Coffee Lovers Unite

True to my love of the use of natural materials in art and design, I recently fell in love with Kählers new coffee brewer, Barista.

The design is so fresh and Scandinavian. Allegedly it makes unparalleled great tasting coffee as well but as I haven't tasted it yet, I can't vouch for this. I hope it is true though as I can all too easily imagine myself sitting in the morning sunshine drinking great coffee out of something this aesthetically pleasing.

The cups are made of porcelain and you can buy a set of 4 together with a lush natural wooden stand. However, to be honest, I might just buy one cup so that I can selfishly enjoy it on my own. The only problem with that would, of course, be the fact that the Barista comes in three (wonderfully nordic) shades and I am not sure that I'd be able to choose just one...

The designer behind the little coffee beauty is Michael Geertsen who graduated from the Danish Design School in 1993. His inspirational designs and high artistic quality has made his art known throughout the world.

He states that he finds inspiration in the meeting between function and sculpture – and his work draws a clear line back to classic ceramics, but shapes and colours are used in such a way that tries to challenge the observer. I would say that he succeeds in this. Just look at this great red sculpture as an example:

Michael recently exhibited some of his works at the Victoria & Albert Museum in London with his installation: A DIALOGUE WITH HISTORY.

Michael described it as “an explosion of mixed works, which take on some of the highlights of our civilisation”.  He further explained that he took inspiration from Greek vases which is really apt as the Victoria and Albert Museum has one of the largest collections of ceramics in the world. The ceramic collection spans almost the entire development of our civilisation.

Michael Geertsen says that he hopes that when people see his designs they will go: “Wow, I really like the idea behind that – and it is beautiful as well – I must have it”. Well, Michael, you certainly succeeded in making me feel like that. I am pretty sure that I MUST add your lovely little coffee brewer to my growing collection of kitchen ceramics.

Thank you!

Raw Materials - Wood and Leather

I have always loved the use by Scandinavian artists and designers of natural materials such as leather, wood, stone, metal and clay. I can't think of anything more aesthetically pleasing than the mix of raw materials and sharp light airy designs. The Spanish Chair 

One of my favourite pieces is the Spanish Chair designed by the Danish furniture architect Børge Mogensen as seen in the photo to the left (borrowed from Manks).

This chair is especially close to my heart as we had one in our summer house in the North of Denmark when I grew up. I have spent many hours of my childhood sliding around on the leather seat whilst watching one of the three TV channels available or perched on the arm rest next to an older sibling who had claimed the chair for the evening (and this was probably more often the case as I am the youngest of four).

Legend has it that upon returning home from a holiday in Spain in 1958,  the furniture designer Børge Mogensen created the Spanish Chair. He had fallen in love with an old chair in Andalusia with a leather seat and wide arm rests.

The use of leather and solid oak gives the chair a strong masculine character and the natural materials cause the chair to become increasingly beautiful as time passes. The buckles can be tightened as the leather naturally stretches over time. This way you can sit comfortable in the chair today, tomorrow and for generations to come. Clever.

I admire Børge Mogensen for more than just his beautiful designs. His philosophy was that beautiful objects for the home should be affordable to the people of Denmark. During the 40s, 50s and 60s, he created some of the most well known furniture classics in Scandinavia.  He would probably be quite sad to know that 40 years after his death, his pieces are not exactly "affordable" to the ordinary person. Still, they are so beautiful that I would almost dare to say that they are priceless. Almost.