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Collection by Aileen Kwun
Editor’s Pick

Modern Danish Homes We Love

How the Danes do modern.

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Lisette Bernhoft of Design by Us planned the kitchen. The smoked oak cabinets are topped with lava stone. The pulls are brass.
Lisette Bernhoft of Design by Us planned the kitchen. The smoked oak cabinets are topped with lava stone. The pulls are brass.
The color palette may be restrained, and the price tags high, but it's not all serious: Check out the hammock hung in the office between the living room and bedroom.
The color palette may be restrained, and the price tags high, but it's not all serious: Check out the hammock hung in the office between the living room and bedroom.
Lisbeth Juul and Laust Nørgaard drew upon their years of experience living on the water to design and build an 860-square-foot floating home in Copenhagen Harbor. The home’s minimal form and furnishings reflect the residents’ desire to downsize following three years on land.
Lisbeth Juul and Laust Nørgaard drew upon their years of experience living on the water to design and build an 860-square-foot floating home in Copenhagen Harbor. The home’s minimal form and furnishings reflect the residents’ desire to downsize following three years on land.
High windows on the east and west façades catch the sunrise and sunset, increasing light within the home. “They’re very simple and lo-fi,” Larsen says.
High windows on the east and west façades catch the sunrise and sunset, increasing light within the home. “They’re very simple and lo-fi,” Larsen says.
Since the front door is located in the exterior wall, residents first enter a vast garden before reaching the gable roof house.
Since the front door is located in the exterior wall, residents first enter a vast garden before reaching the gable roof house.
The snug attic in this former fisherman’s cottage in Copenhagen contains the homeowner’s platform bed, custom-designed by Jonas Bjerre-Poulsen to maximize storage and fit the unusual space.
The snug attic in this former fisherman’s cottage in Copenhagen contains the homeowner’s platform bed, custom-designed by Jonas Bjerre-Poulsen to maximize storage and fit the unusual space.
Apartment balconies in Copenhagen, Denmark.
Apartment balconies in Copenhagen, Denmark.
Original windows with weatherstripping, when well-maintained, can often be as energy-efficient as new double-glazed windows.
Original windows with weatherstripping, when well-maintained, can often be as energy-efficient as new double-glazed windows.
Charrier transformed a cramped attic into a sunny dining room with Vitral windows and white-tinted pine floors by Dinesen. The Sara table is by Hay, the Shell chairs are by Charles and Ray Eames, and the artwork is a hand-printed textile she had framed.
Charrier transformed a cramped attic into a sunny dining room with Vitral windows and white-tinted pine floors by Dinesen. The Sara table is by Hay, the Shell chairs are by Charles and Ray Eames, and the artwork is a hand-printed textile she had framed.
The front parlor is a visitor’s first hint of the mix of furniture Tina Seidenfaden Busck has assembled for her showroom the Apartment. A pouffe from Azucena is matched with an array of vintage pieces: a Beni Ourain rug from Morocco, a mirrored chest of drawers from France, and a Finn Juhl Poet sofa. The next room houses a vintage Tulip table and chairs by Eero Saarinen and a Tube Chandelier by Michael Anastassiades. Photos courtesy the Apartment.
The front parlor is a visitor’s first hint of the mix of furniture Tina Seidenfaden Busck has assembled for her showroom the Apartment. A pouffe from Azucena is matched with an array of vintage pieces: a Beni Ourain rug from Morocco, a mirrored chest of drawers from France, and a Finn Juhl Poet sofa. The next room houses a vintage Tulip table and chairs by Eero Saarinen and a Tube Chandelier by Michael Anastassiades. Photos courtesy the Apartment.
In the living room, furnishings include a cherry-wood dresser by Rune Bruun Johansen, a vintage wicker lounge chair from Italy, and a Ludvig Pontoppidan settee. The round Lens table is by McCollin Bryan. Lighting includes a circa-1950s Venini Poliedri chandelier and French floral wall sconces from the 1930s. Photos courtesy the Apartment.
In the living room, furnishings include a cherry-wood dresser by Rune Bruun Johansen, a vintage wicker lounge chair from Italy, and a Ludvig Pontoppidan settee. The round Lens table is by McCollin Bryan. Lighting includes a circa-1950s Venini Poliedri chandelier and French floral wall sconces from the 1930s. Photos courtesy the Apartment.
In the main living area, Olsen’s own artwork picks up on the graphic diversity of the magazines housed in Boox shelving by Jesper Holm.
In the main living area, Olsen’s own artwork picks up on the graphic diversity of the magazines housed in Boox shelving by Jesper Holm.
Jensen’s artwork hangs outside the family’s bathroom. It was inspired by the industrial output—Viking pencils—of the former factory space. Putting his engineering studies to work, he created the art via a meticulous process that included making precise holes and a template of “thousands” of pieces of paper. The stackable aluminum Chair_One is by Konstantin Grcic for Magis.
Jensen’s artwork hangs outside the family’s bathroom. It was inspired by the industrial output—Viking pencils—of the former factory space. Putting his engineering studies to work, he created the art via a meticulous process that included making precise holes and a template of “thousands” of pieces of paper. The stackable aluminum Chair_One is by Konstantin Grcic for Magis.
On the upper floors, bright white walls and plenty of natural light make the bedrooms and living rooms feel large and spacious. In the master bedroom, built-in cabinetry hides clutter. The art photography against the wall is by Anders Hviid, the bed is Hästens, the laundry basket is Vipp, and the lamp is Fontana Arte.
On the upper floors, bright white walls and plenty of natural light make the bedrooms and living rooms feel large and spacious. In the master bedroom, built-in cabinetry hides clutter. The art photography against the wall is by Anders Hviid, the bed is Hästens, the laundry basket is Vipp, and the lamp is Fontana Arte.
The Egelunds rely on the light fixtures and small ceramics to add contrast and texture.
The Egelunds rely on the light fixtures and small ceramics to add contrast and texture.
“The kitchen is the room we use the most,” Sofie says. The dark gray walls and tonal accents make it cozy and cave-like, while natural illumination and light-toned accessories introduce airiness and circulation. Even in the colder months, the Egelunds spend most of their time there, and Sofie maintains that the stark darkness makes it a homey place to entertain guests and spend time with the family. “And,” she adds, “you can always go to the other floors if it gets too dark!” The kitchen island, shelves, glass, and ceramics are by Vipp.
“The kitchen is the room we use the most,” Sofie says. The dark gray walls and tonal accents make it cozy and cave-like, while natural illumination and light-toned accessories introduce airiness and circulation. Even in the colder months, the Egelunds spend most of their time there, and Sofie maintains that the stark darkness makes it a homey place to entertain guests and spend time with the family. “And,” she adds, “you can always go to the other floors if it gets too dark!” The kitchen island, shelves, glass, and ceramics are by Vipp.
Though the Mountain Dwellings is ten minutes from the city center, "you're completely alone with the sky and with nature," Zahle says. "It's not really like an apartment, it's more like a summer house on a hillside."
Though the Mountain Dwellings is ten minutes from the city center, "you're completely alone with the sky and with nature," Zahle says. "It's not really like an apartment, it's more like a summer house on a hillside."
Completed in 2008, the Mountain Dwellings is the second of BIG’s three projects in Ørestad, a new neighborhood in Copenhagen where development is attracting many new inhabitants. The result does looks like a mountain—hence the building’s name and the inspiration for the mural of Mount Everest that adorns the 82-foot-high facade.
Completed in 2008, the Mountain Dwellings is the second of BIG’s three projects in Ørestad, a new neighborhood in Copenhagen where development is attracting many new inhabitants. The result does looks like a mountain—hence the building’s name and the inspiration for the mural of Mount Everest that adorns the 82-foot-high facade.
In the garden room, Juhl's 1957 Japanese chair lies next to a sofa table and a built-in bench, designed for the house. The blue upholstery matches Anna Thommsen’s carpet.
In the garden room, Juhl's 1957 Japanese chair lies next to a sofa table and a built-in bench, designed for the house. The blue upholstery matches Anna Thommsen’s carpet.

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