Less is more when it comes to design

The clean design of Metro's wall unit is one of Peke Hallenheim's favourites. Picture / Carolyn Robertson

A sharp, clean line is Peke Hallenheim's focus when he designs furniture.

The designer behind Criterion Furniture's minimalist European Metro furniture finds New Zealand suits his style well.

"One of my favourite things is to live, work and be creative in New Zealand," Hallenheim says. "This is a fantastic place and a dream scenario for many Europeans I know. I love the nature, the scenery, the people, the lifestyle, and the atmosphere."

He arrived two years ago from Sweden to become Criterion's head product designer and is responsible for Criterion's expansion into the leisure and lifestyle furniture market.

Before coming to Auckland, Hallenheim had 30 years of design experience. He worked for clients in Europe, Asia and North America, his designs ranging from high-rises to low tables.

Hallenheim, who attends the major international furniture shows, is an authority on global trends.

"I don't feel the trends are going in any specific direction at the moment, but if I had to name one thing it would be the return of colour.

"In Milan this year there was a lot of 60s and 70s colours, such as reds and oranges in hundreds of different shades, and a lot of forest-green and chocolate."

Peke's Top 10

1. Music is what inspires me the most and makes me relax. When I'm in London I love going to musicals such as Les Miserables or Phantom of the Opera. At home I play a lot of music DVDs. A favourite at the moment is Zucchero - Live at the Royal Albert Hall. Another CD I'm listening to at the moment is the Rolling Stones' A Bigger Bang. Sometimes when I listen to a DVD I'll plug my Gibson Les Paul into the amp and pretend to be in the band.

2. Reading takes up a lot of my spare time. At the moment one of my favourites is Any Human Heart by William Boyd. An interesting ride through the 20th century, a journey deep into a human heart that makes you think about your own life.

3. Taking Scandinavian design to the world. One of my favourite projects was two office buildings I worked on in KunShan, China. I enjoyed the challenge of combining Scandinavian design with the Chinese way of doing things, using only local materials and builders.

4. Italy is one of my favourite countries, especially when it comes to all aspects of design, such as products, fashion and cars. I particularly enjoy walking around Milan, enjoying stores such as Armani and Cornelliani, then later relaxing with a glass of red wine at a bar in one of the 18th-century buildings, refurbished in a contemporary style but with great finesse. In the evening I like to go to one of many favourite restaurants, maybe Alla Collina Pistioese on Via Amide 1, for a gourmet dinner.

5. My favourite part of a house is the garden. It's a natural extension of the living room and a place to entertain, relax, create or just to be - alone or surrounded by family and friends. One of my favourite gardens is at our home in Skanor in Sweden, which I usually get back to a couple of times a year.

6. Design icons. Mickey Mouse by Walter Elias Disney has been a favourite ever since I was a kid. I found a painting by Dick Frizzell, Mickey to Tiki to Meke, at a Christchurch gallery and brought it home with me.

7. Modern classics designed in 1950s, such as Arne Jacobsen's Swan and Series 7 chairs. Still very contemporary and frequently used in futuristic movies.

8. Criterion's Metro tallboy, which is simple but elegant in a contemporary way. Less is more, as Mies van Der Rohe said - and he was so right. The Metro has generous-sized drawers so you don't have to squeeze everything in. I keep my books and magazines tidy and organised in another Metro product - the wall unit. The simplicity of the design allows the books and everything else on the shelves to stand out. Another advantage is that it has flexibility and it can either be used as a low divider or a full-height wall unit.

9. Outdoor activities. I find getting outdoors relaxing and inspiring. One of my favourite activities is skiing downhill with my family in Whistler Mountain, Canada.

10. Modern, abstract art, where your own imagination can create another picture and sometimes a story. Vladimir Kamendy, born in former Czechoslovakia, is one such fabulous painter and artist.