This September, we present North Stars for London Design Festival, a show in collaboration with Dagmar and Louise Liljencrantz that looks north for inspiration. Just as Polaris has guided travelers for centuries, Scandinavian design remains a fixed beacon in the cultural landscape: modest, functional, and endlessly relevant. Setting past and present in dialogue, we show how Scandinavian design continues to illuminate the way forward. Timeless, confident, and alive with craft, it’s the guiding light for interiors everywhere.
But what is it with Scandinavian Design? Why will collectors and design enthusiasts always add at least one piece of true Scandi beauty to their interiors? Scholars and industry leaders have been debating this topic for ages. We could dwell on lengthy explanations here too, but we prefer to sum it up with three words: simple, almost modest, yet extraordinary. Without knowing it, the great masters from northern Europe were working for the future, experimenting with new shapes and woodworking techniques to leave a legacy of furniture pieces that are iconic and yet easy to understand and integrate into any décor.
Speaking of interiors, even today we find this modest, pared-back aesthetic in contemporary homes. Just a couple of years ago, Stockholm’s Design Museum opened the doors of private homes that best illustrate the essence of this aesthetic: sparse, simple, warm, modest, and with wood ever-present. Interestingly enough, when we look at the paintings of Carl Olof Larsson, known for depicting typical Swedish interiors from the very early 1900s, we detect that same simplicity — not to be mistaken with boring. As for the furniture, considering the deep connection with nature, wood is the material of choice. Scandinavian designers master all the secrets of woodworking, perfecting their techniques passed down through generations. In this context, one name comes to mind: Axel Einar Hjorth, arguably one of the main inspirations among designers who work with wood. He has been rediscovered by decorators everywhere, but in Sweden he has never been forgotten. Although he was capable of delivering quite sophisticated pieces in the Swedish Grace style, Hjorth was more focused on creating entire collections for the “common people” and everyday living, tapping into the vernacular of rural traditions, defined by simplicity, exquisite proportions, and no frills.
Simplicity as the ultimate balance between elegance and modesty is what guided Finn Juhl, whose own home in Denmark was voted by The New York Times as one of the 25 interiors that influenced design. Like Hans Wegner, another Scandinavian design hero, Juhl created an array of chairs and sofas, taking up the challenge of designing “the closest object to a human being,” to quote Wegner. The shapes they created, always functional and ergonomically perfect, did not age. We still love them today as much as they were loved when first unveiled. This same love and passion have driven Aaron Fitzgerald, the founder of Dagmar, the Anglo-Danish company specializing in reeditions of iconic Scandinavian furniture.
From its very inception, Dagmar’s goal has been to bring forward mid-century Scandinavian masterpieces with a curatorial clarity that feels anything but nostalgic. From the unmistakable Clam Chair — the new poster child of Scandi Cool — to rarer rediscoveries, these works remind us why the era still resonates with collectors: organic forms paired with restraint, craftsmanship elevated to art, and a confidence that doesn’t rely on name but on vision. In North Stars, the furniture pieces — some conceived over seventy years ago — feel naturally at home in contemporary décor, adding that impossible-to-name touch balancing allure and modesty. From a desk originally purchased by the King of Denmark for his daughter, to a selection of seating by much-loved designers like Juhl, Hansen, and Madsen, these designs are clean, functional, and enduringly modern. They are like old friends we’re thrilled to meet again.
As North Stars is a reflection on Scandinavian design then and now, the exhibition showcases the unmistakable work of Louise Liljencrantz. The Swedish-born star of contemporary design has been with Invisible Collection since its inception, delighting design enthusiasts with her signature pieces. Working with Veermakers — exceptionally skilled cabinetmakers who master the art of woodworking in an organic and complete way like no other — she authors furniture that is strong, warm, and timeless, channeling centuries of a special bond with nature. Wood, specifically, breathing life and carrying a soul that lives within the piece of furniture. Whether her signature SSU coffee table or the Cloud Table, the fascinating thing about Louise’s work is that she takes all the knowledge and core aesthetic of Scandinavian design — simple, proportioned, pared-back, solid — and lets its soul exude a kind of grace and beauty that is truly stunning. Each piece stands out with a warmth and authority that feels unmistakably new. In other words, her designs establish an immediate emotional connection between nature and the places they inhabit. They have character and presence; they carry the self-confidence of a collectible.
North Stars runs until 15 October in our London gallery. Do visit us, and discover our Scandinavian edit.
