspiration from the atomic age, space race and pop culture that dominated 1970s America. Curry died the same year the lamp was designed so never saw it go into production and didn’t even have a chance to give it a name. It’s now been relaunched with a frosted, mouth-blown glass shade and integrated dimmable LED light source that can provide up to 40 hours of light.
The Tropique collection, pictured with the Obello lamp, was first conceived in the 1950s by the Hungarian-born French designer Mathieu Matégot. Comprising a dining table and two chairs in black or off-white powder-coated stainless steel, the collection features distinctive curved feet and armrests. There’s an option to add tasseled fringes to the upholstery if you’re that way inclined!
Images courtesy of Gubi
Skagerak’s furniture can now be rented!
Skagerak RENT lets you borrow beautiful outdoor furniture from the Danish brand and it’s now available in almost all of Europe. For a fixed monthly fee, you can rent a collection of considered designs in FSC-certified teak, together with parasols and cushions. Outdoor furniture is really only used for a small portion of the year, so it makes sense to borrow, rather than pay a load for it just to sit outside unused. Renting has so many benefits, allowing you to try out a design before you buy, temporarily furnish a space if you move around a lot, and also feel that bit better about your impact on the planet’s resources. It also means furniture can be re-rented, used and loved again and again and again.
Head to skagerak.com/RENT for more information
