Behind the Brand: Studio Nordic
Think beautiful, well-crafted, 20th-century Nordic furniture, rugs, and more.
When Therés Lorén opened Studio Nordic back in 2019, she set out to share her deep love for 20th-century Nordic design—think beautiful, well-crafted furniture, statement lamps, textured rugs, and timeless decorative objects. Since then, the gallery has become a go-to destination for those who appreciate quality, craftsmanship, and a bit of soul in their interiors. Now, with the recent opening of a brand-new showroom in New York in collaboration with Past Lives, fans of Studio Nordic can finally experience the collection in person.
I recently had the chance to connect with Therés to hear more about about her journey, her inspirations, and what makes Nordic design so endlessly appealing—here’s what she shared for my Substack audience.
To kick things off, let’s start at the beginning. Can you share how Studio Nordic got its start? And what exactly does the name mean?
It was a mix of different things I would say, I had lived in New York for a couple of years and had my first child. Family life plus a full time job in the city was demanding so I wanted to do something else with more flexibility. I had always dreamt of starting a business selling Scandinavian Mid-century—I have a big interest in design and spent 10 years working in fashion. The moment felt right to try a new adventure, and Studio Nordic was born! The name was something that was debated a lot (at home!). I wanted something that reflected the geographical origin of the design that I was bringing to New York. After playing around with different names (space, gallery, Scandinavia etc.) I landed with Studio Nordic. Studio feels reflective of the selected environment that I wanted to show with an carefully edited collection and the nordic region is well known as a concept within design.
You specialize in selling 20th-century furniture, lamps, rugs and decor—can you tell me about your sourcing process?
My main rule of thumb is that I never source anything I wouldn’t put in my own home! What I offer is a reflection of what I think is the best and most stunning of the 20th-century design era in Scandinavia. The idea is that everything should work together but every piece should also be unique in it itself. I love going to small vintage and antique shops when I am in Sweden and find the very special finds that will look personal and special in every home. Sourcing in person when traveling is my favorite way to find new pieces.
All of your pieces are immaculately restored. What does your restoration process look like?
I have been lucky to find specialized people in New York that help me restore the pieces. They are small business like myself and I am really proud of the fact that through starting this business I have not only been able to create a job for myself but also give opportunities back to other small business in the city. There are so many talented people here with incredible skills and we need to keep them going! We always talk about what should be done to each piece, if it is a new finish to a table or a repair to rug, and also what should be left untouched. Some patina is also evidence of a life well lived and gives the collection life. Sometimes you are lucky and old details will appear when stripping of old fabrics. I love when this happens and it becomes a detail or story to tell customers.
You and Past Lives are now collaborating and just opened a showroom in Nomad. How did that partnership come about? How can people visit?
I first meet Carly from Past Lives in the spring of 2023. We were part of a pop-up during NYC design week in Chelsea and we both noticed there was a connection between our collections. Also we got along very well on a personal level and stayed in contact. Last year we both came to the point where we were ready for a permanent space to show the very best in each of our collections. We started looking for a space together as a joint venture also knowing that Cuff Studio would be interested in joining us. To do it together as a collaboration has been so rewarding, to support and learn from each other. I am so happy about this showroom. It has been something I have hoped for since starting Studio Nordic and to be able to do it next to Past Lives and Cuff feels great.
What's next for Studio Nordic?
I would really like to expand the rug collection that I have here in NYC. I love working with rugs and tapestries from the 1920-70s from Sweden. It is such a rich design heritage that has only recently started to come to light internationally mainly through the work of Märta Måås Fjetterström. The majority were female designers as textile was seen a more fitting design professions for women. It can be hard to find information as documentation is sparse and many worked from home. I hope that by showing these designs in the showroom in NYC I can help to spread the knowledge about 20th century Swedish textile design and show these amazing rugs and tapestries to a wider public. They can really transform a room and add layers in a fantastic way!
Lastly, do you have any advice for someone interested in a career in the interiors industry?
Do it! There will be many road blocks on the way, but don’t let them scare you. You will learn each time and the reward working with something that will affect the everyday life of someone and give joy in their home is so rewarding.
To learn more about Studio Nordic, visit www.studio-nordic.com or in person at 143 West 29th Street, New York, NY (by appointment only).
If you purchase something through these links, I may earn an affiliate commission.
Lovely! Let me know if you need any advices or help with curating some pieces!
Swooning!