Category: Design and Interiors

A few months back, I bemoaned the fact that you couldn't buy arguably Joe Colombo's most famous creation – the Elda Chair – in the UK. Well, my plea seems to have been heard, with the chair now available in this country.

Which makes me very happy, although that's tempered considerably by the price. The Elda is the space age era in a seat, actually dating back to 1963, but best known for its appearances in sci-fi movies and TV shows of the early 70s – an episode of Space 1999 wasn't complete without one.

On the technical side, the swivel chair is made of reinforced ABS plastic, with an plush interior of contrasting leather. If life's been kind to you of late, you can pick one up for £3,518 – and re-live an era every time you sit in it.

Find out more at the TwentyTwentyOne website

We've not done one of these for a while, but when we see two products so similar, it's hard to resist doing a comparison between the George Nelson Ball Clock (left) and the Matalan Molecule Clock (right).

Regular readers will know we have featured the Ball Clock previously, a mid-century classic from 1948, this distinctive design has been officially reissued by Vitra in a mix of lacquered wood and metal, with a high grade quartz clock keeping things ticking over. Expect to pay from around £143.

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For all the big items we buy, sometimes it's those little details that have the most impact – like the Verner Panton Dodecahedron candle holders for example.

Designed back in 1964 and available once more from Unique of Copenhagen, these stylish clear glass vases are available in three sizes (small, medium and large), with each shaped like a dodecahedron (12 sides for the uninitiated – although there's obviously space at the top for adding your light).

Prices start at £34.

Find out more at the Panik Design website

It screams the early 1970s, but the Cassina Lebeau dining table is actually a fairly modern design.

The work of Patrick Jouin, the table could slip effortlessly onto the set of Space 1999 or any number of vintage sci-fi flicks. And if you’re after that kind of look (but want an alternative to Tulip Table), this could be worth a look. The base is made of stainless steel, with a podium of grey or white plastic supporting a transparent glass top.

Fairly substantial in size with a diameter of 1400mm and indeed substantial in size. Even in the Nest sale, this is priced from £3,456.

Find out more at the Nest website

If you are one of the dying breed of people who has the old-fashioned good manners to still send “thank you” cards for gifts received, then you may like to send a “Spot Blossom” Thank You Card designed by Retro To Go favourite Orla Kiely.

The boxed set contains ten cards, five in bright ochre and five in chocolate brown. Ten envelopes are supplied which are printed with Orla Kiely’s signature stem design.

The set costs £10.99 from Papergrain.