A Delightful Pared-Back Oasis In The Heart Of Copenhagen

Why, hello there! How are you today? This weekend we had a bit of a spring clean and sent a load of stuff to the local loppis (flea market). It felt surprisingly satisfying but at the same time I have a niggling doubt that I may have been over zealous. Help! What would Marie Kondo say?! Do you ever feel like that too?! I have a sneaking suspicion that this is why I've chosen to share this incredibly pared-back Danish home with you today (minimalinspiration!). Despite enjoying life in Copenhagen, Pernille Bastrup sometimes finds the hustle and bustle of the city overwhelming and has deliberately kept her apartment 'light and airy' to carve out a place where she can find peace, think and focus on what matters most in life: good times and being with the people she loves. 

Louis Poulsen light*, Ferm Living pear storage basket*, art by Jonathan Lawes

Craft sisters quilt, camel velvet pillow* 

Skagerak Edge plant pot*, Kristina Dam Cube table 

From Nature bag 

& other stories linen trench coat*

Kamut Print, Sebra cot*, Georg mirror, Source a similar Moroccan rug here*, Mira 4 Opal light

There are so many pieces to love in Pernille's apartment (I guess if you're going to whittle down your possessions to only a few, you'd better make them count!). 

My favourites are the Skagerak plant pot and the pear storage basket! Did anything stand out to you?

Check out more of Pernille's home on her blog and instagram - and tour a whole load of other inspiring spaces in the Danish home archive! 

Have a wonderful start to the week friends!

Niki

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Where Raw and Refined Meet In The Middle - Danish Style

In the interior world you hear a lot about people choosing to renovate rather than relocate. Not this sassy lady. I've featured both of Julie Wittrup Pladsbjerg's past homes (here and here) - and last summer she upped sticks again and moved to a new gaff fifty metres down the road. Located in the Danish city of Aalborg, the move was down to her passion for her business Another Studio - a creative content and product development business which she co-founded with Mikkel Dahlstrøm. The apartment features towering ceilings, period features and original parquet flooring. Combine this with her fab, eclectic style, love of vintage classics, plants, books and art and it's hard not to do a twirl in delight (like one happy, little girl in these pictures AKA Julie's daughter Vanilla!).

J39 chair

Art by Rikke Jacobsen and Line Højmann (among others!)

Formakami pendant light

Art by Line Højmann, shelve02 white left, camel velvet pillow / cushion*

How fabulous! 

There's something special about following Julie's style updates over the years, her new apartment feels distinctly grown up, albeit with a touch of that edginess that we so love!

Do you find this home inspiring too?

If you'd like to see more pictures of Julie's apartment hop on over to instagram.

Have a dejlige day!

Niki

Photography: Julie Wittrup Pladsbjerg, shared with kind permission

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A Lovely, Hyggligt Home In Jutland, Denmark

Newlyweds Katrine and Jacob Laoru know how to create a hyggligt home that's full of charm. The creative pair (Katrine is an interior decorator and visual merchandiser and Jacob is studying Psychology at Aarhus University while making beautiful clay masks in his spare time), live in Mårslet, a village in Eastern Jutland, Denmark with their 12-year-old cairn terrier Nemo. Their cosy home is furnished with a beautiful collection of vintage finds, Danish classics and plenty of art against a soft, muted backdrop. Hints of warm brown and terracotta add just the right amount of warmth, while natural materials give the space a wonderful lived-in vibe. Enjoy!

Grand Prix chair*

Panthella lamp* (found secondhand), LÖNHOLT rug from IKEA.

"We found the Wegner armchair secondhand. It's the comfiest thing ever! The seat is so wide, my dog and I can easily sit there together."

Kizu lamp

TIP! Creating a naturally aesthetically pleasing interior is about balance - in the corner of the living room, the terracotta linen curtains pick out similar shades in the oil painting for a perfectly balanced look. I have found that pairing items in terms of colour helps a space to come together and creates a sense of harmony (it's a tool I also used in this styling work in my own home a few weeks back).

Grönadal rocking chair, source a similar sheepskin here* 

Clay masks by Jacob Laoru, Flos 265 light* 

What a lovely home! It all feels so natural!

Is there anything that stood out to you? 

I've been thinking about making a trip to Eastern Jutland for a while (I've been to Skagen but keen to visit other parts too!). In case you feel the same, I asked Katrine for a few tips:

Katrine's East Jutland must-sees /dos: 

1. Visit Moesgaard Museum - the architect is amazing!

2. Go for a hike in Mols Bjerge National Park in summer time

3. Take a walk at Kalø Slotsruin

4. Enjoy the best ice cream ever at Social Foodies in M P Bruuns Gade, Aarhus

You can see more of Katrine and Jacob's lovely home here. 

I've shown a fair few homes from the Danish mainland in the past. Some of my absolute favourites include a rural retreat in Jutland, hygge and pops of colour in a Danish family home and a relaxed mid-century inspired Danish home. Guh! Did I tell you just how much I love Danish style?! 

Have a hyggligt day! 

Niki

Photography: Katrine Laoru shared with kind permission

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An Art Exhibition In Your Home? Meet the Danish Women Behind the Concept!

In celebration of International Women's Day, I thought I'd shine a light on two inspiring women from the Scandinavian art and design scene who I've been following for a while! Meet Mette Helena Rasmussen, a graduate from the Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts, and Anne Aarsland, an art history and Visual artist graduate from the University of Copenhagen. The pair met through a mutual client in 2017 and founded KUNSTSALONEN through which they curate public exhibitions in private homes across Denmark. To date, they've held five successful exhibitions (FREDERIKSBERG SALONEN, AMAGER SALONEN, AARHUS SALONEN, ØSTERBRO SALONEN and KØBENHAVN K SALONEN (featured above) showcasing the work of over 35 artists at a time. I caught up with the pair to find out more about how the 'nomadic platform' works and their best tips for creating an incredible gallery wall!

A gallery wall in KØBENHAVN K SALONEN in the home of artist Lis McDonald (complete list of artists featured here). 

How did you meet?

We had been following each other on instagram for a while and met on a styling project for Artemide Lighting. The press event was held in Anne's apartment. 

A mother and daughter enjoy the exhibition in a private home in central Copenhagen last weekend. 

When did you decide to collaborate?

The press event turned out to be a cool experience and Anne enjoyed the guests, the talks and how her home was part of something different for a short period of time. We had a glass of wine (or two!) and talked about how we could do something together. We didn't really know what exactly, but came up with ideas for something like networking, exhibitions, social events, parties etc. 

Artists featured above all tagged here. 

How did you come up with the idea?

We wanted to contribute to the Danish art scene and somehow arrived at the idea of holding a curated art exhibition in Anne's private home. 

Work by Carsten Crone Caroc, Sarah Schönbeck, Mie Olise Kjærgaard, Martha Kramer, and Line Busch at last week's exhibition captured by Tia Borgsmidt.

What inspired the name?

Our first exhibition was called FREDERIKSBERG SALONEN inspired by the salons in Paris and the tendency to use homes for literature gatherings, music and poetry events. We were also inspired by the fact that people are starting to rent personal spaces through Airbnb and Gomore.dk. 

Eye-catching art by Kunstsalonen co-founder Anne Aarsland (left) in the KÖBENHAVN K SALONEN exhibition. 

How did you organise your first event?

We invited several contemporary artists and all of them accepted. We installed the art in Anne's home (seen in the last two pictures in this post) and invited everyone we knew. It was a huge success and gave us confidence to develop this active, nomadic platform for showing art and arrange exhibitions in other private homes across Denmark. 

Making final touches to the AARHUS SALONEN exhibition

How does it work?

We curate and invite selected artists to showcase their work in a private home for a weekend. The generous hosts (who are passionate about contemporary art) invite us to use their homes for a week. People visit the exhibition and buy the artwork. It's a true pleasure to work on this project! 

A drool-worthy gallery wall in the home of Mette Helena Rasmussen.

How do you select the artists?
We mostly show Danish artists, but we have featured work by Swedish artist Johan Furåker, Norwegian artists Jeanette Sættre and Arne-Marius Skogås as well as Iranian artist Frank Shoi and Brit Nicholas Imms.

And finally, what are your best tips for creating a perfect gallery wall?
Our best tip is to collect great art! Organise your artwork in tones and colours that work well together. Combine large scale works with minor works and bring in three dimensional pieces to give the wall a vivid expression.



What a truly inspiring idea! Thank you for sharing this with us Mette and Anne!

If you're heading to Denmark, you might like to time your visit with their forthcoming exhibitions:

FUGLEBAKKE SALONEN, Frederiksberg, Copenhagen 10 - 12 May
MORS SALONEN, Jutland in August

Keep an eye out for more information here (and follow along on instagram here).

In case you're feeling inspired to create your own gallery wall this weekend - this guide might come in handy! Or perhaps, if you live in Denmark, your home might just be the location for their next exhibition! Would you be keen? I have a feeling I'd want to keep all the artwork!

Wishing you a wonderful weekend friends!

Niki

PS Stuck on a room and could use a little help? We're offering 20% off a new room design through My Scandinavian Home Studio online interior design service with the code MYNEWROOM until 7th May, 2019. We'd love to help you!

Photographs 1 to 6 by Tia Borgsmidt 

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Embracing The Blues In The Fabulous Danish Home of Michael Schmidt

There's no mistaking Michael Schmidt's favourite colour. The thirty year old Danish creative consultant and business owner (with a background in fashion and interiors) acquired his 74 sqm  (796 sq ft) apartment six years ago as a student. "It had more space than I needed, but I fell completely in love with it's quirky layout and the great location - it's literally a few metres down the street from the Copenhagen lakes in the lively Nørrebro area." Michael has shared the apartment with various flatmates and partners, but today lives alone giving him a free hand on how he decorates the bedroom, dining room, living room, kitchen and bathroom. Not only is the home full of bold, yet harmonious contrast, it's also full of fascinating collector's items including art, design classics and sculptural pieces. I caught up with Michael to find out a little more about his wonderful, colourful Copenhagen home! 

Rhythm & Blues Dhurrie rug, teak credenza*, Knoll diamond chair*, vase by Helle Mardahl (seen in top picture)

How did the apartment look when you first bought it?
It actually had a lot of colour in each room - but a mix of purple, red, terracotta and beige - far from my liking! So I started from scratch by renovating it and painting everything white to create a blank canvas.

When did you start adding colour?

Over the years I have added more and more colour, as I feel it can be a great way to highlight different things. My apartment is very long, with an extended view through three rooms so I decided to highlight this by painting one wall in each room in three different colours, which elongates the layout even more. 

Art by Fabian Treiber, Karl Monies, Vintage poster from Vintage Cph. 

In what other ways has colours helped to create the atmosphere you were looking for?

I have a very small kitchen and it looked a bit dull in white, so I opted for a rich green to give the room a moody expression. People tend to be frightened of adding colour to small spaces but it can actually bring them to life in a totally new way.

How else have you added colour to your home?

Of course colour in the home is not only about walls, it's about furniture, accessories and art. Art especially can create a unique mix of colours in every room - I buy all my art from the heart, but I do think about how it would fit into my home, how it will work with the other colours, the light etc. 

Eiermann2 table, Montana shelves, VP Globe pendant* Photo by Martin Solyst

I notice you also have some fabulous, bold textiles!
I find another great way to add colour is with rich fabrics such as curtains or cushions. I have collected a number of cushions by designer Raf Simons for Kvadrat - his eye for colour and texture is amazing.

What are your go-to colours - I guess blue...?!

Blue is one of my favourite colours, as demonstrated. by my wardrobe and home! But I try to be careful not to overdo it with one colour, so I add a lot of green, grey and some red to my interior as well. I love to create a contrast between a green wall and a red shelf, or a blue wall and yellow vases. Maybe it sounds like a loud combination, but I spend a lot of time finding the exact shades to create contrast but maintain a calm atmosphere. Most of the colours I choose have a dusty tone. 

Poster from Louisiana museum, painting by Michael's great grandfather, Strøm Collection vase / jug. 

Where do you find inspiration for colour combinations?

One of my biggest inspirations is the Bauhaus movement. It is known for its functional design and use of primary colours like red and blue which help to highlight function and form. When I started painting the walls in my home, I made a collage of five Vilhelm Lundstrøm paintings, which gave me ideas on how to combine contrasting colours in a harmonious way. 

Kitchen by Reform, Boucherouite rug* 

Recently we've been admiring the colourful Danish homes of Celine Hallas, Sofie Amalie and Trine Brunsvig. Do you think we'll see more and more colour in Danish homes? If so, what do you think is behind this movement?

I think Danish homes are much more colourful than they were ten years ago. The internet and social media provide amazing inspiration from all over the world. I also think Scandinavian countries have always created trend-forward homes, so why wouldn't they be adventurous with colour as too?  

Le creuset pot*

Do you think the way Scandinavians use bolder colours differs from other parts of the world?

I think the shades of colours will be tailored to our climate, our light and our way of living - so even a colourful Danish home will probably appear different from a colour-filled Spanish or French home. We use muted colours to create our famous hygge, and add bolder colours to create contrasts and personal splashes of colour in our homes. 

Fine Merino Plaid Blanket in blue / black, Lato side table, 

Thank you so much for telling us more about your home Michael! It's totally inspired me to start playing around with colour contrasts, how about you? 

See more pics of Michael's interior and fab style on instagram: @danskmode. 

Meanwhile, I'm off to find out more about the Strøm Collection and pieces by Helle Mardahl - they look fabulous! 

Is there anything that stands out to you?

We're busy packing for a half-term ski trip today (I always forget how much stuff there is to do before you go away - help! We're bound to forget something important too (we've forgotten my elder daughters' ski jacket two years in a row now, not popular! Bah!). 

I'll be nipping in tomorrow as I've got some super exciting news to share with you!!! 

Have a lovely evening, see you tomorrow!

Niki

Photography by Martin Solyst & Michael Schmidt
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Snapshots from a Copenhagen Apartment With Warm Brown Tones

Last year, the visual marketing and visual director of Malene Birger Ellen Dixdotter and her family made the big move from Stockholm to Copenhagen. The family left behind a beautiful apartment that graced the pages of magazines such as The Way We Play and Residence (see the tour here).  I was curious to see how Ellen's style would play out in Denmark's capital city - and was excited to see she's already shared a few snapshots. Think statement furniture in warm brown tones, stucco ceilings, large windows and tremendously high ceilings. Here's an early sneak peek!

 Zettel'z 5 Chandelier, vintage Cameleonda sofa from B&B Italia, Frama Eiffel wall light*

Wiggle side chair, Flos Viscontea pendant*, art by Josephine Eaune

Definitely a home to keep an eye on (you can follow the progress here). I'm sure I'll be featuring it again at some point in 2019!

I'm loving the sofa, it's very cool and looks massively cosy too! It's a little like a big warm hug!

Is there anything that caught your eye?

Have a cosy day! Stay warm fellow Nordic friends!

Niki

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