Name: Lis and Torben
Location: Frederiksberg (Northwest Copenhagen), Denmark
Size: 1,600 square feet
Years lived in: 18 years
While in Copenhagen, I was lucky enough to gain entry to some extraordinary Danish homes. Today's house tour is a spacious apartment in a 1928 building in Frederiksberg, an independent town within the boundaries of the city of Copenhagen.
Lis and Torben moved in 18 years ago, at which point they fully furnished their home, and renovated the kitchen and the bathroom. Because they chose, almost exclusively, classic Danish designs, their apartment looks as fresh and contemporary as if they moved in last week.
Each piece was not cheap, even then, but Lis and Torbin knew that they cared about the aesthetics of their home, the quality of their furniture, and that if they took a leap with the financial investment, it would benefit them in the end. They were happy to tell me that friends who questioned the money Lis and Torben spent at the time, are already on their 5th couch, and 4th dining room table.
For example, Lis mentioned how she loved the light of a Poulssen lamp. She understands that the designer carefully considered how the light would be angled and fall on its surrounding surfaces. In a country that experiences early nights in winter and a lot of sunless days all year-round, good lighting is crucial to one's quality of life.
Danish furniture designers are household names across this small country of 5.5 million people. They are a source of national pride and, in some small way, a part of everyone's home. For Lis and Torben, there was no question that they would go with the classics, incorporating some more traditional family heirlooms along the way.
Lis and Torben success lies in letting the beautiful architecture of the space speak for itself and then complimenting it with simple lines and a natural color palette. The stripped pine floors are original to the apartment and are cleaned with a mild soap every few months. Color comes in the form of the modern artwork that hangs on nearly every wall, created by Lis herself, friends, and some well known Danish artists.
A pleasure to behold.
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This place reflects an older couple's stylish esthetics (I wasn't surprised to see a middle-aged owner in some photos). It feels like a very natural progression for someone interested in design to arrive to these aesthetics. It is a bit clinical at times. The old furniture pieces are a VERY welcome addition to the otherwise subdued and too perfect modern pieces. As much as I hate clutter, I donât feel that anyone is living in this space.
view joebelt's profile
Amazing!! simply amazing...
can anyone ID the coffee table? what a great height!
view goonie's profile
i fell in love with the leather couches.
view 335ktt's profile
what a strange thing to think. i do get the feeling that people live in this space; i just think the tenants are probably tidier and perhaps more relaxed than some of the people who tend to show their homes on here. overall i find the effect very calming. and i'm not a middle-aged couple!
definitely envy the amount of space and light here.
view lemonpie's profile
I love the simplicity and modern elegance of this home. The attention paid to careful selection and placement of the furnishings shows. A tiny bit of color may add to the 'lived-in' look, but it is lovely nonetheless.
view Hydra's profile
I love this table/space/light. I'm not super crazy about the rug, but, that's my only nit pick.
xo
view design_scouting's profile
I thought the same thing about the coffee table height too ... so practical!
view theglossies1's profile
does anyone know any more about the "montana" bookshelves? I'm not familiar with the name, and googling for them so far has not come up with anything helpful.
view ace's profile
Hi ace, you can find information on Montana furniture at http://www.montana.dk/Engelsk/01_univers.htm... hope this helps or inspire you further.
view First Empire's profile
can anyone identify the shiny white range hood in the kitchen?
i would love to find one it or one that is similar!
view beevee's profile
I always find it strange that U.S comments always mention the 'lack of colour' in European homes as evidence that they are sterile and somehow staged. Whenever a post with some (California, Arizona etc) U.S home appears with clashing feature walls, tiles, primary coloured throws, plastic retro souvenirs, patterned upholstery and various other 'folky' accumulated junk, it gets comments of 'lived-in' 'cute' 'sigh...fearless use of colour' etc. To European eyes this type of home design looks like a romper room of an ADD child full of badly thought out random cheap tat. Therefore stop being so provincial. Just thought you would like to know what we all think, but normally are too polite to say it....but not me.
view graceciaran's profile