Behind the design: Jan Normann, born 1970, partner in Normann Copenhagen

The idea for the kitchen roll holder came about because none of the existing products on the market lived up to Jan's aesthetic and functional requirements. In those days, most kitchen roll holders were made of pine, and stood upright on the table or were hung on the wall. Jan optimised the classic wooden model by producing it in a modern material like stainless steel. He also made the base extra heavy to give it better stability, and gave it a rubber underlay so that it would not slide on the table. The result was a piece of everyday design that really works, and the kitchen roll holder is one of Normann Copenhagen's oldest products.