7 European homewares brands our editors swear by (that you can shop in Australia)

Best for: Milanese elegance

La dolce vita at its finest, Fornasetti’s iconic designs have been a favourite among the world’s leading artists, designers and taste-makers for decades. Established in post-war Milan by Piero Fornasetti, the company is still run by the Fornasetti family, producing homewares and furniture that blur the line between object and artwork. Their instantly recognisable dinner plates, candles, trinket dishes and soft furnishings are all made in Italy by hand, upholding the brand’s proud tradition of expert craftsmanship.

What Fornasetti is known for:

• The iconic Tema e Variazioni plate series featuring the face of Italian opera singer Lina Cavalieri
• Surrealist black and white designs
• Handcrafted furniture items including chairs, tables and dressers
• Handmade decorative objects including porcelain plates, cups, candles and dishes

Best for: precise Finnish craftsmanship

Famous around the world for its iconic glassware designs, particularly the Aalto vases, Iittala is a Finnish design house committed to timeless, functional, long-lasting design. Established in 1881, the company’s many craftspeople still use traditional mouth-blown techniques. For example, it takes seven skilled glassblowers 30 hours to make a single Aalto vase.

What Iitala is known for:

• Their famous Aalto vases, designed by Alvar Aalto
• Collaborating with top Finnish designers, including: Alvar Aalto, Aino Aalto and Kaj Franck
• Timeless, high-quality glassware, cookware and tableware

Best for: Scand-chic simplicity

Mette Ditmer is a Danish designer whose homewares are crafted in a typically Scandinavian style – featuring clean lines and classic shapes. Mette’s calm and organic pieces are characterised by their organic form, calm colours and functionality; creating a sense of well-being at home. 

What Mette Ditmer is known for:

• Authentic, organic ceramic forms in natural colours
• Soft-feel textiles, including towels and cushions
• Oak, glass and metal storage solutions

Best for: sculptural details

Georg Jensen was a Danish silversmith who trained as a goldsmith and sculptor. He opened his first workshop in Copenhagen more than 100 years ago, and remarkably, his hallmarks of simplicity, exquisite design, and functionality are still discernible in his namesake company to this day. An influential force in Scandinavian design until he died in 1935, Georg Jensen’s eponymous brand is now recognised as a leading design house with an international following.

What Georg Jensen is known for:

• Sculptural silverware, including jewellery and homewares
• Art Nouveau and Art Deco-inspired hollowware
• Collaborations with design icons including Henning Koppel and Patricia Urquiola

Also available at:

• David Jones

Best for: sparking joy

In a word, &Klevering is: fun! This young Dutch brand produces colourful knick-knacks, frames, storage containers and vases in designs that conjure a specific kind of childlike joy. Think quaint designs, bold colours and lots of wholesome childhood references. Their products are sure to bring a smile to your dial.

What &Klevering are known for:

• Homewares harking back to childhood pleasures
• Colourful designs featuring contrasting tones
• Statement pieces designed in collaboration with various Dutch designers

Best for: an emotional connection

French designer Sophie Lou Jacobsen creates objects d’art, homewares and glassware that tap into the emotional side of ordinary rituals, transforming them into extraordinary experiences with her delicate, emotive designs. Focusing on glassware, Sophie’s New York-based brand has exhibited in both America and Europe.

What Sophie Lous Jacobsen is known for:

• Glassware that is both functional and beautiful
• Soft colours and delicate designs that creates an emotional response
• Traditionally hand and mouth-blown glass creations

Best for: dual-purpose design

Known for its distinctive coffee table books, French publishing house Assouline started its story in Paris in 1994. Expanding into candles and object d’art, the company now have boutiques in Istanbul, Seoul, Le Bon Marché in Paris, Claridge’s in London, The Mark Hotel, and The Plaza Hotel in New York.

What Assouline is known for:

• Brightly coloured travel and fashion coffee table books
• Home fragrances and homewares

Also available at:

• The Iconic
• David Jones
• Bed Threads