Introducing the latest edition to Lemon – the Sutton Table. It’s hard-working, flexible design in its finest form.

Designed by Lemon’s co-founder and head of design, Kevin Frankental, the Sutton Table is a beautifully simplistic addition to a space that swings between work and play. With its clean lines and considered design, the surface pays homage to the beauty of either Oak or Walnut in four tabletop finishes: White Oak, Blackened Oak, Charcoal Oak and Walnut.

 

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“What makes the Sutton special, aside from its pleasing proportions, is the beauty of the surface. The table had to be as simple as possible so that you can really appreciate the timber,” says Kevin. “For the last few years, every product we have designed is not limited to use in just one space. So, each is commercial grade in terms of durability but aesthetically work beautifully in a home or office. And with so many offices starting to look like lived-in and beautiful homes, it makes sense to create pieces without restrictions.”

For more on the Sutton Table and Lemon’s range, visit their website or connect with them on Instagram.

Love this? Check out the Ashby Table by Lemon Design Studio.

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A visit to Lemon design studio’s showroom in Cape Town is an immersive and inspirational experience.

The growth of a local brand is always worth celebrating – it’s proof that homegrown designers are expanding and succeeding. Design studio Lemon’s journey over the past decade has been gradual, but looking back to its origins as a custom print outfit, the evolution is significant.

From print products such as artwork and wallpaper (still a core range for the company, and proudly designed in-house) to statement furniture pieces, the diversification speaks to co-founder Kevin Frankental’s vision to create collections of pieces that complement one another and can work in any environment – commercial, retail or residential.

A revolving display of pieces by local designers Jade Paton, Louis Olivier, Richard Penn, Johann Moolman and Michele Matheson.

The latest step in this process is a showroom in Cape Town – a conscious move to create a space that showcases the products in a working environment, and allows clients to see the craftsmanship up close. It’s located in an elegant heritage building in Bo-Kaap just off Buitengracht Street, chosen for its accessibility to the city, and for its charm. The showroom was designed by longtime Lemon collaborator Yaniv Chen of Master Studio to be a space to purposefully visit, rather than pass by. Kevin’s goal is to spread the message of quality with which so many local brands are synonymous, by encouraging interaction with the designs.

“There’s a wealth of talent in South Africa,” he says. “A central part of our ethos is to work with artists, designers and manufacturers to create special pieces and patterns.”

While shapes are often kept simple, Lemon’s selection of textures and approach to finishes are paramount.

He’s passionate about exposing local design to the world – and even, as strange as it may sound, to South Africans. He believes that too often, local buyers favour imported product over options made on home soil, and he’s determined to play a role in changing this. “Our designs can compete on a global stage,” he says. “We have the manufacturing and design skills – something I don’t think enough people realise.”

With Lemon having opened a studio in Amsterdam, Kevin and his brand will have plenty of opportunities to spread this message.

For more information, visit lemon.za.com.

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The Ashby table is the latest addition to Cape Town-based multidisciplinary design studio Lemon’s furniture collection, envisioned to be the ultimate entrance hall table – seemingly understated in design but considered in form.

The design, which took a few years to develop into a final product, features an elegant silhouette, simple enough to lend itself to a variety of spaces. Kevin Frankental, Co-founder and Head of Design at Lemon, notes, “We have come to the realisation that a great piece doesn’t always need to make the biggest noise in the room.”

The table’s versatility is largely attributed to Lemon’s ideological approach to simplicity. “The inspiration came from the surface,” says Kevin. “We use natural textures as much as possible, but it can be difficult working with materials like marble and travertine, and it’s come with a few learning curves.”

Kevin discovered that to achieve the round base he wanted, it would need to be made up of faceted pieces of marble, rather than a single chunk. “But instead of trying to hide the facets, we decided to expose them and let them become part of the design,” he explains.

The versatile Ashby table will soon be available as a coffee table in various sizes and finishes.

For more information, visit lemon.co.za.

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From a kaleidoscopic lighthouse mural by artist Okuda San Miguel and cleverly designed milk packaging to a stylish chair from local brand Lemon, these are the top VISI picks of the week series – week 349.

adidas Clean Classics Collection

adidas has given its classic sneakers an eco-friendly redesign, making use of Primegreen materials, made with a minimum of 50% recycled content, in combination with renewable and reclaimed rubber for the soles and 70% recycled materials for the uppers. The Clean Classics collection, available online and at selected adidas stores, aims to address the issue of plastic waste.

Images courtesy of adidas

Lemon’s Kent Chair

Designed for Lemon by interior designer Yaniv Chen of Master Studio, the Kent Chair was inspired by 1950s design, and Italian 1950s design in particular. “I feel that a piece’s detailing, even its ergonomics can take someone back in time,” says Yaniv. “I like that someone will sit in this chair and feel a subtle sense of nostalgia.”

Images courtesy of Lemon

Depot Milk Carton Packaging

Russian design agency Depot has created a range of clever packaging designs for Milgrad Bryansk Dairy Plant. The blue cat is featured in different positions on various cartons that create a story once placed together.

Image credit: depotwpf.com

Browse more like VISI picks of the week series – week 349 on picks of the week 340.

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Cape Town-based multidisciplinary design studio Lemon has launched its Flora collection, a range of timeless wallpapers inspired by the history of flowers and foliage as depicted by the creative arts over the last two centuries.

Flora is the culmination of Lemon founder Kevin Frankental’s deep dive into the archives of one of the most universally explored design topics, with the Lemon team trawling through online museums and libraries for public domain visuals. Lemon’s team of artists merged elements of existing imagery with their own hand-drawn creations to produce this series of wallpapers.

“The designs feel like they’d be at home in a holiday house,” says Kevin. “They’re nostalgic, but uplifting. I also think they have a preppy feel, which I love.” The collection features dreamy colour palettes, with subtle tones of cool blue, dusty rose, fresh green and white, as well as richer crimson and navy.

While the designs are wholly suited to romantic, antique-filled interiors, Lemon believes this range will work equally well in contemporary spaces.

Love this collection? Check out Lemon’s ’70s-inspired New Wave collection here. For more information, visit lemon.za.com.

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Local multidisciplinary design studio Lemon recently opened a new showroom in Sea Point, Cape Town, showcasing a wide range of art, furniture, accessories and design pieces.

“Since we started Lemon over a decade ago, who we are and what we do has evolved and grown,” says co-owner Kevin Frankental, who heads up Lemon with his brother Ricky. “And despite having been in business for some years, in many ways we feel we’re just getting started.”

The new space encapsulates the vision of this product and custom design brand, standing not only as a showroom, but also a design and creative hub.

The Cape Town showroom complements the Joburg base, which is the main facility for large-scale project execution. What began as a wallpaper and print studio has grown into a full-scale decor operation recognised both locally and internationally.

As well as exhibiting its own collection, Lemon also distributes two Danish brands, namely &Tradition and MENU.

For more information, visit madebylemon.co.za.

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Chicago-based artist Laura Berger has amassed over 100 000 followers on Instagram. Having spotted her collaboration with local multidisciplinary design studio Lemon, we decided to chat to her about her artistic journey, distinctive style and what’s on her agenda for 2019.

How did you get into art?

I’ve been drawing ever since I can remember, and was always into anything creative growing up – singing, theatre, ceramics, playing instruments – you name it. When I was at university, I did some scene painting for backdrops of theatrical productions before freelancing professionally as a scenic artist for a while after I graduated. My personal painting practice started to develop and take shape after a really difficult time in my life when my father passed away and a bunch of other things kind of fell apart for me. Painting was something positive to focus on and became a way to channel and process my emotions. I think I still use painting in this way every day without even really realising it. It’s very meditative. It can be such a good way to quiet the mind from our normal trains of thought and just think about colours and shapes.

What do you enjoy most about being creative?

I enjoy being in the place in my brain that it puts me in. I’m not a very logic-based person. I’m much more emotionally and spiritually driven, so I think I just feel most at home inside myself when I’m able to be operating from a creative place. Creative work can also link us up to a more child-like, freer way of thinking, which gets so stifled in the day-to-day grind. I’m always wanting to live more from a place of instinct or intuition and key in deeper to those parts of me, so I really enjoy creativity as a way to exercise those skills as well.

How would you describe your style?

Always a difficult question to answer… some words that come to mind are minimal, clean, focused on colour, incorporating both figurative and abstract elements.

You recently collaborated with South African design studio Lemon. How did that collaboration come about?

Yes! I had created a commissioned wallpaper design for a client in Johannesburg a couple of years ago and Lemon handled the production for her. They reached out to me after that to work on a small collection for them. Their aesthetic is gorgeous and I really admire their work, so I’m very happy to be collaborating.

Apart from prints, you also do large-scale murals, animations, growlers and apparel. Is there a piece / project that you’ve enjoyed working on most?

For the past couple of years I’ve been mostly focusing on painting, which is probably what I enjoy the most. But it’s so nice to mix things up and do mural work and design projects for clients as well. Getting out of the studio and working in different ways is challenging and helps me to grow as a person and artist. It also helps to inform and inspire my painting work when I get back. I did a mural for the Ace Hotel in Palm Springs, CA last year, and that was one of my favourite projects. They were lovely to work with and being in the desert makes me feel really good and connected.

https://www.instagram.com/p/Bow0RbkhK2Z/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

https://www.instagram.com/p/Bppu8Y-hLyC/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

What are your plans for 2019?

I’ll be exhibiting some new paintings at Art Market in San Francisco in April, I have a three-woman show at Outré Gallery in Melbourne in May, and a solo show at Stephanie Chefas in Portland in December. I’ve also got some nice design projects lined up and some travel plans with my partner.

See more of Laura’s work at lauraberger.com (you can also shop online here) and follow her on Instagram.

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This exciting collaboration between Johannesburg-based studio Lemon and product and furniture designer Joe Paine was recently showcased at 100% Design South Africa.

The double-sided Standing Living Wall is a multi-functional design. “It is a living sculptural piece, which acts as a screen for open plan office environments,” explains director of Lemon, Kevin Frankental. “It is fully automated, self-watering and has positive effects on the built environment by filtering air and softening noise.”

Due to the versatility of this modular design, you can make use of as many Living Walls as you like to create a longer screen.

The design is available exclusively through Lemon. Visit madebylemon.co.za for more information.

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Dokter and Misses

Tonic

Monn

Generation

Lemon X Joe Paine

David Krynauw

Design Team

100 Beautiful Things

To find out more about this annual event, visit 100percentdesign.co.za.

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