Design Your Dream Home – Denmark Edition

DESIGN YOUR DREAM HOME – DENMARK EDITIONSpecial  Theme:

Wood Studio: Danish furniture icons, redesigned for the modern home

One of the most impactful features you can introduce to a room is a piece of statement furniture – and nowhere has a richer history in this realm than Denmark.

By Lena Hunter | Photos: Wood Studio

The revered mid-century Danish style is prolific throughout Scandinavia, and genuine vintage pieces are traded like gemstones, with designs by the biggest names enjoying an almost mythic stature.

At Wood Studio, a small woodworking atelier and showroom in Frederica, south-east Jylland, this elusive echelon of heritage Danish furniture is guaranteed. Though, as you might expect, the designs they offer are on a first come, first served basis.

The giants of Danish design “We have all the icons: Hans Wegner, Børge Mogensen, Arne Jacobsen, Finn Juhl…” reels off Wood Studio founder Christina Koch Petersen, who painstakingly collects and restores the most sought-after vintage items.

Her passion is infectious and spiked with a refreshing angle: she and her team not only rescue old classics but redesign them to suit the modern Nordic home. Already pegged by Euroman and Boligliv as one of the best-kept secrets of interior design, Wood Studio is furnishing the homes of Denmark’s most stylish and discerning homeowners.

Restoration – an act of love At the heart of Wood Studio’s restoration work lies a reverence for heritage and tradition. It’s an act of love and an homage to a bygone craft.

Koch Petersen – who personally hunts for, buys and collects vintage items from around Denmark – understands this on

a deep level. “For me, it’s pure passion,” she explains. “I love Danish design, so I found an experienced carpenter and asked him to train me. I learnt all the old craft techniques. I use original tools that I’ve sourced from old woodworking studios, and we keep all the screws from old furniture.”

This is what makes the work of Wood Studio so unique. “When we restore furniture, it’s artisanal, using the original materials. Things are repaired just like they would have been repaired in 1950,” says Koch Petersen.

Redesign – improving the classics While original and restored furniture by the likes of Wegner and Juul is touted as among the most desirable design on the modern market, at Wood Studio nothing is too sacred to be updated. “If a vintage cabinet has plinths, we’ll design legs to elevate it off the ground. It gives an ‘airy’ feel that you didn’t have back in the ‘60s. Back then, a more blockish look was in vogue,” explains Koch Petersen.

Another common facelift is the addition of cane webbing and paper cords – a technique steeped in the traditions of Danish carpentry. In fact, Wegner and Mogensen pioneered it in the ‘40s with the respective iconic Wishbone Chair and beloved J39 ‘folkestol’. “Whether it’s Wegner or Mogensen, we’ll redesign it so that it’s contemporary, so you don’t have to have a retro home – retro is banned over here!” laughs Koch Petersen.

Preserving the best Some of the most exciting pieces to pass through Wood Studio are of Wegner’s exclusive Ry Series – a highly collectable cabinet series with narrow, elegant lines, typical of his style. “It’s incredibly rare in oak, and there’s very little in general left in Denmark,” says Koch Petersen. It’s no stretch to call this era of design one of the most important artistic contributions to Denmark’s national image.

Nevertheless, a few pieces have found their way to Wood Studio, which prides itself on preserving collections like Wegner’s Ry, and passing on the cultural heritage to future generations.

Green at heart Restoration and redesign might be inherently green, but Wood Studio pushes sustainability to another level, using a standard they dub the ‘90/10’ approach. “In the climate debate, where we’re saying we need to manufacture renewable energy – it’s only to be able to maintain a usage that is already completely crazy, rather than to focus on actually using less,” says Koch Petersen.

That’s why Wood Studio implements a circular economy in which at least 90 per cent of every product is second-hand. What’s more, all paint-strippers and chemicals are biodegradable, and through a new collaboration with reforestation project Growing Trees, a tree is planted every time an order is placed.

Pre-loved and re-loved As we become more turned off by the cult of the new, Wood Studio offers a beautiful alternative. Its portfolio of pre-loved and re-loved classics is easy on the eye as well as the conscience.

But where they really shine is their fearless design creativity, based on an honest respect for quality carpentry. “I have a deep-seated passion and a humility for what has gone before us. For me, Danish design is almost on an equal footing with the Golden Horns – it’s such an important part of our history. So to be able to move that into a new era is fantastic,” says Koch Petersen.

See for yourself by visiting Wood Studio’s showroom at Erritsø Møllebanke 35A, Fredericia, or browse the portfolio on their website.

Web: www.woodstudio.dk Facebook: woodstudiodk Instagram: @woodstudio.dk

Coffee and espresso cups in blue tones, making you think of the sky and the sea.

Lena Pedersen Ceramics & Design: Authentic Nordic craftsmanship like no other

In a world rife with mass production, it is refreshing to find a genuine craftswoman who makes every piece with equal parts care and attention, creating striking yet functional products that keep customers coming back for more.

By Trine Jensen-Martin | Photos: Tia Borgsmidt

Since leaving the Royal Danish Academy in 2003, Lena Pedersen has worked as an independent glassblower, a ceramicist and a designer. She opened her studio and boutique in Copenhagen in 2013, building a hugely successful business. Her unique, beautiful pieces are created using time-honoured methods, and starting out with her now-iconic round vase, she is known for her distinctive coffee cups and elegant bowls and plates.

A Nordic expression “Some find inspiration in nature, but I find it in the vibrant urban environment around me,” Pedersen says. “And when my hands are in the glaze or I am working a piece of clay, I feel truly inspired.”

Pedersen often comes up with new ideas or designs during the process of creation, allowing the materials to develop and speak for themselves. Her sense of Scandinavia is evident. “When I talk about a Nordic expression, I mean that my colours are soft and understated, and the shapes of my products are clean and sharp,” she explains.

She works with porcelain clay, which is completely white and the perfect backdrop for the subtle and hushed colours often found in Nordic nature. The all-over effect of letting the colours, shapes and materials work together is light, crisp and delicate. But make no mistake – Pedersen’s items are not meant merely for the display cabinet. “I want my customers to enjoy their coffee in my beautiful cups; I am a craftswoman, not an artist, and I make things to be used,” she says passionately.

Casting of large, round porcelain vase. Photo: Hanne Fuglbjerg

Pedersen has many regular customers and collaborates with select hotels and restaurants, as well as making pieces for TV and film productions. Her pieces are also available to buy at the Louisiana Museum of Modern Art. It is easy to see why she is in high demand: her products are exquisitely made, capturing a spirit and an essence of Denmark, of Scandinavia. You can sense the seas, the fjords, the open expanse of sky, the mountains, the soil and the fields in the colours she creates. Her glazes are clean and muted, yet full of colour and interplay between light and shade. The shapes she creates are simple, elegant and timeless, allowing her to focus on new colours and glazes.

Time is not of the essence “The biggest challenge for me is time, as I create every piece by hand myself, from idea to finished product,” Pedersen explains. “Things take time, and you can’t rush the process, otherwise it won’t be perfect.”

Even with bigger orders, Pedersen never compromises on the quality of her work, nor her dedication. Simply put, the time it takes to make 100 perfect cups is the time it takes. Her work is highly sought after, yet she continues to create every single piece herself, and her love for and appreciation of the materials she works with shines through. “I am proud of being a highly skilled and experienced craftswoman, and my craft is very important to me. I use traditional techniques and methods, making each piece unique,” she says. This is the antithesis of mass production, and truly artisan.

Mistake made perfect As with anything handmade, Pedersen’s products are distinctive; no two cups or bowls are the same, and every piece has been through her hands several times. “The possibilities are endless, and I love the process of mixing and creating new glazes. While I strive for perfection, I will always embrace the imperfect,” she says.

One particular glaze came to life this way: “I was mixing a certain shade of pink, called Rosa, and added a pigment to give it a specific colour. But as can happen in nature and in chemistry, the glaze turned out completely different and, instead of pink, I had golden crystals on my vase when it came out of the oven!” she muses. This finish has since become a best-seller and is a wonderful example of letting the glaze take on a life of its own.

An authentic working experience Pedersen’s boutique is in her studio, so when visiting Ahlefeldtsgade 22, you get to experience a real ceramicist at work, feel the warmth from the furnace and smell the burning clay in the air. It doesn’t get much more real than that. This is a lot like Lena herself: a genuine and passionate craftswoman who believes in her work and takes her time with every item she creates, the end-result being that it feels as if there is a little part of her in every single piece so lovingly and expertly crafted.

Vases in black porcelain with pink, blue and brown glazes.

Web: lenapedersen.com Facebook: Lena Pedersen - glas og porcelæn Instagram: @lenaglas Address: Ahlefeldtsgade 22, Copenhagen K

Coffee and espresso cups in rose, ochre and pink nuances, reminiscent of a sweetshop.

Serving dishes in three different sizes.

KK-Design Denmark creates customised and elegant tables out of slate.

Solid style is on the table

Imagine having a dinner table so durable that you never have to use trivets or worry about stains. The secret? Making a table top out of slate. Kenny Pedersen and Kenneth Højland, the people behind the business KK-Design Denmark, have set out on a mission to create personalised, solid tables.

By Karen Gilmour Kristensen | Photos: KK-Design Denmark

Even though KK-Design Denmark serves all kinds of customers, one group in particular stands out. “Many of our customers are young people who are building new houses,” Pedersen explains. “We can create tables in all sizes and with different types of legs and surfaces, which enables our customers to tailor a table to their new homes.”

KK-Design Denmark started in 2019 and quickly grew into a successful business. Despite the pandemic, the number of customers has continued to increase. “Many people have spent a lot of time at home, during which they may have looked at their old furniture and realised that they needed a new dinner table,” Pedersen reflects.

Heat-resistant, durable slate Originally focusing on dinner tables, KK-Design Denmark has expanded to also include coffee tables, desks and even garden tables – all with a heat-resistant surface made of slate. Moreover, the surface won’t get stained, no matter what you might spill on it. Everything from water and oil to children’s markers can simply be wiped away.

Another advantage of using such a tough material is the fact that the surface lasts a long time. “You can keep the table for many years and still it won’t be visibly old,” Pedersen assures. “As the surface doesn’t change over time, the slate will be as elegant as it was in the beginning.”

While the slate is imported from Italy, the different frames are made by Højland. “We’re a very good team,” Højland explains. “Kenny is good at finding out customers’ needs, and I can use my skills to create long-lasting products.”

The option to buy a set of matching dinner and coffee tables is very popular among customers. On the website you can order tables in different sizes but with similar design. However, all is not lost if you can’t find an existing design that suits you. “If a customer has a new idea for a design, we’re always open to looking into it,” says Højland. “If they want a different set of legs and it seems practical, we’re happy to comply.”

As well as creating tables for private homes, KK-Design Denmark also makes conference tables as well as tables that have been specifically tailored for restaurants and shops.

Web: www.kkdesigndenmark.dk Facebook: KK-Design Denmark Instagram: @kk_design_denmark

KUMA

Left: KUMA casts worktops and wash basins in one piece, like this example of a worktop in KUMA’s Granite material in a beautiful dark colour with bronze effects in the surface. Right: With tailormade solutions, there are many possibilities for a unique design. Here, a worktop in KUMA’s solid surface material Rector and with high edges, and Cirkel 35 wash basins.

Creating real products to last a lifetime

With an astute eye for design and high-quality materials, KUMA makes bespoke kitchen and bathroom work surfaces for both private homes and the public domain.

By Trine Jensen-Martin | Photos: KUMA

Founded in 1988 in Gadbjerg, Jutland, KUMA has an ever-expanding customer base in Scandinavia and throughout Europe, building on a successful formula of excellent products and customer satisfaction.

“We work with a wide variety of clients and our main aim is that they get exactly what they want,” says Claus Kristiansen, KUMA’s sales manager. “We primarily sell business-to-business via kitchen, interior design and furniture shops and teach our resellers to show consumers

All materials are available up to 5.15 metres long without joints. Here, a kitchen worktop in KUMA’s solid surface material Rector in white, with a fully cast sink with steel bottom. how our products work and why they are designed the way they are.”

‘If you can think it, we can make it’ Allowing customers to create the specific surfaces and sinks they want is a crucial part of KUMA’s success. “There are virtually no limits to what we can craft,” says Kristiansen. Their focus is on close collaboration with their customers at every stage of the design and manufacturing process.

The integral work surfaces and sinks are uniquely created in one piece, which adds to their longevity: there is no need to assemble pieces, nor any cracks that can attract water or dirt, making the products more enduring and far more hygienic. And while the products vary in colour, material and shape, they do have in common designs that are effortlessly beautiful and unpretentious, with a stylish and current feel.

Green is the way forward KUMA places huge emphasis on ‘being green’ and is very serious indeed about their commitment to the environment. “We create things that are sustainable,” asserts Kristiansen, with evident pride and passion. “Our products are meant to last, they are made for life, and this is absolute key to being environmentally minded.”

In a world where not only the quality and design of your home are important, but where the impact on our environment is more in focus than ever, KUMA has long been ahead of the curve. As the company expands over the coming years, they will continue to strive for a greener and more sustainable business, creating beautiful, in-demand and on-demand products, which will last a lifetime for their customers.

KUMA first received the Green Networks diploma in 1993 and has been awarded a diploma for extraordinary sustainability efforts. KUMA continues to set goals for continuous improvement based on cleaner technology. For more information, you can visit www.greennetwork.dk

Web: www.kuma.dk Facebook: KUMA Instagram: @kuma_dk

Viktoria Ceramic Studio Shop.

Find creative flow at Viktoria Ceramic Studio’s stunning hidden shop and atelier

Located just 400 metres from Copenhagen Central Station, Viktoria Ceramic Studio is right in the Scandinavian capital’s sweet spot – or ‘smørhul’, as they say there.

By Lena Hunter | Press photos

Despite the location, the ceramic shop, workshop and school is by no means obvious to the average passer-by. The sculpture-adorned doorway, hidden in a cobbled backyard, requires a little help from Google Maps.

“Tourists love it,” says Signe Bailey, one of five resident artists at Viktoria Ceramic Studio. “They think they’re coming to Denmark to see something authentic, and they end up on Strøget – the main shopping street – which could be in any major city. But when they come to this back alley, past the rabble of Danish bikes, down into this basement workshop, they feel they’ve found what they were hoping for.”

The 400-square-metre atelier sells everything from quality cupboard handicrafts to exclusive clay art and jewellery. Each piece is handmade on-site, and each has a story – and, as the artists run the shop themselves, they always have time to tell it.

Five creative universes, one secret basement The ceramicists that make up the Viktoria collective are Pia Lund, Signe Bailey, Mark Lauberg, Helle Hansen and, under the moniker Clib Klap, Claire Maria Lehmann and Iben Harboe.

Downstairs from the shop, the five workshops are separated by high dividers offering just enough privacy for the spaces to resemble mini creative universes. Muddles of shelves hold casts, half-finished clay ornaments and polished displays

alike, assorted photographs and an arsenal of tools and craft materials.

Art in sync “Our products don’t melt together,” says Signe, “but neither are they far from each other,” finishes Pia. “We each have our own inspirations, though we share techniques.” Signe explains: “We all went to design school and we’re standing on the shoulders of Danish design tradition.”

Functionality that eschews excess or flourish is the Danish heritage she describes. So, it’s with a nod to this aesthetic inheritance that the Viktoria five toy with design boundaries in their own work.

“Our work is always explorative and exciting – but never overdone,” says Signe, and Pia is quick to agree: “The detail is in the quality. We’re deeply grounded in the material – we know what it can do, and what it can’t. We respect the craft, and that shines through.”

A feast for eyes and hands It’s easy to fall in love with the beautiful products for sale at Viktoria Ceramic Studio. Everything begs to be touched, turned in the hands and explained.

In fact, the ménage of sculptures, ornaments, jewel-bright coffee cups and crazy fruit-bowls, earrings, lamps and creative candleholders exhibited in the little, white-walled shop is only a fraction of the artists’ creative output. “In our small studio, we can focus on what excites us and pass that on to students and visitors. It’s a privilege to be able to work so creatively, so we must utilise it,” says Signe.

Learn the craft yourself “Having the shop and the workshop together is a joy because people often feel that, even when they find something they love, there’s something intangible that they can’t take away – so we offer courses in ceramics too,” says Signe.

In the autumn, a programme of classes is slated to begin. “You can easily arrange a four- or five-day trip to Copenhagen and use a couple of evenings on a course,” says Signe. “The weekend courses are everything from pottery-wheel weekends to ‘whatever-you-like ceramics’, where we introduce you to casting, plate techniques, building and a little bit of turning, to sculpture.”

For those seduced by the idea of glazing, there are 12-week courses through which to deepen your practice. “There are so many processes, and it’s very slow and measured. Glazing is the final stage of ceramic. So, if you want a bit of everything, I’d recommend a longer course,” says Pia.

‘The mind finds peace’ The joy of ceramics is that it’s so accessible and the courses suit both beginners and veterans. “It’s not a discipline like blowing glass, where there’s a high technical bar for entry – anyone can have a lump of clay in their hands and feel that it’s drying or falling apart, or that you can squeeze it,” says Signe.

“It’s very physical and immediate, so you can never be underqualified to make ceramic,” she continues. “Everyone experiences a slow-down in tempo. You have to be in your hands – you can’t be up in your head. The mind finds peace. When you begin to peel back the barriers to creativity, new things happen.”

“It’s addictive,” agrees Pia. “We travel the world, to south sea islands, to crystalline waters to look for inner peace. Here, you can come down to Vesterbro and find that presence of mind. Sometimes we need a frame for a pause. That’s what ceramics can do.”

Web: www.viktoriaceramicstudio.dk Facebook: viktoriaceramicstudio Instagram: @viktoriaceramicstudiocph

See more from the five resident artists:

Claire Maria Lehmann & Iben Harboe: www.clibklap.dk / @clib_klap Helle Hansen: www.helle-hansen.dk / @hellehansenceramics Pia Lund: www.pialundceramics.com / @pialundceramics Signe Bailey: www.clayform.dk / @clayform_dk Mark Lauberg: @marklauberg

Left to right: Helle, Signe, Iben, Pia and Mark. Casting. Viktoria Ceramic Studio Shop.

The Soft Shape series from Malling Living is a collection of bigger pieces in organic shapes and contrasting materials that allow for a more dynamic table setting.

Setting the table à la New Nordic

At Malling Living, lenient and functional designs allow for purpose and personality to be combined in the living space. Born out of the Danish hospitality scene, Malling Living aims to create timeless and highly durable designs that can easily be mixed with other items to match desires, needs and individualism.

By Miriam Gradel | Photos: Claes Bech Poulsen

Rather than being a creative expression, Danish design is a mindset; an idea of form, function and simplicity that can be found in numerous contexts throughout public and private life in Denmark.

It is also a mindset that, over the past two decades, has shaped the Danish food scene, transforming an undefined restaurant and kitchen industry into a global trendsetter. “We’ve improved a lot within gastronomy in Denmark, and the interior design is part of that,” says Rikke Malling, professionally trained waiter and sommelier, and the owner of Malling Living.

A glass that can stand the test of time When Rikke, together with her husband and chef, Thorsten Schmidt, opened Malling & Schmidt restaurant in 2005, “all Danish restaurants were getting their interior and utensils from the same two companies,” she recalls. Back then, the New Nordic culinary movement was still in its infant years. No matter where you dined in Denmark, white plates and tablecloths complemented the classics of the French kitchen that made the foundation for culinary training and table setting at the time.

But at Malling & Schmidt, Rikke wanted to do something different. Having grown up in a family of architects, it made sense for Rikke to take the creative ideas from her mind and simply manifest them herself. “I started drawing and designing the interior. My husband also loved designing the plates, and if he came up with a new dish, he would create a plate for it. As such, it was always different at our restaurant,” says Rikke. “Designing the inside of the restaurant was always a big part of what I loved about my work,” she recalls. “Our guests used to say it felt like they were invited ‘home’ to us for dinner.”

Today, Malling & Schmidt is no more. But at Malling Living design studio, Rikke remains inspired by the hospitality industry, creating multifunctional and durable designs. Some have organically made their way into acclaimed venues across Denmark, such as the 50 Best Discoveries restaurant Iluka. Others have been custom designed for Restaurant Barr in Copenhagen, owned and run by Rikke’s husband. This is also where the Malling Living Bar Glass came to be. Originally designed to withstand the temperature of the perfect espresso, the organic shape and neat size of the glass makes it an equally appropriate vessel for a Gin Sour cocktail.

Timeless functionality Like many Danes, Rikke grew up with the timeless Danish design classics adorning her family home – furniture that is still in the family’s possession today. “In Denmark, we take it close to heart that our homes present themselves neatly and decluttered, yet personal. That is ‘hygge’, and that’s also why we don’t replace items so often,” says Rikke.

That is also the case with Malling Living products. “It’s important to me that there is quality in the design so that the piece endures and can stay with you for a long time,” says Rikke. “90 per cent of our retail takes place online, where you can’t feel the quality. That’s why we make sure that everything we make is first tested in the restaurant, before we release it out. It’s our stamp of quality.”

The popular Clothes Rack and Soft Shape series vase. Simplicity allows for different materials and geometric shapes to combine and complement existing elements in the home. Photo: Malling Living Many tableware items from Malling Living are specifically designed to support the creative work and organic expressions of the New Nordic kitchen.

But hospitality is not the only industry Malling Living gets its inspiration from. Rather than releasing seasonal product lines, Rikke likes to turn creative ideas and requests into multifunctional designs. Take, for example, the 170-centimetre-tall clothes rack designed for a friend’s apartment in collaboration with a fashion PR agency. Besides having a simple and easyto-match design for the home, the clothes rack can also fit a small podium for use in retail. According to Rikke, “designing with, rather than for, the customer makes the creative process even more interesting”.

A canvas for your own personal expression Focusing on a neutral expression with materials such as steel, clay, glass and

A minimalist expression makes it possible to handpick and combine favourite items from each Malling Living design series. brass, Rikke aims to design pieces that can be incorporated into any setting, regardless of the colour palate, prior décor or existing mood. “When something is minimalistic, I find that it is easier to mix and match and play around with your home’s interior expression,” says Rikke.

There is also an aspect of wellness in design. And according to Rikke, just like the time and effort put into personal well-being, “design should be an investment; not a one-off purchase”.

Web: mallingliving.dk Facebook: MallingLiving Instagram: @mallingliving Pinterest: @mallingliving/_created

Vesterhavskop. Lysvæld serving dish. Anemone.

Stories and memories expressed in ceramics

Ninna Gøtzsche tells stories with her ceramics. She is inspired by the history, culture, memories and materials from specific places around Denmark, which results in beautiful ceramics that will add charm and personality to your home. Drink your morning coffee from a quirky cup, put your flowers in a vase full of memories, and serve your chocolate in a cute bowl.

By Heidi Kokborg | Photos: Thomas Dahl Jepsen

When you drink your coffee from a cup from Formuleret, it is more than merely a cup; it’s an experience for your senses. Your hands will instantly feel the difference. Each cup, vase, bowl and serving dish is carefully handmade in Ninna Gøtzsche’s studio gallery, Formuleret, in Jægergårdsgade in the charming city of Aarhus.

“It makes me happy when people tell me that my cups make their day just a little bit better. I have always wanted to tell stories with my ceramics. If I am to put more things into the world, it is important that they have a meaning and a story,” says Ninna Gøtzsche, the woman behind Formuleret.

For instance, the Lysvæld pieces are inspired by the Danish hymn Se, Nu Stiger Solen af Havets Skød, and her Anemone designs are inspired by Kaj Munk’s Den Blå Anemone, a poem about a flower thriving against all odds. “It resonates with people of all ages. The story behind my ceramics means something to people, and they have the freedom to interpret the designs and stories in their own way,” Gøtzsche reflects.

Embracing the mistakes Gøtzsche’s ceramic designs are minimalistic, Nordic and personal. She likes to focus on the contrast between the elegant and the raw – the perfect and the imperfect. “I like the quirkiness. I embrace the mistakes I make,” she says. “This is also something people resonate with; we all make mistakes, but instead of beating ourselves up about them, we can embrace them. It’s about being open to whatever arises.”

When creating her ceramics, Gøtzsche tries to make everything different. There are no two cups that are completely identical. This also means that if you visit her studio gallery, it might take you a little while to find the perfect cup for you – but this is part of the charm in choosing handmade pieces: each piece will have its own appeal and characteristics.

Ninna Gøtzsch.

Ninna Gøtzsche’s studio gallery, Formuleret, is situated in Jægergårdsgade, Aarhus. She graduated from the Danish Royal Academy, Bornholm, in 2004. Afterwards, she worked for three years as a ceramicist at Julian Stair in London.

Web: www.formuleret.dk Instagram: @formuleret Facebook: Formuleret Keramik

Furniture that will follow you from home to home

Whether you are looking for a beautiful cabinet for the living room, for a place to store your keys, purses and other essentials in the hallway, or a cabinet for your very first apartment in the city, Square Reolen is the perfect choice. The cabinets can be designed exactly to suit your specific needs and likes, and as your home grows bigger you can extend it with more cubes. Square Reolen is furniture that will follow you through life.

By Heidi Kokborg | Photos: Kidi ApS

Kidi prides itself on an ability to always offer fast delivery and high-quality furniture. Moreover, everything from Kidi is delivered fully assembled and ready to be installed. All you have to do is decide where to put your new Square Reolen piece of furniture.

When the couple Flemming Didriksen and Kirsten Stilling founded Kidi more than 16 years ago, they had no idea that the company would become as wildly successful as it is today. From their signature Square Reol, they have expanded their collection to include a myriad of cabinets in different sizes and materials.

“We have two lines: Square Classic and Square Exclusive. Square Classic is a line of cabinets in both painted and solid wood, while Square Exclusive is a collection of sideboards, vitrine cabinets and high cubes in solid wood,” says Kirsten Stilling, co-owner of Kidi ApS.

One of the most brilliant qualities of any Square Reolen cabinet is the fact that you can design and adjust it exactly to your liking. This means that when you grow out of your starter apartment, you can simply purchase more cubes. Tired of the colours you originally chose? No problem, you can always change the cabinet doors or drawers.

“If you get bored of the look, you can just change a few of the elements, like the doors or the handles, and the furniture is designed in such a way that you can easily do this yourself,” Kirsten Stilling explains.

Bringing nature into your home When you choose Square Reolen, you get high-quality furniture. In recent years, solid wood has become increasingly popular, and there’s no wonder why. “Solid wood moves with humidity. When the humidity is high, wood absorbs moisture and swells. When humidity drops, wood shrinks. Choosing solid wood is literally like bringing a piece of nature into your home,” explains Kirsten Stilling. Kidi is sold in almost all furniture shops in Denmark and at the furniture chain Fagmøbler in Norway.

Web: www.kidi.dk

Make yourself a cosy, Scandinavian nest

There is no place like home – which is exactly why you should create a home you love. In the heart of the vibrant city of Copenhagen, you’ll find Nordic Nesting, a contemporary shop selling furnishings, tchotchkes, lamps and textiles, all with a Nordic touch. Here, you’ll find everything you need to design the nest of your dreams.

By Heidi Kokborg | Photos: Nordic Nesting

Nordic Nesting is not your average interior design shop. When opening the doors, you are welcomed with warmth and kindness and, pandemic times aside, maybe even a sparkling drink. Visiting Nordic Nesting feels more like visiting a friend’s home than a shop – which is exactly the point.

“We have deliberately designed the store to make you feel at home. The atmosphere is relaxed and cosy. Browsing should be a pleasant experience. The entire store is decorated like a home with comfy couches, throw pillows, lamps and decorative items,” says Snorre Rennesund, coowner of Nordic Nesting.

Not only will this make you feel at home, but it will also inspire you and give you new ideas, because let’s face it: we can’t all be interior geniuses. And whether you are looking for a lovely gift for a friend or family member, you need to spruce up your own home, or you are decorating a brand-new home, the friendly staff are always happy to provide you with tips and tricks.

A Scandinavian nest, worldwide Nordic Nesting offers a large selection of Danish and Scandinavian design classics, mixed with newer designs and applied art. “We love combining traditional and well-known designs with newer, lesser-known brands from Scandinavia. Each item is carefully handpicked from different collections, and we combine them in new and exciting ways. You’ll find everything you need for your own nest to create a cosy yet modern Scandinavian home,” says Rennesund.

The inspiration for Nordic Nesting came when Rennesund and his partner were decorating their own flat. They had such a good time decorating that they thought to themselves: what if they could do this for a living? Soon after that, Nordic Nesting saw the light of day. “We have always had an interest in interior design, but it really became a passion when we decorated our flat,” says Rennesund.

If you are just visiting Copenhagen and you fall in love with something from Nordic Nesting, fear not. They offer worldwide shipping, and they also have a webshop in which you can easily spend an entire evening.

Web: www.nordicnesting.dk Facebook: Nordic Nesting Instagram: @nordicnesting

Well-designed solutions

By Karen Gilmour Kristensen | Photos: Kunsthåndværket

Danish design and handicraft have gained popularity in recent years, and especially handmade one-of-a-kind products are in demand. In the tourist town of Ebeltoft in Jutland, Denmark, you’ll find the shop Kunsthåndværket (‘The Handicraft’ in English). Here, owner Karen Skotte sells a wide variety of Danish design, arts and crafts to locals as well as tourists.

Originally, Skotte wanted to make ceramics. She is a qualified graphic designer and has taken several courses at the art academy in Aarhus. 15 years ago, she started designing ceramics. “The first product I made was the toothbrush holder,” Skotte recalls. “It’s more relevant now than ever before. People have realised the importance of having a separate toothbrush holder for each family member in order not to infect each other.”

With her ceramics brand, KopCup, Skotte seeks to create practical solutions to everyday problems. That’s why she designed a vase for dish brushes. “A customer once asked me, ‘don’t you have a vase with a large hole in it to allow the brush and the cloth to dry,” Skotte says. “And I thought to myself, ‘that’s brilliant, why hasn’t anyone thought of that before?’ Then I knew I had to make it.”

Still designing products for the KopCup line, Skotte has also expanded her assortment to include many handicraft products from other designers. “People want to buy something not everyone has,” she reflects. “And many wish to find special gifts instead of just bringing flowers.”

Among Kunsthåndværket’s customers are many tourists, especially from Nor-

The shop, Kunsthåndværket. way and Germany, who are keen on buying unique Danish design souvenirs, since “Danes are extremely skilled within the field of design and crafts,” as Skotte says.

“Tourists want souvenirs, but they don’t want the old-fashioned ones,” she elaborates. “They want something unique, something of great quality and something with a story.”

Web: www.kunsthaandvaerket.dk Facebook: Kunsthåndværket Instagram: @kunsthaandvaerket

Ceramic toothbrush holders.