This Thatched Cottage in Denmark Is Surprisingly Sleek Inside
Architects John Lassen and Joanna Tench renovate the summer home of their dreams.
When Danish architects John Lassen and Joanna Tench were looking for a summer home to renovate, they cast their eye on a thatched-roof cottage overlooking the North Sea in West Jutland. Built in 1967, it was typical of traditional homes in the area—long, narrow, and oriented along an East-West axis. "It was very simple, and it was exactly what I wanted," Lassen says. It just needed some serious work.
The architects replaced the existing orange cinder-block facade with plaster walls and Pomeranian pine wood shingles, put on a new thatched roof, and installed "stable door" windows. Nestled among pines and fruit trees, its traditional exterior belies the modern interior within.
Jens Barslund
Douglas fir lines the walls of the entryway. A narrow striped rug adds texture to the white-painted wooden floor from Dinesen.
Jens Barslund
Lassen designed all the furniture with the exception of a few items, like the vintage Chairman armchair by Henrik Tengler and white IKEA sofas. "To keep it simple, we only used natural colors from wood inside, with everything else being white," Lassen says.
Jens Barslund
The architects installed plaster walls and a curved ceiling that lets in more light. Its circular design repeats in the entrance to the master bedroom, accessible by a ladder.
Jens Barslund
Lassen says the biggest key for designing a small space is to keep things as minimalist as possible. "Don’t try to make anything bigger or build an addition. Just remove all bad architecture and create clean, simple rooms."
Jens Barslund
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Jens Risom Bench
Running into legendary designer Jens Risom in the halls at DWR headquarters was one of the many pleasures of working here. Over the years, we collaborated with Risom on a number of product launches. The Jens Bench (2008) came about when we worked with him to re-launch his Chair and Ottoman, originally designed in 1949 for the Caribe Hilton Hotel in Puerto Rico. Decades had passed since this collection was in production, and Risom worked closely with us on every step of its return, from reviewing prototypes, to adjusting tiny details, to advocating cost-effective changes in the manufacturing process. Like all the furniture by this iconic designer, this collection has a subtle Scandinavian sensibility that works with modern and traditional settings. Or, as Risom put it, “Good design means that anything good will go well with other equally good things.” Made in U.S.A.
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Our natural Sheepskin Throw brings textural counterpoint to modern interiors with a versatile size and soft, downy pile (minimum pile height of 2.5 inches). Often used as a luxurious floor rug, the throw can also be draped over a favorite armchair, a sofa or a bed for added degrees of warmth and elegance. Produced by the largest sheepskin tannery in the world, the Throw is refined using a 42-step tanning method that retains the pelt’s natural shape and suppleness. Hand wash or dry clean. Made in New Zealand. Photo Courtesy of DWR
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Handwoven by skilled craftspeople, each one is unique. Made in India in organized weaving centers with good working conditions and fair wages. The durable, dirt-resistant wool surface makes this rug a suitable choice for your dining or living room. The rug has the same pattern on both sides, so you can turn it over and it will withstand more wear and last even longer. Easy to vacuum thanks to its flat surface.
ShopA small dining room occupies the space just beyond the living room. It’s furnished with vintage folding chairs designed by Danish architect Mogens Koch that are easily stored for more space.
Jens Barslund
The kitchen cabinets and fixtures are all sourced from Swan Cuisines. The trashcan is by Vipp. The architects opted to install only a small stove with no oven, as the garden already has a fireplace.
Jens Barslund
In the bathroom, plain white tiles line the walls and ceiling. The floors are natural stone and the fixtures are by VOLA. Lassen built the sink himself.
Jens Barslund
A modern stone fence made of galvanized steel mesh filled with stones surrounds the house. "We got the stones from the local stonecutter—they use the stones washed up on the beach, not the stones from the fields," Lassen explains.
Jens Barslund
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