A Summer of Scandinavian Design

There is an inherent beauty in spaces that fill us with a sense of contentment, that invites us to slow down and savor the present. At Hygge Life, we curate timeless furniture, lighting and thoughtful decor to encourage meaningful moments and the everyday enjoyment of your home. 

This summer we will share the stories that make up the Scandinavian brands we carry in-store and online. Before we do that, we must highlight Scandinavian design as a whole, which we’ve outlined in these six elements. 

1. Appreciation for Design
The first is the importance of design within Scandinavian culture. Scandinavians value design, therefore they invest in quality furniture and design pieces. This appreciation for design has been influenced by iconic designers, such as Hans Wegner and Borge Morgensen. Wegner, a Danish architect and world renowned furniture designer, is commonly known as the "Master of the Chair" and a pioneer for Danish design in the twentieth century. Wegner designed over 500 different chairs in his career, one being the iconic Wishbone Chair, found in our showroom and cafe.

 

Hans J. Wegner, https://www.carlhansen.com/en/designers/hans-j-wegner 

 

Wishbone Chair

“Many foreigners have asked me how we created the Danish style,” Wegner once said. “And I’ve answered that it was a continuous process of purification and of simplification – to cut down to the simplest possible design of four legs, a seat, and a combined back- and armrest.”

Børge Morgensen was another highly influential Danish Modern designer. Morgensen’s design was built of functional wood furniture, to create calm spaces with high-quality and local Nordic materials. Morgensen believed in intentional pieces with limited decoration and experimentation. He was also Fredericia’s founding designer from 1955-1972. 

Spanish Chair

"My goal is to create items that serve people and give them the leading role, instead of forcing them to adapt to the items." - Børge Morgensen

 

Borge Morgensen, https://www.fredericia.com/designerdetails/by-designer-børge-mogensen.aspx?PID=65 

Greta Grossman shook up the male dominated Scandinavian design world. She lead a 40-year-long career in Europe and North America. Grossman and her husband moved from Sweden to California during World War II. She was one of the first designers to bring modern Scandinavian aesthetic to southern California's growing modernist scene. The Grashoppa lamp is one of her iconic and timeless designs.  

Greta Grossman, https://gubi.com/designers/greta-m-grossman

Grashoppa Lamp

2. Timeless Design
The second element, or better yet, question they ask themselves is, “Is it timeless?” Scandinavian design is meant to withstand the test of time and be passed down for many generations. You will not find trendy or unintentional pieces from most Scandinavian designers. Many (if not all) designs by midcentury Scandinavian designers such as Wegner, Mogensen and Grossman, are still relevant and sought after today. 

3. Quality & Craftsmanship
In Scandinavian design, timelessness and quality go hand in hand. Quality and craftsmanship is the third element of Scandinavian design. Scandinavians pride themselves in developing their furniture and design pieces with high quality materials that are meant to last and be enjoyed for generations. 

4. Natural Materials
The fourth element is their use of natural materials and textures. Scandinavian brands use natural materials, such as wood, leather, wool, and stone, one because these materials are better than synthetic materials, and two because they provide a connection to nature. It allows you to bring the outside in through furniture and design elements. 

5. Lighting
If you’ve been to Scandinavia in the wintertime, you most likely remember the consistent gray weather. Scandinavians use the most candles per capita in the world, so it’s clear they have mastered the art of lighting by bringing warmth into a place that is riddled with gray days. Scandinavians have developed some of the world’s most iconic lighting designs. Lighting, the fifth element, is key to creating a cozy, hyggelig atmosphere. 

6. Design for Moments

The final element is designing for moments. Scandinavian designs are often human-centered and created with the human experience in mind. For example, Lassen created the Tired Man Chair to provide the feeling of a warm hug  and Wegner created the Mama Bear Chair to mimic a comforting embrace. 

At Hygge Life, we host an expansive collection of Scandinavian designers that we truly admire. Over the next few months, we plan to share our maker’s Scandinavian design stories with you in a series of blogs -  A Summer of Scandinavian Design. 

Access these Scandinavian brands through Hygge Life: 

• GUBI, DK
• Fredericia, DK
• Carl Hansen & Son, DK
• MENU, DK
• By Lassen, DK
• Finn Juhl, DK
• PP Møbler, DK
• Eldvarm, SE
• Sirocco Living, DK
• Frama, DK
• Cuero, SE

Visit the Hygge Life showroom to experience timeless Scandinavian design in person. Our team of interior stylists is here to help you curate and design your space with hygge in mind. If you’re not able to visit the showroom at this time,  shop our full collection of Scandinavian brands online.