When we visit, Sunniva's birthday is coming up. “I really don’t like birthdays.” It is not the getting older part that doesn’t sit right with her, it’s more the attention. “My birthday tends to coincide with fashion week and then there’s always some sort of fuzz. When I’m at home it’s alright, because we have our own little birthday ritual. It’s much more laidback.” Despite the dislike of the annual event, Sunniva enjoys getting older. The years of experience create a sense of calm and trust in oneself which can only be acquired over time.
Sunniva Hartgen
Creative consultant and stylist Sunniva Hartgen has been a prominent figure on the Norwegian fashion scene for over a decade. She shares an industrial loft overlooking Torshov in Oslo with her husband and daughter, a space that reflects her thoughtful approach to collecting and keen eye. Driven by an innate curiosity, her personal style is fluid and constantly evolving. “I’ve always cared deeply about aesthetics, and I have very clear opinions of how I want things to be. But becoming a mother has challenged this perception. It’s made me more playful and open to new expressions. Parenthood has taught me not to take everything so seriously.”
PHOTOS BY JOHANNE NYBORG
A willingness to embrace change and explore new paths has shaped both her personal and professional life. The young family of three spent six months in France, escaping the winter back home, enjoying the freedom of being freelancer, a period of new experiences and fresh perspectives. “That’s where I met Ingeline, who I started Shy Collective with. We spent the last three months living in their house outside Bordeaux. It was a time of being fully present, meeting new people, experiencing life, and gaining some distance from everyday routines. It brought a renewed sense of energy and inspiration, giving me so much to take with me moving forward.”
“I like moving in different directions. I could never do just one thing my whole life."
Shortly after their return home, Sunniva found a vacant space she immediately fell in love with. It did not take long before the initial spark grew into something bigger. Now, the space serves as a base for the creative agency and showroom, Shy Collective.
“It wasn’t something I had planned, it just happened,” Sunniva shares. “For me, it’s an attempt to widen my horizons and create a more solid foundation creatively, with more involvement in bigger productions. I like moving in different directions. I could never do just one thing my whole life. Right now, I like to say that Shy Collective feels like a showroom in motion, a space to grow through collaborations and create, and explore new ideas.”
"What I love most is that this chair feels timeless. It was a bold choice for our home, and that’s what makes it so special. I can see us growing old with it."
Sunniva and her family moved into the loft in 2018. The generous ceiling height and floor to ceiling windows offered an ambience that drew them in. The space was everything their former home was not, and it was exactly what they were looking for. Since then, they have carefully renovated the loft themselves, altering all surfaces and adding space maximizing solutions such as a custom-built staircase that doubles as a wardrobe. It is a family home with an atmosphere which is blissfully unconcerned with random assortments of toys or other more or less desirable traces of life with a toddler. The loft is a testament to her keen eye and knack for arranging objects.
Nevertheless, Sunniva describes her relationship with the objects she surrounds herself with as sensible and relaxed. But she does have a special spot for one object in particular, a vintage shelf, a piece with a story of its own. “A sailor supposedly brought it back from America, though I’m not sure if that’s true. I care about it deeply, and I don’t think I’ll ever tire of looking at it.”
“I gravitate toward natural materials like wood and ceramics, things that will endure. Lately, I’ve also started adding more color, both to my wardrobe and interior, which feels refreshing to me. I love little knick-knacks, and many of the items in our home have a story, whether it’s from our travels or a lucky find.”
Sunniva’s perfect day in Oslo can take two very different forms. One might begin with a happy child and a day filled with family activities, whether it’s the playgrounds at Torshov, libraries and museums or exploring the woods. But it can also be a day which involves a babysitter and no plans at all. “I’m a spontaneous soul; I enjoy the lightness of a day that’s free to go in any direction. Maybe we will go outside and bring a pocket lark. I like exploring areas we don’t usually visit in the city. It doesn’t have to be fancy, being together is what matters, even if we’re not out for long. I like a nice view, so perhaps the perfect day involves some time spent on a rooftop.”
“I like exploring areas we don’t usually visit in the city. It doesn’t have to be fancy, being together is what matters, even if we’re not out for long."
Movement is second nature to Sunniva. “I rarely sit still, even when I’m doing something that usually requires it, like accounting. I just can’t sit with my feet flat on the floor, and I often end up in odd positions. At dinner parties, I’m the one sitting with my legs up. That’s why I appreciate furniture that allows for variation. It fits perfectly with how I move.”
Her relationship with Ekstrem is a relatively new one. She first encountered the chair in 2018 through designer Ingrid Bredholt’s reinterpretation and was immediately drawn to her unique take on the chair. “The chair isn’t for everyone, but it's unapologetic design fascinates me. It’s unexpected and demands attention, yet it feels so organic and soft. The pink especially caught my eye. What I love most is that this chair feels timeless. It was a bold choice for our home, and that’s what makes it so special. I can see us growing old with it.”