Spring always heralds a vibrant new chapter in the design world, with fresh collections blooming from some of my favourite brands.
As the days grow longer and the sunlight begins to linger in our homes, the arrival of new designs for the Spring Summer season brings a sense of renewal and inspiration. While I don’t advocate for constantly overhauling one’s decor, there’s a unique joy in discovering the innovative creations and reimagined classics that each brand unveils. These collections not only provide ideas for refreshing our living spaces, but also offer a glimpse into the evolving trends and directions within the interior design world.
This season, the focus is on sustainable materials, playful aesthetics and timeless craftsmanship, promising pieces that are not just beautiful, but will prove to be meaningful additions to your home.
Iittala
At Iittala, design is seen as more than mere aesthetics; “it’s a reflection of the human experience and a way to narrate our evolving world.”
Their new collections for Spring 2024, under the banner ‘The New Era’, embody this philosophy with an invigorating blend of culture, craftsmanship, and bold experimentation. Steeped in heritage, yet unafraid to venture into the unknown, Iittala’s new offerings paint life in vibrant hues of glass, creating a narrative that is both timeless and refreshingly contemporary.
One standout in this collection is the Play series, a vibrant array of home items designed to mix and match effortlessly. Inspired by the radiant colours of a sunlit day and the playful forms of Matisse’s cut-outs, Play celebrates the art of craft with a focus on material expression and audacious colour combinations. This collection is a tribute to modern living, where functionality meets fun, and each piece invites interaction and creativity in everyday settings.
The driving force behind this bold new direction is Iittala’s newly appointed Creative Director, Janni Vepsäläinen.
Known for her fearless approach to design, Vepsäläinen brings a fresh perspective to the venerable Finnish brand. Her debut at the Stockholm Furniture Fair 2024 was held within a former nuclear reactor and featured a mesmerizing performance by London-based composer and artist Damsel Elysium, who utilised glass instruments crafted at the Iittala factory. This avant-garde showcase highlighted Vepsäläinen’s commitment to pushing boundaries and exploring new creative territories.
Vepsäläinen’s arrival marks a significant shift in Iittala’s design philosophy, embracing imperfection and unpredictability in a way that challenges the conventions of Scandinavian design. Her previous work at fashion houses like Givenchy, The Row, and JW Anderson has imbued her with a disruptive edge, now channelled into revitalising Iittala’s identity. By introducing new collection-based thinking, collaborations with diverse artists, and creating memorable experiences, she is redefining what it means to be a design brand in the modern era. As she aptly puts it, “Sometimes perfectionism cannot be a good master. You need to let loose a little bit. There’s so much more to explore.“
And explore she does, guiding Iittala into an exciting new chapter where tradition meets innovation.
&Tradition
With a continued focus on telling stories rooted in originality, &Tradition‘s Spring Summer 2024 collections elegantly blend the timeless with the innovative. This season, the brand delves deep into its ethos of merging reissued classics with the future icons of design. New collections by renowned designers Anderssen & Voll and Space Copenhagen, alongside fresh creations from Jaime Hayon, Sebastian Herkner and Luca Nichetto, breathe new life into archive pieces by Hvidt & Mølgaard, Verner Panton and Viggo Boesen.
Among the standout pieces is the Montera table lamp by the illustrious Jaime Hayon. This creation seamlessly bridges past and present, drawing inspiration from Spain’s rich cultural heritage. The Montera lamp, named after the traditional bullfighting hat, features a silhouette that echoes the flair and pageantry of the iconic Matador. Hayon’s signature use of colour is evident in the lamp’s two captivating variants: Forest & Sky, and Amber & Ruby, each offering a distinctive touch of elegance and vibrancy.
The Petra lounge chair, a reinterpretation of Viggo Boesen’s 1938 design, embodies both comfort and character. Inspired by the success of the Little Petra, this larger version carries the same bold personality, now with an even more embracing form. Named after Boesen’s mother-in-law, Petra, who was known for her strong presence despite her small stature, the chair’s high-set, winged-backrest offers unparalleled comfort and a striking aesthetic that honours its Danish design roots.
Edward van Vliet’s Develius Mellow takes lounging to new heights with an emphasis on comfort and durability. Building on the success of the original Develius design from 2018, this modular sofa features an even softer seating experience and a removable cover for enhanced longevity. Van Vliet’s continuous exploration and ambition to create new design environments have culminated in a piece that embodies relaxation and versatility, making it a perfect fit for modern living spaces.
Lastly, the Thorvald Collection by Space Copenhagen celebrates outdoor living through its sculpted silhouettes and intricate interplay of light and shadow. Inspired by the lyrical lines of Denmark’s neoclassical artist Bertel Thorvaldsen and the motifs of his namesake museum, this collection combines a steel frame with a light grid structure. This design not only adds agility to the stackable armchair but also allows for seamless placement in both natural and urban environments, offering a modern take on outdoor elegance.
Normann Copenhagen
Born from a desire to revolutionise both conventional furniture production and consumer thinking, the Mat collection by Normann Copenhagen is a manifestation of the power of innovative design and sustainable practices. This collection, comprising eight distinct product variations with options for front or full upholstery, leverages some of the strongest and most CO2-absorbing natural fibres available: hemp and eelgrass.
The brainchild of the renowned Copenhagen-based studio Foersom & Hiort-Lorenzen, the Mat collection embodies decades of research and refinement aimed at replacing plastic with plant fibres in furniture design.
The journey began in the late 1990s when Foersom & Hiort-Lorenzen first explored the potential of plant fibres as a plastic substitute. After years of experimentation and collaboration with specialists from the Danish Technological Institute, the duo perfected the use of hemp and eelgrass in furniture production. The materials used in the Mat collection, cleverly crafted from milled hemp stems—waste products from food and pharmaceutical industries—and eelgrass naturally washed ashore on the island of Læsø, are mixed with a fully recyclable binder, giving each chair its unique appearance. These sheets are then compressed into chair shells, expertly cut to size, hand-sanded, and oiled using VOC-free linseed oil, before being mounted onto powder-coated steel legs.
The result is a collection that is strong, comfortable, and designed for disassembly and recycling, ensuring a fully circular life cycle. Each Mat chair can be turned into new products at the end of its use, challenging conventional thinking through the power of great design. The collection, which includes dining chairs, armchairs, and various bar seating options, showcases the natural beauty and tactility of its materials, offering versions in pure hemp or hemp combined with eelgrass, with numerous upholstery options available.
Foersom & Hiort-Lorenzen, both educated woodworkers with a design company that has spanned 50 years, are celebrated figures in the Danish design community. Their approach to design, which considers sociological, ergonomic, and human aspects, is evident in the Mat collection. They strive to challenge the norms of materials and production processes, merging form, function, material, and innovation into designs that resonate with people across generations. As they explain, “The fascinating part for us is when form, function, material, and innovation merge into a design that people want to use, not just now, but for generations.“
The Mat collection stands as an embodiment of this philosophy, illustrating how small steps in sustainable design can lead to significant changes in how we furnish our homes.
All imagery © respective brands