37 minute read
Vitrine Cabinets, ‘It’ Jewellery, and Staying Warm
Fashion Diary…
With puffer jackets and chunky tracking boots back in fashion this season, you’re encouraged to dress up for the great outdoors and embrace winter fun. It doesn’t matter if you’re an outdoorsy person or not, as long as the gear makes you feel and look the part. These Scandinavian outdoor winter garments work perfectly for skiing, sledging or hiking, and adapt easily to any urban everyday occasion.
By Åsa H. Aaberge | Press photos
With a cropped, puffy silhouette, the lightweight Naos down jacket from Norwegian Fleischer Couture is a versatile jacket suitable for outdoor fun as well as daily life. The voluminous shape makes the jacket equally elegant over ski trousers as it looks with jeans. Fleischer Couture, Naos jacket, €320 www.fleischercouture.no
Balaclava, snood, hat – call it what you like, but do consider wearing it this winter. You won’t regret it, as it’s arguably this season’s most warming and comfortable trend for all ages. Top off your skiing outfit with a cute and luxurious wool hat from Danish designer Cecilie Bahnsen, and you are ready to hit the slopes. Cecilie Bahnsen, Gigi hat, €300 www.ceciliebahnsen.com
The long, ribbed endings on the cashmere mittens from Danish Skall Studio are perfect for tucking in under your coat sleeves, making glimpses of cold skin on the wrists a thing of the past. Cashmere Mittens, €70 www.skallstudio.com
The Solveig boots from Swedish Flattered are this season’s ultimate chic take on the practical hiking boot trend. The leather boots feature a solid yet flexible outsole and a soft wool lining ideal for all winter occasions. Flattered, Solveig Boots, €279 www.flattered.com
Supple and warm mittens made of leather – a superb all-round glove for winter from Swedish Hestra. Hestra gloves, Alpine Leather Primaloft mitten, €100 www.hestragloves.com
Knitted in pure wool, the Bylur high-neck jumper is going to be a warming winter favourite for years to come. The jumper from Icelandic 66°North is well-suited for hiking or skiing and is as functional as an everyday wardrobe staple. 66°North, Bylur sweater, €195 www.66north.com
The Cryo boots from Swedish Axel Arigato offer a practical take on the classic Chelsea boot. The round toe and moulded upper sole give the wearer grip on slippery winter roads. The suede finish adds a touch of sophistication. Axel Arigato, Cryo Chelsea Low Boot, €350 www.axelarigato.com
Trust a glossy puffer jacket to keep you warm with style. Norwegian brand WhiteSpace uses recycled plastic bottles and recycled down to make its products. The Bobby jacket is perfect for layering and can be worn with the Scott vest underneath on extra cold days. WhiteSpace, Bobby jacket, €699 WhiteSpace, Scott vest, €450 www.whitespaceshop.com
We Love This
After December’s heady festive climax, January can feel a little drab. Yet, the New Year often ushers in a sense of rebirth and renewed focus. With the burgeoning work-from-home trend showing no sign of relenting, kill two birds with one stone by introducing some brightly coloured feng-shui. These five visual treats are guaranteed to energise your home and boost your mood.
By Lena Hunter | Press photos
Artist duo Campbell-Rey has teamed up with Nordic Knots on an exquisite range of distinctive, art-inspired rugs. Blending Art Deco with Gustavian style (the Swedish 18th-century take on French Neoclassicism), the patterns riff on motifs like the wreath, the folded ribbon, and heritage garden design. Garden Maze, with its lush, green tones and geometric shadows, pays homage to the formal hedged gardens of Russell Page. Each is handmade and knotted by artisans in northern India, using New Zealand wool. Garden Maze Plush Wool Rug, €695 www.nordicknots.com
Storied Danish design house Vipp was founded in 1939, when young metal worker Holger Nielsen designed a durable, elegant bin for his wife Marie’s hair salon. 80 years later, the Heritage Bin is a permanent fixture in Danish homes. Inspired by Nielsen’s beloved American vintage car, this limited-edition version sports an identical light-blue hue and soft lines that will brighten any kitchen corner, salon, studio or office. Classic black, white and green are also available. Vipp15 Heritage Bin, 14l, €400 www.vipp.com
Reminiscent of the classic shapes of Grecian pottery, Ferm Living’s Verso Table Vase has an irregular, feminine form with abstract, artfully curved handles to add a modern twist. In bright blue, Verso is a playful, timeless objet d’art. Fill with your favourite flora or let it be a statement all on its own. Verso Table Vase in bright blue, €99 www.fermliving.com
Louis Poulsen is the undisputed king of Scandi lighting. To celebrate the 60th birthday of one of its original icons – the PH5 pendant, created by the visionary Poul Henningsen – the design has been launched in a new range of bright, contemporary colours. Dubbed Nuances of Orange, this warm-toned statement fixture is an instant facelift for the home. Other colours include rose, rich blue, red, and pastel green. PH5 Pendant, Nuances of Orange, €845 www.louispoulsen.com
Silkeborg Uldspinderi’s candy-bright luxury throws are woven from pure baby alpaca wool at an artisanal countryside studio in the centre of Jylland, Denmark. Textiles are perhaps the simplest way to introduce a splash of personality to a room, and the stylish Lima throw in blood-red strikes a bold visual note, drawing the eye while maintaining an interior’s atmosphere of softness and security. Lima Throw, Blood Red, €214.99 www.silkeborg-uld.com
Lindebjerg Design specialises in vitrine cabinets, and it is their ideology of having close relationships throughout the production chain and never compromising on anything that has brought them their success.
By Nicolai Lisberg | Photos: Lindebjerg Design
Close relationships. This term is often repeated, because it’s what matters to Lindebjerg Design – a Danish company founded in 2011 with a clear vision for their products. But it’s not just the fact that the company is run by Mona Henriksen and Annemarie Lindebjerg, mother and daughter, that makes Lindebjerg Design say that family matters.
“It’s true that it’s just me and my mum, but our partners in the production chain are also small, family-owned businesses,” explains Lindebjerg. “Our production
Green triggers curiosity and hope. It celebrates creative minds with attitude. This dramatic petrol-green colour beautifully frames your objects and makes the cabinet truly stand out in your room.
Henriksen and Annemarie Lindebjerg, mother and daughter. COLOR COLLECTION “This is our newest edition. The eye for detail and quality are the same, but we wanted to try something new. The colours are specifically chosen from a colour palette that fits into the classic environment but still stands out and allows the cabinet to be the eye-catcher in the room. Framed in timeless, strong lines, they show your wealth of creative scenarios.”
Make space for the small details that highlight the special touch of your home.
A piece of art for your porcelain, books and travel memories. is located in Poland, where excellent carpenters perform their craft with pride. We visit the owner of the production facility and his family every year. Especially in autumn and winter, it’s a joy to meet them. That part of the year is full of cultural traditions that are fun to share with them, and it’s nice to get to wish the workers a merry Christmas.”
All the production is kept in Europe, as Lindebjerg Design wants to be certain that everything lives up to their ethical codex. “Now more than ever, with the pandemic, that is important. Family matters – so why shouldn’t that reflect our products as well? We are never going to move our production elsewhere, because close relationships last a lifetime, just like our cabinets,” says Lindebjerg.
CLASSIC COLLECTION “Our first design and the beginning of Lindebjerg Design. We have refined and highlighted the expression in the design. The details refer to the traditional craftsmanship for the typical Scandinavian vitrine throughout the year.”
One-door vitrine - a timeless, classic look that fits into the modern home.
DARK OAK COLLECTION “The cabinet is a stringent and upscaled version of our vitrine collection. The result is a texture and warmth that allows the delicate wood grain to show through. With this collection, we aimed for a more masculine look. The dark colour makes the details such that the brass hinges stand out.”
“When my mother came up with the idea for the cabinets, it was because she saw a gap in the market,” she continues. “She was tired of cabinets where the paint would come off, or it would quickly become outdated. It has to be the absolute right material for each cabinet, and we will never compromise on that. We pour our heart and soul into the production, and with each cabinet, whether it’s the choice of colour or the quality of the wood used, you can sense how strong hands and a woman’s touch made it all come to life.”
Displaying yourself The cabinets are made out of the finest oak and pine, solid materials that can last forever. For Lindebjerg Design, the vitrine cabinet has always had a special place, and in recent years it seems like more and more people have realised just how significant a piece of furniture it is.
“Our cabinets are defining the very room they are a part of. They break up lines and provide a feeling of recognisability with the Nordic colours and structure. We often hide stuff in our homes in cupboards or closets, but the vitrine cabinet is where we display the things that we are particularly proud of, or that have a deeper meaning to us. It’s where we display ourselves,” Lindebjerg reflects.
Lindebjerg Design sells to customers and shops all over Europe, and they often receive photos through Instagram or other social media platforms, where clients post images of how they use the cabinets in their own homes. “That interaction is so precious to us,” says Lindebjerg, “and it says a lot about the close relationship we also have with our customers. We can see that our cabinets are used as a reference in the room. Given what is of-
Left: The fine lines in the dark-stained oak structure goes hand in hand with the simplicity of the design that characterises the Nordic style. Right: Sophisticated cabinet that defines the room in which it stands. The Scandinavian tradition of working with wood comes into its own with the cabinet’s solid, yet simple expression.
ten inside a vitrine cabinet, it is equally important that the frame itself is also something you want to display to the rest of the world with pride.”
Web: www.lindebjergdesign.dk Facebook: cabinetbylindebjergdesign Instagram: @lindebjergdesign
The pillow Blanket Horse is made with thick, soft velvet. ADAMSBRO founder, Lotta Lindsten, left a successful career in fashion to start her own interior decoration brand.
Interior decoration riding high
Overnight success isn’t always the case. Unless you happen to be talking about Swedish lifestyle brand ADAMSBRO, that is. For equestrians, horse farmers and horse fanatics alike, ADAMSBRO exploded onto the interior decoration scene in 2017, with a particularly familiar theme.
By John Sempill | Photos: ADAMSBRO
After a few trips around the fashion industry block, founder Lotta Lindsten was ready to leave it behind and challenge herself with a new business venture. It was a natural step in her career when she, in 2016, decided to swap fashion for home décor, Lindsten explains: “I had been working with fabrics for 35 years at that point and felt I should give this a go,” she says. “I put together a compendium and contacted several suppliers, basing the compendium on a specific concept. There was immediate interest, initially in China, where I was based at the time. I made a sample collection and displayed it at the trade fair Formex in February 2017. I had no product; my aim was simply to show a concept and see if it worked.”
To say that it worked would be an understatement. The trade show resulted in upwards of 30 potential customers, with only a sample collection to offer at that point. “So I just had to put my head down and get on with it,” Lindsten says. “Our brand is aimed towards people who are interested in horses, who are prepared to pay a little extra. We started visiting different horse events and competitions in Europe. We travelled to Holland, Germany, England, France and Dubai. It all went very quickly.”
ADAMSBRO offers quality to the touch and well-thought-out design. The aim is to give a ‘wow’ feeling whenever a customer unpacks a new product from the equestrian-inspired lifestyle brand. “We always strive for perfection,” Lindsten continues. “And we try not to follow trends. The cycle in interior design is a lot longer than in fashion. In other words, it’s not possible to work like that. I get my inspiration solely from horses, the farm, and the colours around horses. I follow my gut feeling on what the consumer would like, and what I like.” Today, ADAMSBRO can be found all over the world. But why horses? Well, Lindsten happens to live on a horse farm and has been surrounded by horses all her life. And it so happens that Adamsbro is the name of her farm. Sometimes, the best ideas are right in front of you.
Trays and decorations galore. Note the handles made to look like horse snaffle bits.
Web: www.adamsbroequestrian.com Facebook: adamsbroequestrian Instagram: @adamsbroequestrian
Left: Hydra rings/Gold (6.7 carat) with tourmaline, and white gold (8.6 carat) with aquamarine, 27,499 DKK. Middle left: Saturn Ring, 11mm, 18 carat gold, 42,000 DKK. Middle right: Saturn Light bracelet in silver from 7,300 DKK. Right: Ceres eardrops 24 carat gold-plated silver chain with blue saltwater Akoya pearls from Japan, 1,799 DKK.
The ‘it’ ring of Copenhagen: handmade jewellery by MIELKO
You heard it here first: Charlotte Mielko’s eponymous Copenhagen jewellery label is one of the city’s best-kept luxury secrets.
By Lena Hunter | Photos: MIELKO JEWELLERY
“Colourful gems with triangles came to the festive Calypso collection, and I introduced pearls four years ago in the Ceres collection,” says Mielko.
MIELKO was the first in Denmark to use light-blue Japanese Akoya pearls. “They are unbelievably beautiful,” says Mielko. She herself wears the Hydra ring – a slender band clasping a fabulous green tourmaline in gold claws.
From subtle to showcase Though MIELKO ranges from subtle to showcase, the maison itself is small – and the service uncompromising. “The cornerstones are quality, personal relationships and a tangible process, so every piece is handmade in Denmark,” says Mielko.
Many clients have had their rings for 20 years and come back to add stones or resize – and 2022 anticipates a new constellation of designs. Simply put: “Not one kind of person buys my jewellery. It’s many types of people who want something personal.”
MIELKO’s unique collections of rings, bracelets and necklaces pay homage to celestial bodies – moons, asteroids, planets… and, in fact, borrow some mystique from their Elysian namesakes.
Though each piece draws on our ageold reverence for the heavens, Mielko’s work is far from overstated. Melding bold lines with delicate details, MIELKO JEWELLERY enthralls without overstepping, exuding a quiet opulence that has drawn a close cult following from the local fashion community.
The Saturn ring “I made the Saturn ring 23 years ago,” explains Mielko. “A friend’s silver ring had caught my eye when I was working in fashion design and living in Paris. It was beautiful. I wanted to make something of my own, from the heart.”
The ring quickly drew the attention of designers and models. Formed of two bands locked together by a small loop, it’s heavy and tactile – a little rock and roll – and elegantly simple. Through word of mouth, the design spread. Birgitte Raben, of Rabens Saloner, has a Saturn ring. Italian designer Angela Missoni, too. “It’s beautiful for men and women,” says Mielko. “It’s very meditative and holistic.”
An expanding universe MIELKO’s collections are little universes. After Saturn came pieces in gold, silver, black diamond, opulent tourmaline and sapphire. A line of bejewelled pendant earrings called Cassini, sumptuous cuff bracelets, and tear-drop necklaces followed.
Charlotte Mielko.
Web: www.charlottemielko.dk Instagram: @mielkojewellery
Baldur, Elixir Vault Series, €4,167.
Sip whisky like a Bond villain with Runewood’s beautiful high-security liquor cabinet
There’s something seductive about a liquor cabinet. It signifies forbidden fruit, opulence and old-school charm.
By Lena Hunter | Photos: Runewood
Encounters with furnishings that evoke those feelings are rare. It’s even more unusual, then, to find a modern design that marries decadence with innovation, while retaining that elusive magic. But the Elixir Vault Series by Danish design studio Runewood does just that.
‘Can I pour you a drink?’ Runewood’s collection of bespoke, wall-mounted whisky cabinets is crafted with classic Scandinavian design sensibilities: high-quality oak, hand-stitched leather and smoked glass, and finished in elegant tones of Rune Red, Barrel Black or Organic Oak.
A casual observer might notice the Vault cabinet’s aura of mystique: the graceful, assertive form, interrupted by a darkened panel of glass. Certainly, they’ll wonder at its contents – their curiosity stoked by the sophisticated woodgrain, lack of keyhole, and twin fingertip-sized buttons inlaid on the lower right side. But only the owner of the Vault cabinet can know what’s inside. The latest design, named Baldur after the old-Norse god of light, is smart-secured with a six-digit code and automatic door, operated via Bluetooth.
Inside is space for 12 fine bottles, two decanters and six glasses, illuminated by app-controlled lighting. Maps of the UK, Ireland and Denmark are engraved in the wood panelling, with a small Viking longship carved between them in billet aluminium. It’s no stretch to say that this is the Tracy Island of drinks cabinets; the white Persian cat and ‘I’ve been expecting you, Mr. Bond’ of hospitality. It’s traditional ceremony meets high-security technology.
A hand-crafted conversation piece Runewood was born in the small town of Hemmet, on the Atlantic coast of Denmark – home to the reconstructed Bork Viking Harbour. Driven by founders Nicholas John Noble and Josh Adams’ backgrounds in green engineering, the brand’s every cabinet is hand-made by local craftsmen on-site or, for US buyers, at the new American outpost on the coast of Connecticut.
“We created the Vault cabinet to bring people together. It’s a conversation piece –sophisticated, secure, and locally, sustainably built,” says Noble.
The Baldur design is even on display at renowned Danish whisky distillery Stauning, where it houses some of the label’s finer liquors. “But it’s perfect for apartments, cabins and compact houses,” Noble explains.
At the heart of Runewood’s design principle is the Scandinavian touch: minimalism, innovation and community… That, and savouring a rich 30-year-old single malt.
Web: www.runewood.dk Instagram: @runewooddenmark
Beautiful decor for soulful homes
Olsson & Jensen is the furniture and home decoration company that knows how to build a comfortable and personal home with the right decor in a beautiful mix of vintage and new. Based in southern Sweden, the brand’s trendy traditions run deep and have a reach far beyond the Swedish borders, providing stylish and affordable living spaces for all.
By Nina Bressler | Photos: Olsson & Jensen
Olsson & Jensen, founded in 2006, was taken over by its current owners, Therese Suwe and Catarina Albinsson, in 2021. The company started out as a tight-knit family company, and the new owners are determinedly making sure that its traditions stretch into the future, as well. “We believe that the company was doing it right from the very beginning; they established a fantastic niche that we love, mixing the French rustic style with vintage and Nordic countryside style, and we are continuing on that track, but in a higher gear,” says Albinsson.
The company distributes to retail shops in Sweden and around Europe, with products ranging from furniture to lamps and interior design details as part of the catalogue – things that the owners themselves wouldn’t want to live without.
After working full-time at another wellknown Swedish furniture company – you may have heard of IKEA – the takeover of Olsson & Jensen was born out of a desire to create something of their own. “Olsson & Jensen has always been at the forefront of new trends, and we will continue that legacy. We are making conscious choices about our collections; what feelings do our products create in the user? We believe the trick is to mix old and new for a unique style, and we love when we can reuse furniture, give it new life in a new context – not only because it’s a sustainable option, but also because it adds so much personality to a home,” adds Suwe.
Both the office and the showroom are located outside Helsingborg, currently housing a staff of ten. But the team is expected to grow; the company is expanding, and more countries will be added to its export lists. “Quality in combination with fair pricing is central to all our products. We believe that beauty can be found in the imperfect, and that shows in our products –from candle holders to tableware, cushions and furniture. It’s about the feeling. It’s what makes a home unique,” concludes Albinsson.
Therese Suwe and Catarina Albinsson. Photo: Anna Lauridsen
Web: www.olssonjensen.com Instagram: @olssonjensen
Function and style
Meet Swedenland ceramics – an experimental studio offering bespoke and limitededition products, all handmade in Limhamn, Sweden. A fusion of countries, cultures, languages and experiences, Swedenland can be defined by three simple words: colour, humour and freedom.
By Emma Rodin | Photos: Christoph Jeckelmann / Caroline Tengen
A long-awaited dream come true, Swedenland is the brainchild of Eva Gassne-Jeckelmann from Sweden and Christoph Jeckelmann from Switzerland, who also co-own Aveva Design.
Representing the creative side of the duo, Eva designs with both function and style in mind, using colours, shapes, clays and glaze and other natural materials to bring ideas to life.
“Nothing is ever made in bulk and everything has a meaning,” explains Gassne-Jeckelmann. “Customers who come to us can either purchase an existing product they’ve seen on our website or on social media, or they can ask us to come up with something entirely bespoke. They might already know what they want, or they have a basic idea that I can help them develop. I do love a challenge!”
Swedenland existed in theory long before it became reality. “I’ve always had an itch to create, and a few years ago I found myself wanting to venture into new territory,” says Gassne-Jeckelmann. “Aveva was doing really well, and I wanted to do something where I could create using my hands, and not just by holding a pen.”
The answer was clay, and after studying the art of ceramics in 2018 and 2019, she was eventually ready to turn on the switch for Swedenland.
Working on both small-scale and bigger projects, including concepts for restaurants and other clients, GassneJeckelmann’s creations include plates, bowls, vases, sculptures, and plenty more. “The idea to challenge what’s possible spurs me on, and I really like being able to work without limitations,” says Gassne-Jeckelmann. “My ideal state of creating is to play around with different colour combinations and types of glaze, and to make something fun and daring that still connects with the earth.” Gassne-Jeckelmann also enjoys meeting clients to discuss new projects, not knowing what will come from it. The element of surprise can have a positive effect.
Always balancing practical function with abstract style, Swedenland brings something different to the world of ceramics. And the best part? Things are only just getting started for them.
Eva Gassne-Jeckelmann.
For enquiries and requests, you can contact Gassne-Jeckelmann through the Swedenland Instagram page or via email.
Mail: hello@swedenland.se Instagram: @swedenland_ceramics
Products that enhance your home and wellbeing
Von Norten, a Scandinavian eco-conscious luxury brand, was created from the idea that a home should be filled with nature and kindness. Von Norten wants to offer luxurious candles, scents, and body products without paraffin, paraben and other harsh chemicals, without losing the luxury feeling. The brand is inspired by the Scandinavian heritage and offers sustainable, consciously made candles that burn 30 to 50 per cent longer because of their vegan wax.
By Hanna Andersson | Photos: Von Norten
Cayla Johansson is the creator of Von Norten, and she has always been a fan of enriching her home with candles. “I invested in a lot of candles when I was on maternity leave, and it has always been something that I enjoy having around me in my home. However, I often felt poorly, and I started wondering if I was allergic to something. A friend of mine then pointed out that I had a lot of scented candles and that they contain a lot of chemicals and paraffin. That’s why I decided to create Von Norten – a toxic-free brand that everyone can enjoy,” Johansson says.
Dubbed the best product Von Norten was founded two years ago and has since taken the market by storm. The products have been recommended by both The Independent and The Times
Magazine and were mentioned in Forbes as the best product to buy – twice!
“The feedback has been truly incredible,” notes Johansson. “I knew there was a space in the market for us, as so many other brands still use chemicals in their products. Our products are also eco-friendly, 95 per cent of the candles are made of natural wax, and most of them are packaged in recycled glass and paper.”
The Scandinavian heritage The scents are inspired by Scandinavian nature and whisk you away to the mountains, the forest, and summers in the archipelago. They are made with ethical perfumes or essential oils and don’t include any alcohol. The body care products are also made of natural ingredients, such as avocado, coconut oil and almond oil.
“Our products can be bought by those who are allergic to perfume, and they make perfect gifts,” says Johansson. “This goes for all of our products. It’s important to surround yourself with things that are beneficial to you. We want to provide high-quality products that can enhance your home as well as your wellbeing.”
Cayla Johansson.
Web: vonnorten.com Instagram: @vonnorten
Milayas Jewellery is heavily inspired by nature. Owner Rikke Riise.
Small is beautiful
Struggling to find her niche within the silver jewellery market, designer Rikke Riise decided to focus on more exclusive materials such as gold and diamonds. Making unique pieces by hand has opened the door to a clientele looking for contemporary style with a personal touch.
By Karen Gilmour Kristensen | Photos: Milayas Jewellery
Riise’s business, Milayas Jewellery, employs two people – the designer herself and her husband, Jarl. Committed to using recycled and ethically sourced materials, the Riises have chosen to work with small but exclusive suppliers.
“This has given us the opportunity to get to know them on a personal level and ensure that they share our values, which for us is not just about money,” says Jarl Riise. “We use the same suppliers regularly, because we know they have the things we’re looking for.”
“It’s the same with our customers,” adds Rikke Riise. “They return because they know the brand – and they know us.”
Milayas customers often ask for their inherited jewellery to be transformed into modern pieces. Once, a woman brought some gold earrings and bracelets from her late mother to have them melted down and made into rings for her daughters and herself. “Often, jewellery you inherit has a lot of meaning, but the design isn’t up to date,” explains Jarl Riise. “Re-melting the gold allows the story of your grandparents to live on in a new look.”
Originally, Rikke Riise’s focus wasn’t on gold but on a less expensive metal, silver. However, she quickly realised that it was too difficult to stand out in the crowded silver marketplace. She then decided to specialise in the more exclusive materials of gold, pearls, diamonds and sapphires.
One of the benefits of gold is the fact that it can be recycled, which is something the couple is very passionate about. Almost any gold can be re-melted, and even the gold Milayas gets from suppliers is mostly recycled.
“Extracting gold is a drain on resources,” explains Rikke Riise. “Recycling gold is about taking care of our planet and creating beautiful jewellery from the materials we have at hand.”
Caring for the planet is particularly important for Milayas, as Rikke Riise has a great love of nature. “In my work, I’m inspired by both the shapes and the colours of nature,” she says. “No two leaves or raindrops are identical. In the same way, you can’t find two identical pieces among my jewellery.”
Web: www.milayas.dk Facebook: Milayas Instagram: @milayas_dk
Sølund Huse boasts Denmark’s largest exhibition of garden houses. The company is based in Hovedgård, where you’ll also find the exhibition.
More than houses: Dreams, stories and a slower way of living
The family company Sølund Huse (Sølund Houses) sells pavilions, sheds, saunas, garden playhouses, wilderness baths and prefabricated annexes that are ready to move into. In 2021, the company won the prestigious Børsens Gazelle, a Danish award given to companies that have done exceptionally well. But Sølund Huse is about more than simply selling pavilions and sheds: it’s about dreams, people and stories. garden house or playhouse successfully. Therefore, Sølund Huse delivers the houses with their own trucks and drivers, and they always offer full support over the phone.
Recently, Sølund Huse expanded their business to also include Sølund Living, a daughter company that sells prefabricated annexes that are ready to move into.
Sølund Huse is currently in the process of a generational shift, with Mads Nielsen taking over from his dad, Jørgen Nielsen, who has been running the business for the past 20 years.
By Heidi Kokborg | Photos: Sølund Huse
In 2002, Jørgen Nielsen built a pavilion for his backyard. Soon after, the neighbours wanted one too, and so he made them one as well. Fast-forward 20 years, and what started as one pavilion has turned into a successful family business that has sold more than 30,000 garden houses.
“To us, it has always been about more than just a pavilion or a shed. It’s about stories and dreams. It’s about enjoying the present moment with a cup of coffee and without any electronics in a beautiful pavilion, or allowing the kids to just have fun and use their imagination in a playhouse,” says Mads Nielsen, marketing manager and co-owner of Sølund Huse.
The garden houses provide a space to disconnect to reconnect – that time to just be in the moment, without having to do or be anything.
Extraordinary growth Last year, the family company was awarded with a Børsens Gazelle, an award given to companies that have shown exceptional growth over a four-year period. The requirements are not for the faint-hearted: companies have to at least double their turnover in four accounting years, and they must produce positive earnings in each of those four years.
“It’s a pat on the back, and we are very proud of the award, because it reflects how our customers feel about Sølund Huse. We have worked tirelessly over the last few years; we have listened to our customers and we have taken chances,” says Nielsen.
The customer should feel proud when they look at their finished house, and it’s important that they assemble their new
Web: www.solundhuse.dk Facebook: Sølund Huse – Naturens eget håndværk Instagram: @solundhuse.dk
Sweet dreams with fluffy clouds
Born out of a desire to get a good night’s sleep, new Swedish brand Happy Fluffy Cloud provides duvets that feel softer and fluffier than you could imagine – reminiscent of traditional down duvets in the Alps, like a warm hug easing you into a comfortable and dreamy night.
By Malin Norman | Photos: Happy Fluffy Cloud
Behind Stockholm-based Happy Fluffy Cloud is daydreaming duo Stina Barkow and Martin Åqvist. “Between us, and based on our different personal experiences, we were talking a lot about the importance of sleep,” says Barkow. “Even though people have different sleep cycles, most of us long for a good night’s sleep. Our vision was to be able to fall asleep comfortably warm and tucked in like a child.”
The duo were dreaming of a fluffy duvet, a cloud to embrace you in a big hug when going to bed. At the time, Sweden did not have the pillow-like duvets without channel seams that they were looking for. Instead, they searched abroad and eventually found what they were looking for in the Alps: the much-loved traditional duvets with fantastic qualities that then became the inspiration for Happy Fluffy Cloud.
High-quality goose down Down is nature’s way of keeping ducks and geese warm, like a thermal insulator and padding. The loose structure of down feathers traps air, which helps to insulate the birds against heat loss. Goose down is often chosen for its warmth, softness, resilience and insulating properties and is popular in, for example, jackets, sleeping bags, pillows and, of course, duvets. “Down is an incredible insulation material that also breathes and transports away moisture,” Barkow explains. “A high-quality duvet will keep warm during cold nights without losing that lovely, soft feeling.”
The duo learnt about the traditional duvets and the importance of getting the mix of down and feathers just right. Happy Fluffy Cloud uses 50 per cent down and 50 per cent feathers from geese, a mix that makes the duvets warm yet soft and fluffy. Only European poultry is used, and production is strictly regulated with traceable farms and suppliers. Animal care is important for the team at Happy Fluffy Cloud, and they have made sure to use
feathers and down from birds that are to become food, which means that the whole bird is being used.
At the end of last year, the brand’s first product was ready and received a positive response and plenty of orders straight away. Containing more filling than most other duvets on the market and with a weight of five kilogrammes, the duvet from Happy Fluffy Cloud is like a big, soft pillow, which brings a sense of comfort and relaxation – and ultimately better sleep. “It feels like being tucked in and going into hibernation,” smiles Barkow. “We have the duvets in our family, and nowadays nobody wants to get up in the morning!”
Dreaming of the perfect sleep When we sleep, our pulse goes down, we breathe more slowly and our energy consumption goes down, which makes our temperature drop, too. So-called heavy duvets have become trendy recently, for their claim to improved sleep. This impressive duvet from Happy Fluffy Cloud is a unique product on the market, naturally heavy with five kilogrammes of down and feathers, making it super soft without any added materials. A duvet from Happy Fluffy Cloud is an investment. If taken care of properly, it can last a lifetime. You can wash the duvet in 40 degrees and tumble dry with a few tennis balls.
The duvets from Happy Fluffy Cloud are available in the web shop, which is open 24/7. “Early on, we discovered that a lot of purchases were made during the night, as people with sleeping problems came to us in search of a solution. So sometimes we keep our customer service open during the night too,” Barkow says, and concludes: “Customers have come back and told us that they have finally found the solution to good sleep, and others love the duvet for the stylish look and the fluffy feeling it adds to the bedding.”
Web: www.happyfluffycloud.se Facebook: Happyfluffycloud Instagram: @happyfluffycloud
At work in the studio.
A Norwegian textile designer’s adventure
When people think of textiles, the first thing that comes to mind is often curtains, blankets and table cloths. But in addition to being decorative and insulating, textiles can transform a room from sterile and impersonal to calming, soothing and harmonious.
By Alyssa Nilsen | Photos: Ia Torgersen Tekstiler
Ia Torgersen was still a child when she was first introduced to the art of fabric print. A visit to a textile artist, performing what seemed like magic with paint, frames and stencils, left a lasting impression both on the fabric and on Ia. The smell of the cotton, wet paint and the transformation of the fabric stayed with her, shaping her road ahead.
Having finished her broad education in textiles in Oslo, Ia got accepted onto a four-year programme to study industrial textile design at the College of Textile Design in Sweden. The same month, she met her soon-to-be sculptor husband. Five months later, they married, putting an abrupt end to Ia’s plans of moving to Sweden. Curious by nature and eager to learn more, Ia dove head-first in at the deep end. She went to the Oslo offices of iconic Norwegian textile factory, Høie Fabrikker, with no appointment scheduled, to try her luck.
“I told them I had a vision that they could start printing patterns on their bed linen,” she says. “They laughed at first, but I persisted and told them that I could draw up some patterns, which I felt could be successful and could be produced right here in Norway.”
The laughter silenced when a half-shut door opened and the sales manager of Høie came in and said, “give her 14 days”. “The thing is,” Ia laughs, “if you make promises, you have to stay true to your word and deliver what you claimed you could.” Ia kept her word and presented finished sketches. Høie decided to launch one of her patterns and hired her as a freelance designer. The first printed bed linens designed by Ia were a huge success. She spent the next few years learning the industrial printing trade at the Høie factory hands on.
Production eventually moved abroad, and Høie Factories closed. Ia decided to step away and start her own company, Ia Torgersen Tekstiler, producing beautiful fabrics that shield and decorate.
Ia and her husband moved to an old 600-square-metre school building in a mountain village, setting up studios and a small outlet. Combining industrial design and hand printing, Ia got more and more assignments. Eventually, the couple moved to a small farm near Oslo, where they built studios, a storehouse and a head office. They also bought a house by the sea in Lofoten.
Battling visual noise using fabrics Where curtains were once the norm when insulating and decorating a room, current Scandinavian industrial trends, with a minimal look primarily consisting of glass and concrete, leave spaces bare, noisy and cold. Pleated curtains, horizontal or vertical blinds and window film are commonly used. But while they shield from view and sunlight, they do nothing for the acoustics, environment and temperature of a room.
“I’ve created a term,” says Ia, “‘Visual noise’. The eye, shaped like an orb, takes in much more than we realise. Everything that happens in our peripheral vision triggers warning signs in our brain and tells us to pay attention in case of danger. It’s a visual disturbance, which in open-plan office spaces is a constant. As soon as someone moves or walks through the room, that’s visual noise. This can cause health issues like migraines.”
To counteract this, Ia produces flame retardant curtains and window panels, background panels for video conferences, acoustics solutions, and curtains –which divide rooms into office landscapes. Whether thick fabrics or sheer, see-through panels, they help the brain to separate the impressions throughout the day.
“Textiles should never be just pretty to look at, but should also have a function,” says Ia. “The quality should also be high, and each type of fabric suitable for its purpose. We aim to make it easy for customers to find exactly the type of fabric they need.”
She adds: “Creation has always fascinated and impressed me. Nature is uniquely inspiring and constantly gives me ideas for new designs.”
A certified Eco-Lighthouse company with eight employees, Ia Torgersen Tekstiler also produces theatre drapes, curtains and bed linen. Inspired by nature, the fabrics’ colours and patterns reflect wind, water, places and seasons. In 2021, they celebrated 40 years as a company, with a collection inspired by Lofoten and the light and colours of northern Norway. One of the curtain textiles, Himmellys (‘sky light’), has sheer panels with varying shades of grey reflecting the sky and coast of Lofoten – ever-changing, depending on how they’re drawn. Another, Morgensol (‘morning sun’), has golden shades reflecting the first rays of the sun, while Blåtimen (‘the blue hour’) has shades of frosty blues, mimicking the hour just after sunset.
To see the aforementioned textiles and other collections and products, you can visit Ia Torgersen Tekstiler online.
Web: www.ia-torgersen.no Instagram: @iatorgersentekstiler
Silkefuru, nature-inspired prints.
Bodø Town Hall project.
