< PreviousSpecial Report commercialinteriordesign.com July 2021 40 Offi cial bed-supplier to Sweden's royal court, Hästens promises its beds will "change the way you feel about sleep forever." A design partnership with this heritage and acclaim could be a daunting prospect, but design agency Bernadotte & Kylberg has its own linage to draw on – founded in 2012 by Carl Philip Bernadotte, the Prince of Sweden and friend Oscar Kylberg. Both studied graphic design and advertising at Forsberg School in Stockholm and embrace an ethos of timeless Scandinavian minimalist in their work, which they extended to Hästens' fi rst foray into bedroom furniture. The two bed benches and nightstands in the range join pieces that have been made by hand at the same factory in Köping, Sweden since 1852 and complement 2017's Appaloosa and Marwari beds. Not falling short of Hästens' commitment to detail, the ash intarsia pattern has been carefully laid by hand – infl uenced by the arrangement of the trademark blue Hästens check. Inside there's a generous drawer, hand-fi tted with cut dovetail joints, featuring practical dividers and smart leather detailing. Formed to fi t perfectly with each bed, the Appaloosa is fi nished in lighter tones with elegant black legs, while the Marwari is fi nished in walnut hues and brass legs. Paired with each look are the Appaloosa and Marwari bed benches. Like the nightstand, these pieces are designed in the intricate intarsia pattern with corresponding legs. Inside lies spacious storage with clever sideways moving drawers, complete with dividers to provide the ultimate organisation. Kylbeg, CEO of Bernadotte & Kylberg, NEW PRODUCTS A Marwari in close up One of the world's most luxurious heritage bed brands extends its furniture offering through a collaboration with a Swedish design duo SCANDI- SNORESpecial Report 41 July 2021 commercialinteriordesign.com Founded in 1852 and now in its sixth generation, Hästens handcrafts beds using sustainable natural materials to create lines for residential and commercial projects. Each Hästens bed is built by a team of skilled craftsmen in the company's historic facility in Köping, Sweden and in the Middle East, there's a fl agship store in Dubai's Sheikh Zayed Road Meet the brand says: "Our departure point was what we ourselves associate most with Hästens: a total unwillingness to compromise when it comes to quality and detail. Design is so much more than colour and shape. It also about sustainability – creating timeless products of high quality in a well thought out way." The Appaloosa bed bench A matching nightstandSpecial Report commercialinteriordesign.com July 2021 42 TREND FOCUS: Connection hits reset on offi ce furniture with Comfort at the offi ce is no longer an oxymoron. Macro trend design in the workplace goes under the microscope with commercial furniture Connection. Founded in 1995 and with showrooms in London and Manchester, this "proudly British" business supplies and works with more than 50 countries around the world. Its teams are also collaborating with international trend forecasters Scarlet Opus to deliver a British Institute of Interior Design-approved CPD (Continuing Professional Development) on offi ce furniture trends. Latest installment 'The Reset' will look forwards to a positive world of design and explore and analyse key future macro design trends, their impact upon commercial furniture, workspace design and the wider design world and how they can be implemented by designers. RESIMERCIAL DESIGN As the lines between distinct work functions in a space become more and more blurred, working from home during the pandemic accelerated the trend for 'resimercial' design, which aims to combine the comforts of our residences with the production requirements of commercial products. Connection’s Resimercial collective takes the human-centric seating of the knowledge economy and also onboards future key design trends so their infl uence is prominent throughout the individual ranges, each with a cross-pollination of home-style fabrics and robust design to suit the workspace. Here’s what they’re fl agging up as fresh for the rest of 2021: MOON GAZING Designed to alleviate stress and anxiety, 'Moon Gazing' utilises earthy colour palettes and more natural materials to create a feeling of contentment and a greater sense of wellbeing. Simple shapes, minimal clutter and softer fabrics ensure the overwhelming feeling of sanctuary. The relationship between people and nature is becoming increasingly prominent in workplace and furniture design, with a Home or away? The 'resimercial' work space The overall vibe is relaxing and warmSpecial Report 43 July 2021 commercialinteriordesign.com Resimercial collective Soft seating chairs characterise the collection Furniture recreates the home décor look wider yearning for a more grounded aesthetic and a genuine connection to nature and the earth. BIOTOPIA This trend explores environmental concerns regarding climate change through intense blues, purples, and greens. The integration of natural elements and colours within both residential and commercial settings is proving to be a key talking point within interior design and the 'Biotopia' palette is crafted to immerse occupants in nature. Blurring the lines between work & home design... Speaking about the objective of their learning seminar, George Eltringham from Connection says: "The events of the past two years have certainly changed the world, in some ways for the better. To create desirable workplaces and encourage both current and future employees back into the offi ce, employers and designers must understand how to balance wellbeing, motivation, and consistent performance, through both workspace and furniture design." To book a walk through, contact: enquiries@connection.uk.com Special Report commercialinteriordesign.com July 2021 44 PI Vaarnii is a new Finnish furniture brand with a modern international approach REDE Special Report 45 July 2021 commercialinteriordesign.com NE FINED Images: Jussi Puikkonen Special Report commercialinteriordesign.com July 2021 46 Finnish design might "conjure the image of curvy Scandi-modernism from Alvar Aalto and the ilk" says Antti Hirvonen, co-founder of new Finnish furniture brand Vaarnii, but he hopes an international approach will allow movement beyond this, and in the process, defi ne a new design vernacular for Finland. With its global launch at London Design Festival due in September 2021, Vaarnii bring to the world stage a combination of Finland's furniture-making tradition and cultural values to create bold, contemporary designs with international appeal. Founded by two Finns who know their way around the global design scene – Hirvonen (Tom Dixon, Artek) and Miklu Silvanto (Bang & Olufsen, Apple) – Vaarnii needs to be on your radar for this year. Vaarnii makes its debut with a collection of wooden furniture and accessories by international designers including Philippe Malouin, Mac Collins, Industrial Facility, Kwangho Lee, and Max Lamb. The inaugural collection from Finnish design brand Vaarni A coffee table by Soft Baroque for VaarniiSpecial Report 47 July 2021 commercialinteriordesign.com and glorious summers." Among highlights from Vaarnii's debut collection are an angular lounge chair by Max Lamb, asymmetrical mirrors by Industrial Facility, sturdy bowls by Mac Collins, and a chunky coffee table by designer duo Soft Baroque. The mix of furniture and objects also includes a long bench by Kwangho Lee, essential tables and chairs by Fredrik Paulsen, and door stoppers designed in-house and inspired by a splitting wedge. A composite of the Finnish terms for ‘dowel' (vaarna) and 'ash tree' (saarni), Vaarnii's name represents the combination of – and connection between – making and material and that material is pine. This unexpected choice is typical of Vaarnii's approach and a key part of their mission. Pine is an abundant and readily replenished resource in which Finnish woodworkers have generations of expertise. Although it was popular as a furniture material in the 1990s, pine has since been overlooked in favour of hardwoods. Now, as devotees of its distinctive grain, the character it acquires over time, and the practical fact it doesn't crack like many other woods, Vaarnii want to bring pine back and reinvent it for the modern age. Vaarnii's cohort of designers have succeeded in using this neglected wood to create a highly distinct aesthetic. Robust, functional, and materially honest to the point of stridency, the designs combine brutality of form with sophistication and attention to detail – you could easily imagine them at home in both a log cabin and a loft apartment. "Our furniture will endure for generations, and in doing so begin a new era of furniture-making. I want to see people dancing on our tables in ski boots. The patina will provide great memories in decades to come," adds Hirvonen. Max Lamb created the lounge chair Trays by Livia Lauber A dining table and chair by Fredrik Paulsen Brutality of form with attention to detail... Founders of Vaarnii L–R: Finnish design duo Antti Hirvonen and Miklu Silvanto MEET THE EXPERTS The founders defi ne its style as 'brutal and sophisticated,' refl ecting, Hirvonen explains, "the unique qualities and complex characteristics of Finnish culture: there is an off-balance between the two; for example we have grim, dark winters Suppliers - Kitchens & Bathooms commercialinteriordesign.com July 2021 48 Dornbracht Kitchens, bathrooms & more Founded in 1950, Iserlohn- headquartered Dornbracht is now internationally renowned among architects, designers and luxury consumers in more than 125 markets for its products "Made in Germany" with the highest manufacturing standards. This refined range includes Dornbracht CYO, an elegant and curvy number inspired by a design from the company’s archive from 1969. With CYO, Dornbracht reinterprets the archetypal C-shaped spout and adds an innovative and customisable handle concept, operated by a rotating outer ring with finely tuned click-stop function. We like. Ideal Standard Solutions that win awards This year Ideal Standard unveiled a new silk black finish on its complete bathroom solutions – everything from taps and mixers, to basins and toilets, as well as shower trays, enclosures and furniture. The privately-owned company headquartered in Brussels, Belgium, is on a "relentless journey shaping the future of modern living through design and innovation," picking up awards along the way for Joy and Conca, two products from its Atelier Collections, and Intellimix – a smart, sustainable solution for superior hygiene in shared spaces that modern life now demands. Al Safa, Dubai, UAE 971 4 380 6611 jkidd@dornbrachtgroup.com www.dornbracht.com Jafza View Building, Jebel Ali Free Zone, Dubai, UAE 971 4 804 2400 idealstandardgulf@idealstandard.com www.idealstandardgulf.com Suppliers - Kitchens & Bathrooms 49 July 2021 commercialinteriordesign.com Geberit A leader in its fi eld Design options in the bathroom expand with new colours for the surface cladding of the popular Geberit Monolith and the Monolith Plus sanitary modules. Already available in black, white and mint, the front cladding made from safety glass now comes in trendy lava and sand grey. The Monolith Plus includes an integrated LED light, odour extraction unit and an easy-to-clean control panel. It's another strong launch from the globally operating Geberit Group, a European leader in the field of sanitary products and bathroom ceramics. Hansgrohe Group A history of innovation With its brands AXOR and hansgrohe, the Hansgrohe Group enjoys a stellar reputation as a leader within the kitchen and bath industry. Its 120-year history is marked by innovations, such as the first pull-out kitchen tap, and the first wall bar to hold a hand-held shower. New additions for luxury brand AXOR are the washbasin, bathtub and shower in the AXOR One range that continue the design partnership with Edward Barber and Jay Osgerby. All are is available in chrome, matte black, and an array of exclusive AXOR FinishPlus surfaces. B702-B705, Building 1, Dubai Design District, UAE 971 4 447 0914 info.gulf@geberit.com www.geberit.ae AXOR – Hansgrohe Group, 1904, Swiss Tower, JLT, Dubai, UAE 971 4 448 0291 sales.mea@hansgrohe.com www.axor-design.comNext >