10 Interiors + Lifestyle Things I Love For November
Hi decor8 readers! I am so excited to be part of decor8 starting with this column, and am so happy to be taking my own “10 Things I Love” post to all new heights here for all of you! So first thing first: My name is Allan Torp (read my bio here), and on a daily basis I run Denmark’s leading blog on interior, design and lifestyle called Bungalow5 and will from now on, also share my favorites monthly here on decor8.
The concept is pretty simple, 10 more or less an identical set of categories where a few might change accordingly. I will focus mostly on what I know best, Scandinavian design, however, I am traveling quite a lot, so international things might show up and I will make sure, that you can order all items online for delivery wherever you are.
I hope you like what I share in my columns, you might find it a bit to the masculine side, but hey, I am a man. Plus, Holly loves my style so I think she knows her readers well enough to know that you will all find my angle interesting and fun to read. So let us begin!
1 // Furniture:
THE PENGUIN CHAIR. To me at least, this is a relatively unknown Danish design chair, which I recently saw on a visit at the TRNK showroom in New York. It was designed by Danish designer In Kofod-Larsen. Even though Ib achieved international success in the 1950s, and his Penguin Chair became one of Denmark’s best selling pieces in the US, he is almost nowhere to be found – and I hadn’t heard anything about him or his chair before I saw it in New York. Luckily for us, it is back in production by Brdr. Petersen and sold world wide.
2 // Art
I am always looking for new and more art for my white walls. A new favorite of mine is The Wall Market, a Danish online gallery where all prints are super high quality and made-to-order in the size you want. I just brought home Bjarke Johansen’s cowboy to add a bit of the modern wild west to my Scandinavian modern, mid-century home.
3 // Decorate:
I am a collector. I have things everywhere. I am not a classic Scandi minimalist. Sometimes I have a hissy fit and get rid of a bunch of things, but magically, shelves, corners and side tables get packed very quickly again. This month I have my eye set on a few items from the newly opened one-of-a-kind objects shop Odem Atelier. I really like the very unusual yet charming stoneware candle holders by Malwina Kleparska and the petrified wood trays that I am sure will be the next big thing. From Danish Menu, I really love the new Moon vase, Designed by Aleksandar Lazic, it is even beautiful on its own without flowers and not too girly (nothing wrong with girly, just not my style, sorry). I simply had to bring home a bit of the new Jars ceramics collection on a recent trip to Paris, too.
4 // Sleep:
As a design capital, Copenhagen has really been lacking on proper, nicely decorated design hotels. Luckily that is changing rapidly. Skt. Petri finally got upgraded, SP34 has been among the favorites for a long time, but now both Nobis Copenhagen, Hotel Denmark, and Sanders opens their doors to beautiful interiors and very well-designed hotels. I cannot wait to be a tourist in my own city.
5 // Listen:
While we wait for the long anticipated new Sam Smith album, I am very happy with his latest single release, Burning.
6 // Groom:
As it gets darker and darker and the days gets shorter, I find it even more necessary to take good care of myself and my skin. This month I’ll make it goal to do a weekly facial with the new Masculinity series for men by Beaute Pacifique, give my hands a daily rub with the salvia, rosemary and lavender LA Bruket hand crème, old lady like I know, but I like it anyway, and of course I am over the moon about the new Aesop unisex Hwyl eau de parfum -- smokey, woody, rich, perfect for a winter scent.
7 // Read:
First, my own book - my debut title, "Scandinavian Style at Home: A Room-by-Room Guide", published by Thames & Hudson. Holly will be reviewing it on decor8 soon, but I had to share it in a photo I took in my home, below. I hope that you will order it, too!
Aside from my own book, I cannot wait to dive into the new Entrepreneur by Kinfolk. As an entrepreneur myself I am really looking forward to reading and being inspired by others around the world.
"Entreprenuer" Photos by @Holly Becker as my copy hasn’t arrived just yet.
8 // Eat:
Right now I am working on making a menu at the Copenhagen restaurant P Eatery, a newly opened restaurant owned by design hotel Skt. Petri. I am of course working closely together with the head chef Patryk Stafin, who used to work at Noma. Including in the menu are both a pre-dinner and after-dinner drink, just as I like it. So if you are in Copenhagen between end of November to mid February, you should really book a table. I promise you, it is delicious. Keep an eye out for the P Menu, which will be my menu. And promise me you’ll go all out, with drinks, wine and the entire menu – that’s how I designed it.
9 // Shop:
I am a frequent traveler to Los Angeles, and at the end of November I’ll be going again for three weeks. Once in LA, I’ll head straight to Main Street in Venice for the new Mohawk General Store. From the looks of it, a calm cool space with a curious mix of far-flung and homegrown fashion and objects, I'll love it. I already love their shop in Silver Lake, so I am sure I’ll enjoy shopping in their new shop just as much. And I love Venice too, so mega win win.
10 // One last thing:
I have really been searching for the perfect office chair, right now, I have stolen one from my dining room, not ideal, but it works until I find the right one. I really like the look of Jesus Gasca’s Gas chair, the all black version would be amazing, and they promise amazingly comfort.
Hope you have a great day, see you in December with my next installation of "10 Things I Love". - Allan
