Brand focus: dk3
Sometimes the best creations come from unlikely pairings, and never has this been more true than with dk3.
Pairing Danish craftsmanship with the rebellious spirit of 90s grunge, this Scandinavian furniture brand honours the simplicity and functionality of Danish design whilst pushing boundaries; all within the scope of sustainability.
Confused? You may be. But once you see DK3 furniture, it will make sense.
DK3 furniture: When Danish design meets grunge
What makes dk3’s designs are the interrupting elements they display.
Fusing effortless and timeless Danish design with influences like 90s grunge culture may sound like opposing forces, but they mesh to create beautiful, sophisticated furniture with a rawness and legacy that brings cultural and emotional depth.
But that isn’t all - dk3 re-releases classic, iconic pieces from Danish design history to keep their legacies alive. Pieces such as The Royal System®, The Ten Table and The Pia Chair.
dk3 was founded in 2009 by Danish designer and entrepreneur Jacob Plejdrup. The brand was formed due to Plejdrup’s vision to combine Scandinavian woodworking with a unique combination of contemporary aesthetics and his own personal influences.
Right from the beginning, dk3 centred on creating high-quality and sustainable furniture using materials like solid wood to achieve it.
The brand was quick to gain recognition for its careful and considered craftsmanship and truly unique approach to merging timeless design with modern interpretations.
Plejdrup had a love for the grunge era, in particular bands like Pearl Jam, which has deeply influenced dk3’s furniture aesthetics and the brands' ethos as a whole.
Grunge isn’t represented in a literal way within dk3 furniture, it is channelled in terms of its principles: authenticity, earthiness, rebellion, realness, self-expression, and simplicity.
There is an unapologetic quality to grunge. It is unfiltered, a statement of individuality. And that is also true of dk3’s original designs.
If grunge could scream, it would proclaim that interiors are about creating a space to be lived in, that is authentically yours. That reflects your identity, not trends.
Cue a brand that, whilst striving for originality, also has a sentimentality of things past. dk3 has been instrumental in re-introducing Danish furniture back into contemporary culture, taking iconic designs and giving them a new opportunity to shine.
The Royal System®: An icon of modular design
Enter The Royal System®, created by Danish designer Poul Cadovius in 1948. As one of the first wall-mounted furniture systems, this iconic creation was relaunched by dk3 in 2010.
It is quite simply a space-saving concept that revolutionised interiors by moving furniture off the floor, thus creating more living space.
It features shelves in wood types with brass or stainless steel hangers, cabinets with handwoven veneer and sliding doors alongside unique elements like LP storage and a compact, net writing desk with a drawer.
The Royal System® is highly versatile and customisable with an incredible 16 million possible combinations, from libraries to workstations and shelving.
This furniture system is functional over ornamental, symbolic of dk3’s ethos, stripped back and unadorned but not without personality. An iconic system that still holds strong, with its 2010 re-release breathing contemporary life into a design that remains ever influential.
The Ten Table: The music-inspired dining table
With its name taken from Pearl Jam’s album entitled “Ten”, The Ten Table is a formidable creation by dk3 in 2010 that embodies the raw energy and authenticity of the 90s grunge era.
Complete with clean lines and natural materials, this sleek dining table even nods to guitar necks and frets with its structure and shape. Sturdy, and crafted from oak, it is one of the first iterations of the plank table, which involves wide, solid wood boards or planks as the main structure of the piece.
In 2019, dk3 founder Jacob Plejdrup, in collaboration with Danish designer Christian Troels, developed the anniversary Ten Table to acknowledge its legacy.
The Pia Chair: When Scandinavian design meets rebellion
A conversation about dk3 cannot be complete without mentioning the classic Pia Chair, designed by Poul Cadovius in 1959.
The true epitome of Danish mid-century design, this chair was designed with an emphasis on minimalism. It focused on lightness and a “less is more” philosophy, which saw this petite piece of furniture as a flagship of minimal material usage, ergonomic comfort and fine attention to detail.
Whilst it was designed in the mid-1950s, The Pia Chair is to this day a staple for those who appreciate both contemporary and vintage-inspired styles.
dk3 has worked hard to bring The Pia Chair back into production as of 2010, where it joins many other iconic Danish designs which have been preserved for their historical significance.
Why dk3?
If high-end iconic furniture appeals to you, then dk3 is certainly worth your consideration. With its division between re-releasing well-known Danish furniture of the past and designing unique grunge-inspired pieces for the present, it seems to be a dichotomy of style.
However, one could argue these two elements marry well. They blend timeless functionality with pieces that are both innovative and nostalgic. And it is not all that common that a brand can genuinely say it has fused the past with the present.
At Holloways of Ludlow we are honoured to offer a selection of dk3 furniture on our site. For any advice on which dk3 pieces would best suit your needs, please don’t hesitate to contact one of our expert team today. Email us at sales@hollowaysofludlow.com or call 020 7602 5757