A Stationery Designer's Lovely Copenhagen Home

If you've been following My Scandinavian Home for many years (I know some of you've been stopping by since I started this blog in 2011 - thank you!), you'll know that I love to shake things up a little and try to share inspiration for all Scandi tastes and styles - whether large or small (or even on wheels), light or dark and sometimes even a pop of colour! Even if the home tour doesn't fit your specifications, I like to think you can get inspiration from anywhere, and if you look closely, there's always something new and intriguing to take away with you. 

In Signe Birkving Bertelsen's Copenhagen home, there's one particular DIY idea that's really captured my imagination (and of course there's some incredible architecture and interior design at play too)! But first, allow me to introduce you. 

Signe lives with her husband and two children Karl and Esther in the Danish capital and is co-founder of the danish stationery brand Notem Studio. Simple with a clean, minimalist finish, Signe's home is dotted with interesting furniture and ornaments, which she constantly moves around. As with every home, some are more important to her than others - and the beautiful stool from West Africa (made from a single piece of wood), the AeroPress coffee maker and Akari lamp are listed as ones she'd never part with! 

Nora and Laura of Our Food Stories were there to capture these pictures. 

Welcome to Signe's world! 

This is the piece I was talking about!

And this is the stool from West Africa which Signe would never part with. I can see why, how about you? 

I think my favourite corner is in the bedroom with the iconic wishbone chair, sheepskin and reading lamp. The picture also gives you a closer look at the beautiful wooden floor - something which so many old Copenhagen apartments are blessed with! 

Is there anything that stood out to you about Signe's apartment? You can read the full interview and see more pictures of her home here. 

Would you like to take a peek inside a few other Copenhagen homes today? Here are some I love: 

A cosy Danish loft 

A Copenhagen home full of books and vintage design treasures

Great Dane style in Copenhagen

The Copenhagen home of a vintage store owner 

And one final question - what piece of furniture or accessory in your home would you never part with? 

Niki

PS for some reason the mail out for Fridays post wouldn't work, you can find it here in case you missed the new autumn update in my sitting room. I hope it the mail out will work today - fingers crossed! If you'd like to receive my posts straight to your inbox, don't forget to subscribe further down this page. 

Have a great start to the week, see you Wednesday!

Photography: Laura Muthesius & Nora Eisermann

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A Light and Airy Danish Cabin by The Sea

A few weeks back I told myself it was time to wrap up the Scandinavian summer cottage posts and return to the city or year-round country homes. But you know me, I'm never one to stick to the rules - especially my own! I couldn't resist sharing this charming, simple Danish cabin with you today. The wooden structure is situated in a cosy, untouched area on the southern tip of Falster, an island in south-east Denmark. 

Zine bought the cabin in 2020 and has been busy transforming it into a simple, relaxing, light and airy place to spend weekends and holidays. As with most Scandi getaways, mix and match 'loppis' (flea market) finds, open storage and a cosy spot in the sun are the order of the day. Enjoy the tour! 

Despite being potentially a little higher maintenance with the dusting, open shelving gives kitchens a relaxed grab and go feel and also means that your porcelain and vases can be a part of the decor! 

Coffee beans and percolators - the most important items in any Scandinavian home! Remember to make it extra strength! 

Stripes and art with nautical motives are a subtle nod to the coastal location. 

Le Klint Sax - A popular Danish lamp, for good reason! 

When designing our own cabin, I was very much inspired by Danish cabins with high, wood panelled walls and ceilings and a stark black wood burning stove (ours is from Contura and looks similar to this). I love the contrast, the statement chimney but also the promise of warmth! 

I also love the parquet floor; it makes me feel really nostalgic as we had a similar one in my childhood home. Some of the pieces had become loose and I used to pick it a part and then build things with it. I don't think that gamer was particularly popular with my parents. 

Baskets are really handy at a cottage like this - and make pretty wall decor when not in use! There are so many beautiful vintage baskets available on Etsy*. 

I am guessing you can enjoy this cabin year-round thanks to the wood burning stove and insulation (thinking blustery walks along the beach followed by a coffee by the fire!). 

And the good news is, it's 1 hr 45 mins drive from Copenhagen and available for short term holiday lets! Danish island life, anyone? 

See more snapshots from Zine's cabin here. 

Would you like to explore other Danish cabins and country homes this weekend? Take a look at: 

The idyllic thatched cottage of a Danish artist

Before and after: a century old Danish cottage is given a revamp

A Danish cabin by the sea became a lockdown haven 

Right guys, that's it from me. I hope you've enjoyed the tours this week of three very different properties (did you see the artist's home in Kent and Copenhagen apartment).

Have a wonderful weekend, see you Monday! 

Niki

Photography courtesy of Landfolk. 

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The Copenhagen Home of an Interior Stylist and Vintage Store Owner

Hej hej! It's been a long while since I've hopped on a train over the bridge to Copenhagen - a visit is definitely in order soon. In the meantime, I hope you'll join me on a virtual trip to the Danish capital today and a tour of Freya Asgersdatter's beautiful home. Freya is a freelance interior stylist and founder of an online vintage interior shop - and evidence of her natural eye for decorating and skill at sourcing lovely second-hand pieces can been seen throughout her apartment.  The backdrop has been kept distinctly neutral, with a hint of light beige on doors, architraves and the wall of the open-plan dining / sitting room. This subtle colour palette allows the furniture, art and lighting to shine. Ready to take a look around?  

A mix and match vintage dining set rests in front of built-in shelving and a covered radiator (designed and made by Mette Steensig). The wall mounted shelving is from We Do Wood.

The lone piece of art is from framer Kristine Bendsten. 

Freya has opted for the Bodarp kitchen from ikea. I was actually looking at this just the other day for our own home. The dark green creates a great contrast against the white tiles and walls. The work surface has been specifically made for the space by Nicolai Bjørnstrup. 

Here you take a closer glimpse at the radiator cover. I love the way it's also provided space beside it for shelving. The radiators in our house are ancient and really ugly so my head is now buzzing with ideas. I wonder if Per's ears are burning! Could you imagine covering the radiators in your house like this? 

The VL45 glass pendant over the dining table is a Louis Poulsen design and below you can spot another radiator cover by Mette - this time creating space to display items over. 

A Valerie Objects hanging lamp makes a statement in the sitting room over a vintage sofa. 

The TV has been sandwiched between picture shelves to create a display and ensure it doesn't take centre stage in the room. In the opposite corner (below) Frama shelves provide space for books, magazine and knick knacks. 

Freya picked up the vintage chest-of-drawers in her bedroom at Boho Habits in Copenhagen. The picture is from Freya's own store. 

To create a unique home, you don't always need to make hug statements. In the bedroom, simple striped fabric has been used to create a curtain to hide items in the wardrobe and a quilted bedspread brings a touch of nostalgia to the space. 

Such a lovely, cohesive home where everything seems to come together so effortlessly! 

It's making me want to head to Copenhagen for some vintage shopping - I wonder how much I can carry back on the train? 

I'm very curious to hear your thoughts on the vintage items, art, kitchen and radiator covers! 

In the meantime, here are a few other lovely Copenhagen homes to browse: 

Books, art and golden tones in a Copenhagen home

Sedsel's serene oasis in the heart of the Danish capital

A Copenhagen family home full of design treasures

Warm tones and texture in an elegant Copenhagen apartment

And of course, you can see more of Freya's own home here. 

Happy mid-week friends, see you Friday! 

Niki

Photography courtesy of Freya Asgersdatter, shared with kind permission

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12 Playful Design Trends in Sussie's fabulous Danish Home

Every time I head over the bridge to Denmark I come back feeling really inspired. I simply love the way people dress, the lifestyle they lead and of course, the interiors in Copenhagen. Last week I felt no different when I returned from Formland - a fantastic Nordic design fair. Researching for my panel discussion about minimalism or maximalism', I learned so much about the latest trends that are rocking the design world and would love to share a few of these with you today! 

I couldn't think of a better way to do it, than through the lens of Sussie Frank, an interior designer, photographer and stylist as well as co-founder of paint brand Colour Stories who lives in a beautiful house in Aarhus on the Danish mainland. Sussie's house was built in 1917 and measures a tremendous 382 m2 / 4111 f2 laid out over four floors. Sussie renovated the house for 6 months, while being careful to honour the time and age of the house before moving in in January 2021. Today the family of four enjoy an incredible home that's full of surprises - and a perfect example of what's happening in the Danish design world. 

Here are 12 trends I spotted:  

1. Anything goes 

I bet you weren't expecting the pink stairs. I certainly wasn't! 

But why not? I mean we only live once, right?

In fact, this reflects the sentiment of the fashion and design world right now - go your own way, work hard on making your home as personal as possible. Mix and match colours, patterns, shapes and texture to create your own world. 

Looking to add joy? Bring in playful touches. Looking for calm? Think about adding soothing tones and furniture with soft round edges.  

But above all else decorate for your, and don't worry what others think!

As I write this it feels ridiculously obvious, but I think it's been easy to forget this over the years with so many supposed design 'rules'. It was only during the pandemic where many of us started to think 'hang on, is the decor I want? Are these the colours that make me feel at my best'? Have I surrounded myself with meaningful items? Or can I do more to my home to make it feel personal? 

The time is right, right?

2. Eclectic dreams 

Every piece in Sussie's home is unique - and this is very much the direction of homes today, as people strive to create a home which is unique and packed with personality. 

3. Art is everywhere

Art is everywhere - it's in the furniture which has taken on all kinds of fabulous forms (like the Puffy Chair designed by Faye Toogood), it's in the rugs, lamps and even the staircases, doors and architraves.

4. Folk art

We're bringing more folk art into our homes. Patchwork (like this quilt by Instabydomi) is becoming more popular and a great way too upcycle scraps of fabric. I love the work by Danish brand Jou Quilts. 

We're also seeing more embroidery which has a wonderful sense of nostalgia. But forget 'fuddy duddy' - it's all about 'newstalgia' and bringing a modern touch to old pieces. 

5. Mix and match pattern

Oh, and pattern. Lots of pattern. Mix and match dots, checks, stripes... anything goes! 

6. Upcycling

In the past, some might have seen painting an antique or vintage piece as sacrilegious. But as we move more and more into creating a more sustainable home, up cycling is a great way to breathe new life into an  old piece. Keep a look out for the less attractive items at the secondhand store (usually in the back corner / bargain basement) - with a little vision and an artistic touch, they can quickly become a unique treasure! 

7. A load of texture

The home has become more and more textured and yep, you've guessed it, any type of surface goes. Think everything from mirror, chrome and brass to leather, 'fluff', boucle, marble, glass, paper, and wood. 

8. Playful accessories

Small items are a great way to add a play touch to the home. Decorative  lamps, crazy mirrors, and colourful and crazy shaped vases are all great ways to play around with your home and add a personal touch. 

9. Newstalgia

Spot the chair above? The red legs give it more of a playful touch from what we're used to seeing. It's 'newstalgia' at play - taking something old and giving it a modern lease of life. Expect to see more of this in the design world moving forwards. Although don't worry, if you're like me, there'll always be the iconic, tone on tone, natural classics too! 

Another nod to embroidery that's slowly creeping into homes in both modern and traditional ways. 

10. Patch and repair

This also transcends into 'fixing' things - like socks, cushions, bedspreads etc it's time for a 'repair and re-wear' mindset, and best of all, your sewing doesn't need to be perfect. Phew! 

11. The unexpected

Small elements of surprise go a long way towards creating a personal space. I love this view of Sussie's bathroom with luxury marble walls, gold trims and a playful vintage pendant. 

Take a closer look at this collection of items - including a jute holdall, contemporary sculptural stool and a traditional Nordic basket - it demonstrates the mix and match ethos. 

12. Go wild with paint

Do you remember when painting one accent wall in a room felt like the wild thing to do? Well, today, absolutely anything goes. Bannisters, architraves, radiators, windowsills, ceilings. And don't worry about 'just' going for pastels or tone on tone. Playing around with contrast is the way to go! It's such an exciting development and has me looking around my own home thinking what to paint next, how about you? 

What an absolutely incredible house! I love how Sussie has added so many interesting pieces. And the paintwork is fab too! 

See more of her wonderful home over at @sussiefrank. 

I'd love to hear your thoughts about these latest developments that are rocking the danish design world. I think they are so fun and playful. Who doesn't want to walk into a room and feel joy? They also make me want to go a bit more wild in my own home - while maintaining the calming sanctuary I've created - of course! 

Wishing you a fabulous start to the week! See you Wednesday! 

Niki

PS The mail subscription is up and running so do sign-up below if you'd like to receive my blog posts directly to your inbox! 

Photography: staircase - Anitta Behrendt. All others: Sussie Frank. 

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