Fritz Hansen Presents the After Series by Michael Anastassiades

Fritz Hansen has unveiled After, a new chair and table series by acclaimed designer Michael Anastassiades. Defined by geometric clarity, subtle gestures, and immaculate execution, the collection bridges the Danish brand’s 153-year heritage with a modern design language.

Named After, as a reference to the design approach, the series introduces a more modern design language to the Fritz Hansen collection, yet with a sense of continuity from its heritage lineage. The collaboration marks Anastassiades’ first with Fritz Hansen, though the London-based Cypriot's long-standing admiration for Danish design is central to the series. Drawing on the brand’s archives and ethos of collective contribution, he distilled traditional archetypes into his own pared-down expression.

The result is a chair that clearly bears Anastassiades’ signature while echoing the legacy of Danish masters such as Kaare Klint and Poul Kjærholm. The round dining table echoes the clarity and play on geometry in a sturdier form. Their honesty, purity and materiality, a testament to the technical prowess and craftsmanship of Fritz Hansen. “My approach is based around the idea of collective contribution, building on the Danish design heritage and bringing my own layer of simplification and thinking,” Anastassiades explains. “There is a lot of clarity in shapes and forms and why they need to be there, they are very considered and geometric, primal in a way.”

The After chair is conceived as a precise interplay of stacked elements: a curved backrest resting on square legs, which hold a gently scooped plywood seat. The joins are matched to the millimetre, an exactitude achieved through a traditional cabinetmaking technique used for the backrest, in which a piece of wood is sliced into sheets, glued back together in identical sequence and pressed into a curved shape. “The joinery has to be so good, so stable, and there needs to be a level of comfort,” Anastassiades says. “The curved backrest has to be so precise to the millimetre… All these details matter. They are really subtle gestures that make the chair.”

This sense of stacked layers and contrasting geometry is repeated in the After dining table. The round tabletop appears to float on cross-shaped legs, their chunky rounded edges aligning them to and distinguishing them from the chair. Two distinct finishes offer contrasting characters: Ash with a hard wax oil that highlights the natural elegance of the grain, and Burgundy lazur, a rich hue reminiscent of darker wood tones or the patina of aged brass that Anastassiades uses in his lighting designs. A burgundy version with a Rosso Levanto marble top pushes the series into another realm, contrasting the monumental materiality of the wine-red stone with the tactility of the wooden legs. Thin cushions, in nature or burgundy Pure leather, further refine comfort.

Anastassiades describes the process with Fritz Hansen — which involves workshops with the brand’s creative director and furniture makers to develop the final product — as slow, methodical and collaborative. “Their knowledge is so fundamental in the process. It is a very different approach than any of the other brands I have worked with,” he says. “A part of the aesthetic is how you work with the limitations of the wood and find innovative ways of solving the problem that are not going to compromise the design. I’m very happy with the result; the execution, the quality and the detail are very good. It is such a simple design but it is immaculately manufactured."

For Fritz Hansen’s Creative Director Els Van Hoorebeeck, the After series encapsulates the brand’s philosophy of design being an evolution, not revolution. “In ash you get Fritz Hansen the manufacturer – the details, the immaculate delivery, the comfort maximised for the chair without losing the aesthetic purity. Whereas the burgundy and marble table feels as if it has landed exactly where the brand is at from a design perspective.”

Van Hoorebeeck adds: “The After series emphasises where we come from, how we work with our heritage, and at the same time shows a preview of what is ahead. It is a really nice link between the past, present and the future.”

The After series launches worldwide on 4 September, 2025, and will be available in Australia and New Zealand through Cult.

Images courtesy of Fritz Hansen

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Aesop Las Salesas: A Dialogue in Heritage, Materiality and Light

In Madrid’s historic Las Salesas district, just steps from the architectural landmark Palacio Longoria, Aesop has unveiled a thoughtfully designed space that redefines retail as a place of quiet discovery and connection. Designed by long-time collaborators Ciszak Dalmas and Matteo Ferrari, the project marks the team's second Aesop store in the city—offering a distinct interpretation of the brand while remaining rooted in the local architectural language.

The design draws heavily on Spanish Modernism, most notably through the use of Trencadís, a traditional mosaic technique reimagined in a sculptural, contemporary form. Once used to decorate irregular surfaces, it now defines sweeping architectural elements within the store, transforming fragments of ceramic into a unified, textured landscape that speaks to both craft and innovation.

The material palette plays a central role in shaping the store’s sensory appeal. The interplay of light and shadow—made possible through hammered Catedral glass—creates shifting atmospheres throughout the day, reducing the need for artificial lighting. Sleek, freestanding sinks crafted from Spanish Silvestre Granito with bases of transparent glass and Alpi Walnut Burl wood appear to float within the space, enhancing the store's light-filled ambiance.

Walls rendered in fine-grain clay plaster, and with rich wood veneer, create a balanced tension between openness and intimacy. The store’s transparent, floating portico acts as a visual anchor—simultaneously threshold and focal point—inviting exploration and offering glimpses into the behind-the-scenes rituals that define Aesop’s customer experience. The layout supports fluid movement and ease of navigation, fostering a sense of openness that enhances both accessibility and engagement, while framed product displays and seating areas encourage moments of quiet interaction.

Aesop Las Salesas stands as a thoughtful response to its context—one that honours Madrid’s cultural identity while embracing a forward-looking design ethos. By merging heritage techniques with a modern, human-centred approach, the store becomes more than just a point of sale: it is a space of connection, discovery, and enduring craft.

Credits

Architects: Ciszak Dalmas / Matteo Ferrari

Photography: Salva López

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Dinesen and John Pawson Launch New Furniture Collection

Dinesen, Denmark’s leading manufacturer of handcrafted wooden flooring and products, has launched a bespoke furniture collection with revered British architectural designer John Pawson, to celebrate 30 years of collaboration. The Pawson Furniture Collection is based on the span of a Dinesen floorboard, whose pared-back forms consequently appear to be lifted directly out of the floor. This served as the inspiration and guiding principle behind both the Dining Series and the complementary new Lounge Series.

Having previously collaborated on projects of varying scale and type—including private homes, exhibitions, museums and chapels, the new furniture collection distills the ethos of the Danish word Umage, which means going beyond what is expected or considered possible, as it expands this sense of progression that Dinesen and Pawson bring to their work.

The origins of the Pawson Furniture Collection for Dinesen can be traced back to 1992 when John Pawson created an original furniture collection solely for Pawson House in London. While designing his private home in Notting Hill, John discovered Dinesen and opted for Douglas fir planks for the flooring. This decision led to the innovative use of uncut planks laid from the front to the back of the house and the creation of a table and stools from boards of corresponding width. A commission unlike anything Dinesen had previously delivered, its success ignited a lifelong friendship and business partnership between Thomas Dinesen, fourth generation and John Pawson. Their enduring collaboration continues to thrive today.

Pawson’s vision saw the floor become a crucial architectural element, and the bespoke furniture for Pawson House further championed Dinesen’s joinery in new and unexpected ways. The Dining Series features a table, bench, and stool, originally conceptualised by John Pawson in 1992 and updated with a shadow gap detail for this collection. The top and legs of the dining table are fabricated from two boards, with the shadow gap now subtly highlighted using a combination of Douglas fir planks and Dinesen Oak inserts. Stools and benches, constructed from single Douglas fir boards with solid central spines, complete the collection.

The Lounge Series is a new, complimentary addition to the original Dining Series, features pieces crafted from solid Douglas wood, including a lounge chair, lounge table, sofa, and daybed. Skilled local cabinet makers in Denmark have built the wooden frames, which are then upholstered with textiles sourced from the renowned Danish textile company Kvadrat. Each piece is made to order, allowing customers to select their preferred textile from Kvadrat's extensive upholstery library. The sofa and armchair showcase the boards on the side elevation, while the cushions continue the theme of assembled and layered elements. Similarly, the daybed and coffee table are conceived as lower iterations of the dining table, creating a cohesive and harmonious collection.

John Pawson reflects on the design of collection for Dinesen, remarking “When I look at this new furniture collection for Dinesen, I see the essence of the thinking that has shaped my work since the beginning. Everything about these pieces is pared back to the logic and poetry of the wood. The dimensions of the timber determine the proportions of the forms and then it’s all about the inherent sensory character of the material.”

Thomas Dinesen, fourth generation at Dinesen, comments on the new furniture collection: “When we met John Pawson in 1992, we provided planks only for castles, manors, and churches, and at that time, they were conical Douglas fir planks only. He was the first to request our wood for a private home, and he wanted planks of the same width (450 mm). John Pawson has in many ways changed our relationship with the 'plank' from a restoration material for historic buildings to a design element in modern architecture."

The Pawson and Dinesen relationship was first struck with Thomas Dinesen in 1992. Since Thomas stepped down in 2021, his son Hans Peter has taken the reins to continue the family’s connection with Pawson for this new furniture launch.

Hans Peter Dinesen, fifth generation, says of the new collection: "More than 30 years after Dinesen and John Pawson first met, we reflect on how far we have come but also to shape our future course. John has had a great impact on the way we view architecture and wood. When John ordered our wood for the first time in 1992, it was a renaissance for our flooring and the plank itself that became a furniture collection. Together with Pawson, we have refined our Heritage Furniture collection and added new pieces to pay tribute to our shared joy in the simple and timeless."

Photography by Claus Troelsgaard

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Natural Beauty: Nordiska Kök's Newest Wooden Kitchen Design

In recent years, the demand for wood kitchens has soared, and at Nordiska Kök, this movement shows no signs of slowing down; in fact, it's gaining momentum. Wood is inherently beautiful with a natural charm and offers an array of possibilities, providing tactility, warmth and timelessness in kitchen design.

For their latest kitchen, Nordiska Kök pairs dark oak and contrasting stone to create a warm and sophisticated feel. To elevate functionality without compromising on style, Nordiska Kök introduces clever custom-built solutions. I love how the coffee station is discreetly concealed within a sleek Pocket door cabinet, ensuring a seamless look. Additionally, the wine corner is thoughtfully designed with a bespoke wine shelf, providing an elegant touch. Anchoring the space is a generously sized kitchen island in striking stone, serving as a focal point for entertaining.

Johan Lundkvist, Creative Director and founder of Nordiska Kök says the kitchen has evolved into 'the new living room,' with their customers seeking more than just a functional space. They desire a kitchen that is not only aesthetically pleasing but also reflects their personality, meeting their design preferences, needs, and lifestyle. It has become a focal point for social gatherings, a versatile workstation, and a space for family gatherings.

Styling by Pella Hedeby / Photography by Kristofer Johnsson

Images courtesy of Nordiska Kök

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Introducing Vertone

Today I’m excited to share my latest venture, Vertone, a new furniture brand launched with my close friend and collaborator, photographer/graphic designer Kirsty Dawn. Presenting our inaugural collection, Aperture, the duo of pieces—a versatile low-level table and a side table—is inspired by architectural lines and the desire to simplify and refine.

Initial ideas began brewing during the pandemic when Kirsty decided to cut short her move to London and return home to New Zealand. With a shared appreciation for understated interiors that blend sensory elements and a respect for natural materials, our discussions centred around versatile furniture and timeless design. We aimed to fuse architectural simplicity with a refined aesthetic, crafting pieces that exude a subtle yet impactful presence—setting the tone for the spaces we aspire to live in. These core elements of versatility and setting the tone led us to the name Vertone, and our first series, Aperture.  

Crafted with precision in New Zealand using natural materials, the Aperture series explores balance, scale, and proportions, seamlessly blending structural solidity with an airy lightness. This delicate equilibrium is achieved through a thoughtful interplay of planes, drawing inspiration from both architectural forms and traditional Japanese woodworking.

Anchoring the space while allowing light to permeate, the Aperture tables offer a canvas for arranging objects and an invitation for tranquility. Each table is designed to transition across different settings and homes, to be treasured for years to come.

Aperture is available in two finishes, natural oak and smoked oak.

Visit vertone.space to find out more about the new brand and debut collection, along with our first journal post where I showcase the tables in my home and provide tips on how to style them.

With thanks to Porters Paints—the interior space above features French Wash Double Rubble over Egg Shell in Rubble.  

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