Categories / Design and Interiors

Hans Wegner 1960s Shell Chair

Wegner_shell
We have featured Hans Wegner previously – with his bizarre Ox chair. This Shell Chair isn’t quite so odd, but it’s certainly quirky.

Designed three years after the Ox Chair in 1963, the Shell Chair is a three-legged affair with sloped back and ‘wing’ base that never quite took off originally, needing a relaunch in the 90s to be fully appreciated. I think that’s what you refer to as ‘ahead if its time’.

Available in ash, oak or walnut veneer, each with halingdal fabric (in your choice of colour), it will set you back £1,150.

Find out more at the Lollipop Shoppe website

Categories / Christmas, Design and Interiors, Homeware

Girard “Merry Christmas” Door Mat

Modernseed_1976_25103968 Welcome guests into your home in style over Christmas with the Alexander Girard ‘Merry Christmas’ Door Mat.

Featuring Girard’s distinctive lettering in a festive green colour, the mat is made from hand-tufted natural coir.

It is available to buy from Modern Seed and it has now been reduced to $22 (approximately £11) from $45 although you will need to contact Modern Seed for international shipping costs.

Categories / Design and Interiors, Homeware

The timeless Vipp Bin range

Vipp14
We all need a bin in the kitchen, but I’m guessing few of us really spend too much time choosing one. If you did, you’ll probably get round to considering the Vipp Bin.

It was originally designed in 1939 by Holger Nielsen, for his wife’s hairdressing salon and it’s been in production in varying shapes and sizes ever since – the size being the main difference between the range items. Each one is made of rubber and powder-coated stainless steel – the colour usually being cream, white or black (unless a limited edition colour has been made available).

The one pictured here is the Vipp 14 pedal bin, which has an 8-litre capacity and retails for around £145. More than your average Brabantia, but likely to be the only bin you’ll ever buy.

Find out more at the Utility Design website

Categories / Homeware

Auto Rickshaw Rug

349758_2Fashion designer Manish Arora usually designs clothes that combine contemporary shapes with traditional Indian crafts but his Auto Rickshaw Rug, designed for The Conran Shop, is a truly psychedelic piece.

A blaze of vibrant colours, oversized flowers and shooting stars, the rug makes quite a statement and wouldn’t have looked out of place in Sixties’ Swinging London.

It costs £495 and can be bought online from The Conran Shop.

Categories / Film and TV, Toys and Games

Dance your cares away with the Fraggle Rock dolls

Fraggles

It seems like 80s nostalgia is in right now – and following on from yesterday’s Little A-Team we have more childhood memories – the Fraggle Rock dolls.

Yes, Jim Henson’s cave-dwellers are back – in doll form anyway. You can pick up Gobo, Red or Wembley, each standing at 35cm tall, all fully-clothed and with suitably manic hair, legs and tails.

No lighthouse keeper, you’ll have to play that role yourself. Each dolls retails for £14.95.

Find out more at the Firebox website

Categories / Men's Fashion, Women's Fashion

Marimekko to team up with H&M for retro fashion range in early 2008

Marimekko_hm

Good news for fans of vintage Finnish textiles – H&M has teamed up with Marimekko and will offer a range of vintage-style fashions from April 2008.

The collection will use popular Marimekko patterns from the 1950s to 1970s, with 50 items in total available at launch The range will have a ‘graphic overall look’ and include 70s-style dresses, tunics, skirts and shorts for women, with men having to make do with shirts and shorts. There will also be some children’s items and accessories.

We’ll hopefully have images of items in the range nearer to launch (as opposed to the current artist’s impressions) – watch this space.

See some classic Marimekko designs at the Marimekko website