#03 WABI SABI NORDIC: "Slowness" is expressed in our design through the use of timeless natural stones and craftsmanship.

I visited Wabi Sabi Nordic at their beautiful Danish showroom and design space in Aarhus, Denmark. We had a conversation about their timeless interior design and furniture, and of course on how they see slowness in their design and their way of living.

The past months, I have been deepening myself into the Japanese concept of Wabi Sabi, as I find it fascinating; so to me, meeting Wabi Sabi Nordic and the Danish founder and designer Stine Rosgaard felt natural and obvious.

I photo-documented Stine's creative process as well as her beautiful creations.

Thank you Wabi Sabi Nordic, for your warm welcome, your words and for opening up your beautiful universe.

Dear Wabi Sabi Nordic, would you please tell us about your adventure? And why did you choose to design sustainable fine furniture from timeless stones?

Wabi Sabi Nordic was created by founder Stine Rosgaard in 2020. At that time, Stine and her partner were renovating a townhouse and had used some beautiful marble tiles in various parts of the house. One of the tiles broke, and Stine felt it was a waste to simply discard it.

They needed coat hooks for the entrance, and the idea arose: why not make them out of the broken tile? That is how it all began, with a small round hook that Stine crafted in the backyard of her home. She posted the hook on Instagram, and many people expressed interest in buying it. Suddenly, it was not far from idea to action. Wabi Sabi Nordic was born.

The hooks were made and sold, and new designs were added. The first piece of furniture was Venus, their side table, which is still part of the collection today. The demand for more and larger furniture was there, and that meant Stine could no longer make everything by herself in the backyard.

For Stine, it is important to create high-quality furniture and objects that can last for generations. The love and fascination for the material, natural stone, are still the same. It is not an easy material to work with, but it has a quality and aesthetics that are entirely unique and timeless.

How do you see slowness in your design and in your products?

Slowness is largely expressed through the use of natural materials and craftsmanship, something we greatly cherish. We aim to preserve all the natural details, so the material appears as genuine and natural as possible.

One material we often use is travertine, where water has created numerous holes and clefts in the limestone over millions of years. This imparts the most beautiful details in our designs. It makes each design unique and provides a tactile quality that delights the eye.

Furthermore, we exclusively work with timeless design, not only to give the material the space it deserves, but also to create long-lasting design that can be enjoyed in one's home for many, many years.

Would you please tell us more about your new collection, Timeless Tales?

Timeless Tales stems from our core philosophy of creating products designed to endure for many years to come. In the design of our products, I always emphasize quality and aesthetics.

I believe that when quality and aesthetics go hand in hand, timeless stories are created in each and every product, and that is precisely what we aim to achieve with Timeless Tales.

Slow living is a choice and a commitment. As busy women, entrepreneurs and mothers of toddlers, how do you keep slowness as a lifestyle and in your daily routines?

For us, it is about balance and giving ourselves and each other the space to do things in a way that makes sense for the business and for our family life at home.

Our jobs require a lot of energy and passion, and often quite a few hours, but they also provide a freedom and flexibility that allow us to create a daily life tailored to our current family life.

For us, it is about setting realistic goals for the day and supporting each other in resting in that, and not creating an unrealistic to-do list for the day.

Additionally, we have created an environment in our showroom that invites tranquility. The natural and aesthetic materials, along with jazz in the speakers and our favorite scent in the diffuser, create an atmosphere in which we thrive and work well.

All photos are owned by A Slow Way Photography.