Books, Art and Golden Tones in a Beautiful Copenhagen Home

Why, hello there! I'm heading over the bridge to Copenhagen this afternoon and feeling so excited.  It's been a while since I've been, and the Danish capital city is my saving grace when Malmö starts to feel a little small for this former Londoner! In honour of my trip, I thought we could peek behind the facade of one of the beautiful buildings in Frederiksberg - a leafy yet buzzing part of town. This incredible home belongs to Simone Polk Dahl, a Danish interior stylist, visual storyteller and artist. Simone's creativity shines through in the use of mix and match furniture where no two items are the same, her art which adorns the walls, her use of subtle earthy colours (loving the golden tones!) and all the other fabulous details that help to transform her apartment into a home.  Ready to take a peek? 

"I'm very drawn to the lighter scale of colours right now from beige and light earthy tones to the more brown and golden touch." - Simone 

Simone's art hangs on a wall painted in 4481 from Flügger. The armchair is from The Sofa Company and the sofa has been covered in a large natural linen fabric (source rough linen by the yard here*). 

This corner of the sitting room has everything I love in a home - books, art, ceramics and vintage furniture! "I love ceramics in special shapes," Simone tells me. 

Simone picked up the rug at a local Copenhagen store called By Fribert (this Beni Ourain* is similar).

"I seldom buy furniture, but when I do, I am not influenced by trends, but whether the piece will add value to our home. I am always inspired by well-known designers that I can't afford, and I try to find something that can give the same ambience or special wow factor." - Simone 

The dark chocolate wall adds a really cosy touch to the bedroom while a Velux skylight helps to give the room a light and airy feel. One of Simone's own art pieces fills the space on the back wall.  Beautiful! 

Art by Simone, this bench* is similar (I have a similar one in my sitting room!), Bouclé throw*. 

Aaaah, what a stunning home! 

I also couldn't resist asking Simone for a few tips ahead of my trip to the Danish capital this afternoon - perhaps you might find them useful next time you're in Copenhagen!

"I live right next to a little Parisian inspired street called Vænedamsvej, where the cafe Les Trois Cochons and Granola are the cosiest! I also love Ipsen & Co on Gammel Kongevej - the main street in Frederiksberg."

Thank you, Simone, I'll be sure to check these out! 

....a prize for anyone who can pronounce 'Vænedamsvej'!

You can see more of Simone's lovely home and make an enquiry about her art at @polkenstudio.

Other beautiful Danish homes in the capital city (can you tell I'm on a roll....):

A cosy Danish loft full off plants and vintage treasures

The timeless home of a jewellery designer

A charming Copenhagen loft with mid-century classics 

Feeling the love for Danish style today, how about you?

Copenhagen, I'm coming for you! 

Niki

Photography: Simone Polk dahl

*Affiliate links

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Sedsel's Serene Oasis In The Heart of Copenhagen

Tjena! I hope you had a wonderful weekend! The weather broke here after weeks and weeks of sunshine which was a real blessing in disguise as it meant we finally got around to doing a few things at home - phew! I promise to share our bedroom make-over soon! In the meantime, across the Öresund strait, Sedsel Roug and her family have just returned to their apartment in Copenhagen after a few weeks in the Danish countryside. You might recognise her serene apartment from a feature in 2019 - when it was a sea of light green. Today, the flat has been undergone an off-white transformation resulting in a calm oasis in the heart of the city. I caught up with Sedsel (who I've had the pleasure of meeting before), to find out more about the colour palette, how to work with contrast, shapes and scale to add interest - and her passion for all things vintage. 

Can you tell us more about your apartment and why you fell in love with it?

The building was built in 1863 and is located next to eat French street Værnedamsvej in Frederiksberg, where you can find lots of cosy shops and cafes. I lived in Brussels and New York and just fell in love with the international vibe of the neighbourhood. 

Since I last featured your home, the colour palette has changed from sea green to a serene off-white. What was the thought behind this? 

I felt the need to create a calmness and wanted the art and vintage finds to stand out. So, I recently repainted the entire apartment in the same colour: 4311 from Flügger. 

Speaking of which, I absolutely love that your home is full of interesting pieces. Can you tell us more about your decorating ethos?

When it comes to decor, I always love an eclectic mix of vintage and found objects, which are collected over time and tell stories of their past. Decorating a home should be like a book - where you enjoy the journey rather than the end. 

What are the important elements to you, when decorating a home? 

I love working with scale, shape and placement. Decorating a home is a feeling and an intuition. I seek intrigue and curiosity with every element I add. I also love working with contrast - using a calm wall colour and then placing art and ceramics in dark colours in front. Somehow, the contrast creates thyme balance I am constantly searching for. 

Do you like to follow the latest trends? 

My home doesn't reflect a certain trend or style - it's a mix of things that move with me and items that tell a story. It's this blend that magically creates an interesting balance and calmness. 

Do you have a favourite piece of furniture? 

I have a big passion for wooden vintage objects. The little eight stool in the shape of an 'eight' (see above) is a big favourite (I found it on Etsy). Wood only becomes more beautiful with time. it brings so much warmth and tranquillity to a room. One should never be afraid of mixing different wood. 

What do you love most about your home?

Our home tells a story and I love to embrace the very fact that our table has stains from glasses, or that our floors are worn from our children running around. I guess I search the beauty in imperfection. Life isn't perfect and stains and patina don't ruin your living space but show someone is living here. 

Beautiful, and so inspiring, don't you think?

I love her quote: ''Decorating a home should be like a book - where you enjoy the journey rather than the end". This is exactly how I feel about my own home. It will never be 'finished'. 

Is there anything that stood out to you about Sedsel's home and / or words? 

You can see more snapshots of her living space over on her beautiful instagram @sedselroug. 

Fancy peeking inside a few other Copenhagen homes to kick off the week in style? here are a few of my favourites:

A cosy Copenhagen apartment full of vintage finds and plants

A wonderful Copenhagen apartment full of soul

A Copenhagen family home brimming with books and design treasures

Have a great start to the week!

Niki

PS I'm still on summertime over here (despite the not very summery weather!) and posting Monday, Wednesday and Friday until a return to my daily posts once the girls are back at school. Thank you for your patience! 

Photography: Sidsel Roug, shared with kind permission. 

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Sidsel's Elegant Copenhagen Home with a Snoozing Dog!

Many moons ago (I think we're talking four years) I featured Sidsel Garsdal's lovely Copenhagen apartment on My Scandinavian Home.  I've been following her on instagram ever since, and felt it was definitely time to see what the Dane has been up to! Sidsel her family and their dog Pablo divide their time between a flat in the heart of the Danish capital, where Sidsel works as a psychotherapist and their charming cabin on the island of Fejø. 

In their apartment, Sidsel has struck that wonderful balance between clean and clutter free and homely. The trick: a mix of materials and textures, beautiful wood floors, rugs and art - and a gently snoozing dog! Let's take a look around!

The chairs around the table are a mix of classic wishbone and old Danish school chairs. The incredible table was a secondhand find. 

My eyes are on the armchair - I bet it's so cosy to sit in! The armchair and sofa are danish design pieces by Formal A. The mirror coffee tables by Kristina Dam Studio are also very cool and a great way to lighten up a space. The La Cava rug is from Jotex. 

Light therapy spot, right there! So important in the Nordics! 

I love the vintage table - and also can't help but notice Sidsel's cowboy boots, one of this season's hottest trends. Will you be rocking a pair? 

The PAX closet is from IKEA which Sidsel has painted in 3372 from Flügger. 

It's not uncommon for beautiful old apartments in Scandinavia to have a decorative communal stairwell. Some have wonderful old lifts too. I love the blue shade and stain glass window in this one! 

I hope you enjoyed revisiting Sidsel's apartment as much as I did today!

Is there anything that stood out to you? 

Take a peek inside more danish homes: 

The Copenhagen home of a stylist and vintage store owner

A stationary designer's lovely Copenhagen apartment

A Copenhagen family home full of books and other treasures

The timeless home of a jewellery designer

I'm on my way to the cabin today for a few photoshoots. It's so tricky with the limited light, but I'm looking forward to sitting by the fire with a glass of wine tonight!

I hope you have a great Lillördag too!

Niki

Photography: Sidsel Garsdal, shared with kind permission

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A Copenhagen Family Home Full of Books and Scandi Design Treasures

What would a home be without books?! For Miriam McKenna, an Australian gal living in Denmark, it's a case of "so many books, such little time!" Just the way it should be, don't you think?! When Miriam's not working as a postdoctoral researcher specialising on the theory and history of international law at a Swedish university, she's relaxing in her beautiful, light-filled home near Copenhagen airport with her Danish husband and their two young children. The brick villa is full of interesting details - including Scandinavian vintage (and contemporary) design pieces, art, subtle shades of blue, patterned wallpaper and of course, lots and lots of books! Ready to kick off the week, in style? Let's take a tour!

Oval Room Blue paint by Farrow & Ball, Stelton jug (I have loved this iconic Danish design piece even more since interviewing the designer's son earlier this year).  

The white shelves were homemade to fit the space. I really like how they extend over the doorway to make use of every inch of the wall!

Vintage daybed with Josef Frank fabric from Svenskt Tenn, Pull floor lamp*, Le Klint pendant* 

Fjällraven mini rucksack*, Pale Powder paint by Farrow & Ball 

Paradiset Wallpaper by Josef Frank for Svenskt Tenn, Bed from Oliver Furniture, Alvar Aalto chair

Duktig play kitchen from IKEA

Aranami wallpaper from Farrow & Ball

This house has me wanting to paint my home in shades of pale blue! That, and spend the whole week there reading!

Is there anything that stands out to you about Miriam's Copenhagen home?

If you're curious to read more, there's a really funny interview with Miriam and a few more pics over on A Cup of Jo. I'm always interested to read about families with dual nationalities, I think that's why it resonated with me so much. 

It'd be rude not to share a few more Copenhagen home tours today, or what do you reckon? So... pull up a comfy chair, pour yourself an extra strong coffee, light a candle (you know, hygge n'all!) and take a scroll through these inspiring Danish homes: 

A cosy danish loft full of plants and vintage treasures

Books, art and golden tones in a Copenhagen home

The timeless Danish home of a jewellery designer and vintage furniture collector

Have a great start to the week!

Niki

Photography: Freya McOmish, Design: Miriam McKenna, first featured on A Cup of Jo.

*affiliated links

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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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