Today I’m continuing my look at some of the most inspiring new-season interiors collections by sharing the latest pieces from Norwegian brand Northern. Its simple, streamlined designs combine timeless craftsmanship with innovative touches, and there’s always a beautiful array of materials and shapes on display. But what really stands out this time around is the focus on versatility, with a raft of multifunctional items that respond to today’s needs in some very clever ways.
As is so often the case with Northern, which started life as a lighting specialist before branching out into furniture and accessories, I was instantly drawn to the new lamps. Designed by Norwegian duo Morten & Jonas, the ‘Tradition’ pendant consists of a finely knitted polyester tube that’s carefully stretched over a metal frame and fastened at the top and bottom. The result is delicate yet eye-catching and emits a warm, softly diffused light reminiscent of sun pouring in through the window. It comes in three different shapes, all of which look wonderful hung on their own or in clusters over beds, sitting areas and dining tables.
Just as appealing is the ‘Salto’ lamp by Lars Olav Dybdal and Wilhelm Grieg Teisner of Oslo-based Gridy. Available in floor and tabletop versions, it reflects their mission to blend practical design that enhances everyday life with unexpected details – in this case a loop that connects the base to the arm in one fluid, seamless transition. It comes in matt black or beige, with an integrated LED light source and a discreet brass dimmer switch at the front.
Also joining Northern’s lighting offering is a mini version of the existing ‘Balancer’ lamp. The work of Berlin studio YUUE, it’s ideal for windowsills, shelves and small tables – and, thanks to a magnetic metal plate, it can be transformed into a wall lamp in minutes. It’s perfect for contemporary spaces, which are increasingly compact but often have to fulfil several functions at once, with a choice between matt black, steel or red finishes.
Furniture-wise, new launches this season include the three-seater ‘Gem’ sofa, designed by Meike Harde and available in a range of Kvadrat upholstery options. Its deep seat, low arms and wide backrest all sport rounded curves, adding a subtle playfulness to the otherwise minimalist expression.
Curved forms also appear in Sami Kallio’s ‘Valet’ wall unit, which now comes in a smaller version to fit even the tightest of spaces, and the ‘Loud’ cabinet series, designed by Stockholm-based Färg & Blanche to add softness to pieces that are normally angular. The former combines a tabletop / shelf with a useful swing-out drawer, making it ideal for bedsides or narrow hallways. The latter, meanwhile, consists of a high cabinet, a sideboard and a wheel-mounted bar cabinet with integrated brackets to keep bottles and glassware upright. Both come in light oak, smoked oak and black-painted finishes.
New accessories include Norwegian-Turkish designer Ayla Gürsoy’s ‘Observe’ tray, which is available in smoked ash, coral and blue-green and can be used to serve food and drinks, to store jewellery or other trinkets, and as a centrepiece filled with fruit or flowers. Similarly versatile is the rippled ‘Podium’ board by Oslo-based Jomi Evers. It works equally well as a display stand, a tray or a trivet to protect surfaces, with three different sizes and a choice between black basalt or Lilac white marble with violet veining.
I also love the look of the ‘Brim’ vases, which sprang from a 2019 project that saw Norwegian designer Ann Kristin Einarsen challenge herself to make, glaze, fire and share a new ceramic piece every day. Along the way she experimented with different methods, forms and finishes, eventually teaming up with Northern to put some of the results into full production. Made by skilled potters in Italy, the pale earthenware vessels celebrate rather than hide traces of the manufacturing process, telling the unique story of each vase’s formation. They’re available in two sizes, with organic shapes and necks that showcase abnormalities that would normally be cut away after casting and drying.
My personal favourites of the smaller pieces, though, are the ‘Monolith’ candleholders. Another Morten & Jonas creation, they grew out of the duo’s fascination with quarries and how stone slabs are transformed into objects of desire once extracted from the landscape. They chose to explore the inherent beauty of the slabs themselves, following the simple contours of cut rock to create three sizes of surface-standing holder plus a wall-mounted option. All come in black matt steel, aluminium, Lilac white marble and Verde Prato marble, and can be used on their own or in groups. They also have a clever lip to stop dripping wax spilling over the sides.
See the full Northern collection here.
All photography by Chris Tonnesen, courtesy of Northern
Absolutely fabulous, all of it
Some lovely – and very useful! – pieces