THE TASTEFUL EIGHT

An octet of eminent designers spotlight their favourite products

Our favourite designers pick their favourite designs

Lee Broom, interior designer Alessi Big Shoom fruit bowl by Nigel Coates £190; alessi.com

“This was the first designer product for my home which I bought. What I really love is its simplicity and its organic fluid shape. The reflective mirror finish of the stainless steel gives it a very luxurious feel but in a minimal way. It’s one of those pieces that looks equally as good on its own or with objects inside. It has pride of place in my London apartment on my coffee table.”

Bjarke Ingels, architect Wooden dolls by Alexander Girard £70 each; vitra.com

“I love candles and I love the little life they spread in the home. But candles actually pollute the indoor air quality with particles and they tend to burn down if forgotten. Enter the digital candle conceived by Waldemeyer for Ingo Maurer. You’ll find my digital candle next to a bowl of Alexander Girard’s wooden dolls — he’s a genius designer who brought colour and pattern back to the international style of modernism.”

Sebastian Bergne, product designer Drop jug by Sebastian Bergne £90; sebastianbergne.com

“My everyday table is populated with many things I use and love. The crockery design

I’ve been enjoying for 20 years is the Montefeltro stoneware range designed by Franco Bucci. The tools are from Achille Castiglioni’s Dry cutlery range. To wash it all down, water or wine is served in one of my own creations: the Drop jug. It first appeared as a prototype for testing and has since become a regular. I’ll let you judge it for yourselves but the fact that it is still there says something.”

John Pawson, architectural designer Wishbone chair by Hans Wegner £650; conranshop.co.uk

“The spare simplicity of the Danish craft tradition gave the country’s design culture a visual sensibility that allowed a form of modernity to develop that was not a rupture with the past. Hans Wegner, a furniture designer who originally trained as a cabinet-maker, produced a series of chairs that embodies this continuity. For me, the most beautiful, because it is the most refined and the most pared down, is the Wishbone. It’s light, strong and everyone looks good sitting in it.”

Margaret Howell, fashion designer Leonardo table by Achille Castiglioni £2,195; twentytwentyone.com

“I bought this table in the Seventies when I started out designing from home and needed a bench-height worktop to draft my patterns. The functional flexibility and adjustable height of the Leonardo was perfect (it works equally well at table height for dinner parties). Whenever I’ve moved, it’s come with me. I never tire of it. I still keep the thoughtful booklet on how to look after various materials that came with the table — a mark of respect for good design made to last.”

Joe Casely-Hayford, fashion designer Vertigo Pendant lamp by Constance Guisset £840; hollowaysofludlow.com

“The Vertigo Pendant lamp was designed by Constance Guisset in 2010. I was immediately attracted by its strong emotional presence. Being extremely light, the Vertigo lamp responds to the slightest draught, when lit it turns softly, projecting a graphic shadow onto surrounding walls. I love this unique organic element. The Vertigo light sits comfortably in my drawing room juxtaposed with Georgian and brutalist pieces; existing in an environment of perfect harmonious discord.”

Sir Paul Smith, fashion designer Type 75 mini desk lamp by Anglepoise + Paul Smith £145; anglepoise.com

“The Anglepoise Type 75 is a design classic. The perfect lamp for everyone from a student for their first desk to a grown-up for their office. It’s been such an honour to recolour the lamp several times over. My Type 75 sits pride of place in what I call my ‘ jet lag‘ room which is the corner of my house where I slip off in the middle of the night to do some work.”

Yves Béhar, industrial designer RAR chair by Eames

£465; conranshop.co.uk

Swiss designer Yves Behar, who is based in California, is best known for his innovative “one laptop per child” project and is the brains behind the Jawbone bluetooth speaker company. His selection, the Eames RAR (Rocking Armchair Rod Base), was designed by Charles and Ray Eames in 1950. Featuring maplewood rockers and a polypropylene seat, the chair is now made under licence by Vitra and combines comfort with modernism and a relaxed sense of fun.

Paul Smith Grey checked wool suit, £1,145; silk-blend printed bomber jacket, £585, both by Paul Smith

CaselyHayford Navy wool coat, £1,470; black/ white/navy striped wool jumper, £390; navy/grey checked wool trousers, £360, all by CaselyHayford. Black leather brogues, £475, by Church’s

Margaret Howell Stone matte twill shirt, £245; black paisley silk tie, £85; black cotton-canvas trousers, £425, all by Margaret Howell. Black nylon trainers, £225, by Mizuno for Margaret Howell

Lanvin Green wool jacket, £2,105; green wool trousers, £570; brown calf suede belt, £370; black/ grey calf skin boots, £890, all by Lanvin

Burberry Black cashmere Chesterfield doublebreasted coat, £2,895; white cotton poplin evening shirt, £350; blue gemembellished brass brooch, £695, all by Burberry

Saint Laurent Cognac suede jacket, £2,910; black viscose twill shirt, £390, both by Saint Laurent

Berluti Pink silk jacket, £1,920; khaki cotton shirt, £500; charcoal cashmere vest, £730; black cotton trousers, £550, all by Berluti

Calvin Klein 205W39NYC Camel cashmere double-breasted overcoat, £3,160; light blue leather shirt, £1,915; black cotton roll-neck, £215; light blue leather trousers, £1,915; burgundy leather silver toeplate Chelsea boots, £850, all by Calvin Klein...