Elevate your space – Colourful creativity meets functional style with Maze

IT STARTED WITH A SHELF

In fact, it is more accurate to tell you it started with the lack of a shelf! Back in 2003, in a tiny apartment in the heart of Stockholm, a Swedish photographer is on the hunt for a small and stylish bedside table, but the furniture market of the time was failing him. Not one to be defeated, Kent Johansson armed himself with a hammer, nails and a couple of boards. The F shelf was born.

The Instagram-able F shelf was to become Maze’s first product, but it goes further than that, Kent’s approach to design and construction are the pillars on which Maze has built their reputation: clever solutions (and quirky design), locally made with quality material choices.

As time has gone on the company has aligned themselves with a number of well-known and highly celebrated designers who each bring something of their own to the brand.

We spoke to both Helena Gorne who works with product development and design for Maze, and designer Antrei Hartikainen about Maze’s production philosophy and the latest addition to Maze’s collection – the Parasol table.

NO ORDINARY FURNITURE BRAND

Maze doesn’t do normal - thank you very much! Their quirky designs are your passport to whimsical living. But it is not only Maze’s designs that offer us something out of the ordinary, Maze also operates something they call Slow Production. For Maze each piece must have a clear purpose, taking versatile pieces of furniture to the next level. Each decision from the material choice to the production location is carefully considered.

“Around 95% of Maze’s production takes place in Sweden” Helena tells us with pride. “We work with suppliers we have known and established a relationship with over a very long time” she continues, “this means we know who is making our products and we know they get a fair wage, vacation and all the other benefits you get when you work in Sweden.” This initiative, it is clear, is something that is close to Maze’s heart.

We want to offer our customers a choice, something that makes them question – Where did this come from? Who made this? – We want to offer them something better than the alternative”. - Helena Gorne, Maze

DESIGNS FROM THE MASTER CABINET MAKER

From the very beginning Maze knew how important it was to cultivate lasting relationships with their designers, Helena explains, “because they know the brand, and understand the values, but sometimes we find someone really interesting, and talented just like Antrei Hartikainen”, she continues with a knowledgeable smile. “We were keen to start making more wooden items” she says, “and when we saw his work and understood the philosophy behind the designs, we knew he would be a good fit for Maze”.

A master cabinet maker from Finland, Antrei is best known for his elegant work in wood. The Parasol table for Maze is no exception. Winner of the Scandinavian Design Awards “Rising Star of the Year 2023” and an extensive list of other accolades to his name, Antrei Hartikainen is certainly one to watch.

THE PARASOL TABLE

The coffee table takes its inspiration from a water lily floating on a pond. “From the first sketches, I was striving to create a similar levitation and airiness” Antrei tells us. “The storage space located at the bottom of the leg creates sturdiness, functionality and appearance, thus combining usability and aesthetics” he continues. Indeed, one of wonderful aspects of this beautiful coffee table is the way it combines form and function. The ability to hide away magazines and children’s toys in a way that makes them part of the design is in a word – genius!

The tabletop rests on a single metal leg that is uncentred, creating the illusion that the tabletop is levitating. A particular challenge that needed expertise and craftsmanship to overcome, for this Maze and Antrei collaborated closely with Swedish steel manufacturer Steelnova. “The appearance and production of Parasol table fits the Maze company philosophy perfectly, where minimalistic and playful design meets the local production”. Antrei tells us.

Furniture serves as a background for a functional everyday life but at it’s best it brings joy, aesthetics and functionality. – Antrei Hartikainen

Well designed furniture plays an important role in enhancing peoples’ daily lives, whether that is a compact, wall mounted bedside shelf for a tiny apartment in the heart of the city or an impressive coffee table that seems to defy gravity, Maze has tapped into the inherent needs of their customers without compromising on style. “If necessary, the Parasol tables blend into the background, specifically serving practicality” says Antrei, “but you can also create an installation-like group of tables in different sizes, giving a dose of eye-candy in addition to usability.”

STANDOUT STORAGE

No ordinary furniture brand, Maze welcomes the quirky design with open arms, with the understanding that every part of your home deserves to be extraordinary. With a carefully curated collection of home storage solutions Maze has a unique ability to transform the ordinary into something magical. From their floating bedside shelf “Edgy” that defies the laws of physics while embracing the art of style, or the welcoming committee “Nature” that makes you feel like you have walked into an enchanting Swedish forest as you pass through your front door all the way through to the ultimate feat of engineering that is the Pythagoras shelf. Maze’s creative designs bring both delight and fulfil a function in equal measure allowing you to declutter your home without compromising your personal style.

Photography: Elof Martinsson, Angeliqa Daldorph, @moeofsweden, Maze