Living in a city apartment, I always appreciate great design that can be used in multiple ways. I love moving things around in my place and creating new setups with the things I have, while always looking for subtle updates that keep my interior-heart satisfied. 

Recently the beautiful FH38 Windsor chair by Carl Hansen & Søn moved into my home. Its sculptural design features a taller backrest than necessary for a regular dining chair, making it a fusion of a dining chair and a lounge chair, and thus a comfortable and versatile addition to either dining or living room. The Windsor chair was designed by Danish architect and cabinetmaker Frits Henningsen in 1938 and has been in continuous production at Carl Hansen & Søn until 2003. Now, it has been reissued with modern comfort in mind and is available with a comfortable leather seat cushion.

The Windsor chair is shaped out of solid FSC™-certified oak and sanded by hand. The clean lines require multiple carpentry techniques to make and the chair is light in its expression thanks to its open spindle frame and the gently curved back, seat, and armrests. Each chair is unique and a distinguished example of traditional craftsmanship refined over centuries. I think the excellent quality carpentry is visible on the pictures I took, but it’s even more impressive when you use the chair and glide your hand over the oiled oak surface of the seat or the backrest.

Frits Henningsen viewed quality craftsmanship as essential, and unlike most cabinetmakers, always designed his own furniture pieces. As a member of the Copenhagen Cabinetmakers Guild, Henningsen became a major driver of the furniture exhibitions of the period, gaining recognition for his perfectionist style and vibrant personality. He gave new expression to traditional designs and drew inspiration from the French Empire, rococo, and British 17th-century furniture, which I think you can clearly see in the Windsor chair as well: the perfect fusion between classic furniture design and quality craftsmanship.