Bianca Wessel

Introducing the PANTONE Universe Cup by Room Copenhagen

Bianca Wessel — Sun, 19 May 2013 07:51:46 +0000

Room Copenhagen and Holscher Design in partnership with colour expert Pantone are developing a collection of colorful products under the Pantone Universe name. The design and product development are involving the the world-renowned Knud Holscher Design studio. The lates news is the Pantone Universe Cup by Room Copenhagen.

The cup, with a light matte whipped-cream white and a Pantone-colored smooth interior, are suitable as everyday drinking cups and as an elegant alternative to a drinking glass. All you have to do is to choose your favourite colour! Price £13.99

DEFINING SCANDINAVIA -the trade show for Design & Living

Bianca Wessel — Thu, 16 May 2013 09:59:25 +0000

Defining Scandinavia launched this January, exhibiting a well curated selection of everything within Design & Living. Situated in the trendy and historical Øksneshallen (used to be a slaughter house in the oden days) in Copenhagen, the show was an immediate success with exhibitors, buyers and press alike.

And now the next show is coming together! Season 2 of Defining Scandinavia will take place 8th – 11th August 2013.

Defining Scandinavia presents the most distinctive trends, and in the August 2013 edition they will focus on ‘Functional Moxie’. ‘Moxie’ is colloquial slang for courage, daring and spirit. Using the term ‘Functional Moxie’, Defining Scandinavia accepts the challenge, focusing on the way existing trends, put in a new functional context, addresses the genre of design and living. We aim to embrace functionality by daring to choose only value-adding everyday objects. Sounds interesting?

Louise Roe is one designer that will be exhibiting again at Defining Scandinavia. Especially her textile products are truly sensational, bout in texture and colour. Make sure to pop by the stand if you are there or see more design essentials at louiseroe.dk

Buyers and press can register online at definingscandinavia.com

Customise your Ikea cabinet with Superfronts

Bianca Wessel — Wed, 15 May 2013 08:01:13 +0000

With Superfront, you have the chance to invest in a high quality furniture at a sensible price. Swedish company Superfront makes fronts, handles and legs for all of Ikea’s existing cabinet bases, extending to many base products from Ikea.

Nine surface designs, nine legs, eight handles and and twelwe different colours are currently available of your choice.

Renew your existing Ikea kitchen or an old wall lined with Ikea closets. Tweak a sideboard or even a bathroom cabinet from their line. And it’s environmentally friendly, the whole concept of upcycle rather than waist.

© Superfront

All Superfront products are made in Sweden. Customise your cabinet into a one off unique design piece on superfront.com

Jo Nesbø’s Police – A new Harry Hole thriller

Ingrid Harstad — Tue, 14 May 2013 16:32:41 +0000

Scandinavian crime fiction has enjoyed tremendous sucess in the past years, proving the darker sides of Scandinavian life combined with realistic characters has struck a chord with international audiences. Authors like Stieg Larsson, Henning Mankell, Camilla Läckberg and Jussi Adler-Olsen have conquered the crime fiction market, and with the help of successful tv-productions like ”The Killing”, ”Borgen” and ”The Bridge” the future of Scandinavian crime fiction is anything but grim.

© Jo Nesbø photo by Hakon Eikesdal

Norway’s best-selling author today is Jo Nesbø, who perhaps is best known for his portrayal of Harry Hole, the anti-heroic Oslo-based policeman who unconventionally and with little regard for police procedure solves crimes in Norway’s capital.

To whet your appetite take a look at this teaser from ”Police”: The police urgently need Harry Hole. A killer is stalking Oslo’s streets. Police officers are being slain at the scenes of crimes they once investigated, but failed to solve. The murders are brutal, the media reaction hysterical. But this time, Harry can’t help anyone. For years, detective Harry Hole has been at the centre of every major criminal investigation in Oslo. His dedication to his job and his brilliant insights have saved the lives of countless people. But now, with those he loves most facing terrible danger, Harry can’t protect anyone. Least of all himself.
Author Jo Nesbø has described the literary process of writing the Harry Hole series as “A universe that is hard to be in. It gets ever darker, and being there all the time is something I can’t bear.”

Nesbø will discuss his world-famous literary character on June 10th at the architectural wonder and part of the Royal Danish Library; “Den Sorte Diamant” (“The Black Diamond”, well worth a visit in itself) on Copenhagen’s waterfront.
For those of you able to attend tickets are available at billetlugen.dk

The much-awaited 10th sequal ”Politi” (”Police”) will be relased in Norway on June 6. The English translation will be available from September 12th 2013. Preorder “Police” from Waterstones

Note: This article is by guest blogger Ingrid Hårstad, a Norwegian freelance writer based in London.

Fritz Hansen to launch the Ro chair at Clerkenwell Design Week

Bianca Wessel — Sun, 12 May 2013 07:56:08 +0000

The world-renowned Spanish designer Jaime Hayon has worked together with Republic of Fritz Hansen to create today’s answer to tomorrow’s easy chair. A chair where you can find room for your inner space and take a break from the hectic bustle of everyday life. The chair is called Ro and will be launched at Clerkenwell Design Week in London.

Time for reflection is a luxury in today’s world. We are all busy and always short of time to create a moment for quiet contemplation. The new easy chair springs from a desire to create a piece of furniture that offers an opportunity for reflection in our busy lives. However, Ro is much more than an easy chair. It’s a 11⁄2-seater where you can relax, change positions and have your newspaper, computer or child next to you and create a new comfort zone.
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The design of the shell is elegant and simple, pleasing to both the eye and the body and offers the promise of tranquility in both its visual expression and its comfortable functionality. Furthermore, the form of the shell gives you the choice of being part of what goes on in the room or relaxing in your own private space.

Fritz Hansen’s design brief to Jaime Hayon was “… to create a comfortable seat for one person”.

Clerkenwell Design Week takes place in London 21 to 23 May 2013

Bageriet is open – a Swedish Bakery in Covent Garden

Bianca Wessel — Sat, 11 May 2013 07:17:08 +0000

Covent Garden in London, an area situated centrally in the West End, is a former fruit and vegetable market. Nowadays it’s become a popular shopping and tourist destination with a great selection of shops and restaurant. As of recently also including Nordic additions to the fashionable area; The award winning Swedish bakers Daniel Karlsson and Sven-Gunnar Appelgren has opened a new bakery store in Rose Street, Bageriet.

After working in the bakery of Stockholm’s most famous high-end department store NK, Daniel Karlsson moved to London in 2007 with dreams of setting up his own bakery store in the UK capital. With work experience from Ottolenghi and Melrose & Morgan, Daniel sat up his own company, Bageriet. Birthday cakes, traditional Swedish cinnamon buns, Semlor cream buns, crisp-rolls, biscuits, desserts and pastries was hand made for the Swedish Embassy and a host of restaurants and stores across London including TotallySwedish and Stockholm Deli. Daniel’s business partner, Sven-Gunnar is passionate about bread baking and for the past five years has worked at the Ottolenghi restaurants in London’s Notting Hill, Kensington, Belgravia and Islington as well as the fashionable restaurant The Wolseley.

In combining their expertise, Daniel and Sven-Gunnar aim to bring quality and originality to their newly launched operation as Daniel explains: “We want to provide the best fresh bread, pastries and traditional Swedish open sandwiches in London.”
Prinsessetårta, equally important to the Swedes as the Victoria Sponge is to the English, a delicious Marzipan cake is one of Bageriet’s specialties and definitely a must-taste.

Visit Bageriet, 24 Rose Street, London WC2E 9EA

Designers Remix by Charlotte Eskildsen for Spring Summer 2013

Bianca Wessel — Fri, 10 May 2013 07:53:25 +0000

Not so taken by the Spring Summer 2013 collection from Designers Remix by Charlotte Eskildsen, although below styles are growing on us. The dress would make the ultimate party dress; Choose your favourite colour and show off those tanned pins!

© Designers Remix SS13 at Copenhagen Fashion Week August 2012

See other and more casual styles for everyday glam at designersremix.com

Nordicana Show 2-day celebration of Scandinavian crime in London

Bianca Wessel — Thu, 09 May 2013 07:35:19 +0000

The UKs first ever expo celebrating Scandinavian crime & thriller fiction & film is to be launched in London this June.

The Nordicana Show is a 2-day celebration of Scandinavian crime & thriller fiction and film, in association with Arrow Films’ Nordic Noir label the leading UK distributor of Nordic Noir on DVD and Blu-ray, and the global literary network English Pen.

Nordicana will play host to the stars of the hugely popular BBC Four TV series’ and best-selling authors with panel discussions, signings, exclusive screenings, talks, retail stands, books, DVD and Blu-ray, food and drink and much more.

The venue for this unique event will be the landmark Farmiloe Building in Clerkenwell, of the finest victorian architecture, was completed in 1868. The venue features an italianate palazzo-style frontage, executed in portland stone and polished aberdeen granite. Located in London, at the Smithfield end of St John street and a two-minute walk from Farringdon station.

Buy your tickets online, at nordicnoir.tv

Our favourite styles from Danish designer Margit Brandt Spring 2013

Bianca Wessel — Wed, 08 May 2013 09:29:53 +0000

Margit Brandt is a Danish long term favourite brand among Scandinavian women, with it’s clean lines and effortlessly chic styles. The Spring 2013 collection by Margit Brandt offers exciting prints of luxurious fabrics. margitbrandtstore.dk

© Margit Brandt graphic collection for Spring 2013

Margit Brandt first collection was launched in 1965, with the head designer Margit Brandt being regarded as one of the fashion genius of the world. The brand was relaunched in 2005 and Sandra Zecevic is todays head of design.
For style inspiration we recommend following the Margit Brandt Blog

Norwegian Designerkollektivet moves to GlasMagasinet August 2013

Bianca Wessel — Tue, 07 May 2013 09:48:07 +0000

The designers collective, Designerkollektivet in Oslo Norway are about to expand. They will be moving from Aker Brygge to the prestigious GlasMagasinet in the city centre of Oslo. GlasMagasinet, located on Stortorvet, is one of Norway’s oldest and most famous department stores. Designerkollektivet was launched in 2009 by a group of Norwegian designers, with the aim of promoting emerging talents and great Norwegian design as well as making it more available to the general public. With the move the concept shop are hoping to include more designers.

© Vera&William

So far there’s been more than 50 independent designers involved in the project, with names including Jumina, Fam Irvoll, Vera&William, TSH, Tina Haagensen, Daniel Sørensen, Peter Løchstøer, Undorn and Arne&Carlos.

© Bine

See more at designerkollektivet.no