Limited tickets remaining: Dwell Open House Los Angeles
SubscribeSign In
Collection by Olivia Martin

An Unlikely Marriage

We can’t get enough of new design brand House of Rym, an improbable artistic combination of Tunisian craftsmanship and Swedish aesthetics. In October 2011, Tunisian entrepreneurs Rym Tounsi and Zied Youssef contacted Swedish designers Anna Backlund and Elisabeth Dunker to see if they would be interested in a design collaboration. Tounsi and Youssef have a deep love of their native country’s artisan history and wanted to share it with others in a fresh light. They had long admired the designers’ work, and cold-called them to see if Backlund and Dunker would be interested in such a collaboration. As it turns out, Backlund and Dunker were, and before long, they hopped a plane to Tunisia. The group quickly formed a partnership, and produced a home goods line using wool, porcelain, cotton, and olive wood. Although their company is less than a year old, the pieces strike a perfect note between organic and modern, past and present. In the process of setting up a House of Rym webshop, all pieces can be purchased through Fine Little Day or Northlight. Click through the slideshow to see more:

View 8 Photos
This 100 percent wool rug designed by Elizabeth Dunker is called “Otis flat-on-belly.”
This 100 percent wool rug designed by Elizabeth Dunker is called “Otis flat-on-belly.”
House of Rym’s foutas (traditional Hammam towels) are made from 100 percent natural cotton and woven on traditional looms. They come in seven different color ways. Designed by Anna Backlund.
House of Rym’s foutas (traditional Hammam towels) are made from 100 percent natural cotton and woven on traditional looms. They come in seven different color ways. Designed by Anna Backlund.
Grey-black color way, shown here.
Grey-black color way, shown here.
Vintage hand-woven kilim rugs are repurposed into ottomans and cushion covers.
Vintage hand-woven kilim rugs are repurposed into ottomans and cushion covers.
The olive wood collection is made by hand from sustainably certified olive trees. “Give Me Some Sugar” bowl and spoons, shown here.
The olive wood collection is made by hand from sustainably certified olive trees. “Give Me Some Sugar” bowl and spoons, shown here.
Although they originally only intended to design textiles, Backlund and Dunker found themselves in a porcelain factory, and couldn’t contain themselves and also designed coffee and tea sets, “Black Almond” coffee cup, shown.
Although they originally only intended to design textiles, Backlund and Dunker found themselves in a porcelain factory, and couldn’t contain themselves and also designed coffee and tea sets, “Black Almond” coffee cup, shown.
The porcelain set is meant to be mixed and matched at will. From top to bottom: “Black Almond,” “Tissage Cup,” Triangle Walks” and “Howls in the Night Cup” coffee mugs, stacked on “Hats off for Mr. Squirrel Saucer.”
The porcelain set is meant to be mixed and matched at will. From top to bottom: “Black Almond,” “Tissage Cup,” Triangle Walks” and “Howls in the Night Cup” coffee mugs, stacked on “Hats off for Mr. Squirrel Saucer.”