Living Etc

I’m still buzzing from my trip to Maison&Objet in Paris earlier this year. A slightly smaller event than this month’s Salone del Mobile in Milan, I found the furniture and design fair restorative. Down each walkway of the cavernous expo I made new discoveries, each one helping me to think about design in a different way. My full report on my favourite pieces, the ones that sparked ideas you’ll see in Livingetc all year, is on page 16, but some of the more weird and wonderful moments didn’t make it in. I was genuinely enchanted by the chair made of toy swans (yes, as odd as it sounds) and the chenille-covered lion at least four times bigger than life-size. I can’t see either fitting into the sort of schemes we…

SMART STYLE We’re at Milan Design Week this month, and to mark the occasion – and ahead of the latest launches – we’re reminiscing on some of our favourite moods, trends and products from the brands we’ve got our eye on in the pages of this issue. And where better to start than with Rimadesio’s Manta table, designed by Giuseppe Bavuso? It’s an example of the smartness we’ve come to covet in our homes, especially in the dining room – the suggestion that this is a place to dress up for, to feel good in. Expect to see more of this polished aesthetic as we head further into 2025 – we’re excited to see what comes out of Milan this year. Manta dining table by Giuseppe Bavuso, price on request,…

THE WHOLE TRIP FELT LIKE A BREATH OF FRESH DESIGN AIR – NEW NAMES, NEW IDEAS AND A NEW ENERGY TO CREATE HOMES THAT ARE DYNAMIC AND FUN…

Tongue-in-cheek collab L’Objet’s collaboration with South African artist Ruan Hoffmann is fun, witty and bright – featuring candles, dinnerware and a diffuser with crafty messages. Veti-vert diffuser set, £250 The bedding collection with a spring in its step Luxury sleep and homeware brand Piglet in Bed has achieved cult status for a reason: its designs are chic and feel amazing. Perfect for spring, the romantic boho-inspired Tales of Aunt Rose collection features a delicate Posy Bud floral and there are new colourways of the brand’s gingham and striped designs. Honey Gingham bedding, from £45 for a pair of pillowcases, Piglet in Bed BACK TO THE 1970S: ACCESSORIES GO RETRO John Lewis’ SS25 Modern Home collection is hitting all the right notes with its nostalgic 1960s and 1970s-inspired pieces. The chequered…

Lee Broom is no stranger to stretching his repertoire. His first collection, back in 2007, was of neon tube lights curved around vintage furniture – he has since worked with travertine, marble, brass and even carpet. His last big collection launch was in 2022, the hauntingly beautiful Requiem, fashioned from plaster by hand. And now this month he is debuting Cascade at Euroluce, the biannual section of Milan’s Salone del Mobile devoted to lighting. It is a series of lights made from porcelain, a collaboration with the heritage Spanish brand Lladró. ‘I was interested in the translucency, the way that thick, solid porcelain takes on the look of paper when you shine a light through it,’ Lee says. ‘That made me start thinking about paper lanterns, their shape and their…

Form over function: 4 objets d’art to invest in now All hail the big light – it’s back and even bolder The big light is having its moment in the sun again. Lume Lighting’s Scallop lampshades are magnificent and mood-boosting – we want one of each. From £250 for a 30cm diameter The relaunch delivering more satisfaction in bed (no, really) The iconic, ultra-comfy 2000T bed from Hästens is now available in a limited-edition anniversary version in tribute to Jack Ryde, the visionary behind that Blue Check fabric, who was born 100 years ago. The new iteration features blue leather finishes and a hand-embroidered signature. From €30,890, Hästens…