Up Step Stool

Graphic designer Trine Andersen couldn’t find wallpaper for her new home, so she decided to do it herself. The Danish-born entrepreneur launched Ferm Living in Copenhagen in 2006 and, before long, her distinct vision spanned a wide lifestyle range that includes indoor and outdoor furnishings and accessories for adults and kids. Trine’s graphic eye can be seen in the strikingly minimalist lighting as well as room-warming textiles, and her Scandinavian sensibility for craft and color throughout the collection.

The brand’s unusual name was actually taken from her grandmother’s expression, “ferm på fingrene,” meaning skilled with one’s hands. With that paeon to quality in mind, Ferm Living continues to create collections of furniture, lighting and accessories that reflect authentic design and clear functionality while furthering a commitment to ethical and sustainable practices. Trine also pays it forward with designing collaborators who also happen to be women, among others, Spanish-Swiss designer Helena Rohner, Finnish Anni Pitkäjärvi and Hanna-Kaarina Heikkilä of Studio Finna, and fellow Danes Leise Dich Abrahamsen and Anne Wendlandt.