German furniture firm Frei Frau are also at IMM Cologne this year, presenting what we think are some mighty fine contemporary classics.

Here's a just a selection of their investment category furniture elements; incorporating beautiful materials such as leather and solid wood.

One of our favourite pieces is Antoinette Bader's take on the beanbag - featuring a sophisticated triangular structure. The design has already helped Frei Frau to win the 2012 'Interior Innovation Award' and we're not surprised at all.

Secondly, we love the simplicity of the 'Amelie' chair by Birgit Hoffmann. Amelie has an elegant line, a number of superbly subtle details and is available with an oak wood or painted steel frame. The covers are available in fabrics from Kvadrat and Rohi as well as in leather, so you can pretty much customise it exactly to your taste.

Add to this a Shaker-inspired armchair called 'Lina' in oiled oak by Studio Vertijet; a perfect classic pouffe by Anne Lorenz and the artisan-crafted 'Kya' barstool by Neuland, Paster & Geldmacher; and we'd say Frei Frau definitely have all the essential elements for a collection to covet.