The Scandinavian design aesthetic continues to take the world by storm, from the cozy comfort of hygge to the inspiring minimalism of the trend itself. Design experts at Modern Dining Tables, as well as Niki Brantmark, blogger at My Scandinavian Home and author of “Lagom, The Swedish Art of Living a Balanced, Happy Life,” understand this aesthetic well, and how it plays into improves a room’s design and decor, particularly dining areas. With minimal furniture, soft color palettes and harmonious shapes and materials, the Scandinavian style is an excellent choice to soothe your dining room.
BACK TO BASICS
Wooden furniture and surfaces are the most common among the style, portraying a sense of simple elegance that is nature-based. Some of these surfaces and finishes include light grey marble or wood counters and kitchen equipment like wooden chopping boards, says Brantmark. This choice brings warmth into the home, as well as any other plant life added to the room that naturally revives the space.
To complement the natural wood touches, a soft color palette is also needed in order to create a “sleek, clean, organized look,” according to Brantmark. Designers at Modern Dining Tables also suggest more refined colors, such as mixing natural wood or darker metallics with white or rose gold. Alternatively, also suggested are black accent pieces, in order to give life to the room by making a modern contrast and letting the natural wood shine.
MINIMALISM AND ORGANIZATION
In order to fully commit to this style in your dining space, the layout of a Scandinavian kitchen often portrays a sense of minimalism, both in style and organization. To keep the look clean and streamlined, Brantmark suggests both open and closed storage options in the form of kitchen cabinets and drawers. “You need to be able to hide the clutter but ensure items you need regularly are at hand,” she adds.
Other ways to convey this sense of sophisticated simplicity can be shown in the furniture and lighting pieces displayed. Suggested by Modern Dining Tables, industrial-style lighting fixtures are highlighted examples, as “metal is never out of fashion” and gracefully complements other aspects of the aesthetic. In regards to furniture, large tables with simplistic, matching chairs work well in these spaces, as they are warm and inviting and further allow for a informal place for people to gather and socialize.
“I love that this look is calm and fresh yet has a balanced, warm and inviting feel about it too,” Brantmark remarks. “Kitchens are known as the ‘engine room’ of the house. It’s where people gather socially so it’s important people are drawn to the area and feel comfortable.
Photography by Niki Brantmark
Design by Tina Lekeberg
SOMETIMES THE MOST CREATIVE IDEAS ARE BORN FROM A CHALLENGE. THIS IS DEFINITELY THE CASE FOR ELNAZ NAMAKI OF ELNAZ NAMAKI STUDIO. NAMAKI AND HER DESIGNERS FOUND IT DIFFICULT TO SOURCE ORIGINAL DESIGN PIECES THAT WERE ALSO COMFORTABLE AND HIGH QUALITY.
Sensing this niche in the market, Namaki created the “Luuna Collection,” an assortment of bespoken furniture that “distinguished itself in that people would feel and connect with it and therefore always remember it.”
“Luuna” takes its name and design philosophy from the moon, a universal constant with a symbolic connection to time and place, according to Namaki. The style and sculpted shapes of the collection are further inspired by mid-century designs and hygge, the heart of Danish culture.
Namaki notes that she wanted to create furniture that embodied this concept and pieces that are designed to evoke an ambience. The core of the collection is the textured shearling, or sheepskin, on each of the pieces that creates a feeling of coziness and warmth. The shearling also proved to be another challenge, Namaki says, as it took a lot of experimenting to find the right consistency to work with.
“[Shearling] is a unique and very special material to use for upholstery that requires precision and skill to create straight joints by hand,” she says. The designers also worked with specialized English craftsmen throughout the process when shaping and crafting the wood frames, combining traditional and modern techniques to create detailed furniture pieces. Just as soft are the colors on each of the seven furniture pieces and five cushions from the collection, classic shades that fit with most interior spaces while also remaining subtly bold.
“I think the “Luuna” collection can fit in every home as the style, colors and shapes are timeless and constant,” Namaki remarks. “[These] pieces make iconic and playful centerpieces in every home. They are designed for anyone who believes their home tells the story of who they are.”
Architectural Adventures, the official travel program of the American Institute of Architects, is home to several immersive tours and travel excursions to many extraordinary architectural structures across the globe. These are a few off of Architectural Adventures’ upcoming lineup, with fascinating tours in Europe, Asia and the United States.
Along the Rhine River
7/4/18 – 7/12/18, starting at $3,195
This cruise sails through the heart of Europe to Germany, France and the Netherlands on an eight-day journey with Architectural Adventures. This tour combines old and new architectural movements by traveling through historical towns, like Breisach and Speyer, to lively cities, like Strasbourg and Amsterdam.
Highlights of this tour include ageless illustrations of European architecture, such as the Freiburg’s Münster (a Gothic cathedral), historical Römerberg in Frankfurt, Germany, and the Notre Dame Cathedral in France, alongside modernities such as the urban design of Amsterdam, also known as the, “Venice of the North.”
Photo courtesy of Sergey Ashmarin / Wiki Commons
Scandinavia
7/27/18- 8/6/18, starting at $3,995
On this 11-day intensive tour, discover the astounding architecture of three Nordic countries: Sweden, Denmark and Norway. This journey tours the streets of Stockholm, Copenhagen and Oslo to explore how past architecture meets the present and uncover the rich history of Scandinavia. The tour includes behind-the-scenes access to award-winning opera houses, cultural centers and public spaces to truly delve into the region’s architectural innovations.
Highlights of the tour include the Turning Torso, the tallest building in Scandinavia, National Aquarium Denmark, Northern Europe’s largest aquarium, the Oslo Opera House, and Snøhetta, one of Norway’s largest architectural firms.
Photo courtesy of Benoit Derrier / Wiki Commons
Detroit
9/25/18- 9/29/18, starting at $2,995
Detroit, Michigan, is a major player in architectural innovation for the United States, and has been since the 20th century. History is captured in the architecture of the cityscape, with beautiful 20th-century mansions, Art-Deco skyscrapers, alongside some mid-century modern innovations. This tour follows the Motor City’s architectural revival as well as discuss the works of famous architects like Eliel Saarinen, Daniel Burnham, and Cass Gilbert.
Highlights of this adventure include a private tour of Eero Saarinen’s General Motors Technical Center, the recently restored Fox Theatre and Detroit Opera House, and discusses community renewal with Stephen Vogel, FAIA, distinguished professor of architecture at the University of Detroit Mercy.
Photo courtesy of Corbis
Japan
10/27/18 – 11/8/18, starting at $5,995
Discover the wide range of tradition and modernity within Japanese architecture on this incredible 13-day tour. Move effortlessly from the contemporary innovations of Tokyo to the fascinating traditional culture of Kyoto throughout this tour in the Land of the Rising Sun.
Highlights of this tour include the incredible Nomura Family Residence, a 16th-century castle in Takayama, the famous Meiji Jingu Shrine, the Tokyo National Museum, and Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park, the prime place to capture beautiful shots of Mt. Fuji.
Photo courtesy of Franciso Diez / Wiki Commons