[Ad] The tactile appeal of PK1 paper cord chairs by Carl Hansen & Søn

I always think that interior spaces should be designed with tactility in mind. After all, we experience our homes as much with our sense of touch as with our sight. The key to making a neutral scheme feel cosy, inviting and characterful, rather than bland or boring, is in embracing texture and materiality. I believe you want to create a rich sensory experience that goes beyond just aesthetics, whether that’s through the use of natural materials, soft edges or warm surfaces.

My dining space, here, has simple bones – plain, off white walls, a built-in bench seat and a streamlined minimalist dining table. But it really needs texture to lift it and bring it to life. That comes in various layers that add detail and intrigue – the hanging wall lamps, the relaxed linen cushions, piles of books and cosy candlelight.

Not to mention the dining chairs. I normally have mis-matched chairs, which do well to create a relaxed, informal feel, where it feels like you haven’t tried too hard. But in today’s post, I’m highlighting the beauty of paper cord chairs with a loan from Danish brand Carl Hansen & Søn. These are their PK1 paper cord chairs, designed by Danish Modernist architect Poul Kjærholm in 1955. They’re visually lightweight and sculptural in form, yet the woven texture of the natural paper gives them an appealing tactility.

[AD – this is a paid partnership with Carl Hansen & Søn]

Complex materials and varied textures tend to feel more interesting to the eye as well as more appealing to touch. I think it’s because we’re naturally drawn to irregularity – the natural world is complex and hardly ever uniform or perfect, meaning that we see something familiar in imperfection. Studies have even shown that natural materials can help to reduce stress levels and create a greater feeling of comfort in a space.

The PK1 was the first chair that Kjærholm designed, originally produced in brushed steel with a wicker seat. He liked to combine sleek steel with more organic materials to bring a sense of softness to his minimalist forms. The new version of the PK1 is inspired by Kjærholm’s original design in wicker, but the complex weaving plays on Carl Hansen & Søn’s long tradition of working with paper cord. You might, for instance, be more familiar with the simple paper cord seat of the classic Wishbone chair.

The PK1 chair takes paper cord weaving to the next level, creating a curved seat and back that moulds to the steel frame. It’s no small feat to create a chair of such intricacy – it takes a skilled craftsman 15 hours to make paper cord form, using 180 metres of FSC certified cord. I think the sinuous curves help create a sense of harmony, fluidity and movement in a space otherwise dominated by straight lines.

As well as being updated in paper cord, the chair has been scaled up slightly to better match the size of people today. Even so, they still manage to keep their delicate form – I don’t think they intrude too much on a space or over dominate.

It’s important to note that the paper cord will patinate over time, as it’s a natural material after all. I know my Wishbone chairs have taken a bit of wear and tear with a little one. While some people might want to keep them perfectly pristine, and shy away from blemishes, it is true that older paper cord chairs take on a richer character. They might get more comfortable with age or blend better into a more homely space. These are chairs that are designed to last decades so I don’t think we should be too precious about their use. For me, the more texture the better!

The PK1 chair is available now, priced at 486 euros. It comes in stainless brushed steel or black powder-coated steel with an FSC certified paper cord seat.