Johan Linsten shows at Stockholm’s Design Week

One of the most interesting young Scandinavian designers today is Johan Lindstén from Sweden. He participates in Stockholm Design Week this week, which is an exhibition under the name Check In 10, which refers to the 10 young designers who are “checked in” and exhibits at Hotel Birger Jarl in Stockholm.

Johan Lindsténs design is conceptual in style, and is based on an interpretation of an ancient occupation, embroidery. Under the name Dream about an idyllic place… Johan Lindstén has made a series of chairs where the upholstered backrest of the chairs all have a wonderful embroidered scene sewn on. In this way he gives historical and cultural…

News from Stockholm Furniture Fair

RVW is a new Swedish furniture manufacturer founded by designers Jonas Nordgren and Johannes Herbertsson who grew tired of the fast paced design business and decided to take matters into their own hands. RVW stands for consistency and condemns trends and hype in order to produce furniture that has no expiration date.
Based in Malmö in the southern part of Sweden, RVW works closely with suppliers in the Öresund region and Småland to produce their furniture. Besides breathing life in local artisanship, they also pay homage to Scandinavias design heritage.?“We see it as something self-explanatory to continue on the Scandinavian design heritage and to produce something specific from the library of materials, ideas and forms crafted over centuries,”…

Views from Formex

We just returned from Stockholm’s Formex Gift show, and what a whirlwind trip is was! Just a few days to see all the new items offered for Spring, as well as meeting some of our vendors and making new connections too.

The theme for this years Formex show was Creative Flow, and according to designer Jan Rundgren, who created the main exhibition”Creative Spaces”, is summed up by: “Studio trends are precisely with the times, the individualistic style feels like one of the most powerful things at the moment. We’re looking for something unique in both objects and expressions. The spaces are bohemian, spontaneously decorated and show that a…

2009 Gift Guide – Scandinavian Gifts $25 And Under

We were quite pleased to see that Design Sponge  featured five of our products in their newest “2009 Gift Guide” for items costing $25 or less.

Pictured clockwise (from top-left): Sagaform Retro Storage Jar $18 — Holiday Serving Bowls by Sagaform $25 — DAY Birger et Mikkelsen Day Scent Room Spray $25 –  Holiday Handmade Porcelain Ornaments by Fideli $13.25 — Allrum’s Tile Stickers $15

Of course, we have many other fine products they didn’t list… like Almedahls Tea Towels, Odd Molly’s “My Lips Love Me Lip Balm,” “My Hands Love Me Handcream” and “My Dream Lather Soap Bar” but still, we were thrilled to see that five of our products…

Some Creative Ladies From Norway

Norway has always had a strong tradition of crafts and workmanship but has been overshadowed in design by its Scandinavian neighbors. In a bid to save these old-time skills, the country has spawned a new generation of artisans who are producing some exquisite products in small batches. Here are a few of our favorite ladies.

Glassware is an old Norwegian industry that has faded away, but with these hypnotically beautiful pieces from Anne Haavind taking inspiration from the Norwegian landscape, we think the industry may be on the rebound

Kjersti Johannessen has a similar glacial touch to…

Scandinavia is Getting Darker

There is nothing like a Scandinavian summer evening where you can stay outside until midnight and still enjoy a bit of light. But there is also a dark side – the cold, dark and rainy winter-days. It’s starting to get dark when Scandinavians get up in the morning and will be dark again beforethey come back from work.

That is probably the reason why Scandinavians surround themselves with “tons of light”. They put candlelight everywhere and light up their homes with plenty of lamps. Here some pictures from Normann Copenhagen’s offices, one day when it was cold, wet and windy!!! They took these pictures of the Norm 06…

Lotta Kühlhorn, it’s all good!

Swedish designer Lotta Kühlhorn is one of our favorite designers, we like that she draws inspiration from root vegetables and that there are always lots of colors. Recently Lotta has designed five new fabric patterns for IKEA, which will be available in stores from Oct 1. The new patterns are called Annamoa, and were inspired by different environments around Sweden, both in Stockholm and the beautiful mountains up north. I love these fabrics, so vibrant and fun. Lotta Kühlhorn has those beautiful tea towels and cutting boards available at our store. Check her out here: http://www.huset-shop.com/lotta-kuhlhorn-radish-tea-towels-p-839.html

Off to Sweden

It’s hard to believe my trip to Scandinavia has come and gone. Unfortunately for me and for all you dear readers, I left my computer cord for both my camera and movie camera at home. Thus the reason no pictures showed up for over a month! But luckily I took loads of pictures and little movie clips throughout my time in both Sweden and Denmark.

Here below is a little movie clip on one of my trips to Stockholm. I’ve tried to give you a little glimpse of the city, Berns Hotel (my hotel while in the city), my favorite design stores and the Odd Molly Spring / Summer 2010 fashion show which I attended at the Grand…

Creators Inn Stockholm, super hip idea!

Are you a creative person and eager to stay in Stockholm? Swedish clothing brand Elvin and Scandic Malmen in Stockholm launches in August Creators Inn. One of the Scandic hotel rooms have been designated and in the late summer of the first six weeks (from August), you can experience the creative world’s first free “hotel-in-hotel” concept. In order to live free must have a legitimate reason, as a party weekend with friend does not work as the reason.

Creators Inn is a project initiated by Gothenburg-based design Next Century Modern with clothing label Elvin. Too bad this place won’t be ready for my trip to Stockholm next weekend. I will have to try next time!

Sweden Here I Come

This is one of the most anticipated times of the year for my family. We work and wait all year until the time approaches where we get to go back to Sweden for the summer. We get to escape to a magical little island called Öland. It’s off the South Eastern Coast of Sweden, just below another island, Gotland.

One can never anticipate what the weather will be, as it can be hotter than the Southern Californian area where we live, or it can rain or as this summer’s begining unfortunately started for the Swedes, cold. But when it’s warm and sunny, there is no other place we’d rather be. Öland, which has been…