Carl Hansen & Son opens its latest flagship store in Pimlico
Third generation Danish furniture brand, Carl Hansen & Son, has opened its second London store in the heart of Pimlico.
One of Scandinavia’s most well-known furniture manufacturers, Carl Hansen & Son, is the company behind some of the most renowned designers of the Golden Age of Danish Design – including the likes of Kaare Klint and Hans J. Wegner. Last week, the family-run company opened a new flagship store in London’s go-to interior design district, Pimlico.
Carl Hansen & Son’s Pimlico store is the second London location for the brand, after the Clerkenwell showroom launched in 2015. The new store was opened in response to the growing global interest in Danish mid-century design; together, the two locations will allow Carl Hansen & Son to cater to the various needs of the contract or residential markets, with everyone from private customers to a range of architects and interior designers visiting the stores.
“Opening a flagship store is about being able to see the furniture together in the way we want to show it, the way that we feel it should be shown,” says Knud Erik Hansen, the third-generation CEO of Carl Hansen & Son. “The area here [in Pimlico] is fantastic, so tasteful, and this store was by far the best space. It’s the right size for us, and in the other end of the city [from Clerkenwell].”
Discussing the need to create a second London store, Hansen explains why he thinks that Danish design is garnering such a global interest. “With Danish design, you get value for money,” he says. “You get something that nobody else has; you get a very unique, classic design and [the products] last for generations. The UK is now the third biggest international market after Japan and the USA… I think many people from the UK have been to Denmark - and as soon as you’ve been there, you’re hooked on the way we design!”
A West London district known for its architecture and garden squares, Pimlico – and more specifically, Pimlico Road – is a regular destination for interior designers who are working with residential customers to find exceptional craftsmanship. With Carl Hansen & Son’s new location specifically aimed at this retail market, it makes Pimlico the perfect area for a new store. At 220 square metres, the new location will house the company’s entire collection of modern classics, which have been created by a range of Danish design masters including Mogens Koch and Arne Jacobsen.
Showcasing this extensive range of classic designs reflects the way that over the last 110 years, Carl Hansen & Son has continued to focus on finely crafted furniture and home accessories. “All the furniture is done in Denmark, and primarily with Danish wood,” explains Hansen. “we cut out the pieces with machines, but after that it’s all done by hand. The pieces go through many hands before they become a chair. All the sanding, all the polishing, all the weaving is done by hand in Denmark. All our carpenters see every piece of wood – they are craftsmen, all of them.”
The interior of the new flagship store takes its inspiration from Carl Hansen & Son’s long history; the palate is reminiscent of the company's heritage, with dark green, burgundy, navy blues and cool greys being used throughout the space. These rich colours have been paired with an oak floor and an antique teak shop counter; a bespoke kitchen at the back of the space has also been added to host private events for customers and clients.
At the front of the showroom, two large windows will display a range of products from Carl Hansen & Son’s extensive range. The displays will also be changed regularly, ensuring there is always something exciting on show to entice passers-by into the store. “I’m really excited to be opening a new flagship store in London,” says Knud Erik Hansen, “I cannot wait to welcome customers and architects and interior designers alike to our newest space.”
