The month of September is a red-letter month for design in Europe. Not only is there Stockholm Design Week but Paris Design Week and Maison&Objet as well. It seems the best way to catch all the action is to pack a small bag and do some travelling, although this year time was short and there was so much to see and experience.

As the picturesque capital of Sweden, Stockholm in all its design glory makes the most of its eponymous design week that took place from 5th to 11th September. With most major design showrooms in the city within easy walk of each other, there are a variety of places to visit where events and parties are happening. Scandinavian design is alive and well and with wonderful weather all the planets were aligned this year.

Hästens

One of the best events in Stockholm was at the Hästens downtown showroom where there was the opportunity to touch and feel, and even rest upon a Hästens bed. This company and their astounding beds are beloved by the Swedes and, having commenced business some 170 years ago, Hästens has certainly perfected the art of making ‘the world’s best bed’.

As a global company Hästens has recently arrived in Australia and will be available at Great Dane. With their iconic blue and white check fabric, Hästens is bound to make the impact it has achieved in so many other corners of the globe and having slept on one of their beds I can attest to a magnificent night’s sleep.

Hästens is available at Great Dane.

Bolon

Sweden is the birthplace of Bolon and a visit to the Bolon Lab Store in central Stockholm showcased the latest designs from the renowned woven vinyl flooring designers and producers. With the third generation of the business at the helm, Annica and Marie are creating flooring that has so much colour and pattern that there is literally something for everyone and for every project.

While flooring can be a little sombre not so at Bolon where there is every colour of the rainbow in tile and sheet, ready for the creative designer to use in projects whether commercial, retail, hospitality or residential.

For more than 70 years Bolon has been creating superior products and they also throw an excellent party at their centrally located Birger Jarlsgatan showroom!

Bolon is available from The Andrews Group.

Svenskt Tenn

Of note was an installation at Svenskt Tenn, a furniture, lighting, object and accessories store in the heart of downtown Stockholm. Svenskt Tenn was founded in 1924 by Estrid Ericson who was then joined by Josef Frank some 10 years later. Together they created sophisticated and elegant design that showcases the best of Swedish design which is perfectly at home in 2023.

The exhibition situated in two front rooms of the store was named EKTA Svenskt Tenn and displayed Josef Frank’s range of upholstered furniture along with the abstract art of Daniel Götesson (EKTA).

Svenskt Tenn is available online.

Paris Design Week and Maison&Objet

Overlapping Stockholm Design Week by a few days is Paris Design Week that ran from 7^th to 16^th September. As expected, the City of Lights was a beacon for design afficionados. As stores were opened up and filled to capacity, spontaneous parties erupted and with a plethora of studios, galleries, showrooms and ateliers to visit, the city was alive with design.

Concurrently the September edition of Maison&Objet, was from 7^th to 11th September, again situated at Paris Nord Villepinte Parc des Expositions. With multiple halls and some three thousand exhibitors there was so much to see. Not only is there furniture, art and accessories but talks, the Rising Talent Awards, installations and other happenings. The beauty of Maison&Objet is not only the astounding range of objects and home wares but its size. It’s not as large as Salone del Mobile Milano which means it’s a little easier on the feet and there is time to stop for a baguette snack.

Metaphores

In the city, in the sixth arrondissement, a visit to Metaphores was a must as this innovative brand and sister company of Hermès is an Aladdin’s Cave for lovers of fine fabrics. With the brands Verel de Belval and Le Crin at the fore, there were a plethora of ranges to see and touch and Paris Design Week was the time to visit.

Metaphores is available from Boyac.

With only a few days to explore each Design Week there wasn’t enough time. Note to self, to allow ALL of September to visit both Stockholm and Paris Design Weeks then move onto London Design Festival and Brussels Design Week to round out the experience of the best design that Europe has to offer.

Stockhold Design Week
stockholmdesignweek.com

Paris Design Week
maison-objet.com

Photography
Courtesy of Hästens, Boyac; Pia Ulin, Annica Eklund; Cornelia Waldersten, Hobnob Journal (creative concept and art direction)

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