I'm back home, so where do I start?? I suppose, from the beginning, that's a good place.

For years and years, whenever I go to Copenhagen, I always take time to go into the kitchen showrooms and take pictures and chat with people who work in the showrooms. Being of Danish descent, and being familiar with Scandinavian design, and loving it, I love seeing what's new in the Scandinavian kitchen world. It always gives me a fresh point of view.

As part of my showroom visits in August, Hansen was one that I knew I must take time to see.  I walked into the showroom, the last showroom to see before my vacation ended in August, and my immediate instinct told me that these kitchens were special, noticeably well crafted, and overall, so beautifully designed.

I chatted as usual with the man who approached me (hoping to score a brochure) and after a short chat, in which he told me that he knew of my blog and followed it(!) he introduced me to Knud Kapper, architect, and creator of Hansen's line of kitchen, bath, and other furniture. In addition to the kitchen and bath line, Kapper is an architect of buildings, interiors, and coordinated home furnishings for the homes he designs. One thing lead to another, and Knud and I decided to continue our conversation over time, which actually began immediately upon my return back home to New York.

Even after coming home, you know, you're back to reality, Denmark is far away, but, I could not stop thinking of the Hansen kitchen furniture..."living kitchen architecture" as it is referred to by Hansen. We moved into high gear, developed our plan to launch Hansen into the U.S., Knud came to New York for a week in November, and here we are, having just introduced Hansen this past week, first, via Dwell's kitchen blog and via a personal visit to Denmark from Jill at Apartment Therapy! We are both returning home today after a very good, and fun, time together, having attended a fantastic event for the redesign of Hansen's showroom last Friday night, and spending more time together surrounding the event.

Yes, the pictures of Hansen kitchens are gorgeous, but I must tell you...to see it and to understand the concepts behind the design, is to be taken in by its beauty, by its distinctive aesthetic and its ergonomic philosophy. There is so much more to share, much of which I will share on the new Hansen blog.

There are future, spring, plans for a display, but details are not yet firmed up. Hansen will be exhibiting at ICFF in May in the Danish design section, so make your plans to visit us!