About LK Hjelle

LK Hjelle makes long-lasting furniture designed to be loved for generations. LK Hjelle is a Norwegian furniture manufacturer founded in 1940 by Lars Karl Hjelle. They design and produce high-quality furniture at theirown factory in Sykkylven, Norway. Family-owned for three generations, they are rooted in a tradition of craftsmanship, thoughtful design, material knowledge and a deep respect for durability. Each piece is made to order, crafted with carefully selected materials sourced as locally aspossible. By keeping production in-house and their most important suppliers within 10kilometres, they maintain close control over quality – from the initial sketch to the finished product. Product development is led by Dag Hjelle, grandson of the founder. Since 2021, all new products have been designed with circularity in mind. New models are constructed to support repair and reuse, helping to extend their lifespan. The idea is not new. It is embodied by the iconic Siesta lounge chair, designed in 1965 – with longevity at its core. Today, theywork with both established and emerging Norwegian designers. The collectionspans internationally recognised icons like Siesta, Falcon and Modell 711, alongside acontinuously evolving range of modern sofas, lounge furniture and smaller pieces. Their vision is simple: to create furniture that people never want, or need, to let go of.

About Kathrine Hovind 

Kathrine Hovind is a product designer based in Oslo. She combines contemporary aesthetics and modern production techniques with traditional craftsmanship. Through her work in furniture design, she aims to help preserve some of Norway’s most vulnerable craft traditions by creating functional, lasting, and sustainable products.

Globalization and industrial production have put many traditional Norwegian craft techniques at risk. To help preserve this heritage, Norges Husflidlag created a Red List of endangered techniques and organizes local workshops to share knowledge and inspire engagement.

Through these workshops, Kathrine has learned several of the listed techniques and incorporated them into new furniture designs. Her work shows how traditional crafts can be revived and made relevant for today.