Whenever I’m travelling it’s a chance to look for ideas and inspiration. There was plenty of that in Amsterdam last month, and also an opportunity to do a bit of design sourcing.
Not one to waste any time, before our itinerary for the CEDIA conference started, I dashed into the old centre of Amsterdam to visit a couple of my favourite design destinations.
Droog
I’ve always been a fan of Droog. In fact they’re probably one of the design studios and manufacturer’s whose sideways approach to product design ignited my interest in design in the first place.
Ingenious ideas, simply executed. Always loaded wit and humour, but never throwaway.
Many people prefer tea made in a pot, but most teapots are too big for one person. Rather than just shrink a conventional teapot, Droog instead chopped it in half for their wonderfully-designed ‘Tea for One’…
The ‘Bottoms Up’ doorbell is an ingenious repurposing of wine glasses of different sizes. The rise of smart technology and entry systems probably means there isn’t much demand for this these days, although I’m tempted to have one just to signal somebody arriving to share a nice bottle of wine…
I’ve always loved their ’85 Lamps’ chandelier, and I can’t believe it’s been around for over 25 years now. To me it still looks just as wonderful, just as simple, and I’d still love to find somewhere in my home for one. In this room that William Egglestone would probably approve of it’s just perfect…⠀
Their café is also beautiful, complete with motivational staircase signage!
The Frozen Fountain
I remember this store from my first visit to Amsterdam around twenty years ago. Back then it was an extraordinary haven for Dutch design and interiors… and it still is.
With one of the widest selections of the best of Dutch design to be found anywhere, this is a wonderful store. New designs rub shoulders with vintage pieces, one-offs, and Dutch classics like this Piet Hein Eek scrap wood dining table…
And with ever-changing room sets and installations, design products mixed and juxtaposed to dramatic effect, it’s also a place to discover eclectic combinations which are far more than the sum of their parts.
This wonderfully sloppy sofa from Zanotta provided a welcome rest for my tired feet…
There were other places I would’ve loved to visit… if only there’d been more time!
