The return of craft techniques to interior design is being helped along by technological advancements—we’ve selected some of the most innovative interior design products for the home
Whether inspired by the past or looking to the future, our love for hand-crafted materials in interior design is more popular than ever, and with technological developments making production more efficient, companies are taking their work in all sorts of interesting directions. Here we present five on-trend examples of contemporary interior design that celebrate craft using natural materials and modern technology.
1. Glassware: OAO Works
OAO Works is the name with which Omer Arbel likes to showcase his exquisite glass creations. Among them is 31.3 Polygon Glassware, a group of either 18 or 41 colorful elements—glass and diamonds—designed to be grouped together into compositions of your choosing. The intriguing 84.2 Copper Mesh Glass Vase, shown here, is born by suspending a bubble of white or colored glass within a fine mesh basket before plunging it into hot clear glass. Air is then blown in to gently push the glass through the mesh. As you might expect, the results are unpredictably beautiful.
oaoworks.com
Interiors: Devon & Devon
Developments in digital inkjet printing mean that tile designers can offer clients high-resolution, large-scale designs that were previously unachievable. Devon & Devon is now producing both contemporary and classic designs on grès porcelain tiles that look great and are easy to maintain. These Acanthus Décor Slabs, for example, feature an elegant, hand-drawn foliage motif available in six colorways that recall the Arts & Crafts movement in 19th century Britain and Europe. The company, founded in Florence, Italy, also produces tubs, sinks, showers, and faucets to help you create your ideal bathroom.
devon-devon.com
Wallpaper: Calico
For Nick Cope, wallpaper is never just a background. “We are fascinated with creating immersive environments that tell a story—our goal is to bridge the gap between design and art,” says the cofounder and CEO of Calico Wallpapers, whose range includes Venus from the Oceania collection. It begins with watercolor washes, before salt is scattered on and left to crystallize. “We like to experiment with different art processes and materials, creating patterns that are rooted in history, but entirely new,” says Cope.
calicowallpaper.com
Flooring: Lapicida
Hard and durable, and typically with a geometric surface pattern produced by different colored clays, encaustic tiles were a staple of British homes during the Victorian and Edwardian periods. Inspired by these floor finishes, Lapicida has just introduced the Comillas and Chester ranges of ceramic tiles, which work in both traditional and modern interiors. Both tesselated designs work well in hallways, kitchen, and dining spaces, but would also bring a contemporary feel to an all-white bedroom. An up-to-date take on a 19th-century craft.
lapicida.com
Walls and Surfaces: Detale CPH
The trend for poured concrete floors has extended to walls—as seen at Scandinavian-inspired restaurants and lifestyle stores such as Australian skincare brand Aesop and the The Kinfolk Gallery in Copenhagen—this textured look and feel offers a rough-luxe look and a clean backdrop to any minimalist home. However, if your walls are already in place, there’s a solution in the form of paints developed with a plaster or concrete base and a specially-designed top coat from Detale CPH.
Based in Copenhagen, but with showrooms throughout Europe, the company has developed two styles of delicate, tactile surfaces inspired by the mutability of natural materials and their Nordic design heritage. The 37 available colorways have been developed together with designers and trend experts.
