GREAT DANES

A period villa in Denmark is filled with prime examples of the country’s design classics

With its coastal setting, nearby forest and location just a short drive from the heart of Copenhagen, it isn’t hard to see why the district of Charlottenlund is a huge draw for families in search of a less urban existence. Emilie Bach grew up in the area, and when she and her husband, Patrick, were expecting their second child, they sold their city apartment and moved to a small three-bedroom house here.

When the couple discovered that Emilie was pregnant again, they decided it was time to search for a larger property, but this proved a challenge. ‘Every sale was a bidding war; we missed out on three houses and with the last property, I was particularly disappointed as I had planned the renovation and decoration in my head,’ recalls Emilie, who runs a fashion accessories brand, Studio Belle-soeur, with her sister-in-law.

It was Patrick who found this villa and at first, his wife wasn’t convinced. ‘It really needed some care and attention, and I struggled to envisage how it could look,’ recounts Emilie, who called an historical architect who is a close family friend for a second opinion. ‘He visited the house and told us it was a great buy and that we could make it look wonderful. It gave me the confidence to go ahead,’ she says.

With their bid successful, the race began to refurbish the house before the arrival of their third child, Arthur, now two (while siblings Eline and Theo are five and eight). ‘We did a lot of work, replacing the kitchen and bathrooms and stripping all the floors of shiny varnish to reveal the natural oak,’ Emilie says. The kitchen was originally open to the dining room, but the couple opted to build a wall to separate the two spaces. ‘I like to be able to entertain in the dining room without looking at a messy kitchen,’ she explains.

The dining room, family room and sitting room are all linked with large glazed double doors, and these

‘A personal home isn’t created overnight, so spend time looking for the things that give it character and make it your own’

light-filled rooms have been painted in calming hues that beautifully complement each other. For the sitting room, Emilie chose a soft green. ‘The garden at this end of the house is planted with big rhododendron bushes and so it is always very leafy, even in winter. I wanted to reflect that greenery in the house,’ she says. Upstairs, the couple have embraced pattern in the form of lively wallpapers. ‘All the bedrooms are under the eaves and so there aren’t many straight walls on which to hang art. I used wallpaper instead to bring some expression to these spaces,’ notes Emilie, who chose designs to suit the personalities of her children, such as an exuberant print featuring monkeys and birds in Theo’s room, which reflects his love of wildlife. The house is filled with Danish designs, a mix of iconic pieces – such as the instantly recognisable Wishbone dining chairs by Hans Wegner – as well as future classics, including an oak and marble coffee table by design studio Space Copenhagen. ‘From the moment Patrick and I met, we have been collecting Danish pieces. We both wanted to have designs that we can keep forever, rather than things that will only last a short period of time,’ Emilie explains. Many of these designs are investments, but the couple want them to be enjoyed. ‘I have three siblings and they all have children so we have big family gatherings here,’ says Emilie. ‘The chairs may have a few knocks but we like this, it shows that they are being used. These are pieces that will still be very much around for the next generation.’

DINING ROOM Black lacquered chairs punctuate an otherwise muted palette that encompasses pale oak parquet, soft grey walls and a vintage kilim. CH24 Wishbone chairs, £877 each; CH339 dining table, from £3,557, all Twentytwentyone HALLWAY Spacious entrances are relatively rare in Danish homes, so this helped sell the house to Emilie. Try Chequers Court marble tiles in White and Black, £6.36 each, Fired Earth

SITTING ROOM Textures such as sheepskin, suede and wool add a tactile element to this light-filled space, where huge windows frame the garden beyond. Fredericia No 1 sofa, from £5,374, Aram. Paustian Arctander chair in sheepskin, £5,334; Skagerak Georg console table in oak (opposite page), £525, both Skandium. Fly coffee table in oak and marble by Space Copenhagen for &Tradition, £1,205, Nest

Basis kitchen drawer fronts and doors in Powder, from €94 each, Reform. Panorama P7 lava stone floor tiles, £672sq m, Made a Mano. Walls in Strong White estate emulsion, £47.95 for 2.5ltr, Farrow & Ball

KITCHEN This fresh scheme features powder-pink units and lava stone tiles in a herringbone formation. The couple commissioned a carpenter to make the table and benches for a tiny nook, which is where the children have their breakfast.

Oriental Garden wallpaper by Missoni Home, £85 a roll, Jane Clayton & Company MASTER BEDROOM An uplifting floral pattern brings the exuberance of the garden into the home.

ELINE’S BEDROOM Emilie and Eline found this wallpaper and matching bed linen on one of their annual mother-and-daughter trips to Paris. Jazz wallpaper in Foam, €154 a roll; duvet cover, from €80; pillowcase, €35, all Little Cabari

THEO’S BEDROOM This punchy design lends a fun touch. Ardmore Savuti wallpaper, £90 a roll, Cole & Son. The Drop chair by Arne Jacobsen is in a limited edition colour but it is available in other colours, from £255, Utility

BATHROOM This simple scheme is a masterclass in streamlined design.