Categories / Design and Interiors

Artek 400 Tank Chair by Alvar Aalto gets Missoni makeover

Artek_missoni

A modernist classic of the 1930s is given a slightly more modern twist with the Artek 400 Tank Chair covered in a Missoni fabric.

The 400 (or Tank) chair was designed by Alvar Aalto back in 1936 for the Milan Triennale, those curves still eye-catching and distinctive in the modern era. But this version is even more prominment, covered in the Missoni Kew fabric as part of Artek's Dress The Chair campaign, where famous fabric houses are invited to give classic furnishings a new twist.

The chair itself is made of birch, with the seating using No-Sag springs, PU-foam and Dacron. it sells for 4,875 Euros.

Find out more at the Finnish Design Shop website

Categories / Men's Fashion, Sportswear

Adidas Stan Smith II trainers get seasonal canvas finish

Stan1

The Adidas Stan Smith has been doing the rounds since 1965, appearing in a host of different styles during that 45-year period. So it's no surprise to see another for summer, specifically the Adidas Stan Smith II trainers in canvas.

Essentially it's still the same tennis shoe turned casual classic, but this time a canvas upper has been added, a choice of white or a more bold dark blue, along with the perforated three stripe branding, adidas branding on the leather heel piece, pinstripe tongue plus a vulcanised midsole.

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Categories / Design and Interiors, Travel

Retro London tissue pack

London tissues

Retro design can be found everywhere, including on the humble tissue. This London tissue pack is possibly too good to blow your nose on.

The tissues feature a design of a traditional red London bus in the style of Royston Cooper (also recently referenced in Takashi Furuya's Have a Nice Day Poster). See over the page for the individual tissue design, which features city types waiting at a bus stop, depicted in the same retro style. The illustrations are so charming, they surely deserve a better fate than being thrown away. 

A pack of twelve costs 95p. 

Buy them from the Dotcomgiftshop

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Categories / Design and Interiors

Modernist-style Mondrian table range at Loveyourhomeforless

Mondrian tables

Simple Modernist design always looks stylish and this contemporary reinterpretation of the style, the Mondrian table range at Loveyourhomeforless, is no exception.

Their plain, geometric lines echo the work of Mondrian whose name has given to the range. However, these designs are much less colourful than his paintings – the minimal designs are made from black glass and brushed steel and, as such, remain much closer to furniture designs from that period. As well as the coffee table and console table pictured, you can also buy a side table to complete the look. 

Prices start at £265 for the side table going up to £529 for the console table. 

See the range online

Categories / eBay watch

eBay watch: 1970s desk lamp

Lamp

Quirky and cheap, that's what we like about this 1970s desk lamp.

It's an eye-catching piece of modernist-inspired design, the lampshade made of sheet metal, lacquered white on the inside to maximise light reflection with the top part of the stem in chrome, the bottom being metal that's lacquered orange, all combining to create a lamp that's easy to direct over your work.

It's described as in 'good condition and in full working order', but there is the the odd age-related mark, all of which are outlined on the site. Price? Right now it's a very tasty 99 pence.

Find out more at the eBay website

Categories / Art and Photography, Design and Interiors, Travel

These Are Things retro-styled maps

Europe-maps

Looking for a map that fits into a modernist decor but one that's also geographically up-to-date? Well, that's the exact challenge that faced graphic designers Jen Adrion and Omar Noory and led them to form These Are Things who create great retro-styled maps

The maps clearly draw their influence from late 1950s/early 60s design in both their typography and colour scheme, handily just not in the naming of places or drawing of boundaries. Their map of Europe is pictured and they also produce a world map and one of the United States with a similar look. Each design is hand screen-printed and carries off that rare combination of being educationally, geographically and aesthetically sound!

The map of Europe costs $40.

See them online