Looking for a table to complement your Ball Chair? You could try the Eero Aarnio-style fibreglass table.
That’s ‘Aarnio-style’, which means it isn’t authorised – instead it’s got the same space age look and if you don’t tell your friends, they’ll just presume it’s by the same designer.
This quirky fibreglass structure is available in white, red or black, all standing 60cm high and al priced at just over £80.
Find out more at the Vita Interiors website
Recently opened in the Parsons Green area of London, is a new bar-restaurant called The Establishment.
Whilst its food is described as “hearty British fare with a contemporary twist”, its décor is firmly rooted in the past, apparently taking its inspiration from classic British cop shows and 70s gangster films. What this translates to is a pretty stylish mixture of bold geometric print wallpaper by Wayne Hemmingway, Foscarini chandeliers and leather banquette seating that is supposed to be reminiscent of the seats in a Ford Cortina!
The Establishment also has its own dog (not sure about the hygiene issue here), a bull terrier called Buster whose portrait adorns the restaurant and the website.
Interesting design, but probably not the most comfortable place to park your behind – the Sori Yanagi mid-century Butterfly Stool for Vitra.
It’s something of a culture clash, with Sori Yanagi mixing Easter inspiration with Eames working techniques in 1954 to produce the Butterfly – so named because the shape is reminiscent of the wings of a butterfly.
The stool is available in two sizes and three finishes (maple, palisander or cherry veneer), all with brass fixings. Prices start at £258.40.
Find out more at the Utility Design website
We should have mentioned the Asda Fun Glass Vases before – but we’re mentioning them now because these cheap design classic copies are now even cheaper.
No, your eyes do not deceive you, these are very close copies of the Otta Brauer designs for Holmegaard in the 1960s, notably the Gulvase, but in this case with a shorter neck. Obviously the glass is of a much poorer quality, but when you find out the price you’ll know why.
You see, Asda has been selling these for £5 each. Cheap enough you might think, but we’ve just seen them in the Asda sale at a ridiculously cheap £3. And even better, a gift pack of three small ceramic versions is also in the sale for £3. We’ve already picked some up – if you’re quick, you can do the same.
Find out more at the Asda website
Fancy impressing your guests with a design classic on arrival? You can with the Alvar Aalto Savoy Vase ice cube maker.
Iittala produced this in 2006, in the run-up to the 70th anniversary of the Savoy Vase. Just add water to produce your very own miniatures – and earn extra style points at the dinner party.
Yours for $15.25 (around £8).
Find out more at the Make website
We don’t see a lot of top hats around these days, nor do we see a lot of magicians on TV doing tricks with them. So it’s good to see both the hat and the trick coming back with the Magic Hat.
Except this is more useful household design than magician’s accessory. Taking a lead from the old ‘handkerchief out of hat’ trick, the magic hat is actually a tissue dispenser. Just load it up with your favourite brand, then impress your friends as you produce a succession of tissues from the plastic hat. Which could be useful if someone has a cold.
It’s just being shown off at the Atypyk website, so no price as yet – but keep checking as the items are usually available from its online store within weeks.
