Meet Kana’s New, Strong + Versatile Milo Bakeware Collection

Functional kitchenware is wonderful, but when it’s also aesthetically pleasing we’re likely to love it all the more. Meet Milo bakeware, Kana’s newest addition to the brand. Ergonomically designed with large handles, tri-ply clad stainless steel, and an aluminum core for even heat distribution and retention, this dishwasher-safe bakeware features all of the strength and versatility that we love. You can use these pieces as bakeware, grillware, and serveware because they’re all rolled into one. Thanks to sturdy construction, you can even use them on your open flame outdoor grill – the bakeware is resistant to temperatures up to 1000º F!

The design of Kana’s non-toxic Milo bakeware pulls from the brand’s mission of versatility, durability, elegance, and values. Rethinking the status quo and turning utilitarian pieces into everyday staples worthy of your cabinet space was the ultimate goal. A durable alternative to stonewarDe, this thoughtfully designed bakeware gracefully moves between the heat source and the dining table, leaving you with more space and fewer dishes to wash.

The individual pieces of the collection are made in standard bakeware sizes – the perfect fit for pre-cut parchment. The tri-ply clad stainless steel that makes up Milo bakeware uses two layers of stainless steel to sandwich an aluminum core. The aluminum ensures perfect heat distribution, while the outer layers of non-toxic stainless steel keep your food from coming into contact with the aluminum. It’s even suitable for commercial use.

stainless steel bakeware with two round cakes

It’s obvious that Kana puts as much thought into the aesthetics of the design as they do the technology and engineering. Milo Bakeware came to be after two years of research, development, and prototyping. Marise Perusse, Brand General Manager at Kana, worked with Dikini, a talented industrial design studio based in Montreal, to bring together the right material, size, and finish that would make cake pans and sheet pans a versatile staple in the kitchen. Every detail has a rhyme and a reason in this timeless, eco-friendly bakeware line that’s meant to be a focal point while dining with the people you love. None of the sustainably sourced and recycled materials compromise on quality. Just as good, the pieces are designed to last forever – or they’re biodegradable so as to leave no trace.

“Goods Made Better” is the ethos behind everything that Kana does, not only through the durable, sustainable materials used, but also the people and places the brand works with. Furthermore, Kana offsets 100% of the carbon emissions released as a result of shipping items, and invests in projects that reduce carbon emissions by the same amount. The brand also works with 1% for the Planet, an environmental initiative supporting non-profit organizations for a better future.

Aside from Kana’s Milo bakeware, the brand also offers an original collection of cookware, Dutch ovens, textiles, and parchment paper. It’s reassuring to know that every purchase – no matter how small – helps make a real difference in your home and around the globe. Learn more at kanalifestyle.com.

VARMBLIXT Provides the Biggest Effect With the Least Resources

By: Kelly Beall

“I wanted to take an unexpected approach to exploring the idea of how lighting functions within the home, and to inspire people to consider new shapes and elements which blend into and highlight different types of interior spaces in new, bold, and artistic ways,” says Rotterdam-based designer Sabine Marcelis. Her 20-piece VARMBLIXT collection is a collaboration with IKEA that includes sculptural lighting objects, serveware, rugs, and more.

Each piece of lighting is designed to interact with both direct and indirect light, and align with IKEA’s hopes of shifting the perception of it in the home. Rather than simply being functional, lighting can be emotional in that it can transform the look, feel, and atmosphere of our spaces.

The four lighting pieces in the collection will become a permanent part of IKEA’s offerings. They include the VARMBLIXT LED pendant lamp, which features curved pipes of frosted white glass, and the VARMBLIXT LED wall mirror, designed with a semi-transparent glass panel and light strip. Both are sculptural objects when turned off, and a display of light engineering when illuminated.

“At home, I have mainly indirect lights, as I love the soft effect they give. I also have a lot of art objects that double as lighting, something I love because it blurs the boundaries of function and art,” said Marcelis. “It’s really a lost opportunity if you don’t think about the appeal of a lighting element when it’s in its ‘OFF’ mode – because a lot of the time a light might not be turned on, but you still need to live with it and have it be part of the interior.”

We find it to be a true sign of a successful collaboration when the designer features the products in their own space. “I have a donut lamp in my son’s room, which he loves, and the curved line in my living room high up on one of the structural columns,” Marcelis shared with us. “I love how it highlights the connection with the ceiling. I’m planning to mount them on all the columns to really add to this architectural feature.”

A motif that can be seen throughout Marcelis’ work – the infinite doughnut – finds its place as the VARMBLIXT LED lamp that can be wall-mounted or displayed on a table. You’ll also find two serveware sizes in orange and green in the same shape, alongside a beautiful set of glassware.

Marcelis admitted that, “Just yesterday I brought home a set of the champagne glasses and made some dry-January mocktails in them. I have to say, I’m very proud of how the glassware turned out. It’s a product category I have not worked on before, and it’s so satisfying to drink from something I have designed myself and directly interact with it on such a close level.”

With a focus on warm colors, VARMBLIXT includes two rugs inspired by the setting sun. The larger of the pair, made from 100% hand-tufted wool, features a sunset-like color gradient that fades from deep orange to amber yellow. An overlapping style adds extra interest while creating the illusion of depth.

Marcelis told us that she’s really learned how to get the maximum amount of effect with the least amount of materials/resources used through VARMBLIXT – and that was her aim all along. “To not solely rely on the lusciousness of materiality, but to strip everything back to essentials and with a singular gesture make it gain its desirability. The pieces needed to have my signature, but also be anonymous enough to be able to be applied in many different types of homes. It taught me more than ever that less is more.”