Three minimalist studio spaces

Commercial offices and studios can be great sources of design inspiration, and they’re often brimming with clever ideas that can easily be incorporated into home environments. I’ve spotted three very stylish examples over the last couple of weeks, and I couldn’t resist sharing some photos and a few words about why they caught my eye.

All three are located in Denmark and belong to design brands of one kind or another. They’re very different, but they all demonstrate how interiors can be used to showcase identity and personality, and how good design can have a positive impact on our wellbeing and productivity. Let’s take a look…

New Works’ just-launched showroom

First up is furniture and lighting brand New Works, which has just moved into a new studio and showroom in Copenhagen. The company describes its collection as a fusion between ‘old and new, light and dark, design and art’ and this is reflected in the space, which has lots of ornate period mouldings to offset the minimalist lines of the pieces.

It also showcases the warm, neutral colours that I’m so drawn to at the moment. The walls are painted in sandy beiges and moody taupes, providing a wonderful backdrop for the monochrome marble, black-steel legs and white opal glass which are common features of many New Works designs. It’s a similar colour palette to the one I used in my recent styling project for Crown Paints, and it works brilliantly in all sorts of settings. I also love the use of heavy floor-to-ceiling curtains, which are hung across walls to create a cosy, cocooning atmosphere. Conversely, the windows are left bare to let in as much natural light as possible, with movable screens that can be positioned as needed to reduce glare.

Norm Architects’ revamped studio

Next up is the newly refurbished Copenhagen studio of Norm Architects, whose building projects and brand collaborations always impress. It’s located on Snaregade, one of the city’s oldest streets, and blends restored period panelling and deep-set windows with contemporary elements such as concrete floors and sleek built-in shelving. The colour palette is largely monochrome, but wooden furniture adds dashes of warmth here and there. I particularly like the kitchen, which features Norm’s own ‘Surface’ range of sawn-oak cupboard and drawer fronts, designed for Reform.

What I love most about this place, though, is the use of space. At its heart is a large open-plan office with two long tables, but partitions have been installed to create break-out zones for meetings and chats. High tables and armchairs have also been placed nooks in the hallway, providing quieter spots where people can retreat when needed and making the most of an otherwise dead space.

Sørensen Leather’s new HQ

Also designed by Norm Architects is the new HQ of Sørensen Leather in Denmark’s second city, Aarhus. The company produces beautiful, high-quality leather and has worked with renowned furniture companies such as Fritz Hansen, Erik Jørgensen, Gubi and Fogia, some of whose pieces are shown here.

The aim was to create a calming space that contributes towards the wellbeing of guests and staff, and I love the soft colours and tactile textures used throughout. Cleverly, leather has also been incorporated in an array of different ways to showcase its vast creative potential. There are bespoke leather-clad tables, cabinets and room dividers, and the entire conference table is covered with a semi-aniline leather from Sørensen’s popular ‘SPECTRUM’ collection. The leather elements are paired with other natural materials such as wood, stone, marble, grasses and linen, creating an atmosphere that’s sophisticated and serene, and that engages all the senses.

What do you think about these three spaces? And which is your favourite?

All photography via New Works and Norm Architects