H&D Hotlist #110: New design products, furniture and accessories
From a chair inspired by local folktale to an updated take on traditional Chinese totem, here are some of the hottest new items in the market.
By Asih Jenie -
Rays of Hope
There is nothing like lighting objects that inject a dose of drama into spaces. Crafted from 390 aluminium “rays”, the Sun - Light of Love pendant light from Italian brand Foscarini is at once poetic like a giant floating dandelion and majestic like a mysterious glowing star. That one can’t discern the light source in a cursory glance makes it the perfect conversation starter. “
I wanted to bring the sun inside; into the house and its spaces,” says designer Tord Boontje. “Just like sunlight, Sun – Light of Love is an object that makes it hard to know where it begins and where it ends. It has no clear separation between inside and outside. Its geometric presence is very fluid and organic at the same time.”
The Foscarini Sun – Light of Love pendant light is available in white and gold and retails from £2,239 (S$3,980) at Nest.
Folktale Fancy
Local fashion apparel brand Binary Style, known for its whimsical Singapore folkloric prints, has collaborated with Scene Shang to offer its Sang Kancil Mouse Deer print as upholstery. Scene Shang’s art deco-inspired Maverick Cane Chair is now available to order in velvet upholstery with the mouse deer print, adding a whimsical and distinctively local flavour to any room.
The Maverick Cane Chair x Binary Style in ‘Sang Kanchil Mouse Deer’ Velvet is made to order from $770 from Scene Shang.
Versatile Squares
Simple square ceramic tiles, when made and applied well in a space, can elevate the look of the space while remaining relatively easy to maintain. Founded in 1949 in Sassuolo, Italy, tile brand Ragno is known internationally for its glazed ceramic tile collection. One of its latest collections is the Melange, a collection of highly versatile squares with a glazed finish that creates subtle colour variation, lending a handmade touch to the room that is perfect for wabi-sabi aesthetic. Available in nine colours.
Ragno is available in Singapore from Rice Fields, price upon request.
A Contemporary Blessing
What comes to your mind when you hear the word lucky animal feng shui totems? Gaudy and gilded? Not any more, thanks to local designer Lin Quixia, who has updated the aesthetic of these artefacts to suit our contemporary taste. Her Ji Jian Wu collection comprises five feng shui artefacts made of white and gold lustre porcelain: Qi Lin (for good fortune), Jin Chan (for luck in wealth), Hu Lu (to contain negative energy), Pi Xiu (to guard wealth), and Ma (for immediacy), that would look at home in any contemporary setting.
Ji Jian Wu collection retails for $138 each at www.didit.sg.
Seven Zones of Sleep
European mattress company Emma established a presence in Singapore in December. Hailed as Europe’s most-awarded mattress, the Emma Original Mattress provides full-body support with advanced zoning technology featuring seven foam zones that distribute pressure and support with exceptional motion isolation for the best sleep. Each purchase comes with a 100-night trial with a money-back guarantee and a 10-year warranty.
Emma mattresses retail for $499 (single), $799 (double) and $899 (king) from Emma Sleep, Shopee and Lazada.