The birth of the Karin E Design brand
My story
Hey! I'm Karin Engman, I live and work in the hills south of Florence but I was born and grew up in Sweden.
In 1990, 24 years old, love took me to Italy (in the photo above together with my dad leaving Stockholm with my furniture in the trailer). I had already decided that I would stay, won over by the culture, the food and the lifestyle.
Since I was a child I have always liked drawing; I inherited my artistic streak from my dad and my sculptor grandfather.
In my day, in middle school, "sewing" and "carpentry" were among the compulsory subjects and I liked them a lot. I still have my first "designer" craft object today: a wooden ladle.
But above all I loved watching and helping my dad with his repair or construction work, often in wood.
In our house we could "breathe" the beauty of genuine things. My mom has always been an attentive visitor to antique markets and often sat down to sew in the evenings. The sound of her sewing machine gave me a sense of security. When I moved to Italy she gave me the Bernette which I still use today.
Scandinavian design with a Mediterranean touch
My interest in interior design comes from my history. Which was also my job for a few years in Italy, for an international company.
I also worked as an advertising graphic designer and as an illustrator; I have illustrated two children's books, collaborated with a leading pet wear company and above all, as a volunteer, for years I have drawn the superheroes and "Milano 25" taxis of Aunt Caterina, the Florentine "fairy" who dedicates herself to children affected by serious illnesses.
With this background I decided in 2023 to launch my brand by designing furnishing accessories that have a connection with my origins.
In fact, my collections of trays and plates are produced in Sweden with pressed birch: Scandinavian design and wood with a touch of my Italian style.
Why Trays? Because in Sweden we are crazy about the coffee break, which we call "fika" and we often use trays to serve coffee accompanied by "fikabröd" sweets.
But I don't just design trays. In my collections you will also find placemats and coasters, trivets, aprons, tea towels, pot holders and decorative cushions.
For me the heart of the home is the kitchen. It is not only the place for preparing meals but above all the intimate meeting and sharing space for family and friends.
Combining the beautiful and the functional
I like to combine beauty with functionality . That's why I chose birch wood for trays and plates, which makes them light, easy to handle, very resistant and dishwasher safe. They are eco-sustainable, handcrafted and of the highest quality.
