Top 10 iconic designs for the home

Interior trends come and go but some designs stand the test of time. And so, in celebration of 10 years of i-on, interior designer Kate Smith of Four Dots Design highlights 10 iconic designs you’ll want in your home.

Eames Lounge Chair

Designed by Charles and Ray Eames for the Herman Miller furniture company in 1956, the Eames chair continues to stand out from the crowd. Made of moulded Rosewood plywood and leather, this luxury item was inspired by the traditional club chair. Charles’ vision was for a chair with “the warm, receptive look of a well-used first baseman’s mitt.” The curved timber panels provide a retro feel complemented by the modern buttoned leather detail creating a truly timeless design. The large chair size and matching footstool allows the Eames chair to replace any armchair in a lounge as it provides the same level of comfort and relaxation. There are various copies of this chair available but Herman Miller and Vitra (pictured) remain the only two companies to produce these chairs with the Eames name attached. If you want some classic comfort in your home you can get yours in Tangram and Haus London.

Juicy Salif Citrus Squeezer

The concept behind this nifty design came to Philippe Starck whilst eating squid on holiday. After realising he had no lemon to complete his meal he set to work sketching on a napkin which was later delivered to Alessi. The iconic Juicy Salif citrus squeezer followed not long after in 1990. The Juicy Salif now ranks among the greats of modern design with a place in the Museum of Modern Art in New York. Starck even said himself the controversial squeezer was "not meant to squeeze lemons" but "to start conversations". And that it certainly does. Whether you use for lemons or display it as a sculpture, its striking, iconic design provides a work of art in any home. If you’d like to ‘start conversations’ in your home you can pick up your piece of modern art from TOJO (Glasgow) orwww.alessi.com/en.

Image: Alessi

Anglepoise Lamp

You might not be familiar with the name of this desk lamp but you’ll definitely recognise it. Originally designed in 1932 by George Carwardine, a British mechanical engineer who specialised in vehicle suspension systems, it was developed as a result of a mechanism which he recognised had applications in other fields. The difference between Anglepoise lamps and other angled desk lamps is the patent placement of all springs (either three or four) near the base. They’ve now become part of the furniture within almost any environment and, as well as being seen in the home, are in high demand by professionals such as architects and designers. Due to their simplicity they look great in home studies or as reading lamps in bedrooms. John Lewis supplies a great range, the colours available reflect the retro period of the design yet allows them to sit comfortably alongside the most modern home interiors.

Image: John Lewis

Liberty Print

Oscar Wilde once said, “Liberty is the chosen resort of the artistic shopper.” And I’d have to agree. Created in 1875 by Arthur Lasenby Liberty, Liberty is now a familiar household name renowned for its striking floral and graphic prints within both the fashion and interiors worlds. The designs are bold, vibrant and timeless, complementing both traditional and modern interiors. A stunning feature piece in your home, it can be showcased through furniture fabrics, curtains or print cushions, like this design from Amara.com. The fabrics are also very popular with craft making, Remnant Kings supplies a fantastic Liberty Art Fabrics Lucky Dip Bundle pack, £13.75, which includes five different Liberty prints swatches for you to put your creative juices to work.

Whistling Bird Kettle

This is another fantastic creation for Alessi. Designed by Michael Graves in 1985, the whistling bird tea kettle is unlike a typical kettle that signals water is boiling. The wide base of the kettle makes the water boil faster and its clean lines and polished finish allow it to fit comfortably within any kitchen interior, creating a ‘hot’ topic of conversation when it sounds to boil. There are a few colour choices to the handle, a miniature version is also available as a decorative collector’s piece to bring a little bit of joy to your kitchen and both of these can be found at Westgate Galleries or Alessi.

Image: Alessi

Barcelona Chair

You’ll have no doubt seen this design without realising it’s a classic. Designed by Ludwig Mies Van Der Rohe and Lilly Reich in 1929 and honoured with the Museum of Modern Art Award in 1977, the Barcelona Chair has been in production for almost 90 years with very few changes distinguishing it from the first version. Its popular design has been copied over the years, and it can be a common find within office spaces and reception areas, but, it also looks fantastic as a bedroom chair or to spruce up a room corner. Available in six different leather colours to suit your colour palette. Elliptical Interiors can help bring a bit of Barcelona into your home.

Image: Mies Van Der Rohe's Barcelona 3 style sofa, chair and stool at www.voga.com

Ball Clock

You could be forgiven for thinking the Ball Clock is a 21st century design, but, it was in fact designed in 1948 by George Nelson who had a vision to bring modern design into common aspects of the home. This re-edition clock is now manufactured and distributed by Vitra using original models and documents from the George Nelson archive. Available in a selection of finishes and colours it’s a great way to brighten up any wall. Kids will love the mixed vibrant coloured option whereas the sleek black and brass will dress a dining room perfectly, TOJO Design, Amazon and John Lewis stock a selection of the colours available. has been copied over the years, and it can be a common find within office spaces and reception areas, but, it also looks fantastic as a bedroom chair or to spruce up a room corner. Available in six different leather colours to suit your colour palette. Elliptical Interiors can help bring a bit of Barcelona into your home.

Ercol Furniture

Ercol is one of the most recognised names in furniture. Founded in 1920 by Lucian Ercolani his goal was to make well designed furniture that was made in a good working environment by craftsmen who took pride in their jobs. These days original Ercol furniture pieces dating back to the ‘50s and ‘60s are highly sought after items mainly found in vintage yards, auctions or second hand furniture stores such as Shapes Furniture or Home at Six in Edinburgh or Love Salvage in Glasgow. The tables and chairs are easily identified by their angled legs and smooth curved edge profile tops in slick timbers, still popular today as they could be mistaken for a new modern Swedish design piece due to their classic simplicity. Ercol are still designing and manufacturing furniture which can be purchased from Houseology (pictured), John Lewis, Martin & Frost, Stirling Furniture and Moleta Munro.

Image: Ercol at www.houseology.com

Chesterfield Sofa

There’s great debate about where the ‘Chesterfield’ name derived from in relation to the iconic furniture we all know. Most historians point the finger at the 4th Earl of Chesterfield, Phillip Stanhope, who had an eye for beautiful furniture. The first chesterfield, however, was created around 1764-1773. Since then the button back sofa has graced almost every interior space you can imagine, from palaces to stately homes, hotels, restaurants, bars and clubs. It’s available in a variety of sizes and in everything from plush velour to luxurious leather and is one of the few pieces of furniture that looks fabulous brand new or beaten and bruised after years of use. Jeffrey interiors has some great designer styles or you can look to places like The Sofa Workshop. Alternatively you can find some great pre-owned ones on Gumtree and in local vintage furniture dealers.

Image: Sofa at Furniture Village

Series 7 Chair

This solid stackable chair was designed by Arne Jacobsen, the creator of the famous Egg and Swan chairs, back in 1955 and it’s almost like it was his vision for the future. To celebrate its 60th anniversary, manufacturer Fritz Hansen asked Danish artist Tal R to select nine new colours which have revived the design and show the iconic chair in a fresh new light. Made of pressure moulded sliced veneer, front upholstery and full upholstery are now available in both fabrics and leather finishes. The moulded form creates a comfort which is why you’ll see the Series 7 chair in many cafes and restaurants. Team it with a glass dining table in your home and you’ll never have to buy another dining chair again. Now that’s an iconic investment. Pop into Moleta Munro to try one out.

To find out more from Kate at Four Dots Design visit www.fourdotsdesign.co.uk.

Main image: Vitra Eames Lounge Chair