The Best Design of the Year, From a Brass Tea Set to Modular Kitchen Cabinetry

Carpet brand Tai Ping is looking to the future by rethinking the way its products are made. The textile industry is a major source of environmental pollution, as dyeing fabric releases large amounts of toxic waste into the global water system and synthetic materials contribute to microplastic pollution. 

Last year, the Hong Kong–based company debuted the Biophilic Collection, with 16 rugs made from raw, natural fibers including cotton, silk, bamboo, jute, flax, and wool, saving both water and energy used in dyeing and avoiding polluting compounds. The neutral palettes include grays, creams, whites, and browns, which are woven into tactile, nature-inspired patterns, each named after a plant that produces essential oil. Eight of the rugs are hand-tufted using intricate weaving processes to create a multilevel pile that in some cases—such as the Ylang I (pictured) and the Alizea I—looks like Japanese shibori. From about $5,154 

Forget frumpy porcelain.This silver-plated-brass tea set from industrial designer Natalia Criado is the perfect contemporary take on a traditional pastime. Born in Colombia, Criado earned a degree in Milan and imbues her work with influences from both places, prioritizing collaboration with artisans and embracing inspiration from pre-Columbian history and culture. Each piece in this collection includes a stone adornment—as a lid-opener or handle—that transforms utilitarian objects into jewelry for your table. From $750 

A guaranteed conversationstarter, Signature Kitchen Suite’s Mantle components are unlike anything that has come out in recent years. Designed by Patricia Urquiola, Mantle has a distinctive presence that blurs the lines between a kitchen capsule and domestic furniture. (Its undermount two-drawer refrigeration unit helps.) With a sculptural, bohemian look that would harmonize anywhere from a living room to a bedroom to a professional environment, the modular system has a textured exterior of Cimento tiles made from a blend of mineral aggregates and compounds. Urquiola, whose signature graces the tiles, collaborated on their development. She has a history of working with this material and has once again lived up to her visionary reputation, creating a piece of design that will no doubt inspire a round of spirited dinnertime conversation. Price upon request 

The Amarn daybed’s sleek silhouette is proof that furniture can be sexy. Handcrafted in Los Angeles by Dmitriy & Co, this pleasingly symmetrical minimalist’s dream is akin to a brutalist sculpture—little else is needed to decorate the space where it lands. Perfect for those who want a unique piece, the Amarn is available in a range of lengths and wood-frame finishes, with the customer providing their choice of material for upholstery. From $13,500 

Taking inspiration froman unusual source—the industrial grain silo—New York design studio Konekt released this console with flexibility in mind. Crafted from wood and brass (or stainless steel), the piece is available with optional hollow magnetic domes. Pop them off to reveal circular inlays perfect for holding a small basket or tray where daily bric-a-brac can accumulate, or keep them attached (our preference) for a truly striking architectural statement. $15,100 

Created by Marseille-based interior designer Axel Chay for Galerie Pradier-Jeauneau, Calade debuted at PAD Paris 2024. Named after the neighborhood where the designer lives with his family, the initial Calade range consists of six staple items—a sofa, a coffee table, a stool, a chair, a bookcase, and a floor lamp—though Chay has continued to expand the collection. His experimentation with shapes and strong understanding of materiality are the anchors from which he produces new classics with a timeless aesthetic, attracting much industry attention. Three articles from Calade—the coffee table and the wooden and upholstered versions of the stool—are slated to join the Mobilier National in December. The addition of one’s work to the institution, which has been building, preserving, and restoring the country’s national furniture archive for more than 300 years, is among the highest honors for French designers. From about $1,024 

Imagined by Taiwanese designer Chia-Ying Lee for Lodes, the Random Stick is an elegant interpretation of the humble suspension lamp. Featuring a row of blown-glass spheres on a metal bar (available in two sizes and four finishes), this luminaire offers its transparent diffusers, which sit atop and beneath the base like delicate drops of water, in seven color options, allowing for mix-and-match customization that easily blends with any style. From $1,375 

Known the world over for his sculptural, modern furniture designs, Finn Juhl is as relevant today as he was seven decades ago. This spring, House of Finn Juhl relaunched an extended version of the Wall Sofa Aubertin, a piece the architect created in 1951 for the private villa of timber merchant W. F. Aubertin. Hand-upholstered in Denmark, the lounger can seat up to six people, with its asymmetrical, swooped back adding dramatic flair—and a midcentury sensibility—to any room. $18,738