DesignTrade 2014: Some Highlights From Copenhagen

I am back from Copenhagen where I spent two design and fun filled days at the DesignTrade show. I met up with great Scandinavian blogger friends such as Nina, Linda and Pella and we explored the show together.

The focus this time was on the upcoming spring/summer 2014 collections so we could see the inevitable colour injections in many collections such as the new collection of Broste Copenhagen with new blues and yellows, colourful home textiles from Oyoy or ceramics from Kähler Design. The latter has also launched a new collection of coffee sets for lovers of slow drip coffee (like me) – I particularly loved this discovery! One of my new favorites, Skandinavisk, was also exhibiting and presented the new range of scented candles and debuted its line extension to breakfast sets – for the ultimate ‘hygge’ moment you now have also pretty happy coffee mugs and plates with Scandinavian words and motives. Speaking of ceramics, I also liked the new range of Anne Black ceramics with organic shapes and blue hues.

Moreover I discovered a few new brands to me, most of them Scandinavian of course.  I liked the natural and luxurious home textiles from Aiayu featuring subtle, Scandinavian colours. I was intrigued by the great range of furniture and home accessories of Muubs that uses reclaimed teak wood from Indonesia and combines it with raw materials such as concrete. Another new discovery is the very young Danish brand Aperie with beautiful leather products for the home office – sustainably produced in Bolivia. 

My illustration loving eye was also caught by the new Danish brand ‘I Love My Type’ – affirmative and uplifting mottos are featured on posters in various typographies creating a very modern, cool and urban feel. Another fabulous find: the new tray by designer Christina Liljenberg Halstrøm for Design Nation: the combination of metal with wood, a very simple, pure, almost Japanese design and soft colour shades make this not only a tray but a real design piece. Thumbs up!

To make my Copenhagen experience even perfect, I stayed in the fab Bella Sky Hotel – my room on the 19^th floor overlooked the entire Copenhagen region and the North Sea on the horizon with a dramatic ceiling to floor window. Needless to say that the room was equipped with fine Danish design such as a Hay chair and Arne Jacobsen lamps. 

Oh and I couldn’t help but use the opportunity to dip my toes into the Copenhagen sales and shop a bit – great addresses if you are in Copenhagen are the concept stores Black and Playtype, the homewares store Dora, Samsøe & Samsøe for Scandinavian fashion, and Granola for a coffee and lunch break. 

Hope you enjoyed my little design excursion to Copenhagen. Happy week, friends!

Photography by Igor Josifovic, two product shots by Aperie

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DesignTrade Copenhagen: More Highlights

Before I take you on an endless journey to Canada and the USA as of coming week including fabulous design finds and travel tips, I'd like to return the view to the Danish capital once more. As you remember I'd spent a few fabulous days in Copenhagen attending the DesignTrade show and discovered lots of cool brands and designs. I blogged about them HERE. Today I'd like to share five more highlights from Copenhagen, and then we will move on. Promised:-)

1. Froh & Frau
If you love illustrations and funky posters, this will be heaven for you. I am a sucker for good and cool illustrations and fell instantly in love with Froh & Frau, a Danish design studio focused on the production of posters. I was smitten by the brand's name as it is composed of two German words - 'Froh' meaning happy (hello there!!) and 'Frau' meaning woman. I have no idea if that was intentional, but anyway, this is definitely the source for great and fun posters!

2. Place de Bleu
While I was researching products and props for my booth styling at the DesignTrade show, I stumbled upon a brand called Place de Bleu. I was intrigued and after the first glance on their cushions my happy heart was sold. I needed one of their fun round cushions for my booth. I learned that this Danish design brand produces homewares with an ethnic and Scandinavian twist and all their products are produced by immigrant women in Copenhagen. Good and conscious design! Plus their cushions are made of amazing Kvadrat fabrics and are a tactile delight.

3. Brdr. Krüger
During the design show we were invited to the stand of a Danish furniture brand named Brdr. Krüger for drinks. I was pretty happy to go there as I spotted their iconic and beautiful Bølling table at Gerard's booth. The Bølling tray table was designed 1963 by Hans Bølling and has now been updated with a new colour range - my favorite was a deep, ocean blue. Not only had we drinks but we were surprised to meet the designer himself - Hans Bølling was chatting along with us, telling us the design story and some other stories from his cool life. What a great man - this made me love his table even more!

4. Rie Elise Larsen
This Danish design company has been known for quite a while - mostly for their adorable paper products featuring great shapes, colours, patterns. I've known them for quite a while too and it was clear that I have to make a little stop at their stand and get a peek of their new Christmas collection. The collection is so new that some of the exhibited pieces were prototypes - but I got some pics nonetheless:-)

5. Kay Bojesen
The Danish designer Kay Bojesen is renown in the design world. Most people will link his name to the iconic wooden toys like the famous monkey. But did you know that the brand Kay Bojesen also designs high quality cutlery? Well, we were lucky enough to be invited to a breakfast at their showroom in Copenhagen and we not only looked at the sleek cutlery but also ate with it. I love the simplicity of their range with matte brushed steel - definitely a good investment for a stylish tabletop!

I hope you liked my little design highlights from Copenhagen. Which of these would be your personal favorite?

Photography by Igor Josifovic

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DesignTrade Copenhagen: My Booth Styling

Last Sunday I arrived back from Copenhagen, but the ideas, inspiration and memories swirl in my head incessantly. There is still more to tell and show you, but today I want to use the opportunity to show you my booth styling as part of the 'Bloggers Zone' at the DesignTrade fair in Copenhagen. All nine international bloggers were asked to style their own booth with furniture and home accessories from the exhibitors and the result was fabulous as every blogger showcased his very own personality and approach to styling.

Before heading to Copenhagen, I had spent a few evenings thinking of the styling. I had a rough idea, a  colour scheme and after a few more mental loops I broke it down to one theme - 'Nordic Coastal'. Fun side fact: Just after we all finished our stylings last Tuesday, we were taken on a sailboat to cruise the coast off Copenhagen. I not only styled a 'Nordic Coastal' living nook, I also experienced the real nordic coastal feeling in the very same afternoon.

With the theme in mind I started collecting furniture pieces and accessories from various brands. Here is what I got: Bookcase 'Reol' (means bookcase by the way) by Marcus Kai Nielsen of the young design collective 'Nye Streger'; 'About A Lounge' chair and box by HAY; Sputnik coffee table by Magnus Olesen; vases, candles, jars, plaid and round cushion on the chair by Broste Copenhagen; blue glasses and grey and blue cushions by Tine K Home; blue rug by Rug Solid; Copenhagen poster by Ferm Living; patterned round cushion by Place de Bleu; mint cups and grey vase by Kähler; other props by myself. 

After lots of placing, shuffling, pondering, wondering, and hesitating, I felt like it is fine and represents pretty much my personality and current style love. I hope you like it, too.

Thanks again to all exhibitors supporting me and thanks to the DesignTrade for a fabulous 'Bloggers Zone'.

Photography by Igor Josifovic and full booth shots by Riikka Kantinkoski

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DesignTrade Copenhagen: Interior Design News

A blogger life is really cool. I admit. Right now, while I am typing these words, I am sitting on a big table in the Bloggers' Zone with some of my absolute favorite bloggers and friends. To my left I have Nina from Stylizimo and Desiree from Vosgesparis, to my right Emma from Emma's Designblogg, Anna from La Maison d'Anna G. and Riikka from Weekday Carnival. Somewhere lost is Gerard from Walnut Grey Design, Agata from I Like Design and the mastermind Allan from Bungalow5.

After our booth stylings (I will blog about that later) and a few press events (some to be covered later, too), I walked around the fair in search of interior design news and eye candy for you. And yes, I've discovered quite a few highlights. I hope you'll like them too. Let's rock and roll!

1. Trip Trap's 'Georg Collection' by Christina Liljenberg Halstrom

This collection you might see on almost all of above mentioned blogs because in this case we were unilateral in our decision: big blogger love for Christina's amazing designs! She created the 'Georg Collection' for the entryway but it can be used in various spaces of the home. The simple yet sophisticated use of wood and leather is impeccable - it makes the functionality of each piece become visible and turns function into design and vice versa. The story is quite charming, too: Christina worked on this collection for quite a long time while her son was sick at home. He kept asking his mother why does this look like that or like that, so she had to work on her design philosophy constantly. Once she finished and her little boy recovered, she decided to call the collection Georg. Just like her son.

She also designed a beautifully simple collection of tea towels for the Danish brand Design Nation.

2. Broste Copenhagen

I've blogged about the home accessories brand Broste Copenhagen after my last trip to the Danish capital. I have to say that I am very smitten with their collection of beautifully made home accessories and textiles. They perfectly blend a natural vibe with a Scandinavian pedigree into their products and add warmth and texture to any home. I also used lots of their products for my own booth styling.

3. H. Skjalm P.

I admit I have never heard of this Danish brand before. But their booth stood out at the DesignTrade and made my stop by and snap a few pics for you. H. Skjalm P. offers a wide range of home accessories and textiles including lots of brass as one of this year's trends. I loved how they made colour stories in combination with the brass elements - a green, blue and orange colour schemes smoothly blends with the warm glow of brass surfaces into a stylish setting. Judge for yourself!

4. Cozy Living

Cozy Living is another Danish home accessories brand that caught my eye. They offer a wide range of cushions with nature motives and saturated as well as pastel hues, copper accessories and candles. They are pretty new and just entering the market so keep an eye on them if you like what you see.

5. Kähler

Kähler might not be a discovery in itself as it is widely known for its iconic stripe design on their vases. But I've discovered their new range with wonderful colours and no stripes which I am totally in love with. The deep blue is one of my favorites although the berry hues are no less charming.

6. Bloomingville

Another brand that no one of you would consider a discovery. However, I am such a weak soul when it comes to Bloomingville, whenever I see them I have to enter their stand and roam around. 

7. By Nord

Also pretty known but a highlight, too. The nature inspired home textiles from By Nord keep inspiring me and I love the strong Scandinavian DNA that is woven into its products adding that wild, nature focused vibe into any home.

8. Foxy Potato

Now this one has a double sense of interest - first, the coffee tables in geometric shapes and wooden magazine racks are excellent additions to stylish homes, and second, the name is so fun. Foxy potato!? How fun is it to tell your friends: 'Oh my coffee table, it's a foxy potato.'

Bye from Copenhagen from now. I will cover more over the coming days!

Photography by Igor Josifovic

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