[Hida-Takayama] A Furniture Manufacturer "Kitani", Inherits the Designs of Scandinavian Furniture

Scandinavian furniture is popular for its simple yet warm design. It has become a big boom in Japan over the past decade or so, and many people probably refer to the Scandinavian way of life as a reference.

Did you know that there is a furniture manufacturer in Hida that has reprinted and inherited the designs of "Finn Juhl," "Ip Cofford Larsen," and "Jacob Kjær," which have been loved by many fans and are called the "best of Scandinavian furniture"?

This time, we would like to introduce "Kitani" located in Matsukura-cho, Takayama City, Gifu.

The calm life of Scandinavia that can be seen from the furniture

The Kitani showroom is located in a very quiet location surrounded by nature.

We have introduced many furniture makers in Hida, but this place has a different atmosphere, not to mention the different furniture they handle. It's hard to tell from the photo, but can you see the building floating a bit out of view on the far right of the pipe?

At the entrance is an object called "Handicraft God (created by Hiroo Amano)" created as a symbol of craftsmen from around the world. Visitors enter after taking their time to appreciate the unique and impactful appearance and the detailed 360-degree molding.

A small soldier and the Danish flag welcome you in the middle of a straight corridor designed with wooden frames on both sides. On the right side of the hallway is the workshop, so if you are interested in the craftsmen's handiwork, please take a gander through the gaps in the wooden frames.

And the left side is the shop space "Gruk". It seems to be this shop that was floating in the air earlier.

Incidentally, Denmark, the smallest country in Scandinavia, is made up of a peninsula and an island. Known as the home of the fairy tale writer Andersen, it is a lovely kingdom of fairytale-like palaces and buildings.

It is also a country that ranks first in the World Happiness Survey and is very progressive in terms of gender equality and welfare.

Perhaps the popularity of Scandinavian furniture is not only because of its design, but also because of its image of people's richness of spirit.

Inside the shop, Scandinavian furniture, accessories, daily goods, etc. are neatly lined up.

Tableware from the Danish ceramics brand Royal Copenhagen.

The original bags made of chair upholstery fabric are one-of-a-kind, created from the materials available at the time and the inspiration of the artisan.

The cushions and chairs have different colors and designs, but they have a sense of unity that only Scandinavian colors can provide. It is a good reference for thinking "This is how I should match orange and navy".

And these chairs are the designs of the masters!

Further into the showroom

The previous corridor leads to the showroom. It's like a maze with many buildings lined up.

Even the ground of the aisle is stylish. It is no wonder that many people visit this showroom from all over Japan.

I found this monument. It is a work called "Enmai (by Takeshi Hayashi)" created to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the company's founding.

Kitani's showroom is divided into spaces like a single house. It's nice to be able to see how each room is used and how the furniture is arranged based on your lifestyle.

This is the dining room.

The living room is next door.

There is also a reception room in the back. This room is said to be "a place where the wife invites her friends to enjoy tea," and you can see that it has a slightly feminine taste.

What struck me while browsing the showroom was the scattering of Japanese furniture and accessories here and there. And somehow, everything was in perfect harmony.

This is truly a Japanese-style room. There is a rug on the tatami mat and a Scandinavian chair. The color combination is nothing short of magnificent. Japanese houses and Scandinavian furniture go well together, don't they?

Even so, I was particularly interested in these rugs. Arranging so many rugs with different patterns in one space, and even furniture with different colors... I'm impressed by what kind of sense you have to create such a combination.

"Don't worry, it goes surprisingly well together. But if you have any doubts, please feel free to consult with us," says a staff member. Many people decide to purchase after going back and forth to consult with us.

Rugs are durable and of good quality, such as the grass-dyed hand-knotted Niyaloran carpets and KASTHALL, a long-established Swedish rug manufacturer.

It looks like it's going to be a special space just by laying it out!