It’s time for my (now quite irregular!) feature ‘On My Radar’, where I round up a selection of new furniture launches and simple homeware finds that have caught my eye in the last month or so. In this month’s edition we have sustainable shell chairs, Japanese inspired shelves, organic shaped candles and eco-friendly paint. Enjoy!
Mat Chair by Normann Copenhagen
Offering a sustainable alternative to the classic plastic shell chair, Normann Copenhagen has unveiled a design that’s been two decades in the making. The Mat chair, designed by Danish studio Foersom & Hiort-Lorenzen, was first conceived using cellulose in the Nineties. After years of extensive testing and prototyping, it has now been brought to life in durable hemp and eelgrass, a type of Seaweed that is found on Danish shores.
The shape of the Mat chair is created by compressing the hemp fibres into sheets and baking them at high temperatures. The sheets are then cut down to size before being sanded by hand and finished with linseed oil. The eelgrass is used to colour the hemp to allow for different tonal variations. The shells have been paired with a simple powder coated steel base, but Normann Copenhagen is looking into more eco-friendly variations, such as a wooden base. There’s three different types of bar seating available, as well as a chair and armchair.
The Mat hair is designed for circularity – the components can be disassembled and recycled at the end of their lifecycle. Any waste from the production is also shredded and reused in the making of new chairs. Normann Copenhagen research has found that hemp chairs have more than a 200% less environmental impact than their polypropylene counterparts.
All images Normann Copenhagen. Sold in the UK via Someday Designs
Tsugi shelf by Carl Hansen & Søn
Japanese simplicity meets Danish craftsmanship with the new Tsugi shelf from Carl Hansen & Søn. The solid oak and teak design features a beautiful joint detail that slots the shelf onto a wall fitting grip with the use of a single brass peg. Traditional Japanese joinery methods don’t typically use glue or screws, instead wood is made to fit or lock together, using less materials and creating a strong, sturdy system that can survive the humid temperatures there. For this design, you’ll also notice a groove in the shelf, allowing picture frames and books to stand securely when lent against the wall.
All images Carl Hansen & Søn. Sold only at Carl Hansen & Søn stores or via www.carlhansen.dk, priced at 170 euros
Harriet Allure candles
I’m a sucker for a beautiful candle, indeed I might have something of a candle problem! So it was love at first sight with Harriet Allure. A cultural fusion of their Ghanaian heritage combined with German and Scandinavian aesthetics, the brand was founded in 2019 by friends Alex Adu and Freddy Mackensy, who were both raised in Düsseldorf, Germany. For them, home is not a single place, but the ritual of settling into a new place and lighting a scented candle can bring a feeling of comfort and familiarity. The name Harriet Allure combines Alex’s mother’s name with the word Allure, describing the tactile appeal of the candle vessels.
Harriet Allure’s candles are made of 100% soy wax with ecological cotton wicks. The fragrances are designed to evoke particular memories, as well as a sense of home and belonging. Their first scent, Ama, is a harmonious blend of cedarwood, amber and vanilla. The organic shaped vessels are designed in Sweden and handcrafted from recycled clay in Portugal.
Priced at £53. All images Harriet Allure
Breathable bio-based paint from Atelier Ellis
British paint company Atelier Ellis has upgraded its True Matt Emulsion paint to a new bio-based formulation. Now, from March 2024, the paint base has a newly developed, natural binder, which is new to the UK and made from waste vegetable oil, sugar and bio ethanol. Suitable for lime and gypsum plaster, the result is breathable, virtually VOC free and clean in scent. Over 90% of Atelier Ellis’ materials are sourced from the UK, with the remainder coming from Europe, and they formulate and manufacture their paints bases in the UK too.
‘How we consume affects not only an individual’s life but also our society and the environment. When I started Atelier Ellis Paint, I only wanted to make the best quality paint in beautiful, unique colours with the least impact possible. I purposely avoid using words like sustainable and eco-friendly – they have lost their power and value,’ says Cassandra Ellis, founder of Atelier Ellis. ‘I believe in true stewardship – taking care, being in service, producing what we need, and communicating the benefits clearly and simply. The ultimate stewardship is to make best quality paint in unique colours. As an independent business, we are free to choose best practice and materials, while manufacturing in a fair and equal way.’
All images Atelier Ellis. From £54 for a 2.5l tin
Another Country x HUSK kitchen collection
British brand Another Country has teamed up with Bristol-based HUSK to create a range of kitchen fronts to customise IKEA or Howdens kitchens. The fronts feature a simple V groove design that offers an elegant, modern take on the classic Shaker kitchen. They come in natural ash veneer or a range of five earthy tones inspired by the natural West Country landscape that is home to both brands, including Mist Green, Devon Red, Cornfield Yellow, Purbeck Grey and Ashmore Dark Green. The fronts are hand-finished in HUSK’s Bristol workshop and made to order to minimise waste.
Prices start at £2,260 inc VAT for a small painted kitchen. All images Another Country x HUSK
