Carina Grefmar

Upholsterer

©Carolina Rommare

©Carina Grefmar

©Ulrica Kestere

©Åsa Siller

Contemporary leather upholstery

Carina switched careers to become an upholsterer
She collaborates creatively with Louise Hederström
She uses discarded leather pieces

Carina Grefmars' journey to becoming a furniture upholsterer involved a dramatic career change. She made a list of the things she enjoyed doing and what she thought she was good at, and ended up changing her professional life from being a pantry chef to a student in upholstering. A sudden decision which has brought her no regrets, she exclaims. She started her activity in 1999 and having had her own studio in Malmö since 2005 she is now well recognised for her specialisation in leather work and modern furniture classics, as well as prototype development with designers. She loves her profession and the endless possibilities of her craft. She enjoys creative collaborations and found a special one a few years ago, collaborating with designer Louise Hederström.

Interview

©Ulrica Kestere

©Ulrica Kestere

How do you collaborate with Louise?: We have been collaborating as a team for the last five years, Louise designs and I create the furniture. One of the most appreciated pieces are the shelves and seats inspired by the forest fungus, called Ticka in Swedish. It is made of discarded leather.
Why do you mainly work in leather?: It is a material I find interesting for its sculptural possibilities. For upholstering furniture, leather is the way to preserve the furniture for the longest time, and from a sustainability perspective I think that is good.
What is your main skill?: I am good at impossible shapes, to bring out difficult angles and forms in leather inspires me and I am striving to master that to perfection.
What keeps you motivated?: The variety of my profession. Every object is different from the others and all the stages in my work are different. I get to do lots of varied tasks everyday. Different materials, eras, techniques.

Carina Grefmar is an expert artisan: she began her career in 1999