Probably one of the things that will always come to mind when I think about HETTA was the crazy cold day in February that Erika Mörn came into central Stockholm to meet me.
It was the only day that anyone could remember that the city’s subway system (Tunnelbana) actually shut down due to weather. Determined to make our appointment though, Erika walked most of the way. And as if I didn’t feel bad enough, I later found out she was pregnant at the time!
Well, that certainly says something about this design duo’s dedication. And as I’ve gotten to know Patrik and Erika better, there’s no doubt about it. These two are pros.
I caught up with them recently for an exclusive interview to find out how they’ve gotten where they are, and how they do what they do.
Inside the home Erika and Patrik share with 3-year-old son Charlie
FS: I always like to start at the beginning… where did you grow up?
EM & PM: We both grew up in Småland in southern Sweden. Erika’s from a small town called Huskvarna, and Patrik is from Solberga village.
FS: Where are you based now?
EM & PM: We live in a 1960’s era detached house in Segeltorp, a suburb of Stockholm, with Charlie, our 3-year-old son. Our office and showroom is at Telefonplan, just outside Stockholm’s city center.
FS: What first drew you to a career in design? Are you doing what you thought you’d be doing?
EM: I’ve always liked colors and shapes, I get that from my mother. I attended a series of design schools, and have tried everything from interior design to designing products. I understood early on though that to succeed I would need a solid business strategy and someone who could manage the finances. That’s how Patrik came to join the business.
A glimpse at HETTA’s stand at Formex.
FS: How would you describe your design style?
EM: I like my designs to be functional, but with a twist or something a bit unexpected.
FS: I love your natural textures. Was it always your intention to work with sustainable materials?
EM: Once we started working with wool we discovered all the benefits of this natural material. Now it feels like a given to use natural eco-friendly materials.
Cork, which is a renewable material like wool is, has become increasingly more important in our collection. We simply make more and more things from both of these materials.
Two of HETTA’s other cork trivet designs.
FS: How does a design come together for you?
EM: Usually the ideas are born from a need that I personally feel needs solving. Once I understand the need, then I’m inspired and the stream of colors and patterns just fall into place.
FS: What inspires you?
EM: Just like for many others it’s the times we live in… literature, magazines, travel, kids… all those sorts of things.
FS: What is your creative space like? What do you need to have around you?
EM: The ideas often come out of a conversation when I least expect it. After that all I need is my computer and some peace and quiet.
More glimpses inside the home of Erika and Patrik.
FS: How did you come up with the idea for the Ladder trivet for pots?
EM: Our other long trivet, or hot pad, made from wool has been very popular, so creating one in the same spirit from cork was our challenge. I was playing around with blocks, and they turned into different types of trivets, like long necklaces and ladders that could be shaped based on how the table was set.
FS: And I love how you don’t have to fuss around with a bunch of different trivets. Just one for the whole table! What was the pattern on the Rektangel trivets inspired by?
EM: About one and a half years ago we moved into our 1960’s house. Since then I have been very inspired by the patterns of that era, so the pattern on the trivets is a modified wallpaper pattern.
The “Rektangel” patterned trivet, inspired by vintage wallpaper.
FS: How about the design of the candleholder?
EM: When we decided to make an advent candle holder, we wanted to try to translate the flexible trivet idea to it. We wanted it to be in a state of change. It’s actually possible to just untie the knot and reorder the candle holders to fit your individual taste.
Putting several of the candle holders together creates an interesting effect, like these on display at Formex.
FS: What is the process that goes into making the wine stockings?
EM: The wine stockings are knitted in a very large size and shrunk down to
their final size.
HETTA’s full range of wine stockings. You’ll find the white ones in the shop for this month only.
FS: When is the perfect time to use them?
EM: Us Swedes are very fond of picnics and like to bring wine with us. With the stocking the wine will stay at the right temperature. The white wine stays cool and reds don’t get too warm or too cold. In other words, the wine stocking has insulating properties. And it’s a very nice gift to bring when visiting friends!
The great texture of the wool is a tactile treat.
FS: I agree, but I wouldn’t want to give mine away! What’s your biggest challenge now?
EM: Combining work with our growing family (our new baby is due this month). But all the new things in our life will surely generate lots of new ideas.
FS: And we look forward to seeing what kinds of inspiration your new little one brings. Congratulations, it sounds like October is going to be an eventful month!
Thanks Erika and Patrik!
Buy your wooly wine stockings, cork trivets and advent candles in the shop this month only!
It was just a few weeks ago that I was meandering through some of my favorite streets in Stockholm and popping into shops. That’s when I first spotted the book Detaljer Hemma (Details at Home). I bought it on the spot.
Little did I know that it had probably found its way to that shelf for the first time that morning. It’s only just been released in Sweden. That’s why I’m extra excited to be able to bring it to you now!
And also why I’m so pleased to bring you an exclusive interview with one of the authors, Ulf Huett Nilsson.
Ulf Huett Nilsson and Annika Huett. All photos courtesy of Ulf Huett Nilsson and Max Ström Book Publishers unless otherwise noted.
FS: Details is all about homes. So where is your home?
UHN: We live in Stockholm. But in summertime we go to Öland, an island off the east cost of Sweden.
FS: And your co-author Annika Huett…?
UHN: Annika is my wife and we have three daughters together. We also run a company together.
How did you get the idea for Details?
UHN: Annika and I wanted to show things that we liked and that fit with what our idea of home is.
FS: What were each of your different roles in this project?
UHN: We both regularly work together and separately in many different ways.
In this project, Annika was the one with all the ideas and I was the photographer. For other projects, for instance when we’ve done exhibitions and books in the past, Annika will do paintings and I’ll photograph. Usually the ideas come from both of us.
FS: What feeling were you trying to capture in Details at Home?
UHN: We were trying to capture the feeling of the homes based on the details we found inside them. The mood was enhanced even more by the great design of the book.
FS: What kinds of homes did you look for to photograph?
UHN: It’s hard to say, to see the affinity between the homes. But they all had a special feeling, a special style. The style could be modern or old-fashioned, or both. It was just something we could see the moment we crossed the doorstep.
FS: How many homes did you photograph altogether for the book?
UHN: We started photographing homes in 2007 and shot 32 homes by the time we were finished.
How would you describe your own home?
UHN: It’s an old house built in 1909, sloping and charming, made up of four floors and lots of stairs. It’s both minimalistic and full of details.
FS: What kinds of details?
UHN: Special wallpapers for example, and funny little things that mean something special for someone in the family. Also some very special inherited things.
FS: What is your favorite detail in your own home?
UHN: A reindeer antler on the garage wall.
FS: What was your favorite thing about this project?
UHN: I liked the collecting part of it, one more spice-shelf, one more bed table…
FS: Finally, what would you like to do next?
UHN: We’d like to do another book together, but that’s a secret so far. And Annika will continue with her concrete and mosaic work.
FS: Well we’ll certainly look forward to that. And in the meantime there are enough details packed into this book to keep us inspired for years!
(Thanks Ulf and Annika!)
Buy Details at Home in the shop this month only!
Camilla Engdahl’s ceramics studio. all photos by www.fromsthlm.com
Last week I had a pretty much perfect day. I traveled by train from Stockholm to Camilla Engdahl’s studio in the central Sweden town of Skövde. It felt a world apart in the most wonderful way. Not only are Camilla and her family absolutely lovely, but her studio is a dream.
Mugs drying, waiting to be glazed.
A very busy kiln. Taking a break just now.
Camilla’s “Familjan” (Family) pots, ready to be dressed.
I could certainly spend my days here throwing clay (if only I knew how). It’s clearly Camilla’s domain. You can see her unique mix of peace and play in every nook and cranny, from her work spaces to her finished pieces.
Through the studio’s looking glass to Camilla’s fruit and veg garden beyond. Heaven.
Finished pieces.
Thank you Camilla, Håkan, Siri & new little Thora. I can’t wait to come visit you again!
For more on Camilla Engdahl, see our profile on her here and our exclusive interview with her here.
If you would like to carry Camilla’s work in your shop, please visit the From Sthlm distribution site.
Moomin coasters by Opto Design
The big white Finnish Moomins turn 65 years old this year. Instead of celebrating retirement, they’re kicking their omnipresence up a notch. You’ve seen them on Iittala’s popular mugs, and now the Moomin universe is expanding into every corner of our homes. You name it, you can get it with a Moomin character on it – from bean bags to maracas to desk organizers and much more.
Over-commercialized? Oh probably. There are over 250 licensees worldwide. But there are some pieces we really like, including throw pillows by Sweden’s Ekelund Linneväveriet and the coasters above by fellow Swedes Opto Design.
At the Moomin party at Formex celebrating a whole slew of new Moomin products, one thing became exceedingly clear. Those Moomins are awfully charming critters, and for many who grew up with them, too much is going to be just right.
Welcome to the Formex Moomin party
Moomin designs on trays and notebooks
Moomin wonderland, complete with Moomin bedsheets.
Moomin throw pillows by Ekelund Linneväveriet.
Pretty napkins from Gladeholm. These too were nominated for the Formex Formidable prize.
Have you voted for your favorite yet?
Ah Mårten. You surprise me with your charming mix that’s so “grandma’s cabin” on one end, and “just left home for college” on the other. I think in a lotta girls’ books that makes you the perfect guy.
Plenty exhibit stand at Formex.
Latest release, the Ume candle holders launched at Formex, are made of raw birch with a compartment inside to hold spare candles.
Sweet bread bags made of authentic vintage tea towels. Just the kind that grandma might have had in her hope chest.
Mårten Lindquist is the man behind Plenty Design which has been bringing creative new ideas to market since 2004.
With so many students heading back to college, can’t you just see these fun pieces brightening up dorm rooms and home offices alike?
Speech bubble notice board comes in black or white.
I rarely use lead pencils anymore but still I need this eraser.
New clock designs with first prize ribbon appeal.
Well done Mårten, it was great seeing you again!
In honor of Stockholm’s 2010 Culture Festival, one of its iconic central squares got a cool makeover. Its normally stark black and white triangles got a bright spot of color.
photo: www.fromsthlm.com
Inspired by the Culture Festival logo methinks?
In any case, a neat treat for Stockholmians who generally try to avoid this square. A smart, simple, subtle, but high impact accent to bring some additional excitement to the event.
Not that it needed it. The Culture Festival featured about 500 free shows by 250 artists all crammed into six days. And can you believe I didn’t manage to catch a single one.
More lovely threads. This display from spira, including the “Haga” pattern (with the trees) designed by Bitte Stenström. It was inspired by a winter walk on the island of Öland.
Delightful designs from a favorite Swedish duo… this month only!
Become a Facebook fan
Subscribe to our posts