OASIS OF CALM
Pared-back designs from her native Denmark play an important role in Christina Thaisen’s serene abode
With its clutter-free aesthetic and muted colour scheme, there is a carefully curated feel to Christina Thaisen and Anders Borch’s apartment. And yet this is also a home that is very much lived in, with the couple’s toddler son, Carl Bille, having full run of the space. ‘Everything is intended to be used and enjoyed – to us it’s important for belongings to be both functional and beautiful,’ explains Christina.
A few years after Christina and Anders moved from Copenhagen to London, they discovered that Christina was pregnant. Realising that they would need extra space, they began the search for a new, family-sized rental. The home they found is a fifth-floor penthouse apartment in a former factory, with floor-to-ceiling windows offering fantastic city views. Luckily, their landlord was happy for them to paint the walls. ‘I started off by painting the reading nook a dark grey and then we loved this colour so much that we did the hall the same shade,’ says Christina. ‘The black and walnut modular shelving moved with us – it looks beautiful against the dark backdrop.’ The same shelving system, a design classic from Sweden, features in Carl Bille’s room, this time offset by a midnight-blue wall. ‘I wanted this room to be a fun space without being too babyish,’ she says.
Moving to a larger apartment meant the couple could bring over some pieces from Denmark, including a daybed that belonged to Christina’s grandmother. ‘The Arne Jacobsen dining chairs were Anders’ grandparents’ – my son is the fourth generation to sit on them.’
When she first moved to the UK, Christina was shocked by the number of furniture companies that were producing unlicensed copies of design classics – a practice that is now illegal. This encouraged her to begin sourcing future classics by lesser-known Scandinavian companies, which led to the creation of her online shop, Nabo. ‘I wanted to showcase designs that will be the next heirlooms,’ she says. Some of these designs feature in the apartment, mixed in with the couple’s vintage possessions. ‘ Whenever we buy a new piece, we want it to be something we can pass on to our children, so we need to be absolutely sure we have chosen well,’ says Christina. ‘I think that it’s very important to take a sustainable approach to design.’
The couple hope eventually to buy property in London, but it would need to be open plan. ‘Once you are used to this sort of space, it’s hard to look back,’ reflects Christina. ‘It’s a very sociable way of living.’