A Wonderful Copenhagen Home Full of Soul

What a week! I feel like we've seen so many different styles - from a rustic Georgian townhouse in London to a magnificent Swedish pool villa and a cosy candlelit cabin deep in the heart of the snowy Norwegian fjords! And not to forget, my bike trip across town to capture Helen Struresson's sitting room, styled two different ways (don't miss the code for the 20% off at Bemz!). It was hard to find something to top such an inspiring week - but I might just have the ticket! Today friends, we're off to Denmark, and the home of interior designer Susanne Rutzou. 

It was love at first sight when Susanne first discovered her 1930s apartment in Østerbro. The apartment felt like a woodland clearing in the heart of Copenhagen thanks to the light pouring through the French teak-framed doors and the large windows which overlook a park - so nature is never far away. Designed by architect Vilhelm Lauritzen,  the villa was previously owned by Søren Garde, founder of Garde Hvalsøe - a Danish company making bespoke, handcrafted cabinetry - and the handcrafted elm wood kitchen, bathroom, and walk-in wardrobe remain today. Susanne has layered the home with family heirlooms, items picked up on travels, books and art - as well as some of her own designs - to give the house a warm and relaxed soul.  

I was actually meant to visit this home last year as part of an organised tour by Garde Halvsøe but unfortunately couldn't make it - I'm still gutted! Fortunately, the lovely Freya August of Scandinavian Standard, who was also part of the tour, snapped these pictures and gave me kind permission to share them today. Ready to take a peek inside? 

Simply beautiful, don't you think?

The entire home has so much soul. 

I have to say, the kitchen is incredible - I love the elm-wood finish. You can see more pictures of it here if you're curious! 

Is there anything that stands out to you?

Fancy a peek at other Copenhagen homes over the weekend? Here are a few gorgeous ones: 

A danish home full of plants and vintage treasures

Books, art and golden tones in a beautiful Copenhagen home

An elegant Copenhagen home with a touch of Christmas

I hope you have a wonderful weekend! 

Niki

Photography: Freya August / Scandinavian Standard - shared with kind permission. 

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An Eclectic Home In The Heart Of Copenhagen

It's Friday friends! The weekend calls for something, don't you think? And today, I'm chatting to Ann Poulsen, a Dane who's passionate about DIY, sustainability and making her home feel as personal as possible. Velkommen to her beautiful Copenhagen apartment, decorated in a sea of colours, and adorned with art, vintage items and lovely, unique touches. 

Where do you live?

I live in an apartment in Copenhagen in an area called Island Brygge. 

Who do you share your home with? 

My boyfriend, Tim. He moved in a few months ago which explains why I haven't mentioned him in the renovating process on my instagram :)

What do you do for a living? 

I study Danish at Copenhagen University and also work in Langsamt, a store with a focus on sustainability. 

What is important to you when decorating your home? 

To design a space that feels like home and where I want to spend a lot of my time. Our home is our base. I feel best when things are tidy and I'm not surrounded by too much clutter. But it's also important to me that my home feels lived in. I also like my personality to shine through. I love to be creative and create a personal home where the decor is mainly made up of recycled and vintage finds. 

I love the tiles in your kitchen - where are they from? 

I bought them from a shop here in Copenhagen called Alverdens Fliser. I've always loved the herringbone pattern but there were so many colours to choose from! In the end I want for the beautiful blue and I've never regretted it! 

Your home is a wonderful, eclectic mix of colour and pieces - where do you find your inspiration from? 

I feel very inspired when I walk around secondhand shops. It always feels like I'm stepping back in time and it's fun to see the various trends from the past - I find the mix interesting. I also get a lot of inspiration from Pinterest and Instagram. 

 

Can you tell us a little about the colours you've chosen? 

In my bedroom I've chosen a mineral paint called Dusty Rose from Jotun Lady. It gives the room a raw, beautiful look and changes depending fin how the light hits it. In my kitchen, I've used Modern Beige from Jotun Lady. And in my living room, I've applied the yellow Gullhår from Jotun Lady. The green is from Bech & Jørgensen (colour code: 2014-N048). 

You have a lot of art on your walls - where do you buy it from?  

I like to buy posters from the exhibitions I have been to - it gives them a little history and art galleries always sell the finest art! I also buy a lot online. 

Did you make the piece in your bedroom (to the left) yourself? 

Yes! I made it around a year ago. It's quite easy to make with PU-foam, a canvas and the colour of your choice! 

Finally, what do you love most about your home? 

I love that it feels like home to both Tim and I. It's liberating to know I can decorate it however I like, and completely in my style. I don't think I will ever finish renovating - it's a never-ending project! 

Now that Tim's moved in, do you think he'll want to have a say in the decorating? 

No, not at all actually - he couldn't care less! He's really great as he never complains about the mess I make when I'm renovating either - and it can go for on for weeks! 

Thank you so much for telling us about your home Ann! 

You can see more snapshots and follow Ann's latest home decorating projects here. 

I love all the tones Ann's picked for her home - especially the blue tiles in the kitchen - refreshingly unique!  

Is there anything that stood out to you?

How about a few other Danish homes to enjoy over the weekend? Here are some of my favourites: 

Welcome inside the home of a Danish interior design consultant

On trend ceilings, art and books galore in a Danish home

A dreamy Danish home full of arts, books and design

Well folks, that's it from me this week. I hope you've enjoyed all the inspiration! Thank you so much for all your comments, I love reading each and every one of them - they're part of what makes this space a great community of fellow Scandic-design lovers! 

Trevlig helg!

Niki

Photography: Ann Poulsen

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8 Ways To Create Cohesion In Your Home - Danish Style!

Home decorating is such a personal process. And in my mind, the warmest most inviting and unique spaces are usually made up of a wonderful mix of pieces collected over time. But combining furniture and accessories from different eras (and styles) can also make it tricky to achieve a cohesive look. This is where the 'röd tråd' (red thread) comes in. In the world of interiors, the Swedish term röd tråd refers to a theme which connects every room in your home in order to achieve a wonderful, considered, cohesive look. 

The chances are, you already have a röd tråd throughout your home - whether conscious or subconscious. But if you feel your home lacks cohesion, the good news is, it's easier to achieve than you might think! The answer lies in repetition. Pick a theme such as an accent colour (like blue, green, or yellow etc) a material (such as brass, chrome or rattan) or even a shape and repeat it several times in each room throughout your home. It can be as subtle or strong as you like. Allow me to illustrate this using a beautiful danish home (after all, the Danes are masters at this type of thing, right?). 

Dane Kinne Andersen has achieved a wonderful flow throughout her Copenhagen home by connecting each room with a yellow accent. Subtle it may be, but the touches create just the desired effect. I picked out eight props that Kinne has used for a cohesive look: 

1. Brass touches: metallic brass touches help to emphasise the yellow accent colour in every room of Kinne's home

2. Vases (see top picture): a beautiful yellow vase in the kitchen 'visually' binds the space with other rooms in the house. 

Off topic, but can we all take a moment to admire the pink HAY candle in a classic Skultuna Lily candleholder too? I love it when Danish and Swedish design come together!

3. Art: paintings and illustrations that contain your chosen röd tråd (whether that's a colour, shape or material) are great for creating cohesion between rooms. 

4. Furniture: in order to achieve cohesion, your accent colour doesn't need to be the exact same shade - it could be a darker or lighter version. In Kinne's sitting room, an Arctander chair in a yellowish shade as well as a brass magazine rack and vase help to tie the space in with the rest of her home. 

5. Bed linen: Kinne has opted for pale yellow bedding in the master bedroom for a wonderful sunny vibe - and of course, to tie the space in with the rest of her home. These days you can buy bedding in every shade under the sun (try Etsy*) - perfect for adding an accent colour to your boudoir! 

6. Paint: mix up your favourite hue and apply it to a wall, door frame, or in this instance, a chest-of-drawers. 

 

7. Flowers - you're probably drawn to flowers in your favourite colour already, but if not, and you feel your home lacks 'flow', think about the colours of the leaves and petals on the plants and flowers you buy. Here, a pop of yellow from a sunflower adds a vibrant touch to Kinne's nightstand.

8. Towels and robes: bathrooms are such a big investment. So much so, that I've always been loath to go all out with an accent colour (even if I do fantasise about pink tiles!). Call me safe, but a neutral bathroom will stand the test of time and you can still go wild with an accent colour using accessories such as towels and robes, just like Kinne! 

What are your thoughts on this? Do you like the idea of a red thread? Perhaps you already have a theme in your home - in which case I'd love to hear about it. 

Oh, and I couldn't resist adding in a garden shot - simply because the outdoor season has been extended indefinitely this year! Loving the French bistro chair / rattan combo, how about you? 

See more of Kinne's beautiful Østerbro home over on her instagram @kinneandersen. 

There are also a load more Danish homes in the archive. If you decide to pour a coffee and head off for more inspo, keep an eye out for that röd tråd! 

Niki

Photography: Kinne Andersen

*affiliated link which means I'll make a teeny amount of money if you click through and buy something (at no extra cost to you). 

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Keeping It Real In a Danish Family Home In The Heart of Copenhagen

Ever feel like everyone else's home is 'insta-perfect' while yours is a constant battle to keep tidy? Allow me to let you in on a secret, you're definitely not alone. Not even the homes you see on instagram are picture perfect all of the time. I know, because I recently asked around on a recent blogger tour and was secretly thrilled to learn most of my contemporaries' homes were a little messy - just like mine. It's called life - and it should be celebrated once in a while, don't you think? So, friends if you left the house littered with Lego and half-drunk mugs of coffee this morning, Sarah's Copenhagen home will feel wonderfully refreshing! The Dane owns a small shop called 'The General Store' and lives with her six-year-old son Sylvester in an apartment in Østerbro. Together, they've filled the space with bold colours, harlequin patterns, Scandinavian design pieces, art, books, candles and toys. And best of all, she's captured the space just the way it is. Welcome to Sarah's relaxed world! 

One of my favourite captions from Sarah's instagram:

"What I say: 'I am just going to the bathroom', What they hear: 'family meeting."

So funny - sounds very familiar, I must say! 

Harlequin floors like the one in Sarah's hallway are surprisingly easy to create. All you need is measuring tape, string, a pencil to mark the floor and paint. For a more subtle and classic Scandinavian approach, you might prefer a light grey and white version as seen in this Swedish kitchen. 

The pink wall provides a perfect backdrop for Sylvester's delightful paintings. 

What a great collection of Lego! I guess it is Danish after all. 

My sister and her husband call tidying up the house after a day of their 3 and 5 year old playing 'square oneing' i.e. "time to square one the house" - I love that! For the more OCD among us, I thought I'd share a pic of the same corner after Sarah has 'square-oned' it! 

What a feast for the eyes! 

You can see more snapshots of her Copenhagen home over at @look_good_in_blue (don't miss the ones of her summer cottage too!). 

Fancy taking a peek inside a few other family homes today? I love these:

12 child-friendly ideas from a happy home in Berlin

A charming and eclectic family home in Paris

A Cheerful and bright Dutch family home

Before we all shoot off, I'd love to know: are you a bit of a neatnik or is your home of the more messy variety? Or perhaps you fall somewhere in between? 

Have a wonderful, relaxed start to the week!

Niki

Photography: Sarah / @look_good_in_blue - shared with kind permission

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