Home Stories: Kathrine Hovind
Kathrine Hovind is a product designer based in Oslo. She combines contemporary aesthetics and modern production techniques with traditional craftsmanship. Through her work in furniture design, she aims to help preserve some of Norway’s most vulnerable craft traditions by creating functional, lasting, and sustainable products.
Globalization and industrial production have put many traditional Norwegian craft techniques at risk. To help preserve this heritage, Norges Husflidlag created a Red List of endangered techniques and organizes local workshops to share knowledge and inspire engagement.
Through these workshops, Kathrine has learned several of the listed techniques and incorporated them into new furniture designs. Her work shows how traditional crafts can be revived and made relevant for today.
"My home isn’t filled with colour, but I love bringing it in through small details — through what I wear, the objects around me, and the pieces I design."
What makes a house feel like home?
It is important to me that a home feels welcoming and inviting, a place where I want to spend a long time. I love a mix of new, crafted and vintage objects. The things we own tell the story of a life we've collected over time.
Is there a space in your home you are drawn to the most — and why?
It’s definitely the kitchen and living room. The large window, the beautiful view, and the combination of different wood surfaces make it a very special space. We've created different zones, with the dining table and kitchen at the heart of the room, as well as a place where we can step back, relax and unwind.
Which object best represents your daily life here?
My Hasami collection and the beautiful vintage vase (from Kollekted by) on the coffee table, which I fill with flowers from the garden.
“I love the feeling of wood — the smell, the texture, the warmth. Our home was inspired by a wood workshop, and we built everything around that atmosphere.”
How does your work live within your home?
I keep most of my work in the studio, but as a designer and stylist I often move things around. I enjoy seeing my pieces in new settings and contexts. This platter, for example, currently lives on the dining table. My coffee table, however, will always stay in the same place and will be with me forever.
What defines an interior for you: colour, material, or form?
For me, it’s all about creating a warm and cosy atmosphere. We were inspired by the feeling of a wood workshop, so we kept the walls white as a base and combined different types of wood throughout the house. I simply love wood, its smell, its texture and the way it looks.
How would you describe your home to someone who cannot see it?
Warm, woody, light, and hopefully both relaxing and welcoming.
