Julie & Jesper’s Musical Scandi-Canadian Nest

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Name: Julie Chamberlain and Jesper Kaalund
Location: Haut Marais, Paris, France
Size: 710 square feet (66 square meters)
Years lived in: 2 years, rented

At 37 weeks pregnant, Julie Chamberlain doesn’t do much dancing these days, but that doesn’t stop her from listening to her favorite tunes. One morning last month, independent Canadian music streamed from her laptop, providing a restful soundtrack just right for readying her beautiful one-bedroom apartment in Paris for a new baby.

(Image credit: Apartment Therapy)

(Image credit: Celeste Sunderland)

Julie and Jasper met at school in Copenhagen. He manages bands from his native Denmark, like Indians and Sleep Party People, and she’s a marketing director at L’Oreal. Their home in Paris’ stylish Haut Marais neighborhood is a reflection of their past, their present, and their future, and mixes elements of their native lands: Canada and Scandinavia. Exquisite architectural drawings done by Jesper’s father hang on the walls along with strips of wood salvaged from the couple’s first apartment in Montreal, which they use to display photographs. Danish mid-century furniture joins pieces from Canada, like the solid dining room table built by Julie’s uncle.

And then there’s a whole lotta rock and roll. See the dudes with the mustaches and mullets? They’re a Danish band from the 1980s (the one on the left is Jesper’s uncle). There’s Jimi in a purple haze above the TV next to Jesper’s electric guitars and amplifiers. And if Jesper feels like playing a little bluegrass, the banjo comes down from the wall in the hallway.

(Image credit: Apartment Therapy)

Apartment Therapy Survey:

Our Style: Scandinavian purity and minimalism, Montreal bohemian chic with vintage finds, French romanticism, and as much wood as possible to remind me of Northern Canada.

Inspiration: The cities we’ve lived in and the countries we are from.

Favorite Element: The kitchen. We always end up in there, whether it’s just the two of us or we’re with guests. It’s bright, cozy and the fridge is close by 😉

Biggest Challenge: The small size, as we’re expecting our first child.

What Friends Say: That it reflects “us” well.

Proudest DIY: Dining table + bench: the dining table is made from wood of a tree that my father cut, that a friend of the family dried, and that my uncle built himself. We brought it from New Brunswick to Montreal to Paris. I even love the cracks that are forming with the change of temperature.

Wooden photo display pieces: wooden pieces taken from the inside of a wall in the first apartment we ever bought (in Montreal). We wanted to take a piece of it with us — we really loved that apartment. So we turned it into a way to display photos.

Wine rack: Jesper built it himself in our Parisian living room to hold only a fraction of all the wine we’ve bought since living in France (and that I look forward to drinking after the baby comes!).

Biggest Indulgence: Bed sheets.

Best Advice: Take your time, have fun doing it!

(Image credit: Apartment Therapy)

Resources of Note:

LIVING ROOM

KITCHEN

BEDROOM

BATHROOM

HALLWAY

(Image credit: Apartment Therapy)

Thanks, Julie and Jesper!

(Images: Celeste Sunderland)

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Re-edited from a post originally published. 5.30.14 – AB