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Studio Haslund Bel-Air
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Contact information: https://studiohaslund.com/
Designer: Kristina Haslund
Photo Credit: Ethan Jones
Nestled in the hills of Bel-Air, Kristina Haslund of Studio Haslund is known for her Scandinavian-inspired interiors and using her design philosophies to create welcoming, warm and Hygge atmospheres for her clients. She prioritizes celebrating the refined simplicity and elegance of a space, while maintaining a relaxed and functional feel. She recently styled her own home with Louis Poulsen lighting and Audo furniture, effortlessly fusing Danish pragmatics with a laid-back sophistication emblematic of Southern California.
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Why were Louis Poulsen products chosen for the space and why did you choose these specific lamps?
Being half Danish, Louis Poulsen is a brand I have grown up with and love. Be it in my own home or when designing for a client's space, I have my staple go to pieces I always like to propose. When it comes to lighting, the PH5 pendant is one of those. When looking at how to style the lighting, I wanted to expand on using lights from this collection along with other favorites of mine, all encompassing the heritage, beautiful light output and variety of finishes. There is so much variation to draw on from the Louis Poulsen collection that I could accommodate many different areas. I am extremely passionate about the history that surrounds Danish design pieces and the nod to post-war designs leaning into midcentury modern. Louis Poulsen is so rich in heritage, and I wanted to celebrate the iconic designs of Poul Henningsen, Arne Jacobsen, and Verner Panton specifically. The AJ series is demure and sophisticated, yet in a pale blue is has more of a playful aspect, constrasting with the warm, neutral tones of the furniture. Equally the Panthella floor lamp stood out in white alongside the smaller, subtle PH5 mini. I also specified brass finishes with the PH table and floor lamps to elevate the setting that included the furniture designs from the 1930s-1950s.
What does 'good lighting' mean to you and how do you achieve it?
Good lighting for me has to provide two things: form and function. It should tick the boxes of practicality and a sense of warmth and create an inviting mood. I find lighting underestimated by many, but for me it is in fact one of the most important elements of designing a space. In Danish design, we follow the principle of hygge to create warm, inviting spaces while also being functional to get the task done! I love to use table lamps, especially on open shelving to highlight corners. When it comes to pendants over tables, I, like many Scandinavians, prefer to have a low light to create a sense of coziness around the table to encourage those Hyggelit family and friend dinners. I love having low pendants over side tables, be it by the bed or above a single coffee table next to a lounge chair. This type of lighting makes the piece of furniture more inviting. Good lighting should always be dimmable -- having a harsh overhead light is the worst! I especially love the PH series because of the way it is designed to release light from the sides as well as below.
Where do you find design inspiration?
Above all else, my design inspiration comes from Copenhagen. Beautiful design is everywhere. From the architecture and historical buildings, and the excellent craftsmanship in all the furniture. Every restaurant is filled with a series of iconic chairs and is always a feast to my eyes! When you walk in Copenhagen at night and look in the windows of the apartments it is normal to see a beautiful lighting setting the mood, and its so inviting. I would say travel in general inspires me in design, not just from a city but in nature. Being in a beautiful forest landscape or by the ocean, I become inspired by colors and shapes that compliment each other and these natural materials that can then become pieces of furniture in a sustainable fashion. Living in LA, I can now add Palm Springs to my list of design inspirations. I love the timeless quality there and the midcentury homes that I want to fill with Danish design and lighting!
