About Us

Where Japanese Serenity Meets Scandinavian Warmth

Founded in 2025, Komorebi Design Collective reimagines modern living through the lens of Japandi—a harmonious fusion of Japanese minimalism (wabi-sabi) and Scandinavian coziness (hygge). Our philosophy centers on creating spaces that honor imperfection, tranquility, and connection to nature, blending clean lines, organic textures, and functional artistry. Each piece we craft is a testament to sustainability, designed to endure both aesthetically and structurally

The Komorebi Ethos

The name "Komorebi" (木漏れ日) captures our essence: the Japanese term for sunlight filtering through trees, symbolizing fleeting beauty and the interplay of shadow and light. Like these dappled moments, our designs balance rawness and refinement—celebrating the cracks in handmade ceramics, the grain of reclaimed wood, and the quiet elegance of spaces that breathe

Our Legacy

Today, Komorebi’s work spans lighting, furniture, and curated home objects, gracing spaces from Copenhagen lofts to Tokyo apartments. We remain rooted in Elara’s founding vision: that in a chaotic world, home should be a sanctuary of calm—a place where dappled light reminds you to pause, and where every imperfection is a silent teacher

Our Founder’s Journey: Elara Nilsen

"True beauty lies in the space between cultures—and the silence between objects."

Elara Nilsen’s story began in a small Danish town, where she grew up surrounded by her grandmother’s mid-century Scandinavian furniture and hand-woven textiles. Yet it was a childhood trip to Kyoto that ignited her passion for Japanese design. Amidst temple gardens and paper-lantern-lit streets, she witnessed how wabi-sabi—the art of embracing impermanence—transformed everyday objects into poetry.

After studying sustainable design in Copenhagen, Elara moved to Tokyo in 2010, apprenticing under master woodworker Kenji Sato. There, she learned that craftsmanship is meditation: a single joint in a shoji screen could take days to perfect, not for precision alone, but to honor the material’s spirit. She also observed a shared reverence for nature between Japanese and Scandinavian traditions—both born from harsh climates that demanded resilience and simplicity.

In 2015, a revelation struck during a walk through Arashiyama’s bamboo forest. Watching sunlight fracture through the canopy (komorebi), Elara envisioned a design language uniting Nordic warmth with Japanese restraint. She founded Komorebi Design Collective that year, collaborating with artisans from Oslo to Osaka to create pieces that whisper, rather than shout