Category: Design and Interiors

One small article just isn’t enough to cover the life and work of Alexander Girard. Suffice to say, his textile designs were hugely influential in the 50s and 60s, working with the likes of George Nelson and Charles & Ray Eames and for Herman Miller, not to mention some of the solo design projects he undertook during the mid-century era.

But here’s something far more modest – Acme’s Alexander Girard design card cases. These stainless steel cases come with a choice of Girard design (Multiform or Quatrefoil), brightening up what is usually a very mundane object. There’s even matching pens should you want to make a bigger impact at the next meeting.

The cases retail for £25 each, while the pens sell for around £39.95.

Find out more at the Utility Design website

A little underwhelmed by a traditional wooden desk? Maybe the space age BaObab Desk by Vitra is more your style.

Designed by Philippe Starck, the BaObab is described as a ‘a sculptural piece of furniture’, combining those 70s-style looks with everyday functionality – including cable management, storage space and plenty of surface for your desktop clutter.

There’s also a colour choice of light yellow, light grey, aqua, lime green and red, one of which is sure to fit in with your home office decor. All that does come at a price though – £1,928.

Find out more at the Utility Design website

Yes, we know smoking isn’t particularly socially acceptable these days – but we also know a lot of people do still smoke. So something as stylish as the Alessi Spirale ashtray will still have a considerable appeal.

Designed by Achille Castiglioni for Alessi in 1970, it would still look like a cool ornament whether you were a smoker or not, thanks to the mirrored stainless steel body and that spring detailing – which actually holds cigarettes in place.

Available in two sizes, with prices starting at £36.

Find out more at the Nest website

What goes around comes around – and it certainly looks like the Warren Platner designs from the 1960s have returned in the form of the Heaven range of tables from Jean-Marie Massaud.

I’ve done a quick compare and contrast and aside from the size and the way the wire frame is knitted together, there’s not a lot of difference – except that the Heaven range comes out cheaper.

Good for indoor and outdoor use, the tables are available in various shapes, with matching stools and chairs too, all made from toughened glass and pre-galvanised tubular steel. The one here has a diameter of 80cm and a height of 75cm, selling for around £447.

Find out more at the Made In Design website

He might be in his 70s and still shifting a number of his design classics, but Eero Aarnio is still producing interesting and eye-catching items for your home – including the recently-launched Swan Lamp.

No prizes for guessing where the name came from – those swan-like curves made from a moulded plastic body that ‘scatters light’ around the room, the light coming from an energy-saving compact fluorescent bulb.

Take your pick from white, yellow and black, all available for 239 Euros each.

Find out more at the Design Eero Aarnio website