TRULY HOMEMADE A cosy handcrafted charm permeates a Danish home brimming with unique decorations
Danish ceramicist Anni Arndal Jensen makes and bakes all of her own Christmas decorations, lending her home a cosy handcrafted charm in the coldest months of the year
Filled with the scent of cinnamon and spices, Anni Arndal Jensen’s 18th-century Danish townhouse is instantly welcoming. Candles glow alongside a spruce tree in a corner of the living room, while homemade breads and pastries are piled temptingly beside bowls of dried fruit and bitter oranges dipped in Valrhona chocolate on the kitchen table.
Anni, a ceramicist, lives on the top two floors of the building above her pottery shop in the quaint town of Holstebro in West Jutland. She shares her home with her husband Ole and their fox terrier Zoé. An artist’s sensibility pervades the white, light-filled interior, which is decorated with natural materials and traditional furniture.
At Christmas, a wealth of handcrafted trimmings reflect the charming simplicity of the space. Preparations for the festive season begin in early December, when the house is dressed with spruce trees placed in wicker baskets or large metal pots. The trees are decorated sparsely with real candles and beautifully crafted baubles that are handmade by Anni – she inscribes each one with words of wisdom. She also makes large batches of salt-baked rye hearts, which she hangs from
the branches with twine. The kitchen is the hub of all festive activity in this home and the annual ritual of giftwrapping takes place at the large dining table. Anni gathers foliage and materials she has collected throughout the year – velvet ribbon and simple brown paper packaging – to decorate her presents, and adds a personal touch in the form of small ceramic hearts, made by hand using the traditional Japanese technique of raku.
On the big day itself, her table setting is simple and rustic. Breads are served on wooden platters and handmade place cards double as gift tags. December is the busiest time of the year in Anni’s shop, but her home is the perfect antidote to festive stress and bustle.
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