[Eikund] At home [with Kristin]

How would you describe your interior style?
I’d say my interior style is quite fluid. I’ve never really stuck to one strict expression, it tends to adapt to wherever I live. When I lived in a classic Oslo apartment in Grünerløkka with high ceilings and ornate rosettes, I leaned towards Scandinavian design, with a tiny hint of Carrie Bradshaw’s New York apartment. Now I live in a house with lower ceilings and lots of mullioned windows, and it’s no secret that I spend way too much time on the House & Garden Instagram. The inspiration leans more toward the British country house – rich in detail, but with a Scandinavian twist.

What was it about this house?
Oh, that’s hard to pinpoint, because I rarely look for a style – I look for a feeling. And this house just had something that hit me right away. Maybe it reminded me of my childhood home. Maybe it was the windows. When I was little, I used to put on dance performances in the big windows facing a busy sidewalk. I completely drifted off and pretended I was a prima ballerina at the Opera – for passersby who had no idea what hit them. The windows in this house gave me that same feeling. And that’s when I got the thing I always chase when I’m searching for a new home: a gut feeling.

For those who don’t know: what exactly is the House & Garden style? And what specific elements have you gone for?
The House & Garden look, or really, the British country house style, is almost the opposite of clean Scandinavian minimalism. It’s rich, personal, and full of things with emotional value. Where a Scandinavian wall might have one or two art pieces, the British country look happily fills a wall with forty. The whites and beiges step aside, and colour is welcomed in. Mullioned windows, decorative trims, and detailed cabinetry are all part of the expression.

That’s more or less what I’ve aimed for: Finding those elements full of detail without forgetting my love for Scandinavian design. That’s why we have Eikund chairs, and a lighter, more minimal living room that contrasts with the kitchen, which is more “House & Garden.” I love that balance.

Why the Hertug dining chairs and the Veng Lounge chair?
Where do I even begin? There are still so many Eikund pieces on my wish list, but Hertug was the first one I knew I had to have. We have a three-metre dining table, and I wanted something clean, streamlined, and beautiful in a row. And that’s exactly what Hertug delivers. I chose them in oiled oak, which really brings out the wood grain – and the best part is that even though they sit lined up like clones, each chair is completely unique.

– No one has chairs like ours, and that makes me almost childishly happy.

When it came to a lounge chair for the living room, Veng was the obvious choice. It’s so subtle and refined that people assume it must be uncomfortable – but everyone who visits is shocked by how good it is. The kids’ grandfather usually sits down and barely gets up again until the evening is over. That’s when you know you made the right choice.

Did you know right away that those were the pieces you wanted?
Yes, I actually did. I know the Eikund collection well and have tried most of it, so I knew that Hertug and Veng were the perfect fit here. They break up the British country-style expression in the house a little – and I think that matters. I don’t want a home to feel predictable. You can lean into one direction, but still pull in something completely different to make the space more dynamic and interesting.

What’s it like having designer furniture you care about – while also having small kids?
Hahaha, well..… most people think I’m living dangerously. But I’ve never understood the whole throwaway mentality that says “we have kids, so we’ll just wait to get nice things.”

– To me, interiors and furniture are about creating a home –something that lasts over time, that can handle life and wear, and that still feels warm, safe and inspiring.

I choose natural materials like wood, leather and wool, things that can be cleaned, repaired, and that gain character. And we can’t forget how beautiful patina can be! Anyone who loves antiques knows this. People hunting for an original Fredrik A. Kayser Krysset know that those old treasures rarely look new and that’s exactly what makes them so special.

– I’ve never understood the whole throwaway mentality that says “we have kids, so we’ll just wait to get nice things.”

How do you feel about mess?
I wish I could say that I think mess is just a natural part of life… but that would be a tiny lie. Even if it is part of life. Our style can handle a fair bit of mess, maybe more than a minimalist home could, but I’m an art director and graphic designer at heart. I guess I just wish the mess arranged itself a little more aesthetically, if you know what I mean?

How do you find balance and joy in the everyday?
With two kids under two, there is A LOT of mess. The diaper bin is overflowing, porridge ends up everywhere. But it’s also the most beautiful time of life, and I wouldn’t trade it. I try to laugh about it, even though some days I get what I call a “tulltak”,  like a dog running in circles chasing its tail, except I’m chasing clutter hoping for at least one day of a tidy home.

But again – we didn’t buy a house to keep it spotless. We bought a house to fill it with life. And mess comes with life.

The next Eikund piece on your wish list?
Next up are two Broadway chairs for the living room and an RY Armchair for the office — but collecting heirloom pieces like Eikund’s takes time. And that’s part of the charm.

– I rarely look for a style – I look for a feeling.