On My Radar: April 2022

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 classic spindle back chairs and relaunched retro designs, to rattan tents and dollhouses for kids.

The Windsor chair by Frits Henningsen, relaunched by Carl Hansen & Søn
Carl Hansen & Søn has relaunched the Windsor chair by Danish architect Frits Henningsen. The classic spindle back chair was previously in production until 2003 and this year has been given a refresh with a new comfortable seat cushion.

After completing his cabinetmaker apprenticeship in Denmark, Henningsen traveled around Europe and took inspiration from French furniture, Rococo design and 17th century British furniture. Henningsen’s elegant, beautifully crafted Windsor Chair is made of solid oak with a high, sculptural back made of two steam-bent parts. The carpentry requires the skills of a highly experienced joiner – the 14 slightly sloping spindles all have different angles and are tightened together at the same time without the need for glue. The chair is then sanded and finished by hand.

A classic that can fit in both traditional and contemporary homes.

Available from July 2022. Images courtesy of Carl Hansen & Søn

Rey collection by Bruno Rey for Dietiker, in collaboration with HAY
When I first heard news of this collaboration, my first thought was – I need this chair in my life. I just love the tactile curved shape of the back. First designed by Bruno Rey for Dietiker in 1971, this retro chair has been put back into distribution by Danish brand HAY and I’m sure it’s going to be popular.

Swiss designer Rey was known for his love of organic forms and was said to be inspired by the Thonet bentwood chair when he began experimenting with wood. For the Rey chair, he created a self-supporting round seat that attaches to the legs via an innovative, screw-less, wood-to-metal connection. This was initially handmade using sand casting but by the late Eighties, aluminium pressure die casting meant that the entire process could be done by machine and the chair could be mass produced.

For the reproduction, HAY have adjusted the seat height slightly to suit contemporary requirements, and introduced a series of bold new colours (I particularly like the soft green). The collection also includes a stackable stool, a bar stool, a round coffee table and dining table.

Available from April 2022. Images courtesy of HAY

ferm LIVING’s SS22 Kids Collection
Now I have a child, I find myself searching out stylish design for children more and more. While I was recently in Copenhagen I visited the shop and showroom of Danish brand ferm LIVING and was taken by the charm of their kids collection. For Spring/Summer 2022, they’ve launched a range of simple, playful products from a rattan tent to a striking kids chair. ferm LIVING describe a child’s bedroom as a ‘sanctuary […] and haven of creativity […] where little ones have the space to play, learn and rest’. They aim to ‘provide space for creative imagination and make room for carefree play’.

We all liked making dens when we were little and the braided rattan tent allows for just that – the easily foldable, flat-pack design creates a cosy space to read and relax, with small windows to peek out of. There’s also the adorable braided A-house – a portable rattan house that opens up to become a little dollhouse to decorate.

In addition, ferm LIVING have introduced the Ark collection. Working with the standard dimensions of solid wooden planks, ferm LIVING have conceived a 100% FSC-certified wooden chair that can be easily disassembled and transported flatpack. It comes in a bold Klein-esque blue and a natural ash finish.

Available now from ferm LIVING and other retailers. Images courtesy of ferm LIVING

   

Lundhs Real Stone collaborates with Ask og Eng
Two design-conscious Norwegian brands unite – specialists in bamboo kitchen and bathroom furniture Ask og Eng have worked with Lundhs Real Stone to create a series of bathroom vanity units. Luxurious yet beautifully minimal, bamboo cabinetry combines with 100% natural stone countertops to create an elegant combination for the contemporary bathroom.

Kine and Kristoffer of Ask og Eng first got in touch with Lundhs Real Stone when they were refurbishing their new home and showroom in Oslo. It proved a match made in heaven – the sustainable credentials of bamboo pairing well with Lundhs’ durable natural Norwegian stone. The stone, called Anorthosite, contrasts with the light, wax oil-treated bamboo units with its warm brown tones and blue crystal details. I think we’re going to see a resurgence of dark worktops, giving spaces a unique richness and material warmth.

Made to order and available from Ask og Eng, priced from £4,400. Images courtesy of Ask og Eng and Lundhs Real Stone