Frama store Copenhagen

I first heard about Frama store in Copenhagen when I saw the most beautifully calm, minimal images on my friend’s blog Hannah in the House. I just knew I had to pay a visit when I headed to Copenhagen for the northmodern furniture fair. So, Hannah and I popped into Frama for an evening of drinks at the store to showcase the work of Copenhagen-based Plethora magazine. Eager to have a proper nosy around, I returned the next day to wander around the fascinating space and take a few snaps.

Housed in a former home of St. Pauls Pharmacy in central Copenhagen, Frama is an architectural gem of a store, where old meets new. The building has been remarkably restored, with all the original dark woodwork, decorative ceiling motifs and even the little drawers where all manner of pharmaceutical paraphernalia would have been kept. Floorboards have been sanded back, while the back rooms have been left fairly minimal with white and soft grey walls.

They describe the store as a ‘work in progress’, serving as a both a retail space and a platform to express the design studio’s aesthetic approach. You certainly get a sense of a company bursting with creativity, sitting somewhere between an interior designer, architect, retailer and curator.

Frama describes the synergy between the past and the present as a reflection of the dialogue between the classical and contemporary in their work. Spanning free-standing kitchens, furniture, lighting, ceramics, and even clothing, Frama’s collection focuses on solid materials with natural finishes and simple geometry. Think wood, steel, stoneware, concrete, glass, marble and cork.

They say: ‘The objects within the collection signal a return to basics, where the design appearance aims to be honest and pure. Working within the area of design archetypes, Frama represents a graphical and straight forward aesthetic approach to design.’

Inspired by artists’ stools and industrial design, the Adam Stool, above, is made by a local Copenhagen steel smith. With a powder coated steel frame and natural leather or oak seat, it’s a simple object of functional design. Designed by Toke Lauridsen, it has a handy hole to be able to easily move it around and the materials are intended to gently patina over time.

Frama’s apothecary collection is designed and handcrafted in Copenhagen, using carefully sourced brown Italian glass. A beautiful object in itself, wait until you smell the fresh, aromatic scent inside, with notes of sandalwood, cedar wood and ylang ylang. Simply divine.

The Vinkel shelving system by Kevin Hviid and Mikkel Damsbo, above, is made of wooden boxes cut and arranged at different angles.

Sutoa, above, by Keiji Ashizawa, is a storage chest with wooden stackable drawers in oak. The word Sutoa means to store or contain in Japanese. Frama says: ‘The function and structure of Sutoa are within the same poetry. It’s purpose is to be used in the everyday, while at the same time being a sculptural object.’

Frama’s Studio Kitchen, below, is designed to be a free standing element in a space without needing to be mounted on walls or floors. The kitchen is made up of various modules, from long units to tall cabinets, that can house ovens, sinks and appliances. It’s part of a trend I’ve been seeing for kitchens not to necessarily look like kitchens, but like any other furniture that’s part of the house.

Above is the Aj Otto Stoneware, finished with a delicate, black hand-crafted glaze. You can also see their E27 table light in brass, which also comes in copper and bronze.

So keep your eyes peeled for more from Frama, a really exciting, up-and-coming studio and store to watch out for, I expect we’ll be seeing a lot more from them. And if you’re ever in Copenhagen, pop along to their store, they’re always ready to welcome the design curious and let you have a wander around the store. And if you can’t make it across to Denmark, a little birdie told me that they *might* start selling their lotions and potions in a top London design store… watch this space!

All images: cate st hill