Japanese design and Scandinavian interiors share so much in common, it’s no wonder the two regions often take inspiration from each other. I wrote previously about the Japanese design brands to know about but today I wanted to focus more on those closer to home. Recently, I’ve noticed a number of Nordic brands reference Japan in their collections, or indeed, British high street brands uniting the two styles into one trend. I’m loathe to call it ‘Japandi’ or ‘Japanordic’, as they both sound a bit naff and don’t do the design traditions justice. But I think this movement towards an aesthetic that’s simple yet rustic and well-crafted shows that clean minimalism isn’t dead yet.
This trend has been gaining traction for a while now. It combines the clean lines and ordered, uncluttered aesthetic of Japanese design with the cool, relaxed style of Scandinavian interiors. But this look is anything but cold. While the Japanese embrace ‘wabi-sabi’ – accepting imperfections and the impermanence of things – the Scandinavian’s bring cosiness and warmth with the concept of ‘hygge’.
This translates into lots of warm, dark woods, organic shapes and tactile, handmade ceramics. For me, this trend is more industrial in style than traditional Scandinavian design that centres on light colours and neutral tones. I’m seeing powder-coated metal designs, dark wall colours and plenty of black accessories. Function is key, with multi-purpose furniture that can serve several uses or designs stripped back to the bare essentials. Here are five collections to help recreate the look at home.
1. Kristina Dam Studio
Danish designer Kristina Dam describes her aesthetic as Sculptural Minimalism, inspired by ‘Japanese details, graphic Bauhaus art and the unpretentious way artists treat materials’. Her furniture designs are simple, characterised by a clear, graphic form that allows the pieces to stand out as sculptures in a room.
For AW19, Kristina Dam presents a number of new objects, including the Stack storage boxes. Available as a single unit or a stackable group of three, these solid oak and dark oiled walnut boxes are multi-purpose and can be moved around the home easily. Hide toys away in a kid’s bedroom, stack books and magazines in a living room, or organise clothes in a bedroom.
Kristina Dam’s Easel Mirrors have a clean, Japanese aesthetic, but it is her Japanese stools that really reference the country’s design culture. Crafted from solid oak wood, the design combines ‘Japanese simplicity with Nordic versatility’. Chunky pieces of wood intersect each other to form a sturdy stool, highlighted by clear, contemporary lines. The stool comes in two different heights and can be combined with a simple leather cushion for extra comfort. The smallest version can even be used as a side table or as a pedestal to display beautiful objects.
You might also like the Setomono tableware, which I wrote about previously here, earlier in March. Inspired by traditional Japanese pottery, a new dishwasher and microwave-safe dinner plate has been added to the collection of stackable cups, plates and bowls.
All images courtesy Kristina Dam Studio
2. Skagerak
Three years in the making, Danish brand Skagerak has branched out into lighting for the first time with two, characterful, new lamps, called Piccolo and Terne.
Designed by John Astbury, the Piccolo lamp is inspired by the bell you might find at a receptionist’s desk. Available in black and light grey powder-coated metal, it is turned on by pushing down the top of the lamp shade.
The Terne collection by Bjørn van den Berg, meanwhile, takes inspiration both from Japanese lanterns and Danish mid-century design. The table lamp and pendant both feature an opal glass shade that diffuses a soft, soothing light in the room. Available from September 2019.
All images courtesy Skagerak
3. NiMi Projects
Founded last year, NiMi Projects is a new online concept store dedicated to finely contemporary Japanese homeware and accessories.
The company was set up by fashion and lifestyle expert Nicole Bargwanna and design editor Mio Yamada, both of whom lived in Tokyo. They shared a dream of nurturing an international appreciation of Japan’s design and craftsmanship in a fun and accessible way. Their designs, from paper vases and hand-finished wooden boxes to pastel-shaded tea caddies and origami-inspired stools, all embrace a playful simplicity.
They told me: ‘While we didn’t set out to have a ‘Japandi’ concept, we’ve been lucky to be on-trend at the moment! More than anything, NiMi Projects is a collection of things we love made with craftsmanship we hope to help preserve, by creators we want to support. As long-term friends, our personal tastes have developed together from the glitz and glamour of dynamic fashion trends to a more gentle, sustainable, practical and timeless aesthetic. Wherever possible, we work with materials that are biodegradable, recycled or recyclable. Our children’s toys, for example, are all made from FSC certified wood and use non-toxic paint.’
And if you’re in the area, NiMi Projects have a shop and showroom called ‘The Black Barn’ in Sevenoaks, Kent that looks well worth a visit!
Images courtesy NiMi Projects
4. Habitat
Much-loved high street store Habitat is embracing the trend for Japanese minimalism with an edit of clean, functional furniture and accessories for simple, uncluttered living. Describing the style as ‘an alternative take on Scandi style’, the look combines simple lighting with Japanese-inspired furniture and ‘wabi-sabi’ ceramics. There’s lots of rich, indigo colours and hand-woven textiles, along with natural materials and organic shapes.
I particularly love the Neville sideboard with its simple wooden frame and the subtle addition of colour with the soft blue door. Another favourite is the industrial-style Manford dining table with its black metal frame and tactile, solid oak top. The Lenni flatweave rug caught my eye, as did the Ruby spotty vase and the smart black matte Fuji chopping boards.
Images courtesy Habitat
5. Fritz Hansen
While this isn’t a new design, I thought it was still worth briefly mentioning Fritz Hansen’s Ikebana vase as it’s still such a beautiful piece. Designed by Jaime Hayon, the hand-blown vase features a brass insert that holds each stem in place to create a stunning, sculptural arrangement. As the name suggests, it’s inspired by Ikebana, the Japanese art of flower arrangement that dates back to the 7th century.
