Profile: Fabian and Liza Laserow Berglund, Nordic Knots

Nordic Knots, a Swedish brand established in 2016 by Fabian Berglund, his wife Liza Laserow, and his brother Felix, has quickly become a focal point in the interior design community, celebrated for its meticulously designed rugs and soft furnishings. The brand's flagship store in Stockholm exemplifies Scandinavian aesthetic with clean lines, uncluttered spaces, and a minimalist touch, creating an inviting ambiance that embodies the concept of 'hygge.' The store's interior design, influenced by iconic figures like Arne Jacobsen, Alvar Aalto, and Hans J. Wegner, features a grand marble staircase leading to a central New Zealand wool rug by Giancarlo Valle, which contrasts its rich, bold red tones and intricate pattern against the cool marble. Artisanal curtains further enhance the space, adding softness and a warm glow. The founders leveraged their backgrounds in interior design, advertising, and antiques to create a brand that specializes in handcrafted rugs with a Nordic aesthetic. All products are designed in Stockholm and hand-crafted by skilled weavers in India. Nordic Knots also partners with GoodWeave™ to ensure ethical production practices, specifically to avoid child labor. This commitment to design, craftsmanship, and ethics has allowed the brand to grow from a modest startup into a trusted name among home decorators and interior designers. Nordic Knots offers a diverse collection of rugs and soft furnishings, each reflecting a blend of Scandinavian design principles and artisanal craftsmanship. The Bouclé – Black/White rug, handwoven from New Zealand wool, offers a minimalist patterned palette with a soft texture and natural color variations, handcrafted by adult artisans in Bhadohi, India. The River – Pale Sand rug features a luxurious shaggy texture, hand-knotted from New Zealand wool, with creamy shades and dark woven canvas currents, inspired by the natural elegance of Sweden's Dalarna region rivers. Its generous pile height provides a lavish underfoot experience. The Norr Mälarstrand 01 rug, designed by Swedish architect Andreas Martin Löf, pays homage to Stockholm's iconic shoreline buildings with its plush cut-pile from New Zealand wool, offering both softness and durability. For outdoor spaces, the Acre – 01 rug is a handwoven flatweave crafted from abaca, designed for durability and intended as a statement piece for outdoor living. The Boho – Gray Mix rug draws inspiration from Stockholm's limestone staircases and bohemian textures, made from undyed European wool with a contemporary geometric pattern. The Rain – Beige rug is characterized by its minimalist aesthetic and linear forms, suitable for various interior styles as either a subtle accent or a grounding element. This thin, handwoven flatweave rug is durable despite its slim profile. The Big Buds – Red rug, designed by Giancarlo Valle, combines patterns from Valle's Latin American family home with Nordic folklore art, featuring a distinctive cut-out corner that makes it a vibrant focal point. Finally, Nordic Knots also offers curtains like the Nordic Shade in Perfect White, Soft Gray, and Pale Sand, made from pure Australian wool. These curtains are praised by designers for their smooth, soft texture, light-filtering capabilities, and versatility, complementing various decors and providing a modern frame to any room. The brand's emphasis on simple, beautiful, and functional design solidifies its appeal to both homeowners and interior designers. #InteriorDesign #ScandinavianDesign #NordicKnots #HandcraftedRugs #HomeDecor #SoftFurnishings #EthicalProduction #TextileDesign #LuxuryRugs

Nordic Nest, an e-tailer established in 2002, has cultivated a distinctive niche in the Scandinavian interior design market by prioritizing storytelling and brand building. Unlike typical online retailers, Nordic Nest offers a curated experience that allows customers to explore and engage with Scandinavian design at their own pace. The platform serves as a primary destination for enthusiasts of Scandinavian interior design, emphasizing functional simplicity and timeless beauty, and is expanding its efforts to enhance the global visibility of Scandinavian design. The company's extensive catalog features over 60,000 Scandinavian design products from more than 300 brands. The selection is meticulously curated, highlighting craftsmanship and artistic expression. Nordic Nest supports a diverse range of creators, from emerging talents to established designers, providing year-round assistance through marketing collaborations, exclusive product launches, and international outreach. This commitment extends beyond transactional relationships, focusing on showcasing each studio's unique craftsmanship and innovative techniques through various channels, including digital campaigns, curated showcases, and events, thereby popularizing Scandinavian design globally. During the 2025 Stockholm Design Week, Nordic Nest hosted an intimate dinner at Stockholm’s Nationalmuseum, bringing together leading Scandinavian design brands such as Fritz Hansen, Iittala, Louis Poulsen, Gärsnäs, and Audo Copenhagen. This event celebrated both the enduring traditions and contemporary innovations within Scandinavian design, underscoring the company’s dedication to providing brands with a platform for increased visibility and recognition beyond the Nordic region. Among the highlights of the event was the unveiling of Iittala’s Solare collection, a new tableware line inspired by light. This collection, which includes glassware, textiles, and home accessories, captures the interplay of brightness and form, continuing Iittala’s legacy of avant-garde design and colored glass since its founding in 1881. Danish brand Audo also introduced the Pavot Collection, a collaboration with designer Colin King. This collection, featuring artfully crafted vessels like the Pavot Centerpiece, Bowl, and Vase, draws inspiration from the organic shape of a poppy seed head, blending ancient influences with modern craftsmanship. Each piece is cast in aluminum and finished with a brown bronzed patina, embodying a timeless yet contemporary aesthetic. Through these initiatives, Nordic Nest reinforces the notion that Scandinavian design is rooted in careful attention to detail and a profound sense of connection. #ScandinavianDesign #InteriorDesign #NordicNest #ECommerce #DesignRetail #BrandBuilding #DesignEvents #FurnitureDesign #HomeDecor

The article highlights a shift in the perception of Scandinavian design, moving beyond the traditional male-dominated figures like Arne Jacobsen, Finn Juhl, and Hans Wegner. It introduces a new publication, '_Real Nordic Living_', which aims to provide a more contemporary and inclusive view of Nordic design by featuring female designers, diverse aesthetics, and lifestyle elements beyond furniture. The core concept of 'hygge' is explored through the work and philosophies of three prominent women designers. Josephine Akvama Hoffmeyer, the Ghanaian-Danish founder of File Under Pop, is presented as a key figure in this modern interpretation. Her company specializes in hand-making ceramic tiles, wallpaper, and paints in Copenhagen. Hoffmeyer's work extends to hotels and residences globally, including a current project in Uruguay. She emphasizes the importance of color in Nordic interior design, noting a move away from the past two decades' prevalence of white and pastels. Hoffmeyer advocates for using specific color palettes to define rooms, such as fresh and cool hues for bedrooms and warmer, denser tones for kitchens or living rooms, to create 'hygge' in an accessible and economical manner through paint. Julie Bonde Bülck of Uh la la Ceramics is another designer featured, known for her porcelain pieces characterized by slick, curved shapes often described as 'seductive'. Her work incorporates a modern, tech-inspired aesthetic, exemplified by spherical dishes with snap-on lids. Bonde Bülck acknowledges Jony Ive as an influence, indicating a blend of traditional ceramic craftsmanship with contemporary design sensibilities. Finally, Ragnhild Wik of Wik Oslo, initially a costume designer, established her eponymous shop in 2014. Her studio, located in a 200-year-old stable in Oslo, serves not only as a workspace but also as a showroom and a communal gathering space for family, friends, and colleagues. Wik’s approach to her studio, filled with secondhand furniture and collected items, embodies the cozy and inviting spirit of Nordic 'hygge', reflecting a personal and collected aesthetic rather than a purely minimalist one. This collection of designers collectively showcases a refreshing and expanded definition of Scandinavian design, one that is more diverse, vibrant, and reflective of modern living. #NordicDesign #ScandinavianDesign #Hygge #HomeDesign #InteriorDesign #WomenInDesign #CeramicArt #WallpaperDesign #ColorTheory

Nordic Knots, a company founded by Liza Laserow, Fabian Berglund, and Felix Berglund, is dedicated to producing modernist rugs that draw inspiration from their Scandinavian heritage. The founders, connected by both familial ties and a shared belief in the importance of a rug in a well-designed Swedish home, launched Nordic Knots to extend the modernist traditions of their native land. The company's Modern Cut Pile collection serves as a direct homage to early 20th-century design aesthetics. Within this collection, particular patterns, such as the 'Modern Pink' rug, showcase a vibrant use of color combined with minimalist geometric shapes. These designs are executed on a plush foundation of New Zealand wool, providing both visual appeal and a luxurious texture. The rugs are meticulously crafted using both handwoven and hand-loomed techniques, highlighting the company's commitment to quality and traditional methods. Nordic Knots offers these rugs in a range of four different dimensions, accommodating various space requirements and design preferences. The available sizes span from 6 by 9 feet to 10 by 14 feet, making them suitable for a variety of room scales. This approach allows consumers to integrate pieces that are both functional and artistic, reflecting a deep respect for Scandinavian design principles. The company emphasizes the role of the rug as a central element in interior design, echoing the traditional Swedish home where a rug often serves as a focal point. By blending modernist design with classic Scandinavian sensibilities, Nordic Knots aims to create pieces that are timeless yet contemporary, offering durable and aesthetically pleasing solutions for modern living spaces. The choice of New Zealand wool further underscores a commitment to natural materials and quality craftsmanship. #NordicKnots #ScandinavianDesign #ModernistRugs #InteriorDesign #HandwovenRugs #NewZealandWool #GeometricPatterns #HomeDecor #DesignHeritage

Nordic Knots, a Scandinavian rug producer, and Giancarlo Valle, a New York-based interior designer, have collaborated to create a new rug collection. This collaboration was born out of mutual admiration between the two entities. Giancarlo Valle's approach to the collection interprets traditional Swedish rug-making through a Latin American perspective, drawing inspiration from his upbringing in homes rich with color, pattern, and hand-painted furniture. The collection features a palette of rich and deep hues. The motifs for the rugs, named Loop, Buds, and All Hands, originated from sketches made by Valle in his studio. To further connect the cultural influences, Valle chose to photograph the rugs in 16th-century farmhouses located in Hälsingland, a region in Sweden renowned for its historic, heritage-listed decorations, particularly murals painted in the 1840s. This choice of setting aims to weave together the folklore traditions of both the Scandinavian and Latin American regions that influenced the collection's design. Each rug in the collection presents a distinct visual and textural experience. The "All Hands" rug showcases carved hand-shapes embedded within a brown fabric, suggesting a tactile and sculptural quality. The "Buds" rug features plant-like shapes indented on an orange fabric, evoking natural forms and organic growth. The "Loop" rug is presented in both green and yellow variations, each accented with white trim, indicating a design that emphasizes continuity and simple, elegant lines. This partnership not only highlights the fusion of diverse cultural aesthetics but also underscores the artistic depth and design philosophy of both Nordic Knots and Giancarlo Valle. The collection represents a bridge between different design traditions, bringing together the minimalist yet functional aspects of Scandinavian design with the vibrant and expressive qualities often found in Latin American artistry. The deliberate choice of rich colors, unique motifs derived from personal sketches, and the historical context of the photographic setting all contribute to a collection that is both contemporary and deeply rooted in cultural heritage. #NordicKnots #GiancarloValle #RugCollection #InteriorDesign #ScandinavianDesign #LatinAmericanInfluence #Textiles #HomeDecor #DesignCollaboration

Czech glassmaker Lasvit showcased a series of new lighting designs at Euroluce 2025, taking inspiration from various natural elements and textures to create pieces that explore the relationship between light, material, and well-being. The exhibition, titled 'Soaked in Light,' featured several highly textured designs that blended innovative glassmaking techniques with natural aesthetics. One of the standout creations was 'Vera,' a sculptural glass pendant designed by renowned French designer Patrick Jouin. The concept for 'Vera' originated from Jouin's observation of a twig, leading to experiments with torn paper and eventually a glass piece that mimics the appearance of bark. This design incorporates two types of handmade glass: delicate borosilicate for the light source and fused glass, where molten glass is poured over raw wood to capture its intricate grain and texture. This process allows the glass to take shape influenced by gravity and nature, resulting in a unique interplay of surface, shadow, and light that evokes a primal connection to forests and trees. Another highlight was 'Splash,' an extravagant glass installation by Lasvit designer Martin Gallo. This piece was designed to emulate the calming effect of water, featuring fused glass forms suspended in a dramatic arrangement. Visitors could walk among these forms, which resembled water in motion, reflecting light like ripples and creating an immersive experience that promotes tranquility and well-being. At the entrance of the exhibition, Lasvit artistic director Maxim Velčovský introduced 'Loomo,' a new lighting system inspired by woven textiles. Despite its smooth-to-the-touch surface, the glass in 'Loomo' is imprinted with a structured weave, effectively capturing the softness of fabric within a rigid form. Designed for compact spaces like corridors or bedside areas, 'Loomo' is available in two wall sconce sizes, both finished in a warm, golden hue that enhances their sculptural glow. Velčovský emphasized the playful approach to light in its development, aiming to optimize every centimeter to transform the atmosphere of a space. Rounding out the showcase was 'Niveo,' a collection by Czech designer Jan Plecháč. Named after the Italian word for 'snow-white,' 'Niveo' captures the fleeting beauty of hailstones in hand-blown glass. The collection includes linear pendants, clusters, and an inverted spherical table lamp, all featuring an irregular texture that produces an alluring, soft glow. Additionally, the exhibition featured the 'Herbarium Radiant,' an immersive, color-shifting lighting installation that incorporates a new type of glass made from repurposed waste. This piece, first launched at Design Miami 2024, allows users to adjust the light color for a dynamic and mesmerizing visual experience. Lasvit's installation at Euroluce 2025 served as a contemplative contrast to the bustling Milan Design Week. It offered a moment for visitors to pause and appreciate the subtleties of design, emphasizing nature-inspired aesthetics and innovative glass craftsmanship in lighting. #Lasvit #Euroluce2025 #LightingDesign #GlassArt #MilanDesignWeek #NatureInspiredDesign #InteriorLighting #CzechDesign #DesignInnovation

The Heritage throw by Norwegian design studio Plesner Patterns integrates traditional Scandinavian craft techniques, such as weaving and wood carving, into a contemporary woollen blanket. Designed by Kiki Plesner-Löfroth for her brand, the throw is made from 100 per cent merino wool, aiming to evoke a sense of coziness and grounding. The design features patches of soothing colors and cream-colored tassels, with the textile woven using herringbone and waffle techniques, which are traditional methods historically employed by Norwegian artisans. Plesner Patterns' approach interprets traditional elements in a modern context, creating a connection to the past that is perceived as comfortable and safe. The design is intended to reveal new shapes and colors with movement, adding to its appeal. For 2024, the brand expanded its color palette to include blue and yellow, complementing existing versions in red and light blue, and green and ochre, which were introduced in 2022. Each throw measures 2000 x 1300 millimeters. The Heritage blankets are manufactured in Grinakervev, Norway, a detail that underscores their regional craftsmanship. The product has received critical acclaim, notably being awarded the Red Dot Award in the product design category in 2024. This recognition highlights the throw's design quality and adherence to established design principles, combining functionality with aesthetic value and cultural reference. The production process emphasizes quality materials and traditional methods, ensuring durability and a unique texture. Key product details include its primary material, 100 per cent merino wool, which is known for its softness, warmth, and natural properties. The available color combinations offer consumers a range of aesthetic choices to suit various interior designs. The dimensions of the throw make it suitable for a variety of uses, from decorative accents to practical warmth providers. The product's success in design awards further solidifies its position in the market as a noteworthy piece of textile design. #ScandinavianDesign #MerinoWool #TextileDesign #TraditionalCraft #HomeDecor #ProductDesign #NorwegianDesign #WoollenBlanket #RedDotAward