Little gem
SMAL L SPACES # 2 A pop of emerald green adds personality to the space-enhancing white palette of this Copenhagen home
Small spaces don’t have to be neutral – a bold hit of emerald green brings warmth and interest to this compact Danish home
his bijou home belongs to Karina Tholstrup Hansen, owner
of Danish interiors store Floor 45. She moved into the flat in this elegant 19th-century building six years ago with her French Bulldog, Harald. She only had 89 square metres to play with, but spatial constraints did not deter her from imbuing the blank canvas with strong, statement colour.
Most of Karina’s home is decorated in white, with low-slung furniture that makes the apartment appear bigger. Look through the folding doors (themselves a space-saver because, when open, they don’t take up too much of the floor) from the lounge to the dining room, however, and you see a beautiful expanse of deep emerald green. The colour is applied to just two walls, so that the dark shade doesn’t make the space feel smaller. ‘I wanted to create a warm and inviting feel, and was inspired by the 1970s style and atmosphere of a decadent members’ club,’ Karina says of her bold, exciting colour choice.
In a small apartment, choosing and positioning storage is also key, which is why the hallway features a large floating unit that conceals clutter. Bright-white surfaces and handleless doors keep things streamlined – this is a look that also works really well in the home’s tiny kitchen and bathroom. ‘Anything you don’t want to look at every day should be hidden away,’ says Karina.
The bedroom is where Karina’s aesthetic, which she describes as ‘raw and luxurious,’ is most apparent. An oversized chandelier fills the space above the bed, which is layered with opulent velvets in rich jewel tones that match the shade used in the dining room. ‘It’s very important to me that my home has a personal feel,’ says Karina. ‘The trick is combining everything in just the right way so that it feels serene, but is also really special.’ floor45.dk
INTO THE FOLD
Tall and elegant panelled doors divide the living room from the adjoining dining area. They fold neatly back against the walls rather than opening out into the room, to maximise all available floor space.
INJECT COLOUR
‘I used the green on just two walls to avoid making the room feel too small. I chose a matt paint to create a different look to the other walls in the apartment, which have a slight sheen to them,’ says Karina. For a similar shade try ‘Tarrytown Green’ by Benjamin Moore. ‘Lily’ chairs by Arne Jacobsen (available from Aram Store) surround a compact marble-topped table designed by Karina. Above is Tom Dixon’s ‘Beat Stout’ pendant light, which complements his ‘Base’ floor light.
‘I WANTED TO CREATE A WARM AND INVITING FEEL, AND WAS INSPIRED BY THE STYLE AND ATMOSPHERE OF A DECADENT 1970S MEMBERS’ CLUB’