Great design is often about devising the unexpected from uncompromising origins. But if there is one thing that the number of pioneering Scandinavian brands out there have taught us is that it doesn’t have to be that way. One such brand is Menu – the so-called ‘masters of soft minimalism’ – who believe that great design isn't unexpected but something we should enjoy every day.
Which basically means, the Danish-based brand pursues the symmetry between aesthetics and functionality to create elegant homeware and accessories that mellow with age and make laborious tasks, such as turning on a light, more charming than ever before. To show just how easy Menu’s ‘beautiful everyday objects’ – including lights, lamps, clocks, mirrors, kitchenware and accessories – can be introduced into your home, we’ve picked out five of our favourite pieces from the latest Menu homeware collection below.
Menu Candle Holders
Menu’s array of contemporary candle holders proves that the Danish brand is able to turn even the most traditional luxury items on its head. Take the Brass Balance Candle Holder, for example. It’s a modern interpretation of the traditional candlesticks carried through the centuries, and its designer Frederik Alexander Werner deconstructed the classic portable candlestick, stripping it back to its essence.
The same logic is applied to the POV Circle Candle Holder, which takes the humble candle from the table top to the wall. The light, smart and playful design is as interesting on its own as it is when in use; gently illuminating any room with warm, natural light.
Menu Marble Wall Clock
In an age where we all rely on smartphones to tell us the time, Norm Architects and Menu want to bring about a renaissance and appreciation of the classic wall clock. They do this in the only way they know how, by introducing another sophisticated Scandinavian home accessory to their assemble, the Marble Wall Clock. Crafted from the finest marble and stripped of unnecessary detail, the Menu Wall Clock will be a distinguished addition to any room in the house.
Menu Franklin Chandelier
The Franklin Chandelier displays Menu’s versatility as a modern Scandinavian homeware brand. That’s because its shows just how open to experimentation the brand is. The Tribeca series of lamps, which the Franklin Chandelier is part of, started with a classic American road trip. Danish designer Soren Rose travelled across the USA collecting lamps from the early to mid 20th century. He took his collection back to the studio in New York, dismantled and reassembled them, mixing and matching lamps. Out of this experimentation the industrial Tribeca series was born, inspired by the glamour of New York in the late 1930s.
Menu JWDA Table Lamp
Menu actively collaborate with a range of creative individuals from the realms of the architecture and design to provide a range of high-quality products with a sharp Scandinavian aesthetic. The classic JWDA Table Lamp – designed in association with Jonas Wagell – has been overhauled for 2018 with the introduction of two new white marble and bronzed brass finishes. Taking inspiration from archaic oil lamps, Menu’s JWDA has been simplified into an organic shape whereby the raw and delicate elements of Scandinavian interior design meet in one.
Menu Echasse Vase
Beyond lighting, accessories and homeware you’ll also find a selection of beautifully crafted Menu glassware, such as the Echasse Vase. Combining the classic elegance of a traditional glass vase with a playful, light expression the Echasse Vase – taking its name from the French name for stilts – is a round bottom vase that is anchored by four slender legs that resemble stilts. The expressive vase takes inspiration from test tubes in laboratories, and like the original Echasse it has a unique classic drop-like shape, and a beautifully rich green colour hue.
Shop and explore the latest Menu collection at OPUMO.
Want to see more? Take a tour of the Menu Space – the Danish brand’s incredibly popular multi-functional showroom in Copenhagen designed by Norm Architects on the OPUMO Magazine.
