Take a look at the designers whose artisanal skills can instantly elevate the most indispensable items in your home
A lot like art, you know a good design trend when you see it. And, thankfully for those accessories, appliances, and home goods we all need, top designers are embracing the trend to give some of those basics a high-style update. Read on for their takes on the classics.
Established by Esther Schulze-Tsatsas and Dimitrios Tsatsas in 2012, the Tsatsas label operates from the same atelier in Offenbach am Main, Germany, where Dimitrios’s father has produced fine leather goods for more than 30 years. The pair now combine this traditional knowledge with contemporary design to make their sleek bags.
Their latest creation is the Lato: so named because in Italian, lato means “the side” or “on the side,” which is how you access the contents of this slouchy bag. Rather than having a top opening, the Lato has inserts on either side of the handle. The lightweight bag is handcrafted from 100 percent lamb napa leather, and each one is individualized with a serial number.
tsatsas.com
“I love flat shoes, more so than heels,” declared the model Twiggy in her 1960s heyday. Had Ops & Ops been around back then, the Londoner might just have namechecked them. Created by American/Brit duo Teri Olins and Steph Jones, the shoes are inspired by designs from the Swinging Sixties and came about when they couldn’t find a flat that worked as well in the office as it did in the after-work restaurant or dancefloor. Handmade in Portugal, the shoes come in a range of colors and finishes, from high-gloss crimson and avocado patent to metallic blue and mint.
Barcelona-based furniture brand Kettal works with renowned designers to create pieces as stylish as they are relaxing. A regular collaborator is the Spanish-born, Milan-based artist Patricia Urquiola, creator of the Band collection. Intended to challenge the classic lines of furniture design, the range comprises a dining chair and a club armchair. Both are available in aluminum or teak, complete with sumptuous fabrics including Mediterranean pastels, earthy terracotta hues, and timeless neutrals. Each piece is made with eco-friendly lacquers, while the wood is sourced from certified cultivators.
kettal.com; patriciaurquiola.com
Henrybuilt has made its name designing and installing kitchens and wardrobes for design-conscious clients across the United States. The company has now created its first range of standalone shelving, armoires, vanities, and consoles, as well as tables and seating.
The Primary Objects collection comprises the uncomplicated and functional essentials around which any room is created. For the kitchen, there’s the customizable Shadow Box—a tall, larder-style cupboard with six panes of tinted glass in its doors—while bathroom essentials include the Puddle Jumper double vanity, and the Icicle, “a floating sliver of a medicine cabinet.” All 50 pieces are crafted to the same exacting standards of Henrybuilt’s “fitted architectural products.”
objects.henrybuilt.com
Who says interior design has to be a serious business? Certainly not the team at Masquespacio in Valencia, Spain, which—working with sister brand Houtique—have created the Wink chair. Resembling a coquettish, generously lashed eye, it features a back made from bent and welded iron tubing. The joints are sanded smooth before being treated to achieve a shiny chrome or gold finish, and the synthetic velvet seat and back come in a range of colors.
masquespacio.com
Using skills honed over three generations, Blackbird Bespoke takes commissions for one-off handcrafted metal furniture pieces, as well making its own lighting, mirrors, tables, and seating. A recent addition to its offering is this Triple Discus table light—so called because the circular steel components resemble the ancient metal discus. It is part of a collection that was designed to be both distinctive and dramatic, and to fit equally well into modern or period interiors.
blackbird-bespoke.com
Banner image: Courtesy of Barcelona-based furniture brand Kettal
