Talking Shop
Hay
Portland’s shopping scene recently got a welcome import: Hay. Hailing all the way from Denmark, the home decor and furniture brand planted itself in Portland for its U.S. debut, to the delight of locals. Clean-lined, boldly colored dishes, wall art, home organization items and custom furniture are all displayed meticulously throughout their Pearl District shop. Luxe talked to Rolf Hay, who founded the shop with his wife, Mette, about their experience in Portland so far.
Why Portland?
The opportunity to open a U.S. store arrived when we found a partner in Herman Miller, the renowned American maker of modern furniture. With their guidance, we’re certain that we’ll be able to continue offering quality design at an attainable price point, which we recognize is important. In Portland, specifically, there’s an appreciation for heritage, craftsmanship and collaboration that we identify with.
Any Portland/Copenhagen parallels?
Portland’s inclement climate is similar to Copenhagen’s, and because of this we understand there’s a greater emphasis on making one’s home feel warm and inviting.
What was your vision for the space?
The Hay team designed the open-plan store, which is divided into a series of areas dedicated to each space in the home–kitchen, living room, dining room and office–to create an intuitive and seamless shopping experience. The sub-architectural frame of the store was created using New Order, our versatile shelving and storage system conceived in collaboration with industrial designer Stefan Diez.
