HÅG Tion by Flokk — The Workplace Chair for Everywhere

As we begin the new year and return to work, the office, in all of its current forms is top of mind. I’m hoping this is the year that I finally update my home office desk, and I’m always on the lookout for innovative new chairs to share with you, as I believe this is such an important element to get right. Based in Oslo, Flokk is the leading manufacturer of high-quality workplace furniture in Europe, with products sold in more than 80 countries worldwide. Created especially for the new working landscape and staying true to a long tradition of design collaborations, the new HÅG Tion chair is the product of an extraordinary four-way joint effort between the Flokk in-house design team, and a trio of revered design studios: Oslo’s Anderssen & Voll; Swiss designers BIG-GAME; and London-based Norwegians Hunting & Narud.

In the age of distributed working, today’s workforce operates from dedicated home workspaces, dynamic office environments and, in many cases, both. Helping to navigate different settings the HÅG Tion chair can sit effortlessly in any type of workplace, whether that’s a kitchen-table hotdesk, a dedicated workstation, or a traditional office situation.

This flexibility is thanks to a huge range of options for colour and material customisation, combined with a lightweight construction that makes the chair easy to manoeuvre between spaces. A single seat, for every setting. 

“There is such a huge demand for a chair that fits in with your life, does not take up too much space and works just as well in your home office as in an actual office.”– Oscar Narud, Hunting & Narud

Following extensive research into modern workspaces and home-working behaviours, the international team developed a task-chair concept that was aesthetically and ergonomically refined, easily adaptable to suit any interior style, built for durability and longevity, and – thanks to its neat frame and small footprint – suited to even the most compact of home-working set-ups.

Each studio brought its own distinctive approach, perspective and skillset to the project. BIG-GAME brought their central-European sensibility and a playful touch and were instrumental in incorporating movement and flexibility into the design. Renowned Scandinavian duo Andersen & Voll offered extensive practical expertise in furniture design and a deep understanding of form and refinement. Norwegian ex-pats Hunting & Narud have a reputation for strong narratives, crafted aesthetics, and an eye for colour and material fluency. 

The influences of all three are immediately visible in the final product, combined with Flokk’s own creative vision to produce a unique chair that is also their most sustainable task chair to date. The use of colour-sorted post-consumer plastics marks a major breakthrough for the brand, allowing Flokk to broaden its plastic colour palette – previously limited to black – to include a range of different shades.

Made with energy-efficient processes using recycled and renewable materials wherever possible, versions featuring wood will be made using responsibly sourced timber, and easily removable upholstery options include a variety of sustainable fabrics, selected to meet EU Ecolabel criteria. Textiles available include both wool with finishes from Kvadrat, Gabriel, Camira and Norway’s heritage wool manufacturer Gudbrandsdalens Uldvarefabrik and post-consumer recycled polyester, chosen for their durability and longevity.

“HÅG Tion is a game-changer in its approach to material: not only is it designed to be long-lasting, easy to repair, made from recycled, recyclable and renewable resources, but the aesthetics of the materials is truly setting new standards in the office furniture industry.” – BIG-GAME

Through a combination of wood, plastic and aluminium components, the option of including armrests, and upholstery in a wide range of colours, styles and finishes, the HÅG Tion provides freedom to create designs that suit personal style or any interior environment.

“HÅG Tion is a chair that should not feel too corporate, too sterile or too bland. So often colours from industrial products are taken from a RAL chart without a narrative. For HÅG Tion’s palette, we thought it was important to draw inspiration from domestic settings and homes. To make sure the chair could have these qualities, we have researched and studied interior colour palettes from English heritage until modern times. The result is a range of colours with a nod to domestic settings that hopefully stand the test of time.” – Amy Hunting, Hunting & Narud

As well as providing the freedom to choose colour combinations that improve focus and mood, the HÅG Tion features the trademark HÅG inBalance® movement mechanism, an ergonomic feature providing comfort while encouraging movement and variations in posture, allowing the chair to move with the user's body, helping them to stay active and mobile without compromising productivity.

As is typical of Flokk products, HÅG Tion has been designed without glue, allowing for easy disassembly, and all parts can be repaired or replaced, maximising the chair’s lifespan. A 10-year guarantee stands testament to the design’s durability, and to Flokk’s commitment to producing high-quality furniture that is built to last.

"With the introduction of colour-sorted post-consumer plastics, HÅG Tion is breaking barriers for Flokk by setting the standard for how to transfer more trash and resources astray into beautiful high-quality products. By also featuring the highest share of recycled materials in the Flokk portfolio to date, HÅG Tion is a true manifestation of Flokk's ongoing efforts to reach several of our 2030 Sustainability Goals – such as using 1,500 tonnes of recycled plastics in our products by 2025 and having 60% recycled materials on average in our entire portfolio by 2030." – Atle Thiis-Messel, Vice President, Sustainability at Flokk

HÅG Tion will be on show at Flokk’s pop-up exhibition during Stockholm Design Week on 7–13 February 2022. Visit Flokk to see the full range of colours and finishes available, and customise your own.

Images 1-4,6: Styling: Kråkvik/D’Orazio / Photography: Anders Schonnemann / Production: The Lab Cph

Imaages 5,7: Styling: Kråkvik/D’Orazio / Photography: Einar Aslaksen / Production: Pudder Agency 

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The Collector Collection by Kristina Dam Studio

For Autumn-Winter ’21, Kristina Dam Studio emphasises the beauty and versatility of natural materials, with a focus on detailed craftsmanship and sustainable production. Presenting a wide range of pieces that immediately draw you in with their distinctive, sculptural and gallery-worthy approach, The Collector Collection showcases timeless design that gently pushes the limits and imaginativeness of modern design.

The Collector series which includes The Collector Dining Table and Collector Chair is crafted from oak and amplifies Kristina Dam’s well-known minimalist silhouette. At the same time, the pieces feature a multitude of complex design details, such as the dowel detail in walnut.

I was excited to see that the Sphere, one of my favourite Kristina Dam Studio objects, is available this season in an exclusive edition made entirely from marble. The XL Marble Sphere can be used for storage or as a decorative object on the shelf.

The Line Stroke Bowl, which features a unique fluid shape that brings both function and character to the design, adds a sculptural sentiment to the room, even when not in use.

The new Cone Lamp series plays on geometric shapes and contrasting cold brushed steel and warm walnut materials. 

Fusing minimalism with a masculine edge, the Minimal Daybed in black is an extension of the existing product line and Kristina Dam studio classic, which can be integrated with various ways, ranging from the living to the guest room. The frame is made of solid oak, and the soft foam mattress comes upholstered with black Aniline leather or Savak made from wool in warmer colour tones that draw reference to the ’60s.

The Modernist Sofa series comes in the same 60s inspired upholstery accentuating its refined lines and elegance. Generously proportioned and framed by a stainless-steel structure, this forms the seater's back and armrest with one single movement.

Another highlight for me is the new Curved Box, which joins the Curved Side Table and Bench, offering a clean and elegant storage solution. I love how the boxes can be clipped together (with specially designed Curved Box Clips) to create storage for magazines and books through to office supplies and kids toys. 

And finally, I can’t resist the new Throw series because it’s freezing here today, and these look so beautiful and cosy. Made from 100% natural coloured wool from New Zealand sheep, mixed with 50% alpaca the warm, soft throws feature a Bauhaus-inspired graphic pattern in two colourways - natural beige and natural brown.

To find out more and to see all of the new collection pieces and updates, visit Kristina Dam Studio. 

Images courtesy of Kristina Dam Studio

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Viktoria & Woods Mosman Boutique by Golden

The new Viktoria & Woods Boutique in Mosman, North Sydney, has been designed by Melbourne-based studio Golden. In harmony with the intimacy of its village streetscape location and the surrounding harbour side views, the design of the boutique successfully elevates the retail experience by marrying brand ethos with local authenticity. Golden’s signature restraint heroes refined detail and a conscious material palette, while mimicking the relaxed movement of luxurious yet sustainable textiles paired with precision tailoring. This beautiful, considered curation results in a spatial manifestation of what it feels like to wear the brand.

Inspired by architectural gallery spaces and in keeping with the Viktoria & Woods philosophy, enduring design is enriched by natural materials and carefully sourced, locally produced furnishings. Angular lines and curved fluidity are highlighted with a variation in textural elements against a recessive colour palette. Stone, wool and jute come together to evoke an understated sophistication – quintessentially Sydney.

The interior includes focal accents that guide the customer journey, such as walls rendered with a fine grade grit, and a coffered ceiling in the back that draws the eye. Exaggerated geometric forms feature recessed lighting, casting shadow and light that invites further exploration. The sculptural repetition of a monolithic piece of G-Lux quartzite sits centre stage, sleek luminosity and unique green hue beckoning the outside in for a tactile point of sale.

Custom cork plinths paired with unfilled silver travertine for accessory display provide further texture, while natural ochre hues and the subtle movement of the latter’s characteristic veining working in harmony. The curve of a nearby table top is echoed in adjacent plush upholstery, while the sharp lines of its legs can be seen in the angular forms of the front desk and ceiling.

Honest, minimal joinery provides a metallic contrast to the warmth of natural materials and layered texture. Custom James Howe shelving is inspired by ceiling trusses in Woolloomooloo’s Finger Wharf building. Paying homage to Howe’s Rushcutters Bench, and one of my favourite features, each shelf was hand-woven in Adelaide using traditional Danish paper cord techniques. 

Designed for intimate reprieve, large private change rooms are draped with eco-friendly mock suede curtains on blackened steel. Woollen looped carpet with a secondary jute woven backing provides a plush and cosy element to the change rooms; a refined nod to raw materiality and sustainable practice. Additionally, a styling suite at the rear of the boutique allows for a tailored, personalised customer experience, including the placement of a secondary, private, point of sale. 

Photography by Sharyn Cairns

A space imagined for seamless customer journey and brand experience, from crossing the threshold to the donning of cloth, Golden’s design narrative exemplifies Viktoria & Woods’ effortless approach to modern wardrobe staples.

Images courtesy of Golden 

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Home Styling | Creating Sensory Spaces

Jumping back in to the Home Styling Series I started earlier this year, in today's post I'm going to talk about creating a home that appeals to the senses. Rather than focusing solely on the visual aspect of a space, this concept is about incorporating elements that are multi-sensory, to enhance the overall mood and feeling of your home. 

More than ever, in this increasingly digital age, we want our homes to provide a restorative effect where we can unwind and recharge. Sensory elements help us to relax and to be more present, whether we're sitting on the sofa reading a book, playing with kids or entertaining friends. To provide some ideas, I've picked out five of my favourite sensory elements to incorporate into your home. 

— Flowers —

Flowers are probably my number one go-to due to their multi-sensory appeal. Visually impactful, often with the added appeal of fragrance, flowers immediately inject life into a space. I tend to gravitate towards white and tonal florals with lots of greenery, but I also love experimenting with flowers that are in season. In celebration of Cymbidium Orchid season in NZ, I was recently sent a beautiful bouquet (pictured above) by Feel Good With Flowers.  Advocates of the New Zealand cut flower industry, I love that they encourage consumers to buy NZ grown. Flowers provide an easy way of bringing some colour into a neutral space, and the rich, vibrant colours of the orchids inspired me to pull out a cushion I had in storage that would tie in with the soft yellow centres of the flowers.  The beautiful arrangement below was a recent subscription delivery from Bloom Social, whose flowers always have a gorgeous 'freshly picked from the garden' feel.

I also like to bring nature indoors with dried flowers and house plants which you can see popping up around our home below. Not only do plants visually enhance interior spaces, they improve the quality of the air and are mood boosting. 

— Natural Light —

Making use of natural light is another way to enhance the sensory feel of a space. I love seeing how the light changes from season to season in our home. I'll often play on this element when styling (notice the touches of sun in the images above), but I also like to let the light in as much as possible during the day because I find it so uplifting. Our Luxaflex Silhouette blinds are great for filtering light, and we can adjust them to suit, day and night. 

— Home Fragrance — 

Home fragrance is another sensory staple of mine, and I always have a few scented candles on rotation from my favourite brands. Depending on the scent, they can be calming, uplifting or create a cosy ambiance.  I talk more about how I 'style with scent' in this interview with Jo Malone London. 

The candle above is a beautiful collaboration between Lumira and Halcyon House.  Lumira also recently introduced their first room spray, featuring one of my favourite scents, Arabian Oud. 

— Food & Coffee Aromas —

Though taste is not usually a sense we talk about in relation to interiors, our home is where we cook, dine and entertain, so food is all part of the sensory experience. It's certainly an important one to me! Before we even taste food, the sight, smell and sound of a meal being prepared, or baking in progress makes a house feel like a home. I love coming home to the aromas of the slow cooker. And nothing beats the sound of the Nespresso machine, the smell of the coffee, or a cake baking in the oven. 

Some recent styling collaborations with Nespresso, I love creating coffee moments in the comfort of my own home.

— Tactile Products —

Increasing tactility is one of the best ways to bring some zen to your home, and if you're not convinced, there's science to prove it. When we're hugged or we stroke our pet, the 'feel-good' hormone oxytocin is released, lowering stress levels and boosting overall health. Switching off from technology and re-connecting with our sense of touch through tactile surrounds has never been more important for our mental wellbeing. Think natural textiles that provide a 'cocoon-like' feel such as linen and wool. These can easily be introduced through cushions, bedding and throws. Choose tactile furniture finishes in wood, rattan, soft velvet or textural upholstery and use rugs to create a cosy feel underfoot. For finishing touches look for ceramic, marble or stone pieces (especially those made from hand) and materials that develop a patina with age.  

Copenhagen-based ceramicist Robynn Storgaard sent me one of her beautiful hand-made ceramic cups, sitting here on the Oak and upholstered Baenk bench by Danish brand Woud. 

This tactility can be applied to every room in the home. Our walk-in and ensuite includes marble trays and soft wool jumpers, a rustic wood stool and textural linen towel. 

To read more from the Home Styling series, take a look here and here. 

All images: Styling and photography by Michelle Halford / TDC 


This post contains gifted products. I only work with products I love and all opinions are my own. For more information please visit my About Page.

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Forestrywool | New Collection for 2018

It has been a while since I first featured Forestrywool, so I was very happy when founder Virginia Star Busmann got in touch about a new collection of throws. Based in the Netherlands, Forestrywool are known for their range of minimalist blankets made from New Zealand lambs wool. Launched just this week, the new collection features beautiful organic shapes and abstract designs across a gorgeous new colour palette.

Launched in 2013, Forestrywool was born out of a desire to showcase organic woollen rugs in a contemporary manner. Inspired by the authenticity found in nature, and by the beauty of clean architecture, the new blankets include designs such as Duo, Bauhaus, Pop Up and Moon. Adding to their signature palette of soft pinks and chalky creams, Forestry Wool have introduced some richer, complimentary hues for the new season such as Denim and Rosewood. I'm loving the addition of warm greys and earthy colours including Meadow, Ochre, Ecru and Grain. 

Natural, organic and designed to be used everyday, the blankets are perfect for the sofa, or as an extra layer for the bed. The new collection also sees the introduction of a new Italian cashmere wrap. Beautifully soft in earthy sand and grey tones, it is ideal for both travel and those cooler evenings. 

Beautiful styling and photography by w/ Style, a new collaboration between Vosgesparis and beeldSTEIL

To see the collection in its entirety, check out the Lookbook. 

To shop online or see stockists, take a look here. 

Images courtesy of Forestrywool

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