Columbia is well recognizable for its colorful architecture and beautiful artisan crafts. Ranging from native handwoven bags and Wayuu textile weaving patterns in furniture, the country has a long history of passed-down traditions. Among them are these four Columbian design stores that bring Colombian culture into amazing works of art. These four design stores in Columbia are nothing short of extraordinary. We had the honor of visiting Artesanias de Colombia, 902 Showroom, Folies, and The Blue House.
Artesanias de Columbia
Design Room Columbia is the first innovative digital platform that showcases emerging design talents from Columbia. The newest collection ‘Relieve Tropical’ features modern furniture and interior decor pieces that reflect Columbia’s microclimates. The showroom premieres styles that symbolize Columbian artisan tradition and historical roots.
For example, many of their collections reflect the country’s tropical environment. Using natural materials and vibrant colors, many furniture pieces are both contemporary and rooted in the past. The Diamantina y la Perla is a Alhena woven chair that combines artisan-made iron with hand-woven rattan fibers. The Konkretus is an innovative creation that is made of concrete that also folds into a comfortable chair.
The second collection ‘Edicion Central’ (also known as Core Edition) features contemporary pieces by emerging designers. The collection is an art gallery that pairs an avant-garde backdrop with innovative living room appliances. Zientte’s black marble bar cart along with Artesanias de Columbia’s handicraft plate is a unique combination of deep-rooted history and modernism.
902 Showroom
Next, we move on to 902 Showroom, a mesmerizing warehouse-style concept store in Medellin. 902 Showroom is a reformed warehouse that showcases an incredible selection of furniture and art. The design shop features eye-catching pieces from top Columbian independent talent. The shop includes both traditional and contemporary brands including Quinta Edicion, 5AM, and La Revolucion Industrial. 80% of the brands are local and 20% of products that need leading-edge technology are imported from Spanish partners.
Concept store founder Claudia Correa mixes traditional and modern designs in her store. She wants to be one of the world’s most beautiful concept stores. With a background in industrial design and marketing, she mixes various colors and formats with her own design story. 902 is a showroom from the heart.
Many of her furniture pieces include wooden bar carts with an assemblage of hand-woven baskets. Artisan Coffee tables made of woven fabric are also included in the collection to add to a raw aesthetic. Using warm green tones, she incorporates sustainable design materials into her furniture.
FOLIES
Folies is a Columbian design brand that blends a modern aesthetic with a nostalgic past. Folies aims to create futuristic furniture designs that have a practical use in everyday living. Folies recreates old classics into a contemporary style. The brand is 100% local and focuses on a unique Columbian design identity using eco-friendly materials.
Founded in Bogota, Columbia, Folies specializes in objects and appliances that are functional yet beautiful. The brand has been experimenting for over 4 years with petrified wood and metal. For example, Folies’ Antonio bar is a lightweight bar cart that restores a retro design from the 20th century. The Olivia air chair is thin and weightless built from sustainable wooden materials. Folies’ Hasper bar is a multifunctional piece using organic fabrics.
The Blue House
The Blue House in Bogota is an art and furniture gallery that features international and local products in the interior. Their aim is to invite people from all over the world to appreciate beautiful design. The brand’s focus is to portray a unique and heartfelt story through their furniture and products.
The Blue House is a renovated warehouse that showcases collections that resemble living rooms in actual homes. The exterior uses floor-to-ceiling glass windows that showcase all of the rooms. The bright natural lights and studio light make the warehouse truly stunning. Using neutral and organic colors, the spaces are created to display furniture inside living rooms, dining halls, and bedrooms. The showrooms portray an eco-friendly minimalistic space with simple yet futuristic furniture and room designs.
For example, the Consola Linde is a multifunctional storage table that works as both a cabinet and storage rack. Only using natural forest wood and metal in the table, The Blue House uses a sustainable model in their unique designs. The Blue House aims to connect humans and nature by only using certified wood from reforested trees.
