After years of committed work to reduce all plastic from my home, my studio and ultimately my life I know it is possible. Not easy. But possible! There’s a lot of alternatives to plastic and you can reduce and replace your use of plastic with other materials, new sustainable habits…and there’s a lot of high quality recycled plastic design products around, from trainers to furniture! Read more under ”No Plastic” to the right on this page. And, join me on the journey towards a world without plastic waste.
During the first week of June the scent from the old lilac tree is all over our urban garden and we take every opportunity to enjoy a fika under its green foliage. Every year the amethyst colour of the flowers evoke a feel of wonder in me; it is something about that colour! This kind of colourful is daring in a Scandi interior. But try! If only with a bunch of flowers. And see how it adds to a contemporary feel!
Lilacs are common in Stockholm, here in a garden in Äppelviken. Rattan chair 230 by Larsson Korgmakare, blanket Crux blanket (1991) by Pia Walllén. StylingCia Wedin. Photo copyright Johan Sellén.
Wallpaper Westwood, digital print by Camilla Diedrich, table Shake by Jens Fager for Muuto (2009), chair Speed by Johan Lindstén for Johanson Design, lamp 081t1 by Claesson Koivisto Rune for Wästberg. Styling by Cia Wedin. Photo copyright Anna Kern.
Rope, yarn, string…of fiber, textile, plastic…There’s as many variations of seating as designers ideas. I appreciate when it’s possible to use a piece of furniture outdoors as well as indoors. Fortunately the trend 2017 is to relaunch simplistic, handsome and comfortable chairs in contemporary colours and materials. Good design never gets boring, but sometimes a new take on the visual and tactile make wonders!
PK1 chair by Poul Kjaerholm for Carl Hansen & Sons (1955). Realunched 2017. Steel frame and setting in rope. Photo copyright Carl Hansen & Sons.
PK1 chair by Poul Kjaerholm is a lightweight chair with four slim legs. Available in October 2017. Photo copyright Carl Hansen & Sons.
Panton One chair by Verner Panton for Montana (1955). Relaunched in 2003 and 2017. Available in no less than 12 colours. Steel frame with handwoven seat in polyurethane and nylon. Photo copyright Montana.
Once in a while we visit a house where architecture and interior, seemingly without effort, blends into that special feeling we call a home. Skilled architect Torbjörn Gudmundsson and organic house producer LEVA Husfabrik created the building, in collaboration with a young Stockholm family. The interior is sparsely decorated with a few selected new pieces of furniture and some vintage/second hand objects. And the result is fab!
In the May issue of Swedish ELLE Decoration you can read about this small contemporary summer dwelling situated in the Stockholm Archepelago. Text and styling by Cia Wedin. Photo copyright Anna Kern.
Sometimes I need a Lissoni moment = to indulge in the excessive beauty and aesthetics of a Piero Lissoni product or building. So very Italian! So very contemporary! Lissonis work is a great inspiration. There´s the friendly minimalism, the strong visuality, the respect of materials and a use of space creating a feel good dimension.
Rod sofa by Piero Lissoni for Living Divani (2012). Photo copyright Living Divani.
The coolness of a tap claiming its position as a handsome manmade piece of work! A simple but distinctive shape against beautiful material samples make the bath or kitchen into a room, into something cared of. About Water AL/23 by Piero Lissoni for Fantini(2010). Photo copyright Tommaso Sartori for Fantini.
Lochness cabinet by Piero Lissoni forCappellini (2015). Photo copyright Cappellini.
Le trottole, spinning tops in different wood combinations by Piero Lissoni for Porro (2015). Photo copyright Porro.
And a geometrical, rather strict but ever so beautiful garden…Giardino Geometrico for Salone del Mobile (2014) in collaboration with Living Divani and Laminam. Photo copyright Lissoniassociati.
Awaiting the designer…where is he?
Aah! Piero Lissoni in his studio in Milano. Where there’s some scandistyle pieces on display. Photo copyright Lissoniassociati.
Pilaster is one of the most famous Swedish bookshelves ever. It was designed by architect John Kandell in 1989. With its simple but ingenious form it is perfect for those books you want to have at hand. Perhaps in the kitchen, or by your bed? In his later years John Kandell often found solutions for small spaces, the in-between spaces where you pass (like in the stairs) or need something interesting to rest your eyes on…
Pilaster shelf by John Kandell for Källemo (1989). Birch naturel treated with natural soap. Photo copyright Källemo.
Recently added to my ”must read” list is the fine story of John Kandell (1925–1991) and his wife, textile designer Ulla Kandell (born 1926). Written by Gunilla Lundahl with graphic design by Johannes Molin it is a book to return to many times, for a read, or to browse through while enjoying its visuality. In Swedish only, but wow…what a perfect presentation of the Kandells! In layer upon layer their story unfolds…revealing unexpected things like small messages between the Kandell couple, drawings, interior pics, architect plans, production display and lots of info on their important work.
”Leken och allvaret – John and Ulla Kandell”. Book by Gunilla Lundahl for Carlssons bokförlag (2017). Photo copyright Carlssons.
Hortus Poetica – Exploring Materiality, Colour & Form
Glass by Gunnel Sahlin
Vessel gallery, 114 Kensington Park Rd
Gunnel Sahlin working in her studio. In her glass work Sahlin explore the limits of glass materiality, colour, form and light. Her main inspiration is the natural world around her. Photo copyright Konsthantverkarna.
Bicolor Magnolia, Lilium, Cintronella and Raps, glass objects sizes 18–20 cm. Photo copyright Gunnel Sahlin.
…as for me it is as simple as this: stop the abuse and misery of livestock factory farming. Sign this urgent petition from Animals Australia. Every year millions and millions of cows and sheep spends long hours packed on ships as live export. It is usual all over the world. It has to end. Go veggie! Say no to leather products.
One ship. Meat and leather? All photographs photo copyright veterinarian Lynn Simpson/Animals Australia (2016).
If you’ve got the stomach…watch this Animals Australia live export investigation (Sledgehammering in Vietnam 2016). Video copyright Animals Australia: https://vimeo.com/170439752. It is very disturbing.
Any time soon now we’ll turn on the garden lights not to be guided through darkness but as part of the outdoor life. To sit outdoors for dinner is perhaps the most significant proof that winter is over. Outdoor lighting may be strong and disturbing, perhaps too bright, perhaps of mediocre design. But there’s fab light to be seen: Toldbod by Louis Poulsen was launched in 1982 and has definitely become a modern classic.
Toldbod 220/290 by Louis Poulsen (1982). Die cast aluminium with shield in moulded clear polycarbonate, arm in extruded aluminium. The light is directed 100% downwards and the shade has a matt white painted interior emitting a soft, diffused, comfortable light. Photo copyright Louis Poulsen.
After years of plain smooth yet often colourful glass we now encounter some press glass news again! Yes! Being a hardcore sucker for classics like Kastehelmi by Oiva Toikka I welcome the Ripple glass series by danish brand Ferm Living. Pressed glass is such a ”forgiving” kind of glass; you can use a simple glass material and it can be mass-produced. If the design is fab…your glass product will be beautiful and nice to use on daily basis.
Ripple glass carafe by Ferm Living (2017). Photo copyright Ferm Living.
Ripple glass series with stylish carafe and glasses by Ferm Living (2017). Photo copyright Ferm Living.
Kastehelmi glass table wear was designed in 1964 by Oiva Toikka. It is still in production by Iittala. ”Kastehelmi” is finnish for ”dewdrop”, and especially the clear glass gives the impression of a garden in the morning or looking through a window on a rainy day. The tiny glass bubbles extend outwards from the centre of each piece and is not merely decorative. Oiva Toikka was seeking a way to hide the joint marks left by the production process, and came up with this pattern.
If in Stockholm the coming week don’t miss out the opening of the 2017 graduate exhibition at Handarbetets Vänner/Friends of Handicraft, the oldest and most distinguished handicraft and textile institution in Sweden. HV was founded in 1874 and the HV Studio is one of Europe’s few remaining studios for textile art and craft. HV is also a school and this year we’ll be able to see work by graduates Julia Frostell, Arianna E Funk, Lisa Hagström, Emma Holmgren, Lisa Imberg, Anna-Karin Linde and Sarah Luna.
Textil klass (Textile class)
4 May – 5 August, 2017
Handarbetets Vänner /Friends of Handicraft
Djurgårdsslätten 82–84, Stockholm
Work in progress, weaving by Julia Frostell, graduate student at Handarbetets Vänner. Photo copyright Emma Holmgren.
Work in progress, embroidery by Lisa Imberg, graduate student at Handarbetets Vänner. Photo copyright Emma Holmgren.
Scandi producers have a long legacy of making superb and sustainable furniture for children. One of the most famous is Peter’s Chair and Table by Hans J Wegner, designed in 1944 and in production by Carl Hansen & Sons.
Peter’s Chair and Table by Hans J Wegner (1944) for Carl Hansen & Sons. The chair (CH410) and table (CH411) are made of untreated maple and beech hardwood. Photo copyright Carl Hansen & Sons.
Take a look at the making of Peter’s Chair and Table. Video copyright Carl Hansen & Sons.
Another classic is the Childrens Stool NE60 by Alvar Aalto for Artek (1933). Made of beautiful pale birch this stool is a children’s version of the famous three-legged Stool 60. Photo copyright Artek. NE60 comes with an option for the seat. You can chose between natural lacquered birch veneer, white laminate or black linoleum. There’s a round table to go with the stool. Photo copyright Artek.
A contemporary interpretation of the classics is Little Architect’s series by Ferm Living (2017). It is made of ash veneer and comes in five colours; bordeaux, dark blue, dark green, grey and rose. Photo copyright Ferm Living.
..and here’s one of my favourites, the contemporary children’s chair Ru by Shane Schneck for Hay (2010). Not only innovative of structure but Ru features smart possibilities: it can hang off the table, it is stackable, and multiple chairs can be linked together to form a row. Birch plywood and ash veneer. Photo copyright Hay.
