Stockholm Furniture Fair 2014: new launches and artful collaborations

'Balance', a mobile installation by design duo GamFratesi took pride of place at the entrance to the Stockholm Furniture Fair
'Balance', a mobile installation by design duo GamFratesi took pride of place at the entrance to the Stockholm Furniture Fair
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Design duo GamFratesi welcomed visitors to the Stockholm Furniture Fair with a petal-shaped mobile installation that echoed the work of sculptor Alexander Calder. The Danish-Italian pair, who picked up this year's Guest of Honour mantle from Nendo, suspended their fabric florals from the ceiling of the Stockholmsmässan above a lounge area kitted out with their furniture.

Dubbed 'Balance', their serene installation's arrangement was designed to create an equilibrium between life, work and play. 'For us, as for most people, each day is a struggle to find balance in life,' Stine Gam and Enrico Fratesi explained. 'The exhibition we have created at the Stockholm Furniture Fair is meant to remind us of that.'

The installation proved a restorative environment for weary fairgoers. It also gave them the chance to admire GamFratesi's recent designs for the likes of Ligne Roset and Gubi, showing us just how sophisticated their body of work is.

Another equally strong collection came courtesy of young Danish/Swedish design company Friends & Founders, launched in 2013. Its Spring 2014 offering extended all the way from furniture down to small accessories, and from indoor to outdoor items, without compromising their finely honed design aesthetic - distinct for its pared-back forms and clean silhouettes. 'Balance' was once again the word that sprung to mind.

Elsewhere at the Stockholm Furniture Fair, monocolour collections seemed to be the order of the day. Swedish brand Scherlin rendered its entire collection in a bright shade of orange to mark its 20th anniversary, while Danish company Montana served up pieces in varying shades of vermillion.

Outside the fairgrounds, things took a surprisingly theatrical turn. Flooring specialist Bolon joined forces with choreographer Alexander Ekman, while Swedish-French studio Färg & Blanche teamed up with the architect Erika Janunger and the choreographer/dancer Oskar Frisk - both to create short films. We were particularly struck by Bolon's 'Silence - The Show(room)', an artful interpretation of the brand's new Silence collection, 'inspired by the tranquil beauty of forests and wide skies Ulricehamn'. The classical music fused with the beating rhythm of the Bolon looms and dancers' footsteps in this strangely hypnotic film. Presented within an installation by Beckmans College of Design, it certainly launched the new collection with a flourish.

'Odette' bar stools by Massproductions

'Odette' bar stools by Massproductions

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Scherlin celebrated its 20 year anniversary with a collection completely coloured in orange

Scherlin celebrated its 20 year anniversary with a collection completely coloured in orange

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a creative display of 'Blom' lamps by Andreas Engesvik

Italians were represented in force at the Fontana Arte stand with a creative display of 'Blom' lamps by Andreas Engesvik

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Display by Konstfack Collective at the Stockholm Furniture and Light Fair

The Konstfack Collective is made up of four bachelor students from the Interior Architecture and Furniture Design programme at the Swedish school

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Display by the The Konstfack Collective at the Stockholm Furniture Fair

The participating students collaborated on a collection exploring 'the borderlands between space and furniture in order to broaden our perceptions of what a piece of furniture can be'

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Low table by Konstfack Collective

Low table by Konstfack Collective

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Shelving unit by Konstfack Collective

Shelving unit by Konstfack Collective

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'Crop' table lamp by Note Design Studio for Örsjö Belysning

'Crop' table lamp by Note Design Studio for Örsjö Belysning

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Dinner setting at Note Design Studio

Dinner setting at Note Design Studio

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Bureau by Efraim Albertsson at Steneby

Bureau by Efraim Albertsson at Steneby

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Cupboard system by Färg & Blanche

Cupboard system by Färg & Blanche

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'Will' chairs by Lith Lith Lundin at Greenhouse

'Will' chairs by Lith Lith Lundin at Greenhouse

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chair collection all in metal by Aalto University School of Arts, Design and Architecture

Aalto University School of Arts, Design and Architecture moved away from traditional wood and presented a chair collection all in metal

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'Useful Living' by Sanghyeok Lee

'Useful Living' by Sanghyeok Lee

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'Bowl' table by Ayush Kasliwal for Mater

'Bowl' table by Ayush Kasliwal for Mater

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'Bowl' table by Ayush Kasliwal and 'Dome' lamp by Todd Bracher, both for Mater

'Bowl' table by Ayush Kasliwal and 'Dome' lamp by Todd Bracher, both for Mater

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The 'Spanish' chair by Børge Mogensen

Originally launched in 1958 by Børge Mogensen, the 'Spanish' chair was reconfigured by Alfredo Häberli for this year's fair

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Cupboard by Swedish storage firm TreCe for Office Life

Cupboard by Swedish storage firm TreCe for Office Life

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Bins by TreCe

Bins by TreCe

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'Boss' sideboard by Fogia

'Boss' sideboard by Fogia

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'Krobo' bench by Fjordfiesta

'Krobo' bench by Fjordfiesta

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Chair by Gemla

Chair by Gemla

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'Bow' bench by Lisa Hilland for Gemla

'Bow' bench by Lisa Hilland for Gemla

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Shelving system by Lassen

By Lassen has expanded its range with a new shelving system

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Design Bar, a restaurant concept by Jens Farger in collaboration with chef Tommy Myllmäki

Designer Jens Farger unveiled Design Bar, a restaurant concept in collaboration with chef Tommy Myllmäki

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Office desk system by String

Office desk system by String

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'AjOtto' dinnerware by Frama

'AjOtto' dinnerware by Frama

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Gold carpet by Kasthall

Gold carpet by Kasthall

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'Spin' outdoor bench by Lars Vejen/SHL Design for Hags

'Spin' outdoor bench by Lars Vejen/SHL Design for Hags

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'W132' accessories collection by Nendo

'W132' accessories collection by Nendo

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'Sine' collection by Erik Olovsson and Kyuhyung Cho

'Sine' collection by Erik Olovsson and Kyuhyung Cho

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NC Nordic Care dining room set in yellow

NC Nordic Care showed a dining room set in yellow

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'Buzz' table by Espen VOll, Tore Borgersen and Michael Olofsson

'Buzz' table by Espen VOll, Tore Borgersen and Michael Olofsson

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New rug collection by BuzziSpace

New rug collection by BuzziSpace

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Colourful shelving by Montana

Colourful shelving by Montana

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Another bright injection of colour at the fair by Montana

Another bright injection of colour at the fair by Montana

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'Cinema' sofa by Lammhults

'Cinema' sofa by Lammhults

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Chairs by Blå Station

Chairs by Blå Station

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An array of pastel-hued chairs at Källemo

An array of pastel-hued chairs at Källemo

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sideboard with metal detailing

The Pastel theme continued at Klong, which showed a sideboard with metal detailing

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Pendant lamps and new dining chairs by Nikari

Pendant lamps and new dining chairs by Nikari

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Purple acoustic panelling

Baux, a new acoustic panelling brand, launched this year in partnership with Form Us With Love

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A sample of materials by Baux

A sample of materials by Baux

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Vifa Copenhagen wireless loudspeakers in various colours

Vifa - a new audio brand - launched 'Copenhagen', its first wireless loudspeaker

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Home products by Friends & Founders

Friends & Founders, a Danish Swedish design company founded in 2013, showed a full collection of products for the home

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'Fondue' pendant lamp by Luca Nichetto for David Design

'Fondue' pendant lamp by Luca Nichetto for David Design

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'Sucabaruca' coffee set by Luca Nichetto with Lera Moiseeva for Mjölk

'Sucabaruca' coffee set by Luca Nichetto with Lera Moiseeva for Mjölk

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'Sucabaruca' coffee set by Luca Nichetto with Lera Moiseeva for Mjölk

'Sucabaruca' coffee set by Luca Nichetto with Lera Moiseeva for Mjölk

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