Kaaja furniture collection for By Enströms featuring a contemporary sideboard that blends Scandinavian wood traditions with minimalist influences.

KAAJA COLLECTION

"A timeless fusion of Scandinavian heritage, Mediterranean warmth, and Japanese minimalist principles"

A contemporary dialogue with Scandinavian heritage

The Kaaja collection was conceived as the foundational furniture series for the Swedish firm By.Enströms. Our primary goal was to create a visual language that honored the brand’s century old passion for wood while introducing a fresh, international perspective.

The design philosophy balances soft, rounded silhouettes with precise straight lines, resulting in timeless pieces that harmonize with diverse interior environments. Every detail, from the joints to the proportions, was specifically developed to celebrate the tactile beauty of natural wood. 

PROJECT DETAILS

Design: Carlos Jiménez

Client: By.Enströms

Year: 2015-2016

Photography: Carlos Jiménez

Video: Irene Gallego Planetaireee

Work: Furniture Design

A horizontal Kaaja sideboard in light wood, showcasing the clean lines and modular storage compartments.

Defining the ideal storage solution

The versatility of the collection lies in its ability to adapt to the specific needs of each user. By offering a variety of leg heights, cabinet dimensions, and internal configurations, we allow for the creation of truly unique storage solutions. Users can customize their pieces by selecting different modules, drawer arrangements, and color accents, all finished with either white pigmented oil or natural oil to preserve the organic integrity of the wood.

Vertical Kaaja cabinet configuration highlighting the different leg options and custom color internal modules.

Modularity through a strategic grid system

To facilitate a seamless customization process, we developed a rigorous grid system. This architectural approach allows architects and homeowners to configure the cabinets based on their spatial requirements and functional needs. The system is designed to be intuitive, ensuring that regardless of the chosen modules, the final composition maintains a balanced and sophisticated aesthetic.

Technical representation of the Kaaja modular system, showing the grid logic used to customize furniture sizes.
A horizontal low sideboard from the Kaaja collection, designed as a modular TV unit, showcasing the seamless wood grain and minimalist storage.
A group of three different Kaaja sideboards and dressers in various sizes and finishes, demonstrating the versatility of the modular grid system.
Detailed view of the hand finished wood surfaces and rounded corners of the Kaaja collection.

Honoring a century of Swedish craftsmanship

Every piece in the Kaaja collection is manufactured in Tibro, Sweden, a town with over a hundred years of history dedicated to high end joinery. We work with artisans who select each piece of wood with the same passion that defined the factory’s beginnings. The assembly and finishing are performed by hand, ensuring that every detail is scrutinized for quality. To reinforce this connection to the maker, every unit is stamped and numbered, transforming an industrial product into a unique piece of collectible furniture.

A low wooden Kaaja sideboard designed to function as a TV unit or an entryway console for hallways, showcasing its minimalist and versatile character.
A pair of Kaaja modular nightstands featuring a light wood structure and a playful combination of yellow and white internal modules.
An interior view showing the Kaaja collection’s versatility in a warm, Mediterranean inspired bedroom.
Animation showing the different color combinations and wood finishes available for the Kaaja modular system.
A low wooden Kaaja sideboard designed to function as a an entryway console for hallways, showcasing its minimalist and versatile character.

Creative freedom through the six by six grid

The core of the modular system is based on a 6x6 grid that allows for independent module placement. This feature grants the user the freedom to experiment with different layouts; for instance, a single composition of four modules can yield more than ten different visual and functional results. This flexibility ensures that the furniture can evolve alongside the changing needs of the home or office.

Animated sequence demonstrating how the Kaaja modules can be rearranged to create different furniture typologies.
High angle shot of a Kaaja sideboard, emphasizing the intersection of Japanese minimalism and Scandinavian woodcraft.

The design process: From archives to prototypes

Developing Kaaja required a deep immersion into the company’s archives. We reviewed historical furniture drawings to understand the structural DNA of the factory before translating those values into a modern context. The journey involved extensive sketching, the creation of scaled models to test proportions, and finally, full scale prototypes to refine the modular interactions and the hand finishing techniques that define the final collection.

The design process for the Kaaja collection, showing initial sketches, scale mockups, and wood material tests.