IMM 2019 was another strong showing for Cologne, and its never-ending array of furniture in muted coral pink, green and blue colours beamed me right back to my childhood days in Germany’s prosperous 1980s. The coral trend continues, but the real stars of the show were found in more artisan products as well as beautifully designed lighting.
C.Drop Light│Scholle-Deubzer
Every drop of the C.Drop is completely handmade in a Bavarian workshop, which means each fixture shape is completely unique. The warm red, green and blue LEDs can be manipulated with the accompanying app to create an atmospheric wavy light pattern resembling underwater light projections.
Ikat Credenza│Indo
Designed by New Delhi natives Manan Narang and Urvi Sharma while studying at the Rhode Island School of Design, this credenza is inspired by the Ikat fabric weaving process of India and Central Asia. Each slat of the sliding door is hand-dyed prior to assembly, giving the tambour surface a beautifully uneven aesthetic.
Seismic Table – Edition #2│Studio Truly Truly
Super hip Rotterdam-based design Studio Truly Truly, founded by Australian designers Joel and Kate Booy, launched the original Seismic table back in 2014, and although beautiful, it was just a little busy. This second incarnation, handmade in Holland and inspired by the movement and vibrations of an earthquake, perfectly combines the mix of a hardened glass top and bent metal rods to form a simple and unique geometric pattern.
Stellar Grape Big│Pulpo
This standing lamp, by German “can do no wrong” designer Sebastian Herkner, with its hand-blown frosted and ripple glass textured spheres on a plain black powder coated steel base, make a sophisticated and intriguing addition to any interior space.
Keramiek Kroonluchter│Piet Hein Eek
The Small Ceramic Lamp Chandelier, by Dutch designer Piet Hein Eek, combines multiple ceramic lamps handmade in his workshop and available in an assortment of colours with warm and dimmable LED lights to create an eye-catching sculptural fixture. Both the lamp shades and chandelier shape are completely customizable in height, composition and form.
Typography│Rakumba
Australia’s Rakumba teamed up with Studio Truly Truly to create a flexible floor lamp designed around a rail system with the ability to be easily edited, by adding or removing different lighting elements for a selection of up to seven fixtures.
Taraba│Nunc
Designed by Katerina Trpkovska of Macedonian Design Studio Skopje, this fully modular partition/room divider by Croatian company Nunc is constructed of four simple elements: bases; wooden bars; metal couplings; and fabric partitions, giving the Taraba a playful yet unobtrusive quality.
Aërias│ClassiCon
ClassiCon has a knack of producing simple, understated yet elegant designs and the Aërias chair, by German designer Tilla Goldberg, is no exception. The leather wickerwork straps, which can be multi-coloured, are stretched around a wooden frame to create a remarkably comfortable chair with a simple minimal classic look.
Lata Bench & Butler Side Table│Hejmo
Designed by Ado Avdagic, this bench is made from solid oak, ash or walnut and constructed with a unique leg positioning to allow for a width of up to three metres. The comfortable cushioning upholstery including pocket springs is available is a number of fabrics and leather options. The accompanying Butler side is made from die cast coated/anodized aluminum available in multiple colours, a wooden base and a table top with a 360 degree rotation.
Marshall Lounge Chair│Woak
A mid-century Modern throwback, the Marshall Lounge Chair designed by Zoran Jedrejčić, is crafted from walnut or oak in combination with luxurious leather to create a very comfortable, relaxing and stylish lounger.
Salt & Pepper│Tobias Grau
The simplicity and ingenious design of this fully portable cable-less designed lamp was inspired by Grau’s vison of a 21st century candle. Simple to operate, dimmed through a touch-sensitive water-resistant lamp head, and with an impressive battery life of up to 100 hours, this LED table lamp is the perfect companion for creating the right lighting ambience for entertaining, working or a summer night on the patio.
