Curvature by ferm LIVING: One Brass Curve for Bath and Kitchen

The Curvature series from ferm LIVING takes one idea, a solid brass rod bent by hand into a soft, slightly irregular curve, and repeats it across hooks, a towel hanger, a toilet paper holder and more. This piece looks at how that single line works when you carry it through a bathroom or kitchen, which pieces to start with, and how to plan a wall of hooks that looks considered rather than scattered.

One bent line, many jobs

Most bathroom hardware is sold as a matched set because the pieces share a finish. Curvature goes further: the pieces share a gesture. Each one is a length of solid brass formed by hand into a loose, rounded bend, then given a matte lacquer. ferm LIVING describes the curves as whimsical, and the word fits. The bends are generous and a little uneven, a deliberate contrast with how dense and heavy brass is as a material.

Because the forming is done by hand, no two pieces are exactly alike. Put two Curvature Hooks side by side and you will see small differences in the arc. That is the point of the series, and it changes how a wall reads. A row of machine-identical hooks looks like a coat rack. A row of hand-bent ones looks closer to a drawing.

Bent metal is an old language in modern design. The tubular steel furniture of the Bauhaus years showed how a single continuous bend could be both structure and ornament. Curvature brings that economy down to a domestic scale, in brass and with a looser hand.

The family, piece by piece

The series covers the fixed points of a bathroom and a good part of a kitchen. Every piece listed here is solid brass with a matte lacquer finish, and comes with screws and rawplugs for wall mounting. Dimensions are width by height by depth.

• Curvature Hook: 3 x 20 x 5.8 cm, 0.1 kg. A tall, narrow single hook, generously sized for a towel, a bathrobe or a bag.
• Curvature Double Hook: 13 x 21 x 5.8 cm, 0.24 kg. Two curves side by side, giving twice the hanging space of the single hook. ferm LIVING suggests it for bedroom, bathroom, hallway or kitchen.
• Curvature Towel Hanger: 66 x 11 x 8.5 cm, 0.8 kg. A long, low rail that lets a towel hang open and dry between uses.
• Curvature Toilet Paper Holder: 15 x 5 x 8.4 cm, 0.2 kg. The smallest fixed piece in the bathroom, and the one most often left as an afterthought.
• Curvature Hooks, set of 3: 1 x 6 x 2.4 cm each, 0.04 kg. Miniature versions for keys, jewellery or a tea towel loop.
• Curvature Paper Towel Holder: Ø14 cm, H 30 cm, 0.4 kg, in brass and black brass.
• Curvature Handle: 14 x 2 x 3.2 cm, the same bend applied to a door or drawer.
• Curvature Wall Table: 30 x 44 x 25.1 cm, 1.5 kg, the largest piece and the one that turns the language into a small shelf.

The main finishes are brass and black brass. Brass reads warm and slightly golden under the matte lacquer; black brass is darker and more graphic, closer to a pen line against a pale wall. The colour options for the hooks, towel hanger and toilet paper holder also list a stainless steel version for those who want a cooler tone.

Carrying the curve across a bathroom

The strength of a family like this is repetition, so plan the bathroom as one composition rather than a list of fittings. Start with the piece that has the clearest job and the biggest footprint, which is almost always the Curvature Towel Hanger. At 66 cm wide it sets the horizontal line of the room. Mount it where a towel can hang without touching the floor or a radiator, and within reach of the shower or bath.

The Curvature Toilet Paper Holder is next. It is small, but it sits at eye level when you are seated and is used every day, so it is worth matching. Choosing the same finish as the towel hanger is what makes the room look specified rather than accumulated.

Then add hooks where things actually end up: a Curvature Hook beside the shower for a robe, a Double Hook on the back of the door for two towels or a towel and a dressing gown. Repeated three or four times, the same soft bend becomes a theme.

A practical point on finish: brass and black brass both work against white tiles, but they behave differently. Brass picks up light and warmth, which suits a bathroom with natural wood or warm grout. Black brass holds its outline against white and pale grey, and suits a cooler, more graphic room. Pick one and keep it; mixing finishes inside a single family weakens the repetition that gives Curvature its effect.

Into the kitchen

The same line moves easily into a kitchen, where hooks earn their place by holding things that would otherwise live in a drawer. A Double Hook near the hob can take an apron and an oven glove. The Curvature Paper Towel Holder, at 30 cm high, brings the curve onto the worktop or wall. The small hooks from the set of 3 suit tea towels, a pair of scissors with a loop, or keys by the back door.

If your bathroom and kitchen are close together, as they often are in a flat, using the same finish in both rooms ties the home together in a quiet way. Two or three repeats of the bend in each room are enough.

How to plan a wall of hooks

A wall of hooks in a hallway or beside a bathroom door can look sculptural or chaotic, and the difference is mostly planning. A few steps help.

1. Decide what will hang there. Count the coats, bags and towels that need a place. A Double Hook gives two points for every fixing, so it is the efficient choice where space is tight.
2. Mix sizes on purpose. The single Curvature Hook is tall and narrow at 3 x 20 cm; the Double Hook is wider at 13 x 21 cm. Because their heights are nearly the same, they line up naturally along a common top line, and alternating them gives a steady rhythm.
3. Keep one line. Fix all hooks to the same top height, or step them deliberately in a clear pattern. With hand-formed pieces, let the variation come from the curves, not the layout.
4. Space evenly. Leave the same gap between every hook, wide enough that a full coat on one does not cover its neighbour. Mark positions with tape before drilling.
5. Allow for depth. Both hooks stand 5.8 cm from the wall. In a narrow corridor, place them where a passing shoulder will not catch them.

Screws and rawplugs come with each piece. For tiled walls or plasterboard, check that the fixings suit your wall before you drill, especially for the heavier towel hanger.

Living with hand-formed brass

The matte lacquer seals the brass, so everyday care is simple: wipe with a soft, damp cloth and dry it, and avoid abrasive pads or strong cleaners that could scratch the finish.

Above a basin, the brass sits well with a soft, organic mirror shape; our guide to Pond Mirror sizes covers how to choose one for the wall. ferm LIVING was started in Copenhagen in 2006 by Trine Andersen, and the brand tends to develop series that carry across rooms and categories rather than single objects. Curvature is a good example of that thinking applied to the plainest parts of a home. To see how the series sits alongside the brand's lighting, textiles and furniture, explore the full ferm LIVING collection.