Meet the Danish Classic That Now Comes in a Children's Version!

Kindly sponsored by Carl Hansen & Søn, all words are my own, and I only ever work with brands I love and think you will too.

If you're a fan of Scandinavian design, you'll no doubt be familiar with the Wishbone chair - it's one of the most iconic chairs ever made. You might even be lucky enough to own one (we have a blue version in our dining room). Designed by Hans J. Wegner in 1949, the chair is just as popular today as it was back then because it's beautifully handcrafted, comfortable and it's timeless.  

There's one problem though - it's a little too big for the smallest members of the family. A problem that has now been rectified by Carl Hansen & Søn in honour of Hans J. Wegner's 110th birthday. Ladies and gentlemen, please be upstanding (we wouldn't fit in it anyway) and say 'hej' to the CH24 Children's Wishbone Chair!

It's not often that I get completely over excited by a piece of furniture (Oh, OK then, it is!), but when this little beauty - designed for children aged three plus, appeared fresh out of the box in our little cabin,  myself, Per and my Mother-in-law all oohed and aahed and fell completely and utterly in love! It's the exact replica of CH24 Wishbone Chair in every way, and equally beautifully crafted, just scaled down to perfection - and it's very very cute! 

The frame is made from the same solid oak with just as much care put into the carpentry, and the seat has been handwoven from paper cord - just like its mummy version! One of the things I love about these materials and the good craftsmanship is that it will withstand time and can be passed from one generation to the next. 

Sadly, my children are way too big for it (Liv turned sixteen on Saturday and Alice will be 14 in October), but that doesn't stop me from dreaming about having it around - not only for little visitors like my nieces, but one day for my (whisper it) grandchildren! Just like Ylva had mini wooden chairs on standby in the living room of her Stockholm home. Could you also imagine owning one of these? 

While you can't keep everything from your children's childhood, there are a few items that are close to my heart. These pretty hand painted clogs were Alice's when she was small and this well-loved Elsa Beskow children's book has a permanent space on the bookshelf. Are there items like this that feel particularly nostalgic to you - or perhaps there's something special that your parents saved from your childhood that you cherish? 

Oh, and do you recognise the chair beside it? It's the FK10 Plico chair by Jørgen Kastholm, also from Carl Hansen & Søn - a Danish classic, and probably one of the most precious pieces of furniture I own - although I rarely get to sit in it as it's everyone's favourite! I shared a few more pictures of it in our cabin here, in case you'd like to see! 

For now, I do have it to myself, and I'll happily sip my tea in peace!

What do you think of this CH24 Children's Wishbone Chair? Could you imagine having it in your home for little ones? If so, you can find out more information about it here. 

Looking for more inspiration today? You might like to see a few other Danish classics I've featured in the past including the Windsor Chair in our cabin and a peek behind the facade of Hellerup manor, which I snapped on my visit to film with Knud Erik Hansen, the CEO and grandson of the founder of Carl Hansen & Søn. It's a day that remains etched in my memory as I felt so welcome and Knud Erik is so passionate about furniture and such an interesting man - always with a fascinating story to tell. 

Have a great start to the week all! 

Niki

All photography and styling by me 

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Tour Helena's Pool Villa Overlooking the Gothenburg Archipelago

Hello, I'm back! Thank you for your patience - and for all your kind comments on my travel guide to Bodø and Lofoten in Northern Norway, I'm so happy you felt inspired! 

Scandinavia is slowly cranking back into action - with many heading back to work today and school starting later this week (can you hear the audible sigh of relief?). But at this beautiful home in Gothenburg, it will feel like summer for far longer thanks to the pool nestled among the rocks and views over the archipelagos! 

The 'svarta ladhus' (black barn), belongs to Helena Fältivar Bundgaard and her family who have built the house from the ground up, personalising it every inch of the way. Here's their faithful hound Beppe who will take you on today's tour! 

The spacious kitchen from Himlekök is an absolute dream, featuring everything from a wood cabinets, open shelving, a bench seat and fireplace. Beppe's favourite though, is the stone island which mirrors the cliffs outside! 

Classic Danish Wishbone chairs have been placed around a large wooden dining table made by Joakim Løth. 

In the sitting room area, a pair of iconic Danish Spanish Chairs designed by Borge Møgensen sit side by side.  

A second living room area featuring a Cuba Chair has doors open to the pool area. 

In the bedroom, sound proofing in the form of oak panelling from WoodUp helps to create a restful space. 

A desk area with a series 7 chair capitalises on natural light in the bedroom. 

Bathroom cabinets also by Himlekök, have been designed to match the Kitchen. 

The practical laundry room features a shower area for Beppe - complete with his own shampoo! 

Outside, a pool has been nestled among the cliffs, with views over the archipelago. 

Wow! What a fabulous home, thank you so much for the tour, Beppe! 

I would happily laze by that pool all week long, how about you? Is there anything that stood out to you about Helena's black barn? 

You can see more pictures of this lovely home and keep up to date with Helena's latest projects at @villanordrevik. 

Perhaps you'd like to feel inspired by a few more Scandinavian pool villas today? Here are a few of my favourites: 

The stonecutter's farm on the island of Gotland

A fabulous open-plan Swedish pool villa

A Swedish photographer's fabulous pool villa

In case you are considering a pool but only have limited space, here's my guide to small pools for every budget and shaped garden! 

This morning, I'm on the early train to the IKEA headquarters in the forests of Älmhult - the early start was a total shock to the system and I'm already two coffees down, but I'm excited about the project that lies ahead! I hope you have a more relaxing start to the week! 

Niki

Photography by Helena Fältivar Bundgaard, shared with kind permission. 

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Scandinavian Design Icons: CH07 Shell Chair

Sponsored by Carl Hansen & Søn, with thanks

One of the things I appreciate most about good Scandinavian design, is the dedication to making furniture that is both practical and aesthetic. Combine this with high quality natural materials and a timeless appeal and you have a masterpiece on your hands that can be loved for generations to come. 

Danish furniture designer Hans J.Wegner was one of the distinguished designers of all, and helped to put Danish design on the world map. His work is widely recognised for its organic functionality and with items such as the Wishbone chair, CH25 Lounge Chair and Elbow Chair part of his portfolio, it's little wonder he's known as the 'King of Chairs'! 

Today I'd like to pay homage to one of his finest designs: the iconic CH07 Shell Chair. 

The three-legged chair was designed in 1963, but despite positive reviews for it's avante-garde look and feel, it was only when Carl Hansen & Søn reintroduced the Shell Chair in 1998 that the general public appreciated its distinct expression. Twenty-five years on it's one of the most well-loved, iconic chairs of our time!  

The Shell chair is instantly recognised by it's wing-like seat and curved backrest which is supported by three arched legs. Its testimony to Wegner's mission to ensure a chair should be beautiful from every angle. 

The chair has been around for sixty years, and to celebrate the occasion Carl Hansen & Søn have launched this 60th anniversary edition of the Shell Chair in rosewood and oak (with the option of adding seat cushions) - available until December 31st 2023. A small brass plate with Hans J.Wegner's signature can be seen back making it a true collector's item! 

Imagine having a piece like this in your home? I've certainly loved looking after this masterpiece in our sitting room these past few days (sadly it's only on loan!). 

It looks mighty fine beside some of my favourite smaller items which include a vase by my dear artist friend Jennifer Idrizi in nearby Lund and two darling figurines by local Malmö artist Simon Vendin - the latter of whom keep a good eye on things when we're not home! 

I hope you enjoyed reading about the magnificent CH07 Shell Chair! If you're curious, read more about it over at Carl Hansen & Søn.

I have had the great privilege of capturing quite a few iconic danish design pieces in my home over the past few years - here are some of my favourites: 

Wishbone chairs in my dining room

The Plico chair in our cabin sitting room

The Windsor chair in our cabin dining room

Do you have a favourite item of furniture that you dream of owning one day? If so, do tell us more below! 

I hope you have a 'trevlig helg' (lovely weekend)! See you Monday!

Niki

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A Scandi Love Affair at our little Cabin: Carl Hansen & Søn Nesting tables

Paid partnership with Carl Hansen & Søn, all words are my own and I only ever work with brands I love

Hello, how are you this bright and sunny day? 

Do you live in a small space or have small rooms to finish? When you only have 30m2 / 322 ft2 to play with, like we do at the cabin, you're constantly on the lookout for furniture that works well in a compact living area. And these CH004 Nesting Tables designed by none other than Hans J. Wegner - one of the most prolific furniture designers of all time, couldn't be more perfect! 

I've always been a big fan of nesting tables since they are so versatile - and it's incredible to think that this particular set was first launched in 1952! The beauty of good design is that it's timeless, and the lightness, distinctive craftsmanship and classic Scandinavian minimalism of these fine specimens, ensure they work equally well in homes today - and no doubt fifty years from now too.  Which is why Carl Hansen & Søn has recently relaunched them. 

Here's a closer look: 

For a small space, compact and multifunctional furniture is key, and the Nesting Tables come in a set of three different sizes which nestle together to create one smaller unit, or they can also be pulled out for a larger surface area. 

Sidenote: The little ceramic plate is by Sara Bergman, who's home I featured here. Sara is currently exhibiting at Norrviken - a beautiful garden down the road and I couldn't resist picking this up in the museum shop! The knotted candle is by Swedish ceramicist Emmeli Hultqvist. 

You can also choose to divide up the tables and use them as a side table and coffee table. 

In the background you can catch a glimpse of the FK10 Plico Chair which is also from Carl Hansen & Søn - sadly I rarely get to sit there as it is highly coveted by the entire family - and I'm never quick enough! 

The craftsmanship that has gone into the tables is incredible. Look closely and you'll see the subtle rounded corners which means there'll be no sharp in-take of breath should you bump into them (easily done in a compact space!), and the joinery and oak finish is so ultra smooth (this kind of thing warms my design heart!). 

If you love these Danish beauties as much as I do, you can find out more about the CH004 Nesting Tables here - and check out the other finishes, which include oak, soap, oak / walnut, oil and an incredible, dark walnut, oil. 

Could you imagine having these nesting tables in your home? 

We are so looking forward to heading up to the cabin tomorrow for the night. It's forecasted to be 22 degrees Celsius / 71 degrees Fahrenheit - an absolute corker considering the winter we have just had, and we need to make the most of it before it drops by 10 degrees nest week - baaaah! Barbecue at the ready! 

Speaking of our little cabin, we were so happy to see it featured in the summer edition of Simply Scandi magazine in the UK this month. I wrote a guide to dreamy Scandinavian summer destinations in the same issue if you're looking for inspiration! I believe there's a digital version available here. 

The next step is to work on the garden. The neighbours put up a chicken wire fence and every time I see it, I weep a little inside! I'm thinking a hydrangea hedge will do the trick, but maybe you have other suggestions? I'm all ears!

I hope you have a fabulous weekend. See you Monday! 

Niki

A big thank you to Helen Sturesson for helping me to capture these nesting tables, it was such a fun day! 

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A Visit From Two Grand Old Danes At Our Little Cabin

This post is kindly sponsored by Carl Hansen & Søn, all words and photos are my own

While we're at the cabin, friends and family often stop by. But it's not every day we get the pleasure of a visit from two grand old Danes (not to be confused with Great Danes - which would have been fun if not a little chaotic in such a small space!). I'm talking about the furniture variety. Last week I had the honour of capturing the iconic FH38 Windsor Chair around our cabin table. Designed by Frits Henningsen in 1938, this fine specimen has recently been reissued by Carl Hansen & Søn - and it's just as delightful and beautifully crafted today as it was back in the thirties. Read on to see more pics and find out more! 

The designer

Often, when it comes to understanding the history of these fine iconic design pieces, the designer is a good place to start. Frits Henningsen had a passion for high quality craftsmanship, and unlike most cabinetmakers at that time, always designed his own furniture. He had a vibrant personality and liked to give new expressions to traditional designs, taking his inspiration from the French Empire, Rococo and British 17th century furniture. 

Nostalgia

The moment I took these fine high-backed chairs out of the box and examined their solid wooden saddle-shaped seats and spindles, familiarity washed over me and I was immediately transported to my childhood in England. Variations of the Windsor chair are said to have been in British homes from as early as the 17th century. Even so, I'm not sure I remember them being quite as elegant as this! 

The details

Frits' take on the Windsor chair is really special. Made from solid FSC certified oak using multiple carpentry techniques, it's a perfect example of traditional craftsmanship fine-tined over centuries. I particularly love that it's still sanded by hand today. 

The design is somewhere between a dining chair and a lounge chair, so theoretically, you could use it in the kitchen or sitting room (a leather seat cushion is available for extra comfort, although the gentle curves do mean it's surprisingly comfortable as it is). 

What a great visit, and an honour to shoot such an iconic chair. Who knows, maybe I'll invest in my own FH38 Windsor Chair one day (they come in the choice of three different types of oak - oil, smoked oil, and soap oil, this is the oil version, in case you're also curious). 

Very tempting, I must say! 

Oh, and in case you're wondering what's in the bowl on the side: 

Our neighbours have an incredible plum tree. Every morning they leave a basket of the most sweet and juicy plums by the fence for us. My mother-in-law made a great batch of plum chutney with them last week so we'll be enjoying them well into the autumn now! 

Right (slaps thighs English style), time for the weekend! I hope you've got some relaxing plans ahead? We'll be spending some days up here, most likely reading in the Plico chair, while eking out the last few days of summer - I spy a 13 C / 55 F on the forecast next week - worrying indeed!

Vi ses på Måndag, vänner!

Niki

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At Home With The Beautiful OW58 T-Chair From Carl Hansen & Søn

MSH partnership, all words are my own and I only ever work with brands I love and think you will too. 

Trust the Danes to design a chair that's practical, comfortable, unique and above all else beautiful! This fine OW58 T-Chair was originally designed by highly esteemed Ole Wanscher in 1958 and Carl Hansen & Søn has recently relaunched it, while maintaining a deep respect for materials, craftsmanship and function. Last week I received a pair to test out in oiled oak and upholstered in Balboa by Sahco for Kvadrat and I have to say, it's even more exquisite in real life! Read on to take a closer look. 

So, who was Ole Wanscher? Having studied under Kaare Klint, Wanscher was integral to the aesthetic and functionality of modern Danish design. In 1958 the Danish newspaper Politiken wrote:

"Owning a Wanscher chair is an adventure every day, and will be so even several hundred years from now, for this is how long it lasts". 

Wanscher had a passion for sleek, refined shapes and the sculptured T-Chair is instantly recognisable by it's T-Shaped backrest and exquisite carpentry. 

A loyal tribute to the original design, Carl Hansen & Søn have maintained the distinctive expression and beautiful craftsmanship while adjusting the height to provide optimum ergonomics for today's world (we're a lot taller today than we were in the 1950s!). 

One of the distinct features of the chair is the T-shaped backrest which smoothly merges with the back legs, giving it a cool three-legged appearance. 

Over the past week, I've discovered the chair works equally well as an individual piece as it does an entire set, hence why I hogged one all to myself and placed it by my side of the bed! 

Incidentally, if you're incredibly eagle-eyed, you might recognise the spotted top - I wore it the day I visited the CEO and Founder of Carl Hansen & Søn, Knud Erik Hansen at his home: Hellerup Manor in Denmark! Knud Erik made me feel instantly at home and I was always ready with a fascinating and at times humorous story from his extensive experience in the design world. We filmed this tour of Hellerup Manor during my stay.  

Anyway I digress! One of the things I love most about the T-Chair is how it embodies both classic and modern lines. Take a closer look (under my spotty top!!) and you'll notice the smooth joints - the result of careful processing and many, many carpentry hours. 

Isn't it fantastic? I can totally see how this chair could live on for hundreds of years - both in terms of quality and its timeless design. 

The OW58 T-Chair is available in oak or walnut with leather or fabric upholstery. 

Could you imagine having a set of these in your home?  

I'm already dreading the day they're being collected. Maybe I should invest in my own set! 

Right folks, that's it from me this week. I'm all wrapped up in knits at my desk today while the snow falls silently outside. It's pretty - but cold here in Sweden! BRRRR!

Stay warm and have a fabulous, festive weekend! 

Niki

A big thank you to Helen Sturesson for working with me remotely on this shoot. 

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