Warm Tones and Texture In An Elegant Copenhagen Apartment

Hej (pronounced 'hi' in Danish) friends! It's a crazy world we live in when we can see a country across the water, but not able to visit! I was contemplating this over my coffee this morning while sitting by the sea looking out over Copenhagen. It's one of my favourite cities - one that buzzes with creativity and oozes a relaxed, boho vibe. If you've never been, it's definitely one for the bucket list! In the meantime, I hope you'll join me on a virtual visit today. Ellen Dixdotter and her family reside in the danish capital for much of the year, and head to their rural retreat in Southern Sweden in summertime (I showed their dreamy country kitchen a couple of weeks back). You might recognise Ellen's home from a post back in 2019, but so much has happened since then, I felt it was time to re-visit. 

Ellen is CEO of the fabulous Danish brand Malene Birger (after years of pronouncing it 'Birger' - like 'burger', I recently learnt from my Danish neighbour that it's actually pronounced 'be-or'! Never knew!) and has a natural eye for design and the latest trends. Her home is full of beautiful, sculpted shapes and raw textures as well as a fabulous collection of designer pieces as well as rugs from her own handmade rug brand Cappelen Dimyr. 

Above: A Pacha Lounge Chair by Gubi and an Arctander chair from Paustian have been placed either side of the door. 

The incredible sofa was bought at auction. Sofas with a bulbous form are making huge waves in the interior world right now -with the Mario Bellini Camaleonda Sofa from B&B Italia being the most popular (I love it in Classic Boucle - pearl). A classic Zettel' Z lamp hangs overhead. 

It's always interesting to see what sources of inspiration people enjoy. From this picture, I gather Ellen is an avid reader of The World Of Interiors and Milk - although, I'm sure she reads countless other great magazines too (both decor and fashion!) as part of her work.

A large no.6 rug from Cappelen Dimyr hangs on the wall in the hallway - adding drama (and sound proofing) to an otherwise white space. 

The children's room is made up of furniture from Studio Mini, Oliver furniture and Solhem Inredning. 

Beautiful! I particularly love the curved shapes and soft, earthy tones. 

I'd love to see the kitchen, bathroom and master bedroom too (does that make me sound really nosey? - I guess you know me by now!) - hopefully they'll pop on Ellen's instagram feed soon! 

And just how incredible are the handmade rugs? Cappelen Dimyr is a new favourite of mine. 

Fancy seeing a few other Copenhagen homes today? Check out: 

A danish loft full of plants and treasures

Books, art and golden tones in a Copenhagen apartment

A wonderful Copenhagen home full of soul

Tomorrow I'm planning on sharing one of my latest DIY projects from home. It's just a simple hallway solution, but I thought it might inspire anyone with a narrow hallway or landing I hope you're going to like it! 

Have a lovely day!

Niki

All photography by Ellen Dixdotter except 4. & 6. by Mike Karlsson Lundgren  

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A Small-ish Danish Home With a Vibrant, Sunny Feel!

Hejsan! I hope you had a wonderful weekend! It was really sunny here, but wow was there a vicious northerly wind blowing - brrrrrrr! Even so, midsummer is a mere 8 weeks away and we're loving the long hours of sunlight up here in the North! It's at this time of year when smallish spaces and 'attic' apartments without balconies can start to feel a little closed in and removed from the vibrant spring / summer outside. But, if you're smart like 26-year-old nursery teacher Louise, who lives in a beautiful 46 square metre (495 sq. ft) apartment on the top floor of an old building in Aarhus, Denmark, it's easy to add a summer vibe. Louise has decorated her two-room apartment (made up of an open-plan kitchen / dining area and bedroom which also doubles up as her living room) with pastel coloured art, accessories, pretty summer dresses and vibrant plants and flowers - all of which help to bring a ray of sunshine to the space, even on a grey day! 

Louise has opted for mainly whitewashed walls which help to bounce the light around and give the illusion of space. while an accent wall adds a great focal point and creates contrast. 

Kitchenware in fresh pastel hues also add a summery vibe, while a canvas director chair adds a beachy touch. 

Sunny yellow tulips and daffodils brighten up a dark corner around the sink. 

A lemon tree brings an instant touch of the med to the windowsill and a white table helps to add the bounce around. The print on the back wall is from Copenhagen-based By Garmi. 

FYI I also have a lemon tree in my home which I bought last spring. I'm proud to announce that it's survived the winter but there are no lemons to be seen - what have I done wrong? Honestly though, I'm just proud it's still alive!

Notice how wall to wall storage units double up as seating in the dining area - a smarty small space solution. 

Art with pastel tones by the likes of local Danish artists Lotte Neupart and Pernille Bitsch adds a soft, summery touch to the bedroom wall while  lemon yellow under bed storage crates from Hay add a fresh touch to the room. 

Some summer dresses are way too pretty to be kept hidden in a wardrobe - put them on display like Louise has done - so even if it's too cold to wear them you can still appreciate them each and every day! These ones are from Boii Studios. 

Linen bedding in pale yellow and pink from H&M Home add a pretty touch to the bed. Just add a coffee and a croissant (and maybe a fresh glass of orange juice!). 

A lit candle - because, well, hygge. 

The pretty town of Aarhus is a must visit if you're in Denmark - and a walk by the coast his perfect for blowing away the cobwebs, or a dip if you dare! 

What a lovely home - and such great inspiration for spring / summer too, don't you think? 

You can see more pics of Louise's charming home here. 

Shall we take a look at a few other lovely attic spaces today? here are a few of my favourites: 

7 great ways to make the most of an attic space

An inspiring interior design studio in an attic space

Small spaces: a light-filled one room Swedish apartment

Before and after: an attic becomes a bright and airy guest bedroom

Wishing you all a great start to the week - I hope the sun is shining where you are too! 

Photography: Louise / @_lisebise

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Snapshots From a Playful Copenhagen Home

Good morning! How are you today? A simple question, but an important one, particularly right now! If you're in need of a bit of a lift today, I've got some interior shots to share with you that I hope will put a smile on your face - just like they did with me. yay! Welcome inside the former Copenhagen home of Linea Maria also known as @guest.studio. Well, I wish this was a guest studio, I'd be there in a flash - how about you?! The delightful space is awash with subtle colour and pattern against a backdrop of white, pale blue (some might call it green) and lavender. Look closely and you'll also spot an eclectic blend of furniture and accessories which might just tempt you to get the paintbrush out! Ready to take a peek?

Gorgeous! 

I love how effortless and natural this home looks - it's also calm and yet subtly playful. Fab! 

Are there any ideas here you'd like to apply to your home? 

I'm tempted (as always) to go to flea markets and find some beautifully shaped furniture to paint. Remember this bed frame?

You know what's coming, don't you? Yep, some more danish homes to drool over of course! Here are some other colour happy living spaces I love: 

A Copenhagen home full of arts, books and danish design

A vibrant Aarhus home with a sustainable touch

Enjoy the hint of colour in this light and airy danish summer cottage

Gotta love Danish style! I love the use of colour! Are you a fan too? 

Niki

Photography: Another Studio - shared with kind permission

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A Pared Back Copenhagen Home With a Hint of Rock 'n Roll!

Hello! I hope you had a lovely Easter break! I'm feeling revived after a really wonderful week with my family - despite the distinct lack of spring here (snow today - really weather gods, REALLY?!). Luckily there's always music to keep us going. And there's nothing like a great tune to create spring / summer vibes (fake it 'til you make it!). There's a reason to my rambling, I promise. I thought I'd jump straight into the blog week with the Danish home of two musicians! Trine and Torben are the creative duo behind JØRCK a band which prides itself on dark dream pop. Their 19th century 83 m2 / 893 f2 apartment is a stone's throw from Kongens Nytorv in the heart of Copenhagen and doubles up as a recording studio from where Trine writes the lyrics and the pair experiment with sounds. The pared back space is peppered with design classics and interspersed with musical instruments - resulting in a harmonic bohemian space with a hint of rock n' roll! So friends, tune into their sounds on Spotify or YouTube and step this way for the tour!

A vintage leather 'The Spanish Chair' by Børge Mogensen is one of Trine's favourite pieces. 

A vintage type writer (source similar here*), iconic 7-series chair and a classic Gubi semi pendant lamp* can be seen by the window in the music room. 

A shirt hangs as art in the window behind a perfume collection. 

Can we also just take a moment to appreciate the floor? I bet is makes the most wonderful sound when you walk across it. Beautiful! 

Is there anything that stands out to you about Trine and Torben's home?

The shots were captured by photographer Anna Malmberg, whose Stockholm home I once featured here and styled by Swedish set designer Emma Wallmén (who also happens to have a beautiful home!). 

Fancy a peek inside another Scandinavian musician's home? Check out the former Malmö home of Nina Persson from the Cardigans. 

Ahhh, I'm so happy to be back on the blog again - is it strange that I miss it a little when I'm on holiday (the word 'holiday' is to be taken with a major pinch of salt in current times!!). It helps that I'm super excited about some of the homes and interior inspiration I have planned for the coming week. Stay tuned!

Wishing you a happy Tuesday!

Niki

Photography: Anna Malmberg

Styling: Emma Wallmén 

*This post contains affiliate links

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A Charming Danish Summer Cottage With a Coastal Vibe

Saturday marked the spring equinox - which to me is a pinnacle moment in Scandinavia! From now on the hours of daylight will exceed the darkness, what a wonderful thought! It also gives us the license to dream that summer is around the corner (even if great swathes of the region are still blanketed in snow!). Many Scandinavians will be heading to their cottages over easter to start preparing them for the summer ahead. And no doubt, Helle Rye of @anordicmoment will also be making the trip (sanctions permitting). Helle loves to spend weekends and summer holidays at her charming cottage on North Zealand. The relaxed coastal vibe of the cottage contrasts sharply with the modern vibe of her city apartment. It's a place where she comes to relax, make the most of the great outdoors or read a book beside the woodburning stove. Enjoy the tour!  

Summer cottages are very much a pared back affair, with a strong focus on drawing the inside in. A simple shell poster in the kitchen is a lovely reminder of the nearby beach (and will help to find shell seekers identify their finds!). Source a similar one here*. 

Simple rattan furniture in the dining room helps to add a relaxed beach vibe to the space, while soft sheepskins make them feel a little more cosy!

In winter and colder summer days, Helle warms the cabin with the help of a wood-burning stove (something I'd love to install in my future cabin). Do you have one in your home?

A large jute rug (I recognise this one from IKEA) and light blue textiles add to the coastal vibe. 

I love the idea of using a jute rug on the wall as a headboard. I guess, it's really important to find a nice soft one - but it looks fab in this cottage! 

An outdoor bed? Sign me up! 

Bamboo furniture is always pretty - if you're interested in a similar look, keep an eye out for ones that can withstand all weather otherwise they'll quickly deteriorate. 

A popular addition to gardens across the world this winter: the outdoor fire pit! This one has been made extra cosy with a bench made from palettes and laden with cushions. So hyggeligt! 

Such a lovely, charming cabin! 

I love it how Helle has taken the opportunity to decorate the space in a completely different way from her city home. 

Could you imagine hanging here with friends or family, and a good book - all summer long? 

For more inspiration, check out the summer cottage archive - one of my favourites! 

Har det så fint! 

Niki

Photography: Helle Rye

*this post contains affiliate links which means if you click on a link and buy something I will make a very tiny commission, at no extra cost to you. Thank you for supporting My Scandinavian Home! 

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