The Editor’s Picks: Unveiling Everlasting Household Icons Across Eras

Ekstrem isn’t just a chair; it’s a design marvel, embodying Norway’s postmodern flair from the 1980s. Its innovative geometry offers diverse seating positions, from forward to sideways or completely backward. Crafted with a steel frame and plush foam, it features Devold’s Knit upholstery, ensuring comfort and style with timeless elegance.

Seventy years have passed, yet Florence Knoll’s Model 31 continues to echo the essence of contemporary sophistication, speaking volumes with its enduring design language. Crafted with customisable options, vibrant weaves, and durable leather, the Model 31 is the perfect canvas that effortlessly blends style and comfort, making it ideal for any space, from office to home.

Isamu Noguchi’s Coffee Table—hailed as his finest furniture design—merges sculpture and function. Its sleek, organic form mirrors his biomorphic designs, translating their essence into functional art. Supported by two perpendicular wooden elements, the table balances asymmetry with stability. A unique blend of art and function, it defines mid-century modern design. 

Back in 1958, the Egg chair was created for the lobby and reception areas of the Royal Hotel in Copenhagen. Fast forward to this day, this futuristic chair has remained a singular emblem of the Danish design. The Egg originated in Arne Jacobsen’s garage – cast in plaster. Today the synthetic shell is padded with cold foam and covered with fabric or different types of leather resting on a star-shaped aluminium base.

The PH Artichoke pendant comprises 72 metal leaves arranged in 12 precise rows for optimal illumination. Its name reflects its unique distribution of light, both inward and outward, creating a delightful ambience. Developed by Poul Henningsen in just three months for Copenhagen’s Langelinie Pavilion in 1958, the pendant builds upon his earlier PH Septima Glass Light concept. 

Crafted during Philippe Starck’s Italian coastal retreat in 1990, Alessi’s Juicy Salif citrus squeezer transcends traditional design norms. Starck came up with the idea while eating a plate of calamari garnished with lemon, inspiring its unconventional form that defies the “form follows function” principle. Modelled after a squid, it marries functionality with sculptural artistry.

The Aalto vase, also known as the Savoy vase, is an iconic piece of Finnish design crafted by Alvar Aalto and Aino Marsio in 1936. It originated as part of a furniture collection for Helsinki’s Savoy restaurant opening. Initially conceptualised through pencil drawings, Aalto perfected the design by creating blown glass prototypes using wooden sticks to mould the molten glass into its distinctive undulating shapes.

Being a classic set to last a lifetime, the Old Luxembourg dinnerware boasts enduring elegance. Dating back to 1768, its classic blue and white palette and graceful brindille branches exude sophistication. The dinnerware showcases an intricate floral design, evoking tradition in any dining space.

The Bodum Chambord, steeped in history since the pre-war era, began with Attilio Calimani’s 1930s innovation. It gained prominence in post-war France during the 1950s. This iconic French Press brews 3 to 12 cups in just four minutes using fresh coarse-ground beans and water heated to 92-96 degrees Celsius. Meticulously crafted, its stainless steel frame and lid are chrome-plated for lasting durability and a sleek finish. 

Since 1979, the 800 Series has thrived on obsession. The iconic “Tweeter-on-Top” design, often paired with the distinctive Turbine Head mid-range enclosure, is seamlessly integrated into a sleek form, instantly recognisable. Renowned not only for their striking appearance but also for their exceptional sonic performance, these speakers combine beauty with power.