A guided tour of Norway
Velkommen! (Welcome)
Every year, Ekornes extends an invitation to dealers to visit their Norway factory. And on every invitation, I’ve politely declined. But not this year! This is the year that the universe (and my busy schedule) aligned itself allowing me to say YES!
Please enjoy my four day photo journal.
Arriving at Alesund Airport and there was an Ekornes chair on display at the baggage claim!
Lunch and a scenic view of Fjellstua.
Visiting the Ekornesbua showrooms. Arve Ekornes, nephew of the founder, gave us a guided tour.
We caught a ferry to the Ekornes factory. Norway is made up of islands and utilizes many waterways for transportation.
We learned about the laminating process and how veneers are bent, molded, and shaped.
Quality control is top priority. Engineers monitor each process of routing, spraying, and assembly. All finishes are waterbased and 100% recyclable.
Raw materials are stored in-house and many parts are made right at the factory.
They even make their own foam through a cold curing process. Leather is marked with an invisible ink pen that only the cutting machine can read.
The sewing department is the largest at the factory. All work stations are ergonomic in design and color coded for organization.
With a barcode and label system, factory workers are able to tell who a chair is for and where it is being distributed to. There were orders for chairs in bright orange and magenta colors!
Can you imagine steering a boat to the office? Not only does Ekornes provide a parking lot for their employees, but there is an employee marina for boats to be docked.
After the factory tour, we boarded a boat and set off to Geiranger. The views of nature were breathtaking.
At Geiranger, we had the privilege of viewing a car collection. These restored cars were from the 1900’s and were used to transport tourists from Geiranger to Grotli.
We toured the Fjord center and then headed to our hotel.
After checking into the hotel, we walked around the community. I learned that Norway uses green roofs for insulation.
The next day, we drove by bus to Djupvasshytta which is 1030 meters above sea level.
Our view as we left Geiranger and headed back to Alesund.
Every meal was amazing and artfully presented.
Shown here are ships from the Viking Ship Museum and Fram Museum.
Rich caviar, rustic breads, and creamy desserts.
Walking the streets of Oslo, we saw street performers, cobblestone pathways, and inspiring architecture.
The contemporary architecture of the Opera House contrasted with surrounding buildings. We even got to walk on the marble roof of the Opera House!
Cultural history could be found everywhere. We visited a fort where royalty protected themselves from foreign invasion.
Coffee and dessert on our last day in Oslo.
Even in the far corners of Norway, we found Aloha.
Norway has such amazing landscape, culture, and people. I am so thankful to have had this wonderful opportunity.
Have you been to Norway? Please share with us your favorite snapshot.
About Daphne Oliveros
As the Division Manager and Buyer of HomeWorld Furniture, Daphne has had the opportunity to travel to exotic places such as Shanghai, Vietnam, Italy and Norway to visit factories and attend furniture shows. Daphne says “it’s important to always stay abreast of what’s happening in the industry so that we can be the first to bring the best furniture choices and values to Hawaii.”
Bringing together stories, rooms, life. 