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Sensory design towards spring

February is the month when interiors settle down. The fresh start of January now feels miles away, and New Year's resolutions may even have been abandoned. What remains after these months feels like the space that is created for spring. Space sometimes feels like a blank slate. A feeling in which everything is still possible. Where moments arise that have an impact on all facets of life. More and more often, this creates a need for sensory peace and simplicity. Sensory design fits in seamlessly with this. It is a way of looking at interiors that involves all the senses: sight, hearing, touch, smell, and taste.

One of my favorite quotes about sensory design comes from 1995:

“Architecture is the art of reconciliation between ourselves and the world.”

— Juhani Pallasmaa, The Eyes of the Skin – Architecture and the Senses (1995)

It is this attention that allows an interior to contribute to a feeling. Not as a trend or marketing language, but as something that supports everyday life. Take our new Cappuccino color, for example.

Cappuccino as a feeling, color, and physical action

For me, a cappuccino is a moment in the day. A moment of calm in the chaos. When the sun shines through the windows and I warm my hands on a mug. It's these kinds of small rituals that contribute to the warmth and light that I can almost feel, on the way to spring. You probably know those moments too. You're sitting in the garden with your coat still on. 

The sun slowly finds its way to your face. On the table next to you is a Windshelter Conical oil lamp, and a good book is within reach. The flame burns quietly, as if holding time still for a moment. You hear the first birds singing. Inside and outside coincide for a moment. This is where sensory design comes together for me. Where my inner and outer worlds overlap in a style that is not only beautiful to look at, but also feels pleasant.

This interplay is also reflected in shapes that bring peace without demanding attention. Like the Ovalis: a soft silhouette that catches and diffuses the light without disturbing the moment. Not a bold statement, but a quiet presence that fits both indoors and outdoors. Exactly the kind of object that moves with the seasons.

The first flowers of spring

Spring also gives us the opportunity to rediscover nature. The first flowers are reappearing: tulips, anemones, daffodils, and crocuses. The snowdrops are still there too, as are the blossoming branches. These are flowers I like to bring into my home, especially tulips, bought from my favorite florist on my way to the fruit and vegetable market.

The Serak vase is ideal for these early spring bloomers. Serak is a special name, originating from the world of glaciers. It refers to a block or column of ice formed by intersecting glacier crevasses. This layering is reflected in the shape of the vase. It supports the natural interplay of flowers and branches and creates a composition that feels natural.

My tip for spring?

Experience it with your full attention. In the store, by opening the doors and letting in the fresh breeze. At home, by enjoying that cappuccino, taking a fresh look at your interior, and feeling what happens when you choose more sensory peace.
Perhaps it will bring more balance to your inner world. And your outer world will come alive with sunshine and the endless possibilities that spring brings. A barbecue with your coat still on. A good conversation while all the oil lamps you own are lit. Or just that one moment for yourself. A book in a bubble bath. Warm water, silence around you. The Bubble Candle Figue Beige burns on the shelf.

The scent is soft and rounded. A unique, delicious scent that is difficult to capture in words.
The kind of scent that doesn't force you to think, but rather lets you relax. That ends the day without haste. As if everything can stay just as it is for a moment.
Spring doesn't ask for more. Only for attention.

Warm regards,
Sanne