Not to be confused with the Eero Saarinen Tulip chair, the B&B Italia Tulip Armchair is a modern design with serious nod to the past.
Indeed, it might have been designed by Jeffrey Bernett in 2000, but it’s those 60s-style ‘Bond villain’ looks are the selling point here. The chair has full 360° swivel from the brushed aluminum base, with comfort provided by the soft cushion backrest and seat.
Available in fabric or leather, it retails from £1,417.
We often get nostalgic about the cassettes of our youth – but I’m not sure I would wear one as a badge.
But there’s no denying that the Effektive Cassette Badge Sets are clever design. Eight different sets are available, all featuring six badges based on original cassette designs. And to complete the set, they are attached to a cassette back board and sealed in a cassette box with custom inlay.
Strictly limited numbers of each design, they retail for £5 each.
Looking very much of its age, but at the same time very futuristic, is this Splugen Brau suspension lamp by Achille Castiglioni.
Dating back to 1964 and reissued by Flos, this is a corrugated polished aluminium shade with a highly polished spun aluminium reflector – or in other words, a great way to boost the light in a room, as well as adding an early 60s vibe.
Everything is included to hook it up (100w incadescent silverbowl bulb, ceiling canopy and cabling), with a price of around £250.
Find out more at the Icone website
One of the more stylish places to do your work or web browsing is on this stunning Merrow Associates desk.
It’s being offered for sale right now by Da Silva Interiors in almost mint condition – which isn’t bad as piece of high-end British design (likely to be the work of Richard Young) is probably 35 – 40 years old.
A rosewood table with chrome-covered steel detail, a single draw, minimalist shape and the original glass cover to protect the top – all that will set you back around £3,500.
Incidentally, we are working on a small Merrow Associates side project right now – so if you have any knowledge, literature or indeed contact with anyone who was once part of the Guildford company (especially Richard Young, Percy Wyett, Peter Weeks or Peter Wyett) , we would love to hear from you.
Find out more about the desk at the Da Silva Interiors website
Very different from the obvious Eames designs, the Compact sofa is certainly a practical piece of home furnishing.
Originally designed for their own home, this 1954 design is now available from Vitra, offering a bold colour scheme, a lightweight frame, high backrest and an easy sofa to transport – folding up when you need to move it.
Made from a chromed tubular metal frame with polyurethane foam upholstery, it retails for a hefty £4,966.
Find out more at the Nest website
Until 24 May, Harrods hosts a season around the theme of "Design Icons". Iconic products are displayed around the store during this period allowing visitors to see them up close.
They have selected a wide range of designs including the Mathmos Lava Lamp (1963), the Rubik’s Cube (1973), Chanel No 5 (1921), Coca Cola Contour Bottle (1915) and the Togo Chair (1973), as well as some more recent designs such as the ipod.
The displays will be accompanied by a series of lectures, in association with the Design Museum, which include debate on ‘What Makes a Design Iconic" and lectures by design leaders such as Vivienne Westwood and Richard Sapper. Videos of these lectures will be posted on the Design Icons website for anyone unable to attend in person.
For further details of the Design Icons season, visit the dedicated website.
