Viking Vibes: fabulous and affordable Scandi-chic 

Kya deLongchamps picks out her design favourites in recent releases

Kya shares some favourite Ikea items

Whenever I visit Ikea, and even knowing there are thousands of just about everything in stock, I find myself beetling through the car park to get in. After three hours driving, I don’t pause for a meatball or even that divine marinated salmon, I’m down the aisles like an under-exercised whippet, resenting anyone touching the fare I have in mind. This year’s releases by our Viking friends do not disappoint, so here are just a few fabulous and affordable Scandi-chic winners to consider this AW season.

The Kulglass collection of light/speakers and Solskydd Bluetooth speakers caught my eye for their characterful, expressive presence and price. Why hide your everyday entertainment tech when it can look this good? Solskydd was developed by Ikea with Tekla Evelina Severin (Teklan), and comprises of three artfully designed, round wireless speakers. The smallest 19cm speaker (€45) comes in a choice of a rich orange, check portable or a white tweedy portable. The 29cm speaker (€69) features a green, brown and beige diagonal stripe or off-white (the 19cm and 29cm versions can hang or stand on their supplied bases). The largest 45cm Solskydd speaker (€90) is a wall mount in off-white or a deep beige. Solskydd speakers can connect with each other and with other compatible Ikea Bluetooth speakers and support Spotify Tap, operating from a single press. Kulglass light/speaker also designed by Teklan, are cosy little table lamps with moulded glass shades taken from soft-serve ice-cream in two colourways (€89).