Category: Articles

Have you met Arnold? - If not, we would like to introduce you to the latest addition to the Eberhart Furniture collection - the Arnold coffee table. While staying true to our core design philosophy and material preferences, Arnold stands out as something quite of its own.

The idea behind Arnold was to design a piece of furniture that could be assembled without the use of glue or screws. This unique approach transforms the process of putting the table together into a design experience, where each element interlocks with the other, resulting in a table that is not only visually appealing but also exceptionally robust.

Arnold is a table that consists of four important components that work together in perfect harmony. The first thing to notice is the tabletop, which features four precisely crafted rectangular holes. These holes serve a dual purpose, providing both structural support and showcasing the table legs, making them an integral part of the design. The tabletop comes in either Eberhart Furniture’s signature light or dark concrete, while the table legs also offer a choice between light or dark oak. This creates a beautiful contrast between the cool, rugged charm of concrete and the natural warmth of solid oak.

To enhance the structural strength, the table is reinforced with four wedges and two crossbeams that are made of solid oak. These components act as adhesive that tightly connects the tabletop to the frame, making the table sturdy and secure. The crossbeams join the table legs on both sides, while the wedges firmly hold all the parts together, producing a nearly flawless bond.

The use of wedges in furniture is not a new concept, it was most likely invented before the term “design” even existed. However, at Eberhart Furniture, this solution is new and unique as it has not been used in any other furniture in the collection. The Arnold table features wedges to enhance its practicality by allowing for easy assembly, disassembly, and adjustments over time. This makes it easy to transport, repair, or recycle, providing a functional solution for longevity and adaptability.

"From the very early sketches, we believed that Arnold would be the ideal addition to our collection. It embodies our design philosophy perfectly, showcasing our approach to materials, form, and function. It really is a true reflection of the Eberhart DNA"

Esben Christoffersen,
Co-Founder & Head of Product

Variations —

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Arnold —
Coffee Table

Concrete Light / Oak Light

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Arnold —
Coffee Table

Concrete Dark / Oak Dark

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Arnold —
Coffee Table

Concrete Light / Concrete Light

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Arnold —
Coffee Table

Concrete Dark / Concrete Dark

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Not merely a coffee table —

Apart from its practical features, Arnold showcases a perfect marriage of two materials that represent Eberhart Furniture the best. A combination that captures the industrial and rustic feel of concrete and the cozy and natural warmth of oak, resulting in an attractive piece that is bound to be the center of attention in any living room.

In essence, Arnold is not merely a coffee table; it is a statement, a celebration of honest craftsmanship, and the enduring beauty of concrete and oak. We invite you to make Arnold the center of attention in your living space, where form meets function in perfect harmony.

Get the full experience of Arnold —

Come and discover the elegance of Arnold by exploring our carefully selected collection. Book a presentation on our website and visit our showroom to experience the beauty and craftsmanship of our furniture. We invite you to schedule your appointment today for a personalized and inspiring design journey.

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About the power of unwavering belief, love for the land, and a strong vision that can turn a once-neglected space into a place of culinary delight.

"We came across this farm that looked like a ruin. My wife could definitely see the potential. I couldn't see that at all"

This is the story of Louise and Thomas Køster’s journey. Of how they embarked on a transformative adventure 18 years ago, taking over the enchanting Rarbarbergaarden, “The Rhubarb Farm”, near Vejby, Denmark. Although the place was once overlooked and untended, the couple envisioned its true potential. Today, their passion and dedication have borne fruit as they have proudly introduced Denmark’s very first farm restaurant.

In a delightful conversation with Thomas Køster, we delve into their profound admiration for vegetables and the significance of being a farm restaurant. Through their nurturing touch, Rarbarbergaarden has blossomed into a haven that celebrates the bounty of nature, emphasizing the harmonious relationship between food and the earth it springs from.

Louise and Thomas’ inspiring journey is a testament to the power of unwavering belief, love for the land, and a strong vision that can turn a once-neglected space into a place of culinary delight. Their tale teaches us to cherish and respect the abundant gifts that nature bestows upon us, as we savor the delectable creations of Denmark’s very first and pioneering farm restaurant.

How long have you had Rabarbergaarden?

My wife and I bought the farm 18 years ago to get out of Copenhagen. At the time we lived on Elmegade, but decided we would like to move to the countryside. Already at that time, we actually had a summer delicatessen shop in Tisvildeleje. And then we came across this farm that looked like a ruin. My wife could definitely see the potential. I couldn’t see that at all. But we threw ourselves into it, and in the first eight years we lived here, while we both worked in Copenhagen.

What changed?

The more we lived here, the more we began to think about whether the farm could one day be a workplace for us. I’m a trained chef, and my wife works with film and media, so neither of us have an agricultural background. However, at that time there was one of our good friends, Søren Ejlersen, who had started the project called “Gardens for Bellies”. He asked if I wanted to join in and help spread the word. “Gardens for Bellies” is a school project in collaboration with the local municipality, which is about bringing education and teaching out into the open, where students learn about food- and nature science along with agriculture. So when it got started, all of a sudden there was a small business that started on the farm. We made a small profit, and we were able to hire a gardener, and I started teaching at “Gardens for Bellies”, so that I didn’t have to work in Copenhagen full-time.

At that time, a process started for Louise and I, where we began to think that it would actually be quite exciting to investigate how we as a family can survive on four hectares, while at the same time creating job opportunities locally. It was at that point in time, when we simply said to ourselves let’s renovate the farm, and then we’re doing something that abroad is known as a farm restaurant. So we closed everything we had in Tisvildeleje, rebuilt the farm, and then we opened as Rabarbergården’s farm restaurant and grocery store. And it’s been about eight years since then.

"The idea was of course that we would become really good at staying self-sufficient"

So the restaurant is located where you originally lived?

Yes, the restaurant is in our old living room. And where you walk in [the store], that’s our old teen section for our two kids. So in that way we created a restaurant on the farm. The idea was of course that we would become really good at staying self-sufficient. However, we also found out that unfortunately we have the worst soil to grow vegetables in. It’s not a nice thing to learn. And that’s just something you cannot expect to know when you’re not a trained farmer. I think if I had been a farmer when we bought the farm 18 years ago, I probably would have started by digging a hole in the ground and find out what kind of soil it really was. Instead of just looking at the buildings and thinking it looks romantic. But we didn’t do that, because we didn’t have that knowledge. We first found out when we had to grow for the restaurant the first year, where the top of the carrots grew a meter high. I walked around, dreaming that if they are a meter high, they are probably also a meter down in the ground. But they were just about a centimeter and a half.

What did you do then?

We learned a lot the first year, and in collaboration with our gardener we learned that we had to find another way to grow. So we started growing in a way called “market garden”. Here you add compost to your soil, so you actually end up — after a few years — with a really big layer of soil on top of the regular soil you have. We add around 10 tons of compost to our beds every year. This means that now, after 8 years, we are simply growing the most fantastic vegetables. The carrots are long, the parsnips are long and crisp and juicy.

It says on your website that you are Denmark's first farm restaurant. How is that so?

I don’t think at any point in Denmark the term farm restaurant has been defined, even though it is big in the US and France — and especially in England, where we have traveled a lot. In the first few years, we spent a lot of time explaining what we are. In other words, we are not the traditional, organic farm shop where you go and get a coffee for 1.50 € and a cheese sandwich for 2.50 €. We are something else. We are a high-end restaurant. We have the same prices as any good restaurant in Copenhagen where you go to get a four- or six courses menu. So we have struggled a bit with the word. Should you Americanize it and call it a farm restaurant? Do people get it? Or should we try to tell about the fact that there is something new in Denmark called a farm restaurant? And fortunately, more have subsequently been added. But I think that eight years ago, when we opened here as a restaurant, not many people knew what a farm restaurant was. So this thing, about us being the first, we probably are in the way we decided we would do it. But I know that there are more people who share the same thoughts and ideals, who believe that people crave that experience and to know where all the ingredients actually come from.

What thoughts lie behind the interior design of Rabarbergaarden?

One of the most important things is that it must be functional, because it is a restaurant. But it also needs to reflect what the rest of the farm stands for. Quality, simplicity. I don’t know if you should use the Danish word “hygge”, but it needs to feel nice to be here. Because you are still seated here for a few hours, while you enjoy the menu. And then I definitely have a great passion for art. That’s why we have a local artist’s work on display every summer. Not necessarily a local from the area, it can also be someone we know or have a collaboration with. Last summer we had Kasper Eistrup, Vibe Bredahl and Gerda Thune Andersen’s work on display. We like that the guests who come here get to know something about the place. Both in relation to the things we have, but also with the way we cultivate. It is also the feeling we get when people come to visit us. They really want to know everything. They want to know how we grow the vegetables, what animals we have, why we chose this art. People really want to hear everything. And we are also ready to tell you all that. So, in addition to the fact that we get to offer a fantastic meal, I also hope that our visitors gain a lot of new knowledge. And find that every little thing serves its purpose.

Yes, you use the word "holism" on the website. What does it mean to you?

I have the deepest respect for how difficult it is to grow vegetables. In this way, we have also ensured that most of our employees, especially our chefs, are all out there in the field. To understand how important it is — how big a part it plays here on the farm. And learn how much respect we must have for the crops we grow. A small seed planted in May ends up six months later as a beetroot on a plate. And I can see from my employees in the kitchen that when they get those beetroots in, they are all well aware that they helped plant this seed six months ago. So half of it won’t be discarded. They look at the top, they look at the leaves. What can we use, what can we use it for, can we utilize it in another way? Because one of the things we work a lot with in the kitchen is of course our waste. All the leftover bread we have from the bread basket, we collect it and burn it when we have 30 kilos of it, so that it becomes like coal. And then a friend of mine, who has a brewery, use it to make a beer for us called Kvassish. So every little thing matters.

If you have become curious after reading Thomas and Louise's story about Rabarbergaarden, you can find more information on their website, www.rabarbergaarden.dk. Here you can also see current menus, plan your visit and book a table in the restaurant.

Featured products —

The characteristic light bark and pale, thin trunks of the birch tree (Betula) are a familiar sight to many, and are naturally widespread in large parts of Europe. The birch tree, which immigrated to Denmark towards the end of the last ice age, approx. 14,000 years ago, has been used for a wide variety of things. The wood itself has been used for furniture and firewood, while the branches and bark have been useful for, among other things, weaving baskets and making brooms.

For “Fastelavn” (Also known as “Shovetide”, a historically lutheran tradition known throughout Northern Europe), the birch tree has also become indispensable, as the branches of the birch tree have been used for making Shovetide rods. Children would use the rods to whip each other, and according to old belief, the power from the buds of the branch would be transferred to the one who was whipped.

The birch tree is something very special. It offers something that other trees do not. In spring, sap rises in the tree, which in the old days was used for both wine and medicine. Some still use it to make delicious, sparkling champagnes and liquor, and many – to this day – regard birch sap as a natural vitamin supplement.

At Eberhart Furniture, the birch tree has also found a way to work as a vitamin injection, giving new life to the existing range of furniture in our collection. After having our primary focus on oak, we have finally opened our eyes to the wonders of birch. Compared to oak, the light birch is soft and easy to work with. Still, the wood is heavy and sturdy, perfect for furniture that are made to last. The grain of the wood is hardly as visible as with other types of wood, and you are rarely challenged by knots, which together give it a fine and smooth, almost silky, surface. In our production, we follow exactly the same procedures as in our work with oak.

There are 2 types of birch trees in Denmark, Downly Birch and European White Birch. Both have  good properties, and can both be used to make Shovetide rods and tap birch sap. However, they are not suitable for furniture production, which is why the birch wood we use in our range is obtained from other Nordic countries, in order to ensure the best quality possible. 

Following the exact same procedure as when working with oak, the table tops are created by gluing several planks together. Here, birch has the advantage that the glue dries up faster.

We receive the wood from our skilled sub-suppliers. On our farm, the tables are treated with oil before they are packed and sent out from our warehouse, to finally end up in a new and loving home.

Yes, the birch tree is something very special, and we at Eberhart Furniture are delighted to be able to present it as a new part of our permanent selection.

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