Above : Eilersen Float High Sofa | Frame Table | Kant Table | at Charlottenborg

It was a typical rainy Tuesday morning when we took the car for a short 2 hour road trip from Copenhagen to Fyn, Denmark , to visit the headquarters and showroom of the well known Danish company Eilersen. 

It all began with a horse-drawn carriage. In 1895 the young Niels Eilersen started out as a coachbuilder. To make his wheels, he was the first person in Denmark to use steam to bend wood. And when cars eventually ran horse-drawn carriages off the road, Eilersen started making handmade bodies for cars and busses. Their history and how the innovative family went from making coaches to couches is a beautiful read on their website, I heartily recommend it .

A lot has changed since Eilersen’s story began back in 1895, but their founding principle has always stayed the same – to comfort us, and bring beauty to your world. To create the best possible, the unique and at the same time the ultimative upholstery quality sofa or product. And it is surely so, when every couch is build by hand, and entirely customisable to match your mood and temperament, from pillows to the fabric to the dimensions of the couch itself. 

Our tour of the headquarters at Skamby started with a well prepared surprise. To celebrate its impressive 125 year history, Eilersen extended an invitation to another guest that curiously also is celebrating its 125th year, the Swan Lake, a ballet composed by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky. We were greeted by the white Swan itself by the original antique horse-drawn carriage at the entry, and welcomed inside the impressive 1600m² showroom to a company of ballet for a short Swan Lake performance. 

After enjoying the ballet, it was time for our tour. The showroom itself is quite magnificent. Its interior is designed in a way that resembles a gallery rather than a furniture store or house or showroom, this way all pieces are showcased in a harmonious way without interruptions. 

Above : Ashton Chairs | Spider Table | Kant Table | Fatty Sofa 

The whole collection of Eilersen designs can be found in these premises. All the sofas , tables, console tables and shelves, rugs, chairs and lounge chairs and footstools. Every Eilersen sofa is built on a framework of solid pinewood for lightweight, flexibility and durability. 

Above : Kant Table | Feet FootstoolAbove : Fatty Sofa |Kant Table

Skilled hands and first rate materials combine to create the ultimate in upholstered furniture. Every most single design in the range carries Jens Juuls signature. With the simplistic yet sophisticated Baseline design, Jens Juul struck a chord with people that are equally obsessed with proportions. 

When you put your heart into it, you might just build the best sofa in the world. Nils Juul Eilersen.

Among some of the new designs, the Kant collection, created together with Yuzuru Nishiyama from Japan. The collection includes coffee tables in different sizes to the perfect console table or office desk, which even comes with a matching bench. With a simple silhouette and a minimalistic design, the Kant tables are both modern and precise in their execution. 

“The idea was to create something modern and rather sharp, which I think we succeeded in doing with Kant.” Says Yuzuru Nishiyama and continues: “What characterizes the design are the edges. This was also the inspiration for the name Kant. I wanted it to be a Danish name to emphasize the collaboration.”

Strolling through the two floors of the showroom I cannot help but admire not only the vast selection of designs and diversity but also the history of the space itself that binds everything together. The old premises sneak through the walls, the floors, the old doors, the old furnaces. The whole space feels like it is designed to give you the very essence of what Eilersen represents. Craftsmanship, quality and innovation. 

Above : Eilersen Slope Sofa | Bun Footstool | Wheel footstool with buttonsAbove : Eilersen Session | Eilersen Skagen | Frame Table | Stick Carpet

Below : Eilersen Gotham | Spider Table | Stick Carpet

Innovation and tradition are still hallmarks of the company that has given name and life to many classics over the years. Since the 1930s, Eilersen has produced furniture with a focus on high quality, comfort and durability. This strategy has made Eilersen a well-known and recognized brand both nationally and internationally. Eilersen is currently run by the fourth generation. 

Eilersen has its own carpets but within the N. Eilersen A/S group there is also the Juul Furniture, an independent brand that is based on its good reputation, high quality and durability. It is produced at the group’s own factories with an assurance of craftsmanship of the highest quality by experienced specialists and its carpets and rugs were among my favorites.

The Safari chair, is the answer to the question of which chair best compliments Eilersen’s vast collection of sofas.  Designed by Erik Woerts, it is being relaunched in 5 different combinations of oak with canvas and leather in colours from nature’s own palette. To a solid frame of oiled, soap-treated or black-lacquered oak is fastened a seat, back and armrests of either natural or black canvas or leather in shades of dark brown and black. 

All through the showroom there were installations of flowers and greenery. This motif was also followed for the 3 Days of Design anywhere Eilersen was present who joined forces with Tableau to transform Anton Dam’s showroom for 3 Days of Design, with a focus on colour and innovation .Tableau, opened in Copenhagen in 2018 by owner  Julius Værnes Iversen, a self-taught florist, renowned for being able to create small works of art for the ‘stage’ in the form of innovative objects using flowers and plants. Julius produced a series of unique creations featuring Eilersen’s own textiles.Screen and Seal are two new textiles from Eilersen, both of which have been used for the flower creations. Scroll below to see some of the photos of Anton Dam’s showroom.

Above: Plano Sofa |  Spider TableAbove : Eilersen Great Ash Frame Table | Wheel Pouf | Stick Carpet | at Anton Dam

Above : Baseline Sofa in stunning Corduroy Fabric

Below : Eilersen Plano Sofa |Stick Carpet | Spider Table

A home away from home during 3 Days of Design, Hotel Charlottenborg opened its doors to a new exhibition created in collaboration with 16 leading contemporary Danish furniture brands and the Association of Danish Wood and Furniture Industries, curated by Ark Journal. A real sight to see, not just for its concept but for the great curation of the space. I will be making a post about it soon as well, so keep an eye for it! 

// Photography and Editing by Katerina Dima

There were many great venues this year to visit in Stockholm during the fair, in fact so many that while I had RSVP to only as many I thought I would be able to attend, time between them , transportation and weather made it impossible to follow my schedule to the letter. I missed for example the opening night for Spatial Sensibilities, an exhibition curated by Frama showcasing their selection of products and first previews from the Permanent Collection in the newly renovated apartment of Architect Andreas Martin-Löf. I made it there the next day however and I had just enough time to chat a little bit with my friends from Frama and shoot some of the space available (the whole apartment was not ready yet). From what I have seen I can tell you that there is a lot to look forward from Frama this year but also, this is going to be an apartment that will be featured a lot in magazines and blogazines. When I was shooting the sun was shining so bright, it created beautiful but also very dramatic shadows all around the apartment. I edited the photos for todays post a little bit differently than usual in order to bring out the feeling of the moment, I hope I did it justice and you like them.

Check Frama for their news, and look out for one of my favorites (unfortunately the photos did not do them justice so I am not posting any) of the new Japanese cutlery!

Advertisement // Sponsored post in collaboration with PillivuytA few months ago, I was lucky to visit the place where the Pillivuyt Porcelain is being produced today , in the beautiful town Mehun-sur-Yèvre near Bourges. The team treated us ( we were a full group of Scandinavian bloggers) to a very special weekend due to the occasion of Pillivuyts 200 years Jubilee. We toured Mehun-sur-Yèvre, walked through the streets of Bourges nearby, learned the history of Pillivuyt, visited the factory and talked to the people that work there creating every beautiful piece, before we headed back to Paris for an amazing night. Today I will take you with me in that tour, and I hope at the end, you will not only fall in love with Pillivuyt, but also with its people and their passion for this porcelain that has been in thousands of peoples houses for 200 hundred years now.

But first, let me introduce you to Pillivuyt. In 1818, a young Swiss man, Jean Louis Richard Pillivuyt, bought an old brick factory in the heart of France in a village near the Sancerre wine area.Together with his son Charles Pillivuyt, they created history. Jean Louis Richard had great plans when he took over the old brick factory in the village of Foëcy. Instead of producing brick, he wished to produce porcelain for the French kitchen and the better bourgeoisie.

Mehun-sur-Yèvre a village close to Bourges share much in common. One of the first things that pop is the architecture , the inviting atmosphere and the welcoming people. The city has a long tradition of art and history. Apart from the cathedral, other sites of importance include the 15th-century Palace of Jacques Cœur and a sixty-five-hectare district of half-timbered houses and fine town-houses. You can walk around easily in the center and never get bored of the sights, the houses, the feeling of walking in a mid century french town. I highly recommend it.

After a day of enjoying Bourges, Pillivuyt wanted us to not only have a good time, but appreciate what gives Pillivuyt its unique profile. What makes it so special that it has lasted for 200 years and as it stands, easily 100 more? Pillivuyt has character and not just because it looks beautiful and undeniable quality. There is deeply rooted within its concept the French attitude, from good food to great presentation, to everything that involves setting a spectacular dinner that you enjoy with wine even in an everyday basis. The inspiration comes from Frances old castles, the luxury and uniqueness of its cuisine, the vast knowledge of fine wine and dinning. What better place to find that out but the phenomenal Hôtel de Panette, where we were treated with wine tasting and local delicacies while we enjoyed a relaxing afternoon. Just by looking at the photos of Hôtel de Panette (photo above and below), you can see what I mean, if that is not the embodiment of French luxury, I am not sure what else will best describe it. It is also now I think quite clear where Pillivuyt is coming from, and where it gets not only its inspiration but also its history.

The next day , we finally headed for Mehun-sur-Yèvre, where Pillivuyt is being produced today in its entirety. From the very beginning, it has always been Pillivuyts philosophy to create beautiful and durable porcelain.A craft that meets the high quality standards that both professional cooks and private food lovers have in the kitchen and around the dining table.

It has made Pillivuyt the porcelain of a very special casting. Porcelain created in collaboration with the best and most passionate cooks in their subjects. Porcelain that meets the highest standards of functionality, durability and design. Porcelain sets are made of field patches with a high content of feldspar and quartz. It’s the factory’s unique porcelain pulp which, together with an extremely hard glaze, makes the porcelain extra resistant to impact and impact. All the porcelain from Pillivuyt has its own stamp at the bottom, this is the factory’s quality assurance and your guarantee that porcelain meets the quality requirements that Pillivuyt has set for generations.

While taking the tour of the factory, we were lucky to not only learn about the process and the history (both photos above from their archived designs,molds on the shelfs as well as originals that are not produced or never have been produced, or where only produced once for a special occasion) but also see it step by step. Every piece of porcelain you own from Pillivuyt you should know is made by hand, almost 100%. From the cast, to treatment, the only process that is automated is transport, some washing stages and of course burning. However even the smallest piece, from a cup to a handle, everything is handmade, hand colored, and treated with care and the outmost respect. An important detail to know that I think makes the whole process even more special. The molds are not permanent, as they will suffer from use. If I am not mistaken no more than 50 pieces can be made from a single mold before even the mold needs to be made anew. The mold is also handmade!

Before the porcelain from Pillivuyt lands in your kitchen and is set on the table, it has been through a long process. It has been treated, designed and burned with a dedication, precision and love to give you the strongest and best porcelain.Pillivuyts porcelain pulp contains, among other things, raw materials such as kaolin, clay, silicon soil, feldspar, alumina and quartz, which are made on secret recipes.The production is based on the fact that the porcelain mass is processed and filtered in heavy machinery, where impurities are sown and most of the water. 

First burning lasts approx. 16 hours and takes place at 1000 oC. Other shipment lasts between 19 and 27 hours at up to 1,400 oC. The high heat makes it possible to achieve white, glossy and impure products of perfect quality. The burning at the high temperatures is essential for porcelain strength and the furnaces are together with the porcelain mixture, a vital part of the production. The latest and most modern furnaces were built and installed in 2003, but several of the furnaces have been active since the beginning.At the factory in Mehun-sur-Yèvre, 22,500 pieces of porcelain are burned daily.

One of my favorite processes, the soft clay and kaolin that is molded then the scraps or any misshapen pieces are gathered so they can be reduced, recycled and reused!

After the porcelain is cast and molded, there is the stage where the pieces are still soft, not having been burned neither glazed yet, they gather on shelves ready to be taken in the furnaces and finishing touches. The raw materials show, the rough surfaces even though cannot be used for service, they seem like work of art waiting to be displayed to a gallery.

One of the examples of this in between stage that I love so much,  can be seen above, handled with care by the expert worker. Pillivuyt has very strict guidelines when it comes to size and imperfections. Even though every single piece is hand made, it is very important to them that they look as identical as possible. Even a millimeter of misshape will lead to the piece to be discarded in the recycle bin, while smaller mistakes will make it to their outlet. Only the pieces that make it through strict quality control are sold in the stores, an impressive achievement and a testimony to the passion and integrity Pillivuyt has always displayed for 200 years. It was one of those recycle bins I almost dived in to find some pieces that I wanted to bring home (after politely asking since this is still material that will be reused therefore equally valuable), and by chance I found the photos of its preparation. You can see one of the pieces that made it home with me below where I use it as a vase and storage. It is very soft, though it keeps its shape perfectly, but it feels almost like chalk, I also treat with with love and care and it is the perfect reminder of my visit to the Pillivuyt factory!

The outlet ( as seen in the photo above), can only be found in the factory premises, but if you happen to be in Paris, it is really worth a visit, it is barely 2 hours away by train and it can always be combined with a tour of Bourges as well!

What is my favorite design from Pillivuyt ?A few months ago I made a table styling for Pillivuyt , you can see it here, where clearly you can see that my favorite is the Plisse line.  However , when it comes to Pillivuyt, it is really hard to chose one as a favorite. Toulouse is a series that is great for baking and serving, and I always end up combining those two.

// Photography and Editing by Katerina Dima – Last photo courtesy of Pillivuyt

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//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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Styling and photography by Katerina Dima unless otherwise stated.