When Kate Imogen Wooden and her husband first checked out this home on the outskirts of Copenhagen, it wasn’t precisely charming. Regardless of relationship to the 1800s, the home had been stripped of all the unique particulars. Assume: a black-and-lime-green shade scheme, low cost laminate flooring, and plastic doorways. However they’d a imaginative and prescient and managed to repair it up for his or her rising household. Right here’s a have a look at the house they share with their two cute boys…
KITCHEN
Ask og Eng, which “combines their very own cupboard and drawer fronts with Ikea carcasses to maintain the funds below management.” Curtains: made by Kate and hung from an aged brass pole for a extra charming, cottage-style really feel,” comparable. Kitchen island countertop: Corian in “Sand.” Bar stools (in earlier picture): Trævarefabrikernes, comparable. Grasscloth panel on wall (in earlier picture): Biri Tapet, comparable.
On intergenerational dwelling: Our neighborhood has loads of older folks. Our children really thought that our downstairs neighbors have been associated to us as a result of they really feel a lot like grandparents. We meet within the backyard and have a espresso collectively. I do know that there’s a little bit of noise from our youngsters, however they’ve by no means complained. I feel it helps that they know us so effectively. They’ve adopted the youngsters as they’ve grown up, so when there may be noise, they know precisely who’s making it.
Kitchen: Ask og Eng.
On the renovation: The home has been modified many instances with actually low cost supplies and within the eighties, it was really derelict, with boarded up home windows. We moved in whereas our renovation was nonetheless underway. There wasn’t even a staircase; we had a ladder to get upstairs.
Eating desk: handmade, comparable. Excessive chairs: Stokke. Chairs: Hans Wegner. Pendant mild: Atelier Vime, comparable. Polka dot vase: Klay Copenhagen. Wall shade: “College Home White” by Farrow & Ball.
On printed pictures: There are firms that print your pictures in order that they appear like Polaroids. Yearly, my husband prints a great deal of pictures and updates the bulletin board. It’s very nice to have the recollections from the earlier yr to take a look at.
On a cohesive shade palette: I discover true white too harsh. So, we painted our partitions with off whites and comfortable tones. The flooring are cement downstairs and wooden upstairs, however we used a stain on the wooden in order that it’d be an identical shade to the cement. It helps create a way of circulate. We wished all of the rooms to mix seamlessly, which helps make the area really feel bigger.
OLDER SON’S BEDROOM
Moon mild: Smallable. Lofted mattress: Oliver Furnishings.
On a kid-friendly room: The lofted mattress with the play space beneath works so effectively. My son’s toys are down there, however you’ll be able to shut it off with a bit of curtain and conceal the mess. Our children’ rooms are proper off the eating space, in order that they’re all the time seen; we wished them to really feel like youngsters’ rooms, however nonetheless work with the home.
Lofted mattress: Oliver Furnishings. Paper overhead mild: Hay.
On elevating youngsters in Copenhagen: We love elevating our youngsters right here. Children in Denmark should not rushed to develop up. They don’t begin college till age six, so it’s pure play from age one, once they enter daycare, till they start college. [Ed. note: Here’s a post on raising kids in Copenhagen.]
YOUNGER SON’S BEDROOM
Crib: StokkeBaby. Dresser: Oliver Furnishings. Banner: Etsy.
On youngsters’s pursuits: Our oldest is six and is de facto into this Danish recreation referred to as stick ball, which is like dodgeball. Our youthful son, three, is massively into ambulances, hearth engines, and buses. One among his daycare academics is married to an ambulance driver, in order that they introduced within the ambulance and the youngsters obtained to climb in. It was the very best day of his life.
Crib: StokkeBaby. Dresser: Oliver Furnishings.
On multilingual youngsters: My husband and I are each English and from the identical city. We’re glad they really feel so at house in Denmark, however we wish them to really feel English, too. So, they go to a college the place they’ll research each English and Danish.
UPSTAIRS LIVING SPACE
Rug: classic hand-stitched Moroccan rug, which “brings a contact of purple.” Sectional: Ikea, with Bemz linen covers. Armchair: classic, comparable.
On household traditions: On the weekends, we wish to have a carpet picnic and watch a film with the boys. They will get of their pajamas and keep up late — they find it irresistible.
On upping the heat issue: After we do house swaps, folks usually say our home may be very cozy. Right here’s what we do: a lot of lamps with low wattage bulbs and dimmers. I usher in textures with textiles — like wall hangings or carpets — and that softens issues. For bedding, I keep away from something that feels too pristine. Then, lastly, add crops!
Armchair: classic, comparable. Wall-mounted unit: “I made it with a curtain to cover all of the muddle and brass handles for a classic contact.” Rug: classic hand-stitched Moroccan rug, comparable.
On house swapping: After we journey, we use Behomm, which is for house swapping amongst creatives and design lovers. We’ve been doing it for years and we’ve had nice experiences. Everyone seems to be so cautious and thoughtful. We attempt to discover individuals who have comparable aged youngsters in order that they’ll have toys — our youngsters are all the time tremendous excited to see what’s there.
PRIMARY BEDROOM
Mattress: Customized, “it was hand-crafted, to my design, by a neighborhood carpenter.” College chair used as nightstand: classic, comparable. Rug: classic, comparable.
On not having a bed room door: After we moved in, the bed room door was so poorly made, we ripped it out, considering we’d put in a a lot nicer one ultimately. However with the sloping ceiling it’s a bit difficult to take care of. Dwelling with no door, we appreciated the sunshine coming by and the sensation of area. Now, we don’t wish to add one.
Dresser: Frama.
On moments of respite: We don’t spend a lot time upstairs throughout daytime, nevertheless it’s beautiful and calm to return up right here on the finish of the day as soon as we’ve put the youngsters to mattress. We even have a bit of balcony, so in the summertime we sit on the market with the youngsters and watch the airplanes or have a look at the celebs.
BATHROOM
Bathtub: Copenhagen Tub. Ground tiles: Fired Earth.
On a beloved function: Often residences in Denmark have such tiny loos, nearly like a bit of closet. We lived like that for a number of years in varied locations. However after we noticed this home, we realized we might match a tub! It’s fairly uncommon to get a bathtub in Copenhagen. So, we invested in that and likewise put in sub-floor heating. It’s so good throughout lengthy, Danish winters.
Thanks a lot for sharing your stunning house, Kate.
P.S. Many extra home excursions, and what it’s wish to guardian in Denmark.
(Images by Nana Hagel.)
