Category: Design and Interiors

Clever design and eco-friendly too – the London Street Sign coffee table.

Yes, these are authentic City of Westminster street name signs, the work of Sir Misha Black and originally used from the 60s and 70s. Obviously these have been replaced over time, with Cockney Design picking up the old ones and recycling into these coffee tables.

You can choose your a specific sign from a wide selection on the site, available ‘as is’ with all original scuffs or restored to their original glory with a new finish. Each one is then fixed to steel legs, which are finished in a polyester powder coating.

The total size is 19 x 18 x 32 inches, with each table retailing for £159.

Find out more at the Cockney Design website

Some seriously 60s looks and that’s no coincidence –  the Planet chair by Sven Ivar Dysthe was designed back in 1965.

Designed as an elegant and functional armchair, it rotates as you’d expect, but it has something more – a patented mechanism that allows you to tilt the seat forwards and backwards. Complete freedom if you like.

A range of finishes are available, all retailing for around £669.

Find out more at the Varier Furniture website

Jørn Utzon is perhaps best known for his design of the Sydney Opera House, but his work wasn’t exclusively on such a large scale – some 10 years before his crowning glory, he designed the Jørn Utzon Tivoli pendant lamp.

Yes, amazingly, these futuristic pendant lights date back to the late 40s and is still available today in a choice of finishes. The two above show a white aluminium finish and a polished inner frame. There is a third version available with a polished outer area.

It hasn’t dated for 60 years – and it’s unlikely to date in the near future. So not a bad investment at £235.

Find out more at the 95% Danish website

I like the idea of quality storage you can build up as and when finances allow – like these Loop the Cube storage units, designed by Andrew Tye.

Very much carrying that space age vibe, these plywod cubes are available with a walnut or white finish and in two sizes, so you can mix the looks to create your own shelving to suit your space and/or pocket.

Prices start at £150 per cube.

Find out more at the DesignShop UK website

I think we mentioned a couple of week back that B&Q was going all retro for 2008 – and the stock is already starting to trickle in, with items like this B&Q Quentin pendant light.

It oozes the 1970s – the pink and orange colour scheme does that on its own, but the geometric pattern also hammers the point home. The whole thing is made of laminated cotton and can deal with a bulb up to 100w.

Available instore or online, it retails for £17.98.

Find out more at the B&Q website