As one of the biggest names in Danish furniture design, Poul Kjærholm is celebrated for his uncompromising approach to form, materials, and craftsmanship: three elements that were instrumental in the Danish Modern movement.

Poul Kjærholm created the PK1 chair in 1955. The iconic design was his first chair design and paired brushed steel and wicker. After adding the PK1 chair to their collection in 2017, Carl Hansen & Søn reintroduced the PK1 chair in steel and FSC-certified paper cord, a natural and durable material that patinates beautifully over time.

Even though the paper cord is a new element introduced to the design, the newly launched chair looks exceptionally familiar and is a testament to the iconic furniture piece designed by the master furniture architect in the fifties.

Poul Kjærholm: one of the star architects behind Danish Modern

Poul Kjærholm was known for his functionalistic approach to furniture design, cultivating simplicity and lightness in his designs. His favorite material was steel, and he excelled at combining it with other organic materials.

Both his functionalistic approach and his talent for combining steel with other materials are reflected in the design of the PK1 dining chair. The clean and minimalistic lines of the steel frame are in perfect balance with the comfort and softness of the paper cord (or wicker in his initial design from 1955).

According to Knud Erik Hansen, third-generation owner-manager of Carl Hansen & Son the designer’s ability to combine functionality with aesthetics in a light and elegant way is what makes him a natural member of the design family of Carl Hansen & Son.

The design of the PK1 chair

The classic PK1 dining chair is comfortable, lightweight, and stackable, which makes it suitable for both private and public use. Its’ lightness and form make it a perfect addition to a range of different interior styles.

The PK1 chair is available in a stainless steel or black powder-coated steel frame, both paired with a beautiful paper cord seat. I was fortunate enough to be able to try out the stainless steel chair in my own home and I love how the combination of materials complements the minimal decor and modest color palette in my home.

The modern finish on the stainless steel contrasts with the beautiful and intricate weaving of the paper cord, resulting in a perfect balance between the two materials.

A switch in construction materials to ensure longevity

Carl Hansen & Son is known for incorporating paper cord in their production. In the PK1 chair, the paper cord complements the steel elegantly. It takes a skilled craftsman a full 15 hours and 180 meters of cord to hand weave the all-in-one seat and back on the PK1.

The intricate weaving technique is inspired by Kjærholm’s original work with wicker and looks just as beautiful from the front as from the back. Carl Hansen & Son has worked in close cooperation with the Kjærholm family to develop a weaving technique for the PK1 chair that brings together the best of both Poul Kjærholm and Carl Hansen & Son.

Other than an update in materials, the size of the original chair has been adjusted. The dimensions of the chair have been scaled up by 6% to match the size of people today, as people have increased in size significantly since the PK1 was launched in the mid-1950s.

This blog post was written in collaboration with Carl Hansen & Son, however, as always, my opinions are my own.

Originally designed in 1944 by Vilhelm Lauritzen, back in the day, the majestic VLA61 Monarch chair was produced only 10 times. As you can probably imagine, this made the chair a much-coveted piece for collectors and auction houses. In collaboration with Vilhelm Lauritzen Architects the iconic design piece is now made available by Carl Hansen & Søn to a wider audience for the very first time and I’m so happy I could try out this masterpiece in my own home.

The design of the chair is inspired by the majestic Monarch butterfly, a keen interest of Vilhelm Lauritzen himself, and the reason behind the chair’s name.

The design of the VLA61 Monarch chair

The VLA61 Monarch Chair has generous upholstery, a curved armrest, and teardrop-shaped bars with an organic appearance. The design embodies a light, artistic expression with a high-end appearance at the same time. The small brass feet and hand-polished joints finish the chair off perfectly and are a true testament to Lauritzen’s consistent design signature.

The double-curved armrests and the beautiful organic frame give the chair a clear expression with a supreme level of comfort that embraces you the moment you sit down.

I picked out the chair in a white upholstery fabric paired up with oiled oak, which pairs great with the historic hardwood floor and minimal white furniture pieces in my dining room.

Vilhelm Lauritzen: a pioneer of Danish modernism and a master of details

Vilhelm Lauritzen (1894-1984) was a leading Danish architect whose buildings are cultural monuments nowadays as a testament to his pioneering approach to functionalism. Often called the master of details, Lauritzen created the interiors for all of his buildings with the highest attention to detail including chairs, tables, chandeliers, fixtures and even sockets. He designed the Vega Chair, which I wrote about a few months ago for the Vega Concert Hall for example.

In 1944 he designed the Monarch VLA61 Monarch chair for a building project that was never realised, however, the chair was produced in 10 copies only. An extremely rare and sought-after design piece you can imagine, which is why it’s such great news that the piece is now available to a wider audience.

A form that complements function was an important factor in the design process of Vilhelm Lauritzen, which was driven by his functionalist approach. The VLA61 Monarch Chair is the perfect example of this approach with its double-curved armrests, the organic frame design, and the elegant brass feet that finish this design classic off. When you sit down in this comfortable chair, it feels like an embrace, which speaks to the designers’ emphasis on functionalism.

The handcrafted production process of the VLA61 Monarch Chair

Carl Hansen & Søn teamed up with Vilhelm Lauritzen Architects to re-introduce this carefully considered design piece with a modern perspective on material composition and details.

Hours of passionate craftsmanship go into the production of each chair. It’s a complex and time-consuming production process as many of the parts are curved and even double-curved. All parts are polished by hand several times before assembly, after which the entire piece is hand-polished again to ensure a perfect finish.

The backrest is upholstered after the chair is already assembled to ensure a perfect finish. It’s subtleties like these that contribute to highlighting the sculptural expression of the designers’ masterpiece.

A perfect addition to the Carl Hansen & Søn collection, available in multiple colorways

After the introduction of the Vega Chair and Foyer series, which has been received very well worldwide, Carl Hansen & Søn is pleased to work together with Vilhelm Lauritzen Architects again to introduce another of his masterpieces to a global audience.

The team worked with the designers’ initial sketches, detailed hand drawings, old pictures, and auction descriptions to get as close as possible to the original design while also giving the chair a modern expression with the materials. The VLA61 Monarch Chair comes in 9 variants, all of which pay tribute to this classic design piece.

This blog post was written in collaboration with Carl Hansen, however, all opinions are my own. You can read more about the VLA61 Monarch Chair here.

Most of you probably know or have seen the CH24 wishbone chair designed by Hans Wegner for Carl Hansen & Son. Over the years, the wishbone chair, sometimes called y-chair has become a true icon of modern Danish design, and Hans Wegner is considered one of the most creative, innovative, and prolific Danish furniture designers.

Recently Carl Hansen & Son introduced the iconic dining chair in teak and I had the opportunity of trying out the new CH24 wishbone chairs in my own home.

The wishbone dining chair designed by Hans Wegner

Hans Wegner designed the first model of the Wishbone chair exclusively for Carl Hansen & Son in 1949 and the dining chair has been in continuous production ever since. With its unique form that combines the back-and armrest into a single piece, stability is given to the steam-bent top, while allowing for comfortable support.

The characteristic Y-shaped back that the wishbone chairs are named after is combined with elegant, tapered legs and a paper cord seat that can be complemented with a seat cushion.

The manufacturing requires more than 100 steps and the hand-woven seat alone with its’ 120 meters long paper cord and natural finish takes a skilled craftsman about an hour to create.

The solid wood Wishbone chair offers comfort and stability, combined with a distinct, elegant form and a modern design that has gained recognition as the ideal chair over the years.

A solid wood frame in teak and paper cord

I have tried out the CH24 wishbone chair in a lacquered version before, but the way the teak wood accentuates the curved backrest and complements the woven seat made out of a natural paper cord is so much more apparent in the teak version.

The teak wood frame adds warmth to the classic design of the Wishbone chair which is balanced out by the neutral tone of the durable paper cord seat. The vibrant color of the teak has noticeable color variations in the natural black grains of the solid wood, making this version of the Wishbone chair so characterful and elegant.

I have used the teak wishbone chair in both my office and as a dining chair and I love the way the design complements the original herringbone hardwood flooring in my apartment while standing out against the white color palette I have in my interior.

Teak wood was used in CH24 wishbone chairs from the 1950s-1960s

The first Wishbone chairs produces in the 1950s-1960s were made out of teak wood, which gave them their much-loved intense color. As the popularity of Wegner’s design grew, the use of tropical teak wood was replaced by Nordic wood types like oak and beech.

In the past 70 years, however, teak forestry has changed dramatically and it’s now possible to source teak wood from responsibly managed forests. This makes it possible to responsibly produce the wishbone chair in its original solid wood frame again like Hans Wegner first imagined.

Teak wood is very strong and stable and has a vibrant color that elegantly changes during its lifetime from orange to a reddish-brown hue. The black grain of the wood results in a dynamic expression that stays beautiful due to its natural content of oil.

CH327 table in teak with oak details

Along with the release of the wishbone chairs in teak, Carl Hansen reintroduced the CH327 dining table in teak wood as well, which allows you to complete your dining room setting. Also designed by Hans Weger, the CH327 dining table has a table top that appears to float above a refined frame featuring impeccable carvings and joints.

The dining table is now introduced in teak with oak details and a design aesthetic that complements wonderfully with the wishbone chair.

*This blog post was written in collaboration with Carl Hansen & Son, however as always, my opinions are my own.

Probably most known for its collection of Futon beds, Karup design creates Scandinavian furniture inspired by multifunctionality. The brand was founded in Denmark and has a beautiful collection space saving furniture solutions that shine in their design simplicity.

Boogie chair designed by Says Who

I recently had the opportunity to try out the Boogie chair in my home and I think it fits perfectly in my living room. I have a light color palette with a white rug and a light beige sofa (you can find a review about the Noah sofa here), so I picked out the Boogie chair in Raw beech combined with a natural color mattress to match the space.

The classic sling design fits well in a Scandinavian interior, can be folded to store away and I think it’s so comfortable as well: perfect for reading a book.

An affordable lounger

The comfort this chair provides is much better than many lounge chairs I have tried out, which makes it such an attractively priced option for a comfortable lounge chair even if you plan to keep it in place permanently.

Boogie for outdoor use

The Boogie chair can even be used outdoors and while I love mine as a lounge spot in my living room, the striped version makes a really nice outdoor lounge as well.

Christmas is getting closer and since I will be hosting one Christmas lunch here at my apartment, I decided to try out the holiday table decor and check out how I will be arranging everything. I’m really not a fan of an elaborate Christmas dinner table, yet I do love to add some Christmas touches to the table and its surroundings.

My go-to shop for Christmas decorations is Arket, they have the most subtle and beautiful decor for the modern home and holiday season and I decided to set the Christmas table with a selection of their amazing products kindly gifted to me to try out.

A subtle Christmas table setting

For my Christmas table, I didn’t want to overload things too much, so I worked with beautiful cabbage plates from Bordallo Pinheiro (€17 for the big plate*, €13 for the small plate*) which come in both a white and a green version. When it comes to holiday table decorating I love tints of green, for Christmas, so these plates are perfect. I love the combination of the white and green in the dinner plates and dessert plates, I think it adds a playful touch to the holiday table that puts the entire dining room in a festive mood.

I paired up the plates with the Ripple glasses from Ferm Living, and a white linen tablecloth from H&M home (€49,99 in a variety of colors*) which I have since forever, such great value for the price. To add some more texture to the textiles, I also added a table runner in grey, this one is from Himla. The bistro cutlery (€39 for a set of 4*) from Sabre Paris makes this table setting a bit more informal, which I like very much.

Christmas table decorations

To decorate the table, I spread out some paper decorations on a branch and in a bowl on the table, such an easy way to add an instant Christmas touch to your dining room table. The ones you see in the pictures are from Arket, but they are from previous years.

Every holiday season they bring out new color variations and you can usually buy 4 for 3* during the last months of the year. Their color palettes, though different every season, are always timeless, so I end up reusing them every year both for the Christmas table and to add some elegant Christmas touches throughout my interior.

The stars of the dining table to me are these organic candle holders made out of solid recycled brass with a silver coat on top (€59 per piece*). I love the way the organic silver shapes stand out against the other materials on the table and add a festive and glamorous touch.

A holiday table and its surroundings

Apart from the Christmas table setting, my dining room got a Christmas upgrade as well. I have used three paper stars to make the holiday table a bit more magical. The Snöblomma star from Watt & Veke (€ 65 a piece*) is fitted with a light bulb that is programmed to go on when it starts to get dark.

I have used a Wiz smart light for this, have a look at this blogpost if you want to know more about these programmable light bulbs. I have hung this one up in the window so it’s festive from inside and for the neighbors as well.

On the wall above the Christmas table, you can see the Leah paper star from Watt & Veke (€69 a piece*) which is a bit more graphic so I have used it without a lamp. On the wall above the cupboard, I have used an Afroart paper star combined with the Baies candle with a carousel* on top which turns around with the heat of the candle and spreads the most magical scent in the dining room.

The Drip candle Holders (€ 59 for the small version*, €99 for the medium version*) designed by Pascal Smelik for Pols Potten and the table lamp on my sideboard cast a lovely cozy light on the Christmas table setting, which what I think it’s all about when decorating for Christmas. I can’t wait to have people over and show them my subtle yet cozy and inviting Christmas table with a modern touch.

Other Christmas table settings to get inspired by

Looking for more Christmas table-setting ideas? I myself am a fan of a lighter color palette when it comes to Christmas table settings, but I find this darker mood so inspiring as well. Note that they used an oversized version of the Drip candle holders here, which is so impressive in this table setting.

Have a look here for a simple and minimal table setting with brass candlesticks and ornaments and branches as napkin rings. Lastly, while I wouldn’t have Christmas eve dinner exactly this messy, this Christmas tablescape has an impressive branch with gold ornaments that really attract the eye.

Every year, the Parisian house Diptyque brings out a limited-edition candle with a cute carousel on top, which moves around because of the heat of the candle flame. The Diptyque carousel is part of a special collection released before Christmas and it has a different design every year.

The design of the carousel varies each year, yet the general concept stays the same. Delicate gold or silver elements rotate around the candle flame and turn around due to the heat of the candle.

This seasonal collector’s item is the perfect piece to celebrate the start of the winter season and becomes available at the end of the year. The light of the candle casts a beautiful reflection throughout your interior, like true magic.

Diptyque candle carousel 2023: an ode to the flame

The 2024 carousel features ten pendants that revolve around the candle and place the iconic Diptyque oval at the center. The calligram inspired by the poetic definition of the flame in the encyclopédie des lumières is the central motif of the 2024 holiday collection.

Where can you buy still the 2024 edition?

If you love the current edition, you better buy the carousel rather quickly, even though let’s be honest the product is not cheaply priced. I personally only bought the 2023 edition since I loved its form so much and then plan to use it in the following years as well.

You can still find the 2024 Carousel edition here*

Diptyque Carousel 2022: planets around the sun

The 2023 Diptyque carousel set has golden charms with the Diptyque’s recognizable ovals. The delicate golden patterns bounce around the flame and cast a lovely sparkle on surrounding surfaces. The ovals move like planets around the sun, which is also the theme of the limited edition gift box that is decorated with stars, dancing letters, and cosmic sparkle.

Where can you still buy the 2023 edition?

You have to be quick to order your carousel in time, but you might still be able to find the older designs on second-hand platforms in your location.

Maison Diptyque and the importance of typography

The logo and branding heritage of Diptyque is so recognizable and a big part of their brand strategy. The name in the logo is written like the structure of an ancient temple and the disorderly lettering is a twist on the traditional but with a whimsical touch.

You can immediately recognize the logo and their brand identity is one of the most iconic and elaborate I know. So much effort goes into designing the packaging and the Christmas edition products have extra special packaging.

Autumn is in full swing, and I think you can start to notice the days are getting much shorter.  Once this happens, I always try to make up for it with lots of candles lights and warm tones in my interior. This never fails to put me into a warm and cozy autumn mood.

I combined my newest artwork ‘Caramel Tides’ with some new accessories from the Arket collection. I like their new vases* and candle holders*, which are such elegant pieces to add a touch of autumn in your home. On the table, you can find a combination of the Artichoke plates from Bordallo Pinheiro*, which add a playful touch to the table, while also being so stylish and elegant to look at.

In summer, I also made a table setting with the exquisite Bordallo Pinheiro plates, but there I used the flower version. I love how the plates in themselves create enough of a design element on the table, and they don’t need much else as they are so beautiful on their own.