Alexander Lervik

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SÖDERMALMSNYTT

19 October–25 October 2013 33

”So we can conclude that Stockholm’s young people prefer to live in co-ops”

Kenny Fredman, housing co-op lobbyist, on Twitter.

DAYS is the average time a home in Stockholm is for sale, according to Booli.se.

Jefferson Chair. PHOTO: PI FRISK

and

that a chair can be called a chair — and not be a stool. But it is not necessary for the chair to be sittable. Jonas Bohlin's chair Concrete can certainly be sat in — but the question is whether the chair made of concrete and steel is particularly comfortable?

—I haven't sat in it, so I don't know. But I do know that when Jonas Bohlin was asked if it could be sat in, he replied ”Who the hell said you're supposed to sit in it?”.

Stand out - in moderation

Designing an entirely new chair as a furniture designer involves several challenges. It usually has to be adapted to already established dimensions, such as seat height and width, preferably be stackable and not so odd that it cannot be sold. At the same time, it must not look like every other chair already on the market.

—It's an equation that is difficult to balance. You have to create something unique within fixed boundaries. At the same time, the appeal lies precisely in the limitations. It is a fascinating challenge to do something that many have done before, but in a completely new way.

Alexander Lervik takes his Spike Chair as an example. The chair consists of wooden rods inserted into steel tubes, and lacks a conventional seat. —When I made the chair, I wanted to make a chair that was not perceived as a chair. You sit on the cut-off end of the rods, which are placed at a certain distance from each other. It is actually really comfortable, even if it doesn't look like it. —You can always vary the design, it's just a matter of daring to think outside the box. The truth is that ideas never run out.

Anna Sandqvist 08-545 870 87 anna.sandqvist@direktpress.se

FACTS Did you know that...

... spindle chairs and lightweight armchairs became new features in many living rooms during the 1940s. Maria Perers, Leif Wallin, and Anna Womack write this in ”Vardagsrummet En plats för alla”, which is part of the Nordiska museet book series Folkhemmets rum. ”Following functionalism, neat seating furniture in light wood types had become common in the 1940s. Kooperativa Förbundet, KF, developed functional and affordable ”people's furniture” accessible to low-income earners. Modern spindle chairs made their entrance into living rooms, recommended by architects and housing experts as examples of practical, light, movable furniture. But many thought that the simple, mass-produced spindle chairs were ”stick-like” and ugly; they made too poor of an impression in the home's primary room.”

... a chair is defined as a seat for only one person. Otherwise it is a sofa or bench. According to Wikipedia, a chair should also be equipped with three or four legs, have a backrest, and sometimes also armrests.

... a chair's expression changes when you alter the proportions. A number of years ago, a chair was made that was very wide and short. – The dimensions were so strange that it stood out among all other chairs. You can make a chair look more generous by changing the depth. A lot happens appearance-wise with a chair if you change the proportions.

When autumn arrives, we want to start fresh - curl up on the sofa, read a book, and binge on TV series. Throw out sheer curtains, small-patterned tablecloths, and cut flowers.

THE RIGHT FEELING. Textiles set the mood.

PHOTO: GUDRUN SJÖDÉN

How to budget-fix for a cozy autumn

Redoing your home for every season is often far too costly and takes too much time and energy. We show you how to transition to the autumn home — without breaking either budget or schedule. By changing the textiles in a room, much is gained. Take down the airy summer curtains and hang up slightly thicker and heavier ones. Replace the small summer cloths with more substantial, full-coverage lengths, and swap the kitchen towels and bathroom towels for darker shades. Want to make an even bigger transformation? Buy an extra slipcover for the sofa — a lighter one for spring and summer and a darker one for the winter months. Rugs and cushions can also be good to have in two sets. Not all textiles need to be dark; feel free to break up granite-gray wool with ivory-white surfaces, and let details run in purple, orange, dark blue, and rust red. A freshly painted piece of furniture can give the entire room a facelift. Be meticulous when painting; it yields a result that lasts much longer. Sand with sandpaper if needed and dust the surface, wipe with a damp cloth, and apply primer. Spackle holes and uneven surfaces. Don't be afraid to paint in different shades. Let the kitchen chairs or the drawers of a chest of drawers share the same palette but in different tones; it creates an eye-catching result. Since you often don't need large amounts of paint, why not buy several small sample pots? Play around and paint over; it's no more difficult than that!

Creative Dare to be creative in the autumn drizzle; artworks and small arrangements can be made from almost any material and become very striking in all their color and splendor. Wrap a straight vase in bark and fill it with green leaves and autumn-leaf branches. Or decorate a hazel branch above the door with large gray and black feathers. Only your imagination sets the limits! Beautiful candle plates with autumn leaves, smooth stones, moss, and painted lanterns set the style. Make small still lifes with various trinkets; it elevates the entire home. Just because the greenery outside is turning red and yellow doesn't mean indoor greenery has to fade. Indoor plants make the air clearer, make us more alert, and give a lush impression. Arrange in groups on side tables or in corners to soften the room.

The details that make autumn

A thick blanket makes the sofa much cozier. Choose a soft throw that doesn't itch - after all, you want to be able to crawl under it when the cold creeps in.

Slippers. A nice pair of slippers in felt material is lovely on cold autumn floors.

Large pillar candles that provide a warm light when darkness falls outside.

A beautiful coffee or tea mug that is only allowed to be used during relaxation time. It feels luxurious and makes it easier for you to ease into the mood after all the day's demands.

Side table for books.

Erica Jansson

English translation of the original article. Text read from the scanned original; small transcription errors may occur.