Sabine Marcelis and Hem Join Forces on This Delicious New Design

Hannah Martin
·2 min read

I’ve been drawn to the pure shape of a doughnut for as long as I can remember,” says Sabine Marcelis, an international design star with a penchant for sweets. “I love its complete form, without corners or ends.” In 2018, she created a rug in the pastry’s likeness, with rows upon rows of plush rings. And for many years, her Rotterdam studio has cast extra resin, often left over from her glistening Candy Cubes, in torus molds, selling the resulting confections for charity at the holidays. When Petrus Palmér, founder and CEO of the Swedish furniture brand Hem, spotted the one-off, doughnut-like pouf that Marcelis made for a Milan boutique, he experienced his own sugar high—approaching her to collaborate on a commercial version soon thereafter.

<cite class="credit">Courtesy of Hem</cite>
Courtesy of Hem

“I really wanted to see this object exist in fabric, but completely seamless, keeping that pure shape,” Marcelis reflects on her vision, which she and Palmér soon realized was no simple task. To sheathe the foam-and-wood ring (it measures 45 inches in diameter) in vibrant fabrics required research and development with an Austrian textile firm specializing in shape-knit wool. “The result,” Palmér notes, “is really phenomenal—and a world first.” But Marcelis, who had a son during the pandemic, quickly discovered the practical side of the piece, named Boa for its serpentine coil and available in three colors. “It’s helping him learn how to walk. And it’s also a perfect spot to safely place him if I have to quickly leave the room.” $1,499; hem.com

Home Runs

A brief history of Hem’s hit designer collaborations....

2015: Created from a single sheet of metal, Max Lamb’s last stool has become an all-time crowd-pleaser.
2015: Created from a single sheet of metal, Max Lamb’s last stool has become an all-time crowd-pleaser.
Courtesy of Hem
2016: The Bookmatch Table by Philippe Malouin is a contemporary take on traditional carpentry.
2016: The Bookmatch Table by Philippe Malouin is a contemporary take on traditional carpentry.
Courtesy of Hem
2019: Pauline Deltour’s rope rugs pay homage to tatami mats.
2019: Pauline Deltour’s rope rugs pay homage to tatami mats.
Courtesy of Hem
2020 :The Puffy Lounge Chair by Faye Toogood pairs a tubular steel frame with detachable upholstery.
2020 :The Puffy Lounge Chair by Faye Toogood pairs a tubular steel frame with detachable upholstery.
Courtesy of Hem
2021: Fabien Cappello’s limited-edition offcut plates repurpose shards of waste glass.
2021: Fabien Cappello’s limited-edition offcut plates repurpose shards of waste glass.
Courtesy of Hem

Originally Appeared on Architectural Digest