When it comes to design, everyone knows that Scandinavia is king. But Westwing, a premium online destination for interior from — *coughs* — Germany, has decided it’s time to shake things up a little. Just two months after its curated dinner at Copenhagen Design Week, the brand returned to the Nordics to tackle a new capital: Stockholm.
The invitation seemed promising — a boat ride, an early-evening to late-night event on an enormous estate just outside the city, Michelin-star catering — this was sure to be a luxurious experience. But Westwing, never a brand to do things by halves, exceeded even the lofty expectations of its discerning guestlist.
On a mild summer’s evening egged on by a slight Baltic breeze, the Motala Steamboat, dating from 1895 and made over for the occasion in Westwing’s colors, took 200 or so guests on a river tour from Stockholm’s city center to the historic estate. The boat ride was the first glimpse of the evening’s high-profile crowd: CEOs of the world’s most prestigious design firms, Stockholm’s artists, designers, and cool-kid influencers, as well as Scandinavia’s top fashion editors were among those indulging in the Westwing-themed drinks and bites on the river.
At the estate, a similarly immaculate spectacle awaited. Mirrored podiums lined a gravel path in the gardens, stretching down to a private shoreline. On each were exhibited Westwing’s most loved products, displayed more as sculptures than as items for your living room (and yes, they made for some very Instagrammable moments).
Inside the manor house (the ‘Westwing Villa’, as it was colloquially termed for the evening), a stately interior was likewise decked out with the brand’s plushest offerings, accompanied by a pair of CDJs and an enormous soundsystem in the front room—manned by Studio Barnhus. Alongside artfully placed editions of Loewe’s magazines, guests grooved to deep house music or sank into thick carpets and huge couches. One word came to mind: polish.
A highlight of the evening unfolded on the steps of the house, where Eritrean-Swedish singer Adiam performed alongside dancer, musician (and for tonight cellist) Nicholas Isaiah King Rose. Adiam’s vocals and Nicholas’s cello concocted a part-rock, part-ambient, part-techno soundscape, before the latter shifted into dance — an avant-garde and emotive interlude to an otherwise poised affair.
But the true stars of the show, of course, were the items that the 200 or so guests had gathered to admire. Set in such dreamy surroundings and in the gorgeous dimming light of the evening, Westwing’s event celebrated its commitment to craft and simple, high-quality living in the best possible way. If Scandi design principles are ever to be truly challenged, this might just be the way to do it.
For a taste of luxurious living, shop the full Westwing collection here.
