I used to be not too long ago invited to Oslo for a 24 hour press journey to be taught extra about three Norwegian companies. It was my first time in Norway however the final of the Nordic nations I had but to go to. We didn’t get to see the fjords as they’re all on the western aspect of the nation, however we travelled north of the town by what is named the Tuscany of Norway. I feel this principally means it’s inexperienced rolling hills versus inexperienced mountainous land. I wished to share these journeys with you as inside design is all about tales. Largely we inform our personal tales by the medium of our rooms and decor however it’s additionally fascinating to be taught the tales behind manufacturers and perceive their ethos. That is significantly true at a time once we are all attempting more durable to buy extra mindfully, to be extra conscious of the place the issues we select to encompass ourselves with come from and what they’re bringing to our houses with the tales they’re telling. So seize a cup of espresso and a biscuit and allow us to start.
HADELAND GLASSVERK
Our first cease was the glass manufacturing facility of Hadeland arrange by the King of Denmark 260 years in the past (1762). He wished a spot that may make lovely glass for his palace and, as Norway had not but found the oil that may make it richer than all its neighbours it was a poor nation that was ruled each by Sweden and Denmark over time.
The manufacturing facility is open to the general public and has round 500,000 vacationers a yr. It was fairly extraordinary to see folks wandering round close to the 1130C kilns and the glass blowers in shorts and t-shirts. It jogged my memory of visiting the boiler geysers in Iceland the place there was a easy signal saying “Scorching”. Within the UK one imagines that there would have been fences and warnings and maintain out indicators.
The manufacturing facility has an enormous archive of some 34,000 items together with automobile headlights in addition to tableware, glasses and lampshades.
When the manufacturing facility first opened they used the sand from the lake it sits by however this wasn’t pure sufficient for clear glass, which got here in in 1800 when Hadeland started importing sand from Belgium and Holland.
Till 1926 they purchased designs from France and Germany however after that they started making their very own designs and nothing has been purchased in since. The type is like lower crystal and they’re introducing a wider vary of colors alongside the traditional clear and, presently trendy, opaline or milk glass.
I don’t know the way a lot you already know about glass making however along with blowing additionally it is made in picket moulds. These moulds, created from beech wooden, which can be utilized about 300 instances every, need to be stored in water in any other case they dry out and warp. There isn’t room to maintain all of them submerged so some archive designs are left on cabinets in sheds and need to be soaked for about six weeks earlier than they will return into manufacturing.
Any damaged items are remelted down for use once more in order that they create as little waste as attainable.
You should buy Hadeland glass at Liberty and Heals and go to their newly opened showroom on the Design Centre in Chelsea Harbour.
LUNDH’S STONE AT EVI KITCHENS
On the second day we had been taken to the Evi kitchen present room, the place the worktops are offered by Lundhs stone, a household enterprise that quarries the hard-wearing Larvikite and Anorthosite which, not like the extra delicate Italian marble is warmth resistant as much as 300C and desires no sealing. It’s additionally naturally stain proof against wine, citrus, espresso and oil which is value understanding.
Consistent with the nation’s deal with sustainability, Lundhs is conscious that it’s working with a pure useful resource and after they work with Evi on kitchens, most of the counter tops are designed to click on on and off with no glue to allow them to be eliminated and reused after refurbishment. This implies you’ll be able to transfer home and redesign your kitchen and maintain the identical worktop, which has received to be the way in which ahead.
Now I promised you some ideas on kitchen design and Evi have approached this in a approach that feels apparent while you say it however I’m undecided how a lot it’s occurring usually. Earlier than arising with a design they speak to architects, cooks and property brokers. The latter as a result of they’ve actual expertise of actual houses – which we all know are getting smaller as extra folks stay in city areas.
Their analysis discovered that cooking and dwelling areas are mixing collectively increasingly more as folks stay in open plan or simply smaller rooms the place there isn’t the house for separate rooms.
That is the place the design for kitchens that don’t appear to be kitchens is coming to the fore as you don’t essentially need your lounge to have a look at your oven and washing up. So it’s about creating furnishings in your kitchen that blends in together with your décor.
There was a number of speak not too long ago concerning the finish of the kitchen island. I feel it’s concerning the finish of the heavy block of cabinets that dominates the centre of the room in favour of one thing lighter and extra open.
In the meanwhile that appears extra like a classic butler’s desk with drawers beneath however that solely works should you’ve received house in your home equipment spherical the sides. Evi have created and island that appears like a bit of furnishings however may be a unique ranges so it may be a desk in addition to storage.
They had been additionally eager to speak about their curved edges. Now I’ve historically not been a fan of curves in kitchens however when it’s a big curve it creates a triangle cabinet which is way more house environment friendly for storing giant spherical plates than a sq. or rectangle.
Cabinets are narrower – 40 relatively than the standard 60cm deep so that you don’t lose stuff on the again and it takes up much less house within the room.
And eventually, they’re additionally researching how our meals tastes have modified. Extra persons are vegetarian and vegan so does that influence the way in which we retailer our meals? We already know that we want extra bin house for recycling.
They haven’t figured all of it out but and I don’t know if British corporations are doing comparable analysis (one imagines they should be) however in case they’re not, and in case you’re planning your individual new kitchen then this may make you extra conscious of issues you ought to be asking them to consider.
EIKUND FURNITURE CLASSICS
Our closing go to was to a boutique resort by the port which serves as an unofficial showroom for the Eikund furnishings model.
The America Line resort marks the beginning of the journey for a lot of poor Norwegians to the US searching for work. It’s again to the beginning of this put up when Norway was a poor nation that was cut up between Denmark and Sweden. Many Norwegians went to the midwest the place their names survive at this time.
The resort is predicated across the tales they despatched again of life in America – tales of jazz golf equipment and chocolate, cocktail bars and burgers.
It’s a extremely cool place and whereas we had been unable to remain once we visited because it was full, I might look it up in case you are visiting the town.
Into this room on the again, as soon as a courtyard and now coated over and used as eating room comes the furnishings by Eikund.
Established in 2016, the founders wished to seek out all of the forgotten classics of mid-century furnishings that had been now not in manufacturing. In any case, a lot of their designers went to the identical faculties because the extra well-known Danes (Finn Juhl, Hans Wegner, Arne Jacobsen) however the items are now not made.
So that they went on a treasure hunt. Monitoring down the descendents of these designers and asking to rummage of their basements and lofts for the unique drawings. They discovered so many and after shopping for the design rights from the households and splitting the royalties they’ve began to remake a lot of these unique designs. There are presently 13 items in manufacturing with two extra coming imminently.
Of all of the tales from Norway this was the one I liked most. One of many designers died on the age of 44 when his daughter was 14. She is now 63 and informed Eikund that seeing her father’s designs introduced again to life was like having him again once more.
Each Eikund and Lundhs Stone can be found through the showroom at Chelsea Harbour.
If you’re visiting Oslo be sure you additionally try the Opera Home and the Munch Museum – the image beneath was taken at 11pm.
One wonders simply need Munch’s determine was screaming at…. Trendy Life?