Artistic adventurer with fingertip sense. Meet Kim Dulk, furniture upholsterer.

It is wilderness we are driving through, the gravel road winds its way up the heights towards Störåsen. We are going to visit furniture upholsterer Kim Dulk, a multi-talented artist in the middle of Jämtland's vast forests.

Kim meets on his farm with a magnificent view of the Hotagsfjällen as a backdrop. In the large workshop, a fire crackles and Kim's ongoing projects are like works of art to view, beautiful design furniture in various stages of rebirth.

Kim is educated in Hamburg, as an interior decorator with an emphasis on the traditional craft of wallpapering. She is an artist and has also had a leg in adventure tourism over the years. A multi-tasker simply, with a strong love for the aesthetic.

- I work a lot with historic furniture, wallpapering is rarely just about changing the fabric, but it is often a complete restoration from the inside out. Spring lacing may need to be repaired, the entire piece of furniture may need to be reupholstered and wooden parts may need to be glued and polished, says Kim.

For a few years now, she has worked frequently with textiles from Frösö, and we are looking at two lovely armchairs from the 1930s that have been given new life through textile-covered seats and cushions with the iconic "Rose and Lily" pattern, designed by Gocken Jobs in 1946.

- I love classic design like this one by Gocken Jobs, it harmonizes so nicely with beautiful style furniture that needs a lift. Even the more modern patterns are great to work with, Kim continues. I have known about Frösö Handtryck for many years but in recent years there have been more designs that I feel I can use in my practice. The more exclusive designers who have been connected to the printing house, the wider my shelf of Frösö Handtryck samples that I show my customers has become.

- Emma von Brömssen's patterns, for example, her way of working with elements from nature and giving a pattern a feeling that is both classic and playful, it's magical to work with, Kim continues.

A personal favorite in Frösö's pattern bank is "Mori no seirei" by Toshiyuki Fukuda. A project in the form of a wonderful earlobe armchair is being re-dressed in black print on unbleached linen fabric.

- The pattern is genius! A beautiful pattern that can be used very effectively. When you have a pattern, you often have to count out a lot of fabric because you are so dependent on the report. You have to be very careful with a repeated pattern so that, for example, the back and seat fit together. With "Mori no seirei" I can use almost every piece.

- I have worked a lot with English and French textile suppliers, both in Germany and in Sweden. Different customers are looking for different expressions and many customers like to have suggestions when choosing textiles. It is very close to hand to suggest textiles from Frösö because it is so close to the heart, says Kim.

What makes you rate Frösö so highly?

- Getting to work with products that have a real history! I obviously like being able to work locally, I am so proud to be able to say that the fabric is from Jämtland, from Nälden. Having a supplier with such a high level of quality and design, so accessible, is truly a luxury. The environment is of course an aspect, but there are any number of reasons really if you start thinking, says Kim.

Isn't it very expensive to reupholster a piece of furniture?

- It is an investment to refurbish a large piece of furniture, but it is an investment that will last for many years, says Kim.

It could be grandma's armchair that has great sentimental value or a piece of furniture you bought at a flea market that gets a new life with new textiles. You create a unique piece of furniture that suits your home. Newly manufactured furniture with modern upholstery can have a fairly limited lifespan and choice of fabrics. A fairly simple piece of furniture can become stylish furniture with the right type of fabric and pattern. I really like simple nameless 40s furniture, they can be lifted into something very beautiful with the right fabric. If you have a piece of furniture by a well-known designer, renovating it can add value, and you get a personal expression.

In addition to a large workshop with ongoing wallpapering projects, Kim has a sewing workshop where she, among other things, sews capes and other details for another Jämtland brand, the Segebaden sled, a wooden mountain sledge that has a long tradition of hand-made quality sledges.

We go there to take a curious look. At the farm, we meet some happy vorstehrs who are Kim's constant companions through forest and land, every day, regardless of weather or season. For nature, she lives with and off it in many aspects. Between work shifts with exclusive furniture and materials, she takes long walks on cloudberry bogs and dog sled rides in snow-sparkling old-growth forest.

Isn't it difficult to operate here, in the middle of the forest?

- Oddly enough, the customers still find me. We have created a network here where we collaborate fantastically well.

As an artist, Kim realizes a dream of someday creating her own pattern.

- Yes, laughs Kim. I have an image in my head but there is still some work to do to get it on paper.

We leave Kim in the workshop where she is about to tackle an armchair by Carl Malmsten. We hit the dirt road again, inspired by Kim's skill and proud of how our textiles get to adorn beautiful furniture design in so many people's homes. A chair that goes in the same direction as we get a lift towards the town which is several miles beyond the dense fir forest. Collaboration on an equal footing.