Up until the early 1900s most homes and buildings in Reykjavik (the capital of Iceland ) were turf houses that came about from the harsh climate, as the turf was superior insulation and it was relatively hard to get other building materials. In the 1990s there was a craze to re- model and up date, but sadly old objects and old furniture was thrown out. Today they are more respectful of their design heritage and have become less frivolous.
Reykjavik as it is today
Iceland's 3 major banks collapsed in 2008, but they quickly got back on their feet thanks largely to the recovery of their creative design industry. Iceland's design heritage is still young with design evolving in the 1950s, before that furniture and house hold objects was bought back from over seas, but Iceland's lack of tradition is an asset for new design, they are free from rules and restrictions and have developed their own playful style and are uniquely Icelandic. Furniture made from volcanic lava, lights made from fish, stools and chairs made from aluminium and vegetable fibre, tiles made from salmon skin leather and even fish bones are turned into pieces of art.
"Sit" Laundry basket 133 euros
This light is insane
Lava Flower by Gudrun Lilja from 12,500 Euros
Source: www.ft.com
Fish Bone Jewellery
Fish Bone Bracelets
Source: koolandkreativ.blogspot.com.au
Icelandic design has come so far that they now have a design festival that's held over 4 days in March, known as Design March and are now into their 5th year. Organised by the Iceland Design Centre, the festival features the best Icelandic Designers, seminars and guest appearances from local and over seas designers.
These adorable candles burn down with a surprise inside, a small metal skull hides within.
One of the many clever designs on display
Collection of fisherman ropes and traditional craft turned into furniture.
Icelanders are much bolder than their Scandinavian neighbours, there they are use to monochrome, but Icelanders like pops of colour and are willing to take risks and be more individual,
This sweet cottage is a good example, owned by Halla Bara Gestsdottir and her husband Gunnar Sverrisson co-founders of the Icelandic magazine Home and Delicious, a home interior design and food magazine. They bought the cottage in 2008 and completely renovated it, also having to have electricity and water connected so they could visit all year round ,not just in the summer months.
Source and photos: www.designsponge.com
And if these photos have inspired you to take a trip to Iceland were every thing is green, then this looks like the perfect place to stay, the uber trendy The Icelandair Hotel. The hotel is a mixture of modern and vintage with a Nordic twist and is situated right in the heart of Reykjavik.
Source and photos: www.icelandairhotels.com/en/hotels/marina.
Next Wednesday, Thursday and Friday the Alida and Miller staff will be attending the Decorating and Design Trade Fair at The Royal Hall of Industries in Sydney. Show casing the latest interior design trends and emerging and established designers. We are all really looking forward to finding out what will be happening in 2014 in regards to design, and I can not wait to get back home and share what I have learnt on my trip
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