The Stockholm Furniture Fair: Our annual training camp

08/03/2024

It's the middle of the season of the big European furniture fairs and we've been on the lookout for you. Although the trend in recent years has been towards fewer but perhaps better product launches and relaunches, many customers still find it difficult to find their way through the overwhelming variety of products. It's like «not seeing the wood for the trees». How can you be sure that you are making the right choice?

As is our annual tradition, we dedicate ourselves not only to selecting the most important new products, but also to testing and thoroughly examining them. Our aim is to find items that are in line with our philosophy. Fortunately, the proportion of new products that fall into this category increases every year.

So what are we looking for?

We ask ourselves the following questions in our search for coherent products:

  • The designDo they embody a well-founded and timeless design with the potential for exceptional longevity?
  • ManufactureAre they manufactured using socially and environmentally responsible processes and sustainable materials, and are they located in reasonable proximity to our customers?
  • Personalization: Do they offer an extensive selection of materials?
  • Long-term valueIs it worth restoring them to turn them into family treasures or to sell them, or can they be recycled efficiently? 

By extensively testing and scrutinizing the products, we try to determine various aspects, such as the category a sofa falls into:

  • Does it offer a softer, deeper sink-in than usual and a low seat height?
  • Does it offer a good backrest and is it easy to get in and out of?
  • Does it offer several sizes and additional ottomans or is it modular?
  • What are the dimensions: spacious or space-saving?
  • What materials are used?
  • etc.

This meticulous process is repeated for other categories of furniture. For certain clients and their projects, we might also look for highly specific items. Over the past two decades, this method has led to the development of an extensive resource that we affectionately refer to as our «evolutionary recommendation library».

Details in trend

Although the surface materials presented have some common features, four of them are particularly noteworthy:

  • Vibrant colors - which include cheerful and uplifting as well as calming shades.
  • Matt black wood with pronounced grain - a luxurious, velvety black that emphasizes the beautiful texture of the wood grain.
  • Tablu - the animal pattern from Kvadrat Sahco Textiles.
  • Silver metals - available in both matt and reflective versions.

We noticed that

Any list you compile will inevitably have gaps. So here is an incomplete list of some recently launched products that have piqued our interest.

Asplund created a beautifully proportioned bench, Break, by Broberg & Ridderstråle, which we can imagine being used both in private rooms and in the hospitality industry. We think it's great that you can choose whether you want one, two or no armrests.

Blå Station’s Lindau, together with Borselius & Bernstrand, went to great lengths to develop a chair that can also be a lounge chair, on wheels or not, in a new color or with a new armrest material... They asked themselves the question: Can a product be sustainable, recyclable, upgradable, changeable, renewable, dismantleable, traceable, maintainable, customizable and still be lovable? The answer is «yes» and the name is «Able» - in German: «able». But that wasn't all from Borselius & Bernstrand: another unbeatable product is their height-adjustable table «Veva«, or «crank», as we would say in English.

Konsthantverk has collaborated with renowned Swedish architect Andreas Martin Löf to create the stunning «Untitled», which builds on the earlier work with the Patina luminaires.

Massproductions continues to impress. The new sofa, «Patch», is perfect for anyone who likes to sit together comfortably and have long conversations. Thanks to a pocket spring construction taken from the bed industry, comfort is guaranteed no matter where you choose to sit. In addition, the popular Dandy series has been extended to include an eagerly awaited 3-seater.

Nicari, known for perfecting the production of honest and carefully crafted products, presents «Kumu» an embodiment of functionality, simplicity and consistency. The stackable chair is made of birch, with or without seat upholstery.

Sibast, has presented a timeless garden collection by Morten Anker that is impeccably crafted and exudes elegance. The proportions of the Ribcollection are human-centered, timeless and undeniably beautiful.

Swedese has developed the ideal desk in collaboration with Broberg & Ridderstråle. Luna which not only complements the successful Stella desk chair, but is also versatile enough to serve as a dressing table. Its rounded shape makes it a visual eye-catcher that can play the starring role in any room.

Book your 1:1. A free and non-binding introductory appointment with our expert.

An interior design is as personal as it gets. So get to know your personal designer from our team in a free 30-minute video call or during your visit to our studio in Zurich. Together we will find out which consultation package is right for you and answer all your questions about our consultation.

Anna Berg

Interior Design Lead

The founder of holm, Anna Berg, was born in Sweden and has been running holm for 20 years. As Interior Design Lead, she is responsible for all our interior design projects.

30’ free Call