The Story Behind Hello Norden

I spent over two decades in the design world — working in advertising, renovating homes, and building physical spaces from the ground up. I studied architecture, earned design degrees, and immersed myself in the creative process. But it wasn’t until my daughter nearly died during childbirth that everything changed.

That experience rerouted my life.

I left a high-paying career to start my own company — one that would give me the flexibility to be there for her medical needs. That company eventually became Hello Norden. It started with design services, but I quickly saw how much more was needed.

Years later, my own health started to deteriorate. I was seeing doctors, running tests, chasing answers — but no one could tell me what was wrong. I was exhausted, inflamed, in extreme physical pain. And every answer came back clean.

What I didn’t realize was that trauma had been living in my body for years — not just from my daughter’s birth, but long before that, since childhood and a life of pushing through. Trauma doesn’t just pass with time; it stays with us, tucked into muscles, breath, and posture. Eventually, my body started to speak up louder than my willpower could override.

Traditional doctors couldn’t find anything “wrong.” Their conclusion? Quit working. File for disability. Accept a life of chronic pain.

But they didn’t know me. And that was never going to be the end of my story.

It was a former coworker — now a trauma therapist — who heard my symptoms and recognized them for what they really were: trauma living in the body. She told me something I’ll never forget — unless you work to release it, it won’t go away. You can’t outthink trauma. You can’t out-hustle it. And the generations before us who tried to “grin and bear it”? They got it wrong.

What I came to understand is this: you experience the world through your nervous system first — not your brain. While your mind tries to make sense of things after the fact, your body is already scanning the room, clocking sound, light, texture, temperature, and threat — constantly asking, am I safe here?

And that scanning doesn’t happen in a vacuum. Your nervous system carries everything you’ve been through. Everyone moves through the world this way — not just trauma survivors or neurodivergent folks. But when you’ve lived with chronic stress, your internal “cup” is already close to full. In a chaotic space, a well-resourced person might go from 30% to 50% and not notice. They might just leave with a headache, a clenched jaw, or a sense of irritation they can’t explain. But someone already operating at 70%? That same space sends them into overdrive.

It’s not about sensitivity — it’s about biology.

Over 80% of doctor visits are now for stress-related issues. That means we’re all affected, whether we realize it or not.

That realization sparked something in me. I began studying trauma, somatic healing, sensory regulation, and environmental psychology. I kept asking one question: Why isn’t anyone talking about how our spaces affect our nervous systems?

There are trauma-informed designers. And there are wellness-focused spaces. But what I couldn't find was a framework that truly brought it all together — one that connected science and story, somatics and soul, nervous system function and real-world living.

So I built one.

The RUTED Method blends trauma-informed principles, sensory science, and ancestral wisdom with the lived realities of modern life. It’s not just for spa-like homes or wellness retreats—it’s a way of designing any space, in any style, to better support the people in it. This isn’t about cliché self-care aesthetics. It’s about creating environments that help your body exhale—whether you’re in a moody brownstone, a bustling office, a kindergarten classroom, or a cozy kitchen.

Hello Norden became the outward expression of that mission — a place to find vintage goods with history, soulful new furniture and decor, made-to-order pieces, and intentionally sourced objects. Everything we carry is chosen with nervous system regulation in mind — through texture, form, and emotional resonance. It’s not about trends. It’s about how it makes you feel.

We also offer 1:1 design sessions and full consulting for residential and commercial environments. Whether you're looking for help with your own home, reimagining a hotel, stadium, or school, or creating a space that helps others feel—you’re in the right place.

Design isn’t just about aesthetics. It’s about how your body responds the moment you walk in the door.

Welcome to Hello Norden. Welcome to RUTED.