As you might expect I am obsessed with good lighting. And is it any wonder given that from pendants to portables Nordic design brands know how to do it, and how to do it well?
So, rather than just showcase my favourite lighting collection of the season, I wanted to find out more; sharing with you the inspiration behind it as well as how it was designed and developed.
A combination of delicate details and the latest technology, Nuura always creates something truly exceptional, and it was at their exquisite showroom in Copenhagen that I recently chatted with Co-Founder and Creative Director, Sofie Refer.
Over to Sofie to tell us more:
Shall we start with the Nuura backstory and what the inspiration behind the brand was?
Nuura was founded by Nadia Lassen, Peter Østerberg and me back in 2017 with the intention to create a Danish lighting brand inspired by Nordic nature. The rounded organic shapes we create, the soft colours we use all take their ques from the world around us and the joy it brings.
In fact, the name Nuura is Nordic word and means ‘light and honour’, and that’s our ambition we want to honour the light, whether that’s the dark, dusky winters, or the bright, endless days of midsummer.
What do you feel makes Nuura different, how would you describe the essence of your Nordic design style?
Whether it’s through our design style, which is based on our deeply rooted Nordic values, the materials we use such as the optic glass and metal finishes, through to the light our finished products provide at Nuura we aim to create aesthetic lighting of the highest quality all with the ability to transform a room, elevate a mood and enhance well-being.
At Nuura you work in collections, but can you tell us more about how these product families take shape and unfold?
At Nuura we always start with a chandelier as I have been fascinated by them since childhood. I love reinterpreting the grandness of the past into a modern piece that meets the demands of today, and around this design we then organically build the entire collection. Each lamp within their ‘family’ will then feature differences yet commonalities within them, maintaining the variation and repetition we see in nature.
When it comes to your latest additions which are your favourite pieces and why?
I actually like all of Nuura collections. It is the wholeness that I like most; the fact that you can combine our lights to create a complete lighting decoration or mix and match different collections to make something uniquely your own.
I think this is why I’m particularly excited about our new ‘Petali’ family as Nika Zupanc has totally reimagined traditional lighting though a modern, subversive lens. Taking their name from the botanical word for petal, they present the universal form of the flower in a minimal aesthetic but use contemporary materials and shapes to illuminating effect.
Finally, and seeing as the nights are getting longer, what would be your top three tips to lighting a room during the winter months?
When it comes to lighting your home, every room presents a unique set of challenges and considerations based on what it is used for, what you want it to look like, and how you want it to feel; especially as natural light levels are at a premium during the winter months.
Firstly, it is important to understand the three basic types of lighting you will need; ambient or general lighting like chandeliers and pendants, task lighting such as table lamps and floor lamps, and accent lighting, which includes wall lamps and our outdoor lamps.
Secondly, don’t think in watts but lumens and kelvin as they are a more accurate measure of brightness. During the day a higher kelvin, such as 3000k is good as it raises your energy levels, while in the evening levels below 2700k aid healthy sleep.
Finally, add even more flexibility to your room’s lighting by using dimmers. By layering your lighting, it allows you to create the right setting whether you need a good working light or a cosier atmosphere before bed.
WANT TO KNOW MORE?
Thanks again to Sofie for chatting with me, I’m very much looking forward to visiting the Nuura showroom myself very soon. To find out more about Nuura and their latest collection, visit their website.
All images courtesy of Nuura.
Like this post? Then why not read my chat with the founders of Danish design brand MOEBE.
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