Danish Design Grows Up (and Down)

text Enrico Fragale Esposito

There comes a moment, somewhere between the first wooden train and the first proper desk, when parents realise something: children’s furniture doesn’t have to look disposable.
Yes, IKEA is convenient. But do we really want childhood to be flat-packed?

Carl Hansen & Søn clearly thinks otherwise. And thank goodness for that. The Danish brand, synonymous with craftsmanship, proportion and quiet elegance, extends its design philosophy to the youngest members of the family, reimagining icons and creating furniture that doesn’t talk down to children, but grows with them.

Take the Wishbone Chair, for instance. We had already talked about it here on Scimparello back in 2024, when the kids’ version was first introduced… and yes, it was love at first sight. Because some designs don’t need age limits: they just need the right proportions.

Then there’s the ND54 high chair, designed in 1954 by Nanna and Jørgen Ditzel—two pioneers who understood early on that children deserve beauty, not just functionality. Designed for their twin daughters, the chair grows with the child and includes a leather safety strap, an optional backrest, and even three stainless steel nameplates that can be engraved. A chair today, a family heirloom tomorrow.

And finally, a personal favourite: Peter’s Chair: a brilliant piece of furniture that doubles as a toy, a full-scale 3D wooden puzzle in untreated beech, easy to assemble without tools, loved by children and secretly adored by adults.

Each piece by Carl Hansen & Søn requires over 100 handcrafted steps. This isn’t fast furniture. It’s slow, thoughtful, and meant to last.

carlhansen.com

Magic stories don’t end here. Turn kid’s bedding into a fairytale with Forivor.