Color and freedom with the Kvistad family: the first to exhibit in Space by Café

Describe your creative work, inspiration, and design process. 

We are the Kvistad family—two creatives living outside the ordinary. We work in interior architecture, design, and textile art, with family and work life tightly intertwined.
We’re inspired by sayings, architecture, city life, nature, objects, odd images, and beautiful shapes, and we’re most impressed by skillful craftsmanship and original ideas. Our design process varies from long and winding to spontaneous and light. We often start with a word or theme, make associations, sketch, cut, add, and adjust until it feels right. We’re not particularly focused on creating art with big political themes. For us, it’s about the process, the craft, and creating something that sparks a smile and curiosity in the viewer.

Can you share a little bit about your collaboration with the hotel?
We’re fortunate to be the first to exhibit in Space By at Hobo. It’s a generous concept, and we’re eager to see the response. We’re also excited that tote bags and T-shirts featuring versions of our rug motifs will be sold at the hotel. We’re also working with Hobo to decorate the wall outside the lobby elevator. Inspired by the hotel’s design and its location, the motif shows a waiting guest who feels at home.

What can guests expect from your exhibition?

Our exhibition is called Family Portrait, and it’s a very personal collection. When the three free birds appear in the open landscape, a safe and friendly figure emerges – for us, an image of the family. After many dark years, light finally shines again. The series honors togetherness, strength, and joy. Bold, happy colors and naïve lines suggest life can be simple and bright. Meticulous craftsmanship reminds us that living as you wish requires practice and focus. What happens when the wings beat the other way, you might ask? Well, that’s what it takes to fly.

What does a collaboration like this mean to you? 

Collaborations like this mean a lot. Above all, it’s incredibly rewarding to meet new people in this way. Working creatively toward a shared goal can bring out the best in all of us. And the fact that we get to present our work to a new audience and receive recognition for what we do is a huge plus.

How do you work to create visibility around your work?
Good craftsmanship, a strong network, and a large appetite for work are our greatest
strengths. We operate between design and art, sometimes falling between two stools, but luckily, we have two legs to stand on. We use quiet times to nurture connections and learn, and busy times to produce and
appreciate assignments. Instagram helps showcase our work and connect with people, even if the algorithm is moody. We aim to be authentic; showing the same people online as you’d see in real life.

What makes a hotel stay special for you?
We’ve stayed at many bad hotels, so we know what really matters. The worst things are bad smells and hard beds. If those two things are in order, we’re already halfway there! At the same time, we think a hotel should feel a little luxurious: clean, interesting, with personal design and unique character. We like hotels that go beyond trends. Space to unpack and a good gym are bonuses. And hotel breakfast? That’s one of the best parts of any stay.

What are your thoughts on Oslo’s creative scene?

We feel like part of both the design and the craft art communities in the city. After several years of events like Designers Saturday, we see that the community is quite small, but very vibrant. The great thing about Oslo’s design scene is that people cheer each other on. It’s more about creativity than background. In the art world, it can be a bit unpredictable what gets highlighted, but that’s always been the case. As long as we’re able to sell our work and keep developing, we’re happy. Whether or not we hit the spirit of the times is something everyone can have an opinion about – but in our view, there’s no single right answer to that.

How do you think aesthetics affect us in everyday life?

We can only speak for ourselves, but we believe that aesthetic surroundings and colors have a huge impact on us. Pleasant color palettes, different textures, interesting shapes, and well-designed spaces can make all the difference in how we feel. Not everything must be new or perfect. What matters is that spaces feel cared for and cozy. We love buildings with history—old structures made with pride and intending longevity inspire us.

Do you have any Oslo tips to share?

We live in urban Oslo, right next to the Botanical Garden, and make good use of the city's free offerings. 

• We love the libraries at Grünerløkka and Bjørvika, outdoor cinema in the fall, and the basketball court by Kubaparken. Norway’s longest slide in Kirsebærlunden at Tøyen is great fun for all ages.
• We often bring dinner to Sørenga to eat on our laps. It’s always lively and full of things to see. We also love the sauna at Sukkerbiten—and the cold fjord plunge after. 
• An underrated family restaurant is Pane & Vino on the corner of Trondheimsveien and Sofienberggata: delicious pizza, warm people, and a truly local atmosphere. Our daughters say they serve the world’s best spaghetti bolognese, and we play Uno while we wait for the food. 
• When we go on a date, we always sit at the bar at Le Benjamin on Grünerløkka. Everything there is perfect: the interior, the atmosphere, the service, the food, and the wine.