Natural, sustainable and unique. At home, we want to create a relaxed feel-good atmosphere that we can enjoy at its fullest with a clear conscience – a trend that has been reinforced by the Corona pandemic. Natural materials, soft colours and organic shapes invite us to slow down and offer a sense of wellbeing. On the laid table and in the kitchen, we celebrate the treasures of nature.
Whether back-to-the-roots demands or neo-ecology, the theme of naturalness is highly en vogue. This trend runs through all areas of life, often combined with the pursuit of a healthier lifestyle. In food & drinks, fashion & beauty, the selection of products with a natural positioning is increasing everywhere. Clean label and organic products are experiencing a real boom. Logically, this desire for the “new naturalness” is reflected in current living trends and inspires creative people to develop ever new “natural” designs.
The style agency bora.herke.palmisano, which researches international style trends on behalf of Messe Frankfurt, has also identified natural living as one of the Ambiente Trends 22+ under the title “identity knowing + making”.
In harmony with nature
Everything that connects us with nature and brings us closer to it will play a leading role from now on. The kitchen becomes the ultimate centre of peace, the dining room a relaxed area of enjoyment. Organic shapes seduce as real hand-feelers to touch and use. A colour palette inspired by nature creates a feel-good atmosphere. Light sand tones evoke carefree days by the sea, as in the porcelain stoneware series by ASA Selection. Warm terracotta stores the sun of the south, earthy brown creates proximity to fertile fields. Individual colour accents are set by pastel rosé, luminous stone grey or soft dove blue. But a touch of green is not to be missed either. The ceramics of the Portuguese label Maria Portugal Terracota revel in delicate colours (lead image). The collections of the Dutch company Originalhome are mainly made from recycled, organic waste. They invite you to slow down, to take time for a meal with friends and family.
Nature and creativity
Naturalness and artistic creativity are combined by the London-based, award-winning ceramic designer Maham Anjum. This is how she explains the trend towards more natural, sustainable materials: “There is a movement towards more natural sustainable materials overall in design and living. I think in terms of handmade tableware the clients that I work with repeatedly want something that is touched by the hand, the slight differences that occur in the making or firing are celebrated. In the same way I see more clients using handmade cutlery and glass.”
Maham Anjum is convinced that the objects we use every day influence us much more than other forms of art because they are part of our daily lives.
“A plate or a bowl is a canvas for the chef. Colour, shape and glaze texture all enhance a dish. A semi matt glaze for example helps keep the focus on the food whether it is used an in indoor setting or alfresco. In addition, the shape of a plate and the material have an impact on dining experience. For example a coupe plate with a soft inside radius and slight depth, is versatile in service having the flexibility of being used for a number of dishes as a main or sharing plate, e.g. salads, pasta, foods with sauce, curry etc. as compared to a traditional flat rimmed plate. Low bowls with their generous plating area making them suitable for soups as well as breakfast, toast and small bites.”
Diverse like nature
Nature gives us the most beautiful models, diverse materials with which we can make our home more beautiful and at the same time express our connection to nature. An eye-catcher on any table is undoubtedly the cutlery with bamboo handle by Jean Dubost. Combine this with crockery with a handcrafted character, mouth-blown glasses and pure linen, napkins made from eco-friendly recycled paper and wooden bowls in their natural form. And the tulip-shaped salad servers are also a talking point. Sea grass, rattan and co. are often woven into pretty accessories, as with the baskets by Broste Copenhagen. In the kitchen, the original iron pan is the focus of authentic cooking, which is oriented towards the zero waste motto.
Wood: material of the moment
As a renewable resource, wood plays a central role in a natural lifestyle. Why do we love wood so much? It smells pleasant, feels good, looks beautiful and can be processed in many ways. Untreated wood comes across as pristine and rustic, finely polished it shines in a variety of shades, elaborate inlays turn chopping boards or knife handles into true works of art. Different grains make the products unique – always creating a new look for the new nature lifestyle. Wood also has an incredible variety to offer: from acacia to walnut, from beech to oak and from olive to teak. There is a match for every taste.
Wood has absolutely no fear of contact with other materials. The Belgian company Be Home combines wood with marble. Handmade in India, each of the extravagant boards is unique. The silver manufacturer Robbe & Berking refines chopsticks made of ebony with decorative elements made of 925 sterling silver, and Berard brings olive wood together with robust concrete. The “paddles” of the “Boat” salad bowl made of lacquered aluminium by Philippi are a two-piece salad servers made of acacia wood. Alfi, on the other hand, finishes its vacuum jug made of black stainless steel with a wooden handle and an oak inlay in the lid. The bamboo lid of the stainless steel sandwich box by back+blum doubles as a practical chopping board. And solid cast iron and perfectly crafted acacia wood meet in the weighing mortar by AdHoc.
Embrace extravagance
Looking for a special highlight for the perfect natural look? Here, you often find what you are looking for in exotic materials. The Belgian company LivWise offers a wide variety of coloured and patterned coconut shells under its Point-Virgule brand. The food-safe bowls, some of which are finished with mother-of-pearl, can be used to serve snacks and co. in an extravagantly elegant way.
Please touch
Degrenne porcelain comes to the table in pure white, but no less spectacular. With “Supernature”, the name is the programme. The relief-like décor created by the interplay of glazed and unglazed surfaces is reminiscent of the annual rings of trees. You don’t just want to eat from these plates, you want to touch them – a great stage for exquisite culinary creations. Enjoy with all your senses, the credo of the new naturalness becomes visible.
Title: Maria Portugal Terracota
