Before Aland & Staal, our paths were different but shaped what we do now. Karen owned and ran a clothing store for 10 years, curating Scandinavian brands. Learning about quality, materials, and what makes something worth keeping. Aland worked as a project developer, understanding how buildings come together and what it takes to get things built. Then we started building for ourselves. A tiny house we redesigned. An empty van we bought and converted from scratch, travelling Europe with our kids and carrying our studio with us.
When your whole world is 6 square meters, you learn fast what matters.
Those years taught us something essential: good design isn’t about more it’s about better. About spaces that work hard and feel right. About choosing materials that age beautifully and builders who care.
Since then, we’ve been fortunate to work on projects that challenge us. Beach suites on the coast. A office in Amsterdam. a Tiny House and a beach restaurant.
Now we’re based in Spain, working on projects across Europe and beyond. Our kids are part of the journey. We work with natural materials and craftspeople we trust, always looking to improve and make spaces that work better. Because we know what it’s like to live in what we design. And that changes everything.