While I may dream daily of packing up and moving it’s always a total pleasure chatting with other people, right here in the UK, who share my passion for all things Nordic.
Natalie Harding, the founder of House of Twenty, is one such person. Specialising in lovingly restored, high-quality vintage furniture and lighting, her East London based online shop and studio is a treasure trove for Scandinavian interior design enthusiasts everywhere.
Over to Natalie to tell us more:
Can you start by telling me about your background, and how furniture and restoration became your passion?
I’m the fourth generation of a family of wood workers, so furniture is in my blood. My father manufactured furniture, his father before him worked for the Forestry Commission testing the properties of timbers for architectural projects. Meanwhile before that, his father, and my great-grandfather, was a wood turner.
What was the inspiration behind House of Twenty and what is it about Scandinavian design that appeals to you?
Our company name was born from a love of mid-twentieth century furniture and I’ve always admired the highly crafted Scandinavian aesthetic of form and functionality.
From striking sideboards to sleek, curved chairs, all our pieces are full of stories, and we are here to give them a fresh lease of life so they can create new ones for many years to come.
Can you tell us more about House of Twenty, your team and what you offer?
At House of Twenty we are a team of twelve female restorers and upholsterers with a furniture showroom and workshops just off the Lea River in Clapton.
We work closely with our customers and commercial clients to offer a bespoke restoration service. All our pieces are sourced from Scandinavia and carefully refinished in-house to ensure they retain their original design features and high level of quality.
What are your top tips to anyone looking to add vintage Scandinavian pieces to their home?
Whilst a growing number of replica items have been making their way into the furniture market, there’s something to be said for the quality, authenticity, and style of an authentic piece.
If you are looking to invest in a restored original my advice would be to always keep it simple, Scandinavian design centres around a calm and un-cluttered approach. Invest in high quality pieces made from rosewood, teak, and oak, they are stylish, robust and will make an impact in any room while the craftsmanship will speak for itself.
What’s next for House of Twenty, can you share more about what exciting pieces you are currently working on?
We’re due to open a second showroom towards the end of August, to give additional space to our workshops and to showcase our pieces, which is very exciting.
Meanwhile in the workshop, we’re currently working on some beautiful Niels Møller Model 71 dining chairs, some Arne Hovmand-Olsen paper cord chairs, along with an incredible set of iconic rosewood Kai Kristiansen Model 42 dining chairs.
Thank you so much for the chat Natalie, I’m looking forward to visiting House of Twenty for myself very soon.
Want to know more?
To find out more visit the House of Twenty website.
All images courtesy of House of Twenty.
Enjoyed reading this post? Then read my chat with the founders of leading Nordic design brand New Works.
Leave a Reply