//Trip and expenses were sponsored by Fredericia.

A little while ago I and a few other colleagues had the chance to visit the Fredericia showroom in Copenhagen, learn more about the history and designs of Fredericia Furniture but also, enjoy a full day of an amazing tour, part of the Scandi design Tour 2017 organized by Fredericia and Georg Jensen. I have already written about the day we spend at Georg Jensen at my Inside Georg Jensen : The making of the Torun Bangle post, for a full tour you are welcomed to read both!

Starting our tour we left hotel SP34 and walked towards the Fredericia Showroom in a beautiful sunny day in Copenhagen. The new Showroom at the top of the historic former Royal Mail House was renovated and restored to display the entire collection of Fredericia designs, a creative workspace and a gallery with changing exhibitions. We met with Thomas and Rasmus Graversen (2nd and 3nd generation owners of the company) on the first floor of the showroom, where first we were introduced to some iconic classic designs, like the Spanish chair, the Trinidad chair , the 2213 sofa and the Søborg Chair . Fredericia is also proud of collaborations with a carefully chosen circle of international designers, all renown for their exceptional level of design integrity. All with the ambition of creating contemporary design that is always beautifully crafted, relevant and aesthetically intriguing. Already iconic examples include the Swoon chair ( as seen above in the Space Copenhagen offices) and the Spine Collection from Space Copenhagen.

The Hunting Chair, as seen below, designed by Børge Mogensen in 1950, was Mogensen’s first work with exposed wooden framing and saddle leather. The chair in the Fredericia showroom is the very first working prototype, we were lucky that the showroom was exhibitioning such rare iconic furniture. With the Spanish Chair Mogensen expanded upon his work with solid oak and saddle leather. The chair was launched in 1958 as part of an innovative living space exhibition, in which all tables were removed from the floor to create an open living space. Fredericia has its roots in traditional craftsmanship based on a deep understanding of natural materials like vegetable tanned leather and solid wood. Solid pieces of oak from sustainable European forests are refined and processed; creating the elegant frame for the iconic Spanish Chair. Each part of the timber frame for the Spanish Chair is assembled with wooden dowels and bonded together under high pressure to ensure strength and stability for decades to come. It takes a steady hand to colour the leather edges of the Spanish Chair and continuing our tour in the Fredericia showroom we were treated to a craftmanship class by one of the craftsmen from Tränsjo Garveri , who showed us parts of the process.The entire production requires fourteen days of patient craftsmanship and passionate dedication to complete the iconic Spanish Chair. You can see the Spanish chair in the making in a video at Fredericia website here and gain even more insight in the design and the process. Below you can see some photos from the process captured by me, and then the Spanish chair displayed in the beautiful rooftop part of the showroom on the top floor where at the evening we were treated to an exquisite dinner and cocktails. 

We were lucky to be able to experience prototypes in our tour, the 2213 sofa as seen above Mogensen designed for his own home in 1962, and it is that very one that is displayed here. With generous proportions, modest aesthetic, a choice of materials and execution second to none, the sofa achieves Mogensen’s ambition to create the ultimate sofa. From the solid hardwood frame construction, to the carefully measured ratio of foam to feather in the cushions, the sofa part of the collection is thoroughly uncompromising. The bull hides used at Fredericia are of the highest calibre, from animals that have been raised under strict ethical guidelines. Every sofa and chair in the collection is 100% hand crafted and upholstered in the Fredericia factory in Denmark.

Even though I visit Copenhagen a lot these days for work, I was still very happy that the team had arranged for us to have lunch at a cafe a short walk by, that serves something all Danish people enjoy for lunch everyday, the unique smørrebrød (literally spread bread, or open faced sandwich). Invariably based on rye bread, smørrebrød can have an almost limitless number of different toppings, from herring, to raw beef, seafood and egg, and it is delicious, you can take my word for it.

After lunch, taking advantage of the beautiful weather we walked towards Space Copenhagen offices, where the talented architects ( and designers) duo Peter Bundgaard Rützou ( above ) and Signe Bindslev Henriksen ( below), talked to us about the design process from concept to prototype to production of few of their iconic designs for Fredericia, the Swoon chair and Spine Collection.

Space Copenhagen originally designed Spine for the interior design for a Michelin starred restaurant in 2011. The Spine series has a solid character where the texture of the wood and upholstery are given solid emphasis. The hand-sewn upholstery for the chair is inspired by techniques that were developed at Fredericia’s workshop for Børge Mogensen’s exclusive 1960’s leather series. Spine is a fusion of the organic, solid, and modern. In designing the series, Space Copenhagen felt their way forward using their intuition, until reaching a balanced design that invites many hours of relaxation. The Swoon was designed to fill the gap between a conventional lounge chair and a typical armchair – for use in lounge areas as well as private homes. The organic, yet structured design holds the seated body and provides an instant feeling of relaxation while offering excellent back support.

After our visit to Space Copenhagen, it was time to return to SP34 for a quick rest, then head back to Fredericia Showroom for a beautiful dinner on the rooftop. I dont have photos from the dinner but, the table was set with Georg Jensen tableware while we seated in an array of all Fredericia chairs, iconic classics and new favorites. At the end of the night we moved outside on the balcony to learn how to make our own cocktails using the new Georg Jensen Sky bar collection. All that with an exquisite view of Copenhagen from above. 

I want to thank the Fredericia and Georg Jensen team for organising the Scandi design Tour 2017showing us around Copenhagen. It was a fascinating two days where not only I got to be with fellow colleagues, but all of us got a chance to learn the history and appreciate even more these iconic Danish brands. 

I hope everyone enjoyed these series of posts as much as I enjoyed taking photos during the tour!

// Photography by Katerina Dima

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//Trip and expenses were sponsored by Georg Jensen.

Two thousand seventeen, marks the 50th year of the collaboration between Georg Jensen and master Silversmith Vivianna Torun Bülow-Hübe, and a propos this celebration, a few blogger colleagues and me had the opportunity to be invited to Copenhagen and see first hand the making of the her famous Torun bangle, as well as, an inside exclusive view of the world of Georg Jensen.

With a history that spans more than 100 years, Georg Jensen represents quality craftsmanship and timeless aesthetic design, producing lifestyle products ranging from hollowware to watches, jewellery and home products. The philosophy of Georg Jensen himself was to create democratic designs possessing both functionality and beauty. His artisanal skill and artistic talent combined with his continuous ability to identify and support design talent was the foundation on which he built Georg Jensen in Copenhagen in 1904.

Georg Jensen’s style embraced the Art Nouveau lines of the day but injected them with a distinctive vigour that continues to resonate today. Serene flowing forms are enriched by exquisitely sculpted ornamentation and his stylised bouquets of flowers and lush bunches of grapes reflect his sensual delight in nature.

We were treated to a tour of the Silver Smithy, where we got to see how some of the designs were being realized almost from start to finish in various stages. From mold to form, even prototypes had so much elegance and uniqueness that they could easily be treated as art pieces of great value. I was fascinated not only by the history of the designs, the designers themselves, but also by the silversmiths and their dedication to the craftsmanship. Twenty seven silversmiths currently work at the intimate Georg Jensen smithy, each with a special set of skills. Each item produced here is 100% handmade, formed and expertly hammered into shape. From apprentice to silversmith, one needs 4 years of practice before they are able to work on their own without guidance, but becoming a master is a lifetime work. The pieces themselves take exceptionally long to make, a pitcher can take up to two months, while one of their most famous pieces Hennings Koppel Fish Dish takes more than 6 months of work. Every single piece produced at the smithy is a work of art, from jewelry to cutlery, truly the work of masters.

During our tour we not only got to visit the silver smithy, but we were lucky to be able to get an exclusive look into the archives of Georg Jensen filled with hundreds of original designs some more than 100 years old, as well as the design lab which was filled with sketches and prototypes ( some of which I am not allowed to share with you yet! ). We were also lucky to talk to the designer Aurélien Barbry of the new collection Sky, and discuss about the functionality of his designs as well as the creative process. 

The highlight of the tour however for me was getting to know more about the designer Vivianna Torun Bülow-Hübe, and watch as various expert silversmiths realised in front of our eyes one of her designs, the Torun bangle.

Vivianna Torun Bülow-Hübe (1927 – 2004) was born in Malmö Sweden. She graduated from the Academy of Industrial Arts in Stockholm in 1945 and in 1956 she settled in Paris where she quickly became known for her jewellery. Torun’s designs have become legendary and are exhibited at several museums worldwide including the Museum of Modern Art in New York. Torun was philosophical about the role of design in our everyday lives:

“A piece of jewellery should be a symbol of love. It should enhance and move with the body so that it blends with you. It must not overwhelm, but enhance you. This is why it must be timeless. It shouldn’t matter if you are 17 or 87 years old.”

Torun was an exceptionally talented artist, her pieces were all formed by bending silver into the forms she imagined using only one piece of metal. The Torun bangle folds around the wrist gracefully and it locks in a way that symbolizes the bond that two people have together, stronger in unison than being apart. Symbolism was very important to Torun and all her pieces have greater meaning. She was so connected with her ideas that she even reinvented them over time, nothing was forgotten and everything was in a constant flux in her creative process.

In the Georg Jensen smithy there is a recreation of Toruns own workshop, borrowing clothes and memorabilia, books and items that she treasured, here time almost stops and one can dive into Toruns world. A fierce feminist Torun was the voice of liberation in all fronts, social , sexual, racial, cultural, she did not conform to the tropes of her time. She began making jewelry as a teenager and she even staged her first exhibition at the age of 21. In 1948 she traveled to Paris and Cannes, where she met painters Pablo Picasso, Georges Braque and Henri Matisse.

Torun’s jewelry was inspired by natural shapes such as flowers, leaves, swirls and the flow of water. It is described as sober, minimalist and simple. Torun has been praised for her ability to shape solid materials into seemingly flexible forms, so that metal flows like water around the wearer’s neck and shoulders.She did not use valuable stones, preferring instead pebbles, granite, rock crystal, moonstone and quartz.

In 1948, saying that she didn’t want to design jewelry for the wives of wealthy men to keep locked up in private, Torun began making what she called “anti-status jewelry” out of twisted silver wire embellished with crystals and stones. In 1959, she designed the Mobius necklace, which included a lead crystal drop to be draped over the shoulder of the wearer. It was described by Barbara Cartlidge, author of the reference book Twentieth Century Jewelry, as a “milestone in the history of modern jewelry.” In 1962, Torun designed a stainless steel bangle-style wristwatch for an exhibition at the Musée des Arts Décoratifs in Paris.It later became the first wristwatch to be produced by the world-renowned Danish silver company Georg Jensen.

The Torun bangle takes an expert silversmith more than 10 hours of work to make. It goes through various stages of process, the strand of silver is cut with a saw to an appropriate size, then filled from all sides, then following the steps of the designer herself, folded manually into its final shape. The process looks simple when you look at it from afar, but we had a chance to be involved into all the steps and I cannot stress this enough, there was nothing easy or simple when your hands are doing the work. It is no wonder takes patience and expertise that can only be gained after years of honing the procedure. The final result , the Torun bangle looks effortless, and it naturally folds over the wrist, just as Vivianna Torun herself intended. 

Even though we didnt get to make our own Torun Bangle however ( despite our best efforts ), we were each gifted with one that was custom made for us, down to our carved initials on the inside. I would have treasured this gift regardless for years, but it was extra special for me after learning so much about Torun, getting involved in the whole process and being part of this amazing experience. A big thank you to Georg Jensen and our hosts for organizing one of the most beautiful trip.  

// Photography and Styling by Katerina Dima

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Styling and photography by Katerina Dima unless otherwise stated.

One of my favorite concept stores in Oslo Kollekted By, created and run by Italian-born Alessandro D’Orazio and Oslo native Jannicke Kråkvik, famous for their creative studio Kråkvik&D’Orazio, has moved from its previous location and opened its doors at the corner of Toftes and Rathkes Gate in Schous Plass. I stopped by earlier to shoot some photos and congratulate Jannicke and Alessandro for the beautiful new space, which was everything I expected and more! 

Jannicke has kindly let me and Elisabeth Heier shoot a few photos as soon as it opened at 11 this morning and I am glad to have finished editing them so early so I can give you a quick sneak peek. I will be going back for more photos when it is a better time for shooting however I think you already get a feeling of the new Kollekted By space. Styled with a combination of warm and cool , yet inviting hues , all their carefully curated selection seem to find its place in each room effortlessly. 

The store is divided into fluent spaces whose boundaries mix with each other. You can walk from what feels like an open concept living room to an open concept dining room then through the kitchen to the study. The kitchen is from Frama ( the store is Frama studio as well) here in the store one can find all the selection of Frama, from furnitures to tableware , while the study features Menu Afteroom chairs and books along with many more details from brands Workstead, Eumenes, Futagami, Hampson Woods, Guri Sandvik, Menu, Labt, Restart Milano, Karimoku New Standard, MAK Lab, Karin Carlander, Mae Engelgeer and more. I am not going to talk too much about this today since this is just a sneak peek, but if you are in Oslo feel free to stop by its opening hours to experience it yourself, it is really worth the visit!

// Photography by Katerina Dima

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A couple of weeks ago I visited Copenhagen, invited by Ferm Living for a very special dinner and the opening of The Home, their new Showroom in Amagertorv Square. If you follow me on instagram ( and you should for candid everyday moments ), I snapped the whole dinner and gave a quick sneak peek of the private showroom, and today I am finally sharing the photos I took. Everything in the showroom you can find in the Ferm Living webshop apart from small details such as perfumes or crystals. The Home is not open for public viewing but I will be more than happy to take you on a tour below.  Follow me!

I am starting the tour from the living room, where the light is ample and the windows look directly at the Amagertorv Square. The Turn Sofa and the Kelim rug are few of my favorites from the collection ,  while the poofs are new for AW17 and can be found here along with the rest of the news.

Walking past the living room through the double doors we enter the office. Here the table and chairs or the Haze Vitrine need no introduction, however I loved the new Pin board , while the Haze collection that the Vitrine belongs to is getting new additions, trays , cabinets, shelves, check the whole collection here! 

Through another set of double doors and we can find ourselves into the bathroom/bedroom, one of my favorite rooms in The Home of Ferm Living. The small boudoir area must be the most photographed area in the showroom, and it is quite easy to replicate right from the AW17 news. Lucky us! The Plant box in new color rose serves as a storage box , while the addition of the Brass tray that is made for it allows for leaving on top some of bathroom essentials. I love the Sekki Salt jars that here are used to hold small objects, also in the box you can find a variety of Salon Purses lined with velvet, perfect for storing cosmetics. The Balance candleholder in brass is actually from this years Christmas collection, while you can find all the Stone Hooks here in various sizes and colors. The Poise hand mirror that is hanging from one of the hooks can be found here!

 The kids room is situated right after the bedroom ( so sweet to be in there ) and we keep on walking we find ourselves on a small blue corridor that is in fact the entrance of the showroom. 

To the left of the corridor we find the dining room that connects to the living room through another set of double doors. I loved the deep maroon color on the walls ( all the decorations can be found in the Ferm Living collection ), while if you turn around you find another color in a nook that accentuates the 19th century details. On the wall the Hanging Tealight Deco in Oval shape (also comes in a brass version)  , again from the Christmas collection ( expect to see it in my apartment when I am ready to go festive). 

Turn right in the same corridor and you find yourself in the kitchen, bright white in one side and a beautiful green on the other. Here new collections are fusing with old , from the beloved Neu Tableware and the Ripple line of glasses, to the all new Sekki Collection of bowls, jars, cups and pots (see top of the shelf photo above). The Sekki collection will be available from the 5th of November and I personally can’t wait, the unglazed solid dyed stoneware is almost calling my name.

Last but not least, right through the kitchen, inside a little nook, the most adorable bathroom ever. Here you can see more of the Sekki collection, the Poise mirror and new accessories from Ferm Living. Funny anecdote, I came directly to the bathroom as I entered the showroom, I was a little late in my appointment due to my plane landing slightly late so I just took my clothes and cosmetics and excused myself until I was looking a little bit more presentable, so I got the chance to do my make up in the bathroom, believe me, it is as cozy as it looks!

This concludes the tour of The Home of Ferm Living in  Amagertorv Square, I hope you enjoyed it! I made notes of some of my favorite items, but if you see something I have not mentioned , just check the Ferm Living webstore, you will find everything there 😉

// Photography  by Katerina Dima

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Styling and photography by Katerina Dima unless otherwise stated.