Out of Europe

Whether we consider them avant-garde or downright odd, furniture and other homeware designs from Europe continue to cause a splash on the world stage. While most of the products and ranges featured below are not usually found in New Zealand stores, orders can be placed online.

Barrels of function

RED, WHITE AND... GREEN: Repurposing is not just for environmentalists and certain inhabitants of Wimbledon Common any longer. As Studiododici’s Barrel 12 range shows, even the most mundane industrial items can open up a world of trendy ideas.

Featuring cabinets, poufs, sinks and more, this range is the brainchild of Italian architect and designer, Francesca Cutini. Each piece is handcrafted using recycled barrels and items can be produced by commission.

Details via: www.barrel12.com.

It’s a little bit bunny…

WILD CHILD: It might not be PC to refer to children as ‘little monkeys’ but they’re not exactly tame; in a way, that’s definitely a good thing too!

From their ‘top of the hops’ Mr Bunny and ‘roaringly’ popular Dino beds to rugs and other animal-themed ‘creature comforts’, Portugalbased Circu takes us on a wild ride.

Details via: www.circu.net.

‘Off’ the wall

STICKING POINTS: Tricky decorations are quite the treat when it comes to Halloween, but they can prove a fright if they’re still hanging around by Christmas, for example. Although Wallsauce’s murals help set the atmosphere for any occasion, they are ‘peel and stick’ so they can be quickly applied then, just as easily, removed and stored.

What’s more, we can let our imaginations run wild as Wallsauce can create murals to order based on any high quality image, even our own photos, making them ideal for birthdays too.

Details via: www.wallsauce.com.

Call them Laengsel...

WHALE WAYS: Laengsel (from Denmark) has landed quite the catch with its Orka (aka orca) desk and chair. Based on a Scandinavian concept, ‘orka’ means having the drive, determination and physical or mental energy to take on a task. So, although it’d be rather hard to land an actual white whale from a desk, one could write a great novel at such a novel perch.

Whether this desk (and matching chair) can encourage us to be more productive or not, it is an aesthetically pleasing, striking piece of furniture which plays with light and shade.

The Orka desk can be produced using birch, beech, ash or oak plywood, although not (for good reason) driftwood!

Details via: www.laengsel.dk.

Dogged (not dog-eared) design

PET PROJECTS: French poodles woof ‘ooh la la’, princely King Charles spaniels have a throne of their own and even weary old English sheepdogs in need of a well-earned rest are flocking home to Hommes! The ACH Collection from Hommes Studio has been turning heads in Europe as pampered pooches expect the best in opulent pet beds.

Providing a level of comfort suited to the most loved ‘fur babies’, these beds are designed to be hard-wearing with removable, washable covers. What’s more, they are produced from vegan leather, without using harmful chemicals.

No ordinary mats for our mates, these ACH Collection designs have been devised to work in harmony with interior design schemes, making them contemporary art pieces as well as practical perches for lucky pups.

In addition to beds, the range includes pet bowls, with designs ranging from functional to funky – or should that be punky?

Of course coddled cats could (theoretically) make use of these products too but that’s a different ‘tail’ altogether.

Details via: www.achcollection.com.

Pretty as a fixture

CRAIC-ING ON: The luck of the Irish is well known, but the light of the Irish shines (somewhat) less bright. So, in efforts to change that, some ingenious designers have switched on their thinking caps and come up with dazzling lighting fixtures.

Mullan Ceramics’ range appears to be worth its weight in (pots of) gold. And yet, they are not produced at an emerald city somewhere over the rainbow – or even at the end of one. Instead, these stylish lamps have been devised, designed and created in the Emerald Isle.

Inspired by the heritage and colours of Ireland’s Mullan village, the range is: “tactile and unique with a visually attractive texture,” Mullan Ceramic ceramicist, Stephen Kieran, says. “It’s difficult to walk past a piece without wanting to hold it.”

Details via: www.mullanlighting.com or www.mullanceramics.com.