Inside the Kindred X Gustaf Westman pop-up in Berlin
The Swedish designer is selling his unique pastel design objects in Kindred homes around Europe. Here's a dispatch from the road.
It’s a sticky Sunday in Kreuzberg, and the line snaking down the block isn’t for Berghain or some micro-cinema screening. It’s for an apartment. Inside: disco-ball lighting, curvy Swedish furniture, and enough pastel glassware to crash your Instagram algorithm. The space? A one-bedroom apartment belonging to Guy and Dima, Kindred members and Berlin locals temporarily overtaken by Swedish designer Gustaf Westman. He’s the mind behind the internet’s most recognizable dopamine decor: pastel pipe chairs, wavy mirrors, and glassware straight out of a Saturday morning acid trip.
People spill into the space, beer in hand, bouncing between rooms like it’s a gallery opening slash house party slash retail therapy. It’s chaotic in the best way. And yet, somehow, it works: proof that when you give creative people the keys to their own space, they’ll build something way better than a storefront.
The designer: Gustaf Westman
“I really love the juxtaposition of the polished color of my objects against the rough and raw surfaces of this apartment,” notes Westman. The blonde 31-year-old, wearing a baseball cap has been in the space most of the weekend interacting with the hundreds of visitors, answering questions and talking pictures, and is finally taking a break, seated on one of his “pipe chairs” at the dining room table.
In the last few years, this Stockholm-based, architect-trained designer has been a nomad. Since he launched his studio in 2020, he has been traveling the world, popping up in New York City and LA, and collaborating with brands like the Danish snacks company Nick’s, influencers like the provocative artist and singer Tommy Cash, and global brands like Mercedes. (Up next: a collection for IKEA).
Westman approached Kindred with the idea of apartment takeovers in various cities. “Someone from my team came up with the idea,” he recalls. “Kindred’s connection to their members is strong, and we appreciate that it’s a community of real homes. It made sense because “I like to put my stuff in organic and real spaces and situations.”
Within weeks, Kindred and the Gustaf Westman team had organized a pop-up tour in Kindred apartments throughout Europe, starting in Berlin, and then traveling to Copenhagen, Paris (June 28-29) Amsterdam (August 30-31) and Madrid (Sept 6-7).
Looking through a selection of apartments in Berlin, Guy and Dima’s one-bedroom immediately stood out to Westman. “It appealed to me for the roughness of the interiors and its sense of humor.” He adds with a laugh, “I would definitely swap apartments with them.”
The Kindred members: Guy and Dima
When Dima, a 39-year-old industrial designer, started looking for an apartment three years ago, he knew the competition would be rough. “Rents are controlled here in Berlin, so they are pretty reasonable, but the competition is fierce.” When he first saw the one-bedroom, he wasn’t scared of the major work it needed. “It was in pretty destroyed condition,” adds Guy, a 34-year-old product designer, “but we saw it as a canvas upon which to build something really unique.”
Instead of painting over the walls, they decided to preserve its raw quality. “We wanted to keep the history of the place,” says Dima. When they posted a few pictures of it on their Instagram, they went viral. “I didn’t expect there would be such strong reactions,” says Dima. “But now I think that what resonates with people is a kind of hope, the idea that creating something unique, design-wise, is possible — without crazy financial resources or going to architecture school.”
When Kindred first reached out to them, Guy and Dima were skeptical. They knew who Westman was and liked his work, but they were nervous about the idea of hundreds of people walking through their home. “We were really 50-50 about doing it,” says Dima. But after a meeting with Westman and his team, the couple’s response was: “100% yes.” Guy adds, “They were so super nice and friendly. We had a conversation about logistics, and we knew we could trust them.”
It helped that the couple already trusted Kindred. “It’s members only, and no money is exchanged between members,” continues Guy. “And because each member is also sharing their space, by default they respect other Kindred members spaces, too.”
They stored their more valuable vintage furniture, like a Marcel Brauer chair that they picked up on Kleinanzeigen, a local eBay-like online site. In return for being able to use their space, Westman offered them one of his works; they chose a chunky mirror. “Gustaf also left us a souvenir,” says Dima, pointing to two chunky mugs in the kitchen, one cream colored and the other a dark plum. “We appreciated that he understood what colors worked for our apartment.”
Guy and Dima’s stylish guide to Berlin
Where to shop
Sunday flea market on Arkonaplatz: “Once in a while we find gems there.”
Another June: “A great vintage shop. They have a very elaborate curation that we find interesting.”
The Store x Berlin: “If we want to work from a nice place we go there. Fashion, cool people.”
Where to be inspired
Boros Collection: T”his is a private art collection with an apartment on the top in a historic WWII bunker. It inspired the thinking about the design of our place.” (You can see the apartment in the movie Tár.)
Dittrich & Schlechtriem: “One of our favorite art galleries.”
Where to eat and drink
Gemello: “The best(!!!!!!!) pizza in town (it’s vegan but doesn't feel like it!)”
Nathanja & Heinrich Café: “Cozy and chill. Very Berlin vibe.”
Torte: “A hidden gem. Great cocktails.”