NEW LIFE TO A DANISH COUNTRY HOUSE
This gently restored country house is right next to the Limfjord in northern Denmark. It blends naturally into the surroundings with a discreetly updated facade and brand-new interior. All stylistic choices are grounded in a desire to remain faithful to the original building. The inspiration comes from stellar British architect John Pawson.
THE CONSERVATORY is just as bright as the rest of the house. A pair of vintage chairs that have been in the house forever have been reupholstered, now providing vantage points from which to see the exquisite view. The interior light is provided by a pair of brass IC floor lamps designed by Michael Anastassiades for Flos. The large windows ensure that the myriad hues of the fields, sky and water capture your attention. THE STYLE OF THE HOUSE resembles that of a classic 1930s country house with an eternit roof and white-washed walls, but larger windows. THE VIEW of the fjord can be enjoyed from inside the house or from one of the many sheltered areas outside.
LARGE, SQUARE CASE DOLCE CASA TILES with a delicate and slightly mottled surface cover the entire ground floor. This material is easy to maintain, even with the traffic to and from the terraces. Glass doors with attractive metal glazing bars in a soft anthracite divide the rooms and create a modern idiom. GOLD AGAINST BRASS An opulent gilded baroque mirror – an heirloom – is elegantly contrasted with a tall brass floor lamp from Luceplan. The Susanna armchair is from De Padova, and the side table with marble top is Italian.the HALLWAY IS FURNISHED with a mix of new and antique objects. The long, black high-lustre sideboard is Chinese, the chairs are heirlooms, while the coarse sisal rug with small leather trim is from Fraster.
The newly renovated country house has been here since the early 1930s – right next to the Limfjord in Jutland. Not much had been done since then, so the house was in need of an update. Being close to the fjord, however, the house had to adhere to certain building restrictions. But that was just what the family wanted to do – to reinterpret a typical country house from the 1930s with a renovation that would not be obvious from the outside and allowed the house to blend into its surroundings. The inspiration for this austerely designed house came from English architect John Pawson, whose almost sacral, minimalist style characterises hundreds of building projects worldwide.
The house has acquired its own identity in a manner faithful to the original design. Outside, the old garden with its tall trees, bushes, shrubs and pond has been retained, and the house has been fitted with style-appropriate materials such as a grey eternit roof, plastered walls, windows slightly larger than the originals and fine-shingle surfacing. Inside, things have also been moved around. A sculptural, concrete-cast staircase replacing the earlier one takes you to the two first-floor bedrooms, one of which is for guests. The ground floor mainly consists of two large spaces. A large kitchen with a long table and an adjoining conservatory, and a spacious living room with a fireplace, behind which lies a utility room and a cabinet room. The rooms are divided by a large glass panel with wall-to-wall sliding doors that thus conjoin the two rooms. The 50-m² living room offers a direct view of the fjord and the fields with their changing seasonal colours.
“Considering its location, we wanted to achieve a sense of openness with spacious, light rooms offering views that bring nature inside and let its palette serve as alternating tableaux in the house. This is why we stuck to neutral brown sand colours in our interior design, while exploiting the light optimally in all rooms. To underpin the natural element, we have ensured that the windows can open to the terraces and the large grass areas,” says the owner.
The choice of materials in the house is consistent, providing a framework with clean lines. Still, the house abounds with warmth, as the tiles throughout the ground floor and the wooden floors upstairs are warm and welcoming. To underscore the harmony, the living room is symmetrically furnished with two armchairs standing side by side and flanked by two lamps, and in the middle of the floor two sofas face each other. The living room has a nice view of the fireplace and the fjord beyond.
“It would be inconsistent with the intended minimalist John Pawson-style and the look of the house to hang curtains, and it would make it harder to invite the nature and light inside. It would also alter the look of the house, the window layout of which is what makes the house special,” explains the owner.
THE DARK-GREY KITCHEN, Frame, is from Boform. This colour helps maintain the rustic, rural look. The tabletop is in dark, grey-mottled Corian, which creates a serene surface against the grey-painted cabinets. The antique tin dishes on the wall give the room a sense of warmth and personality. A LONG TABLE made of solid, smoked oak from DK3 is where friends and family gather. The swivel chairs in brown leather are from Bent Hansen, and the two bronze pendants, Skygarden, are from Flos. FINE SHINGLE like that of the 1930s lends authenticity to the renovated house, where the owners have strived to preserve the original style.
SYMMETRICAL SOFAS from Erik Jørgensen create a harmonious feel in the interior design, a harmony underpinned by an antique bureau and a card table on either side of the terrace doors. The rustic black-painted coffee table is from Green Square, while the three-legged walnut stool is from Cassina. The Tolomeo floor lamp, which can be adjusted, is from Artemide. THE BALCONY above the living room affords room for a small library with a desk, white Montana shelf units and a marvellous view of the landscape.
FINDING THE SCULPTURAL bathtub was a challenge, as it should be neither too high nor too wide. Pale, sand-coloured tiles create a natural backdrop for the white, Italian cabinet modules of matt Corian. THE BEDROOM has been kept in delicate, light and stylish colours without disturbing elements. The softness of the Simla velour rug from Fraster creates an ambience of luxury.