Photographs by Nana Hagel.
“I don’t like issues that match an excessive amount of,” says Nanna Friis, who lives in Copenhagen. “There are homes fully filled with Danish design items, however I feel you might want to break up the uniform and add touches of crooked issues.” Friis designs and imports handmade rugs by way of her store Kusiner. Now that her kids are grown, she’s residing on her personal. Right here, she talks in regards to the evolution of the area, chilly swims, and ignoring guidelines about rugs…
LIVING ROOM
Couch: Ikea, related. Chairs: Olsson Møbler. Desk: Carl Hansen & Son. Wall-mounted gentle: And Mild. Flooring lamp: Fritz Hansen. Yellow lamp: “an outdated glass lamp from my mom.” Small work: “one from my grandmother and one from my artist buddy, Malene Bach.” Politiken poster: classic. Rugs: Kusiner, “it’s assembled from leftover items.”
On discovering the house: My father was born within the constructing subsequent door, and I grew up on this space, only a few streets away. I lived overseas so much, however have a look at me now: I’ve ended up in my outdated neighborhood. My cousin lived within the house downstairs, which is how I discovered this one was on the market. An older woman lived right here earlier than me, and the place was darkish and dusty with doorways blocked off, however the potential was there. It simply wanted some gentle and paint, and the flooring wanted to be sanded.
Flooring lamp: Fritz Hansen. Couch: Ikea, related.
On residing alone: Again after I purchased the house, my two youngsters every acquired a bed room, and I slept in the lounge. It was cozy and filled with Ikea furnishings. It needed to accommodate many extra wants, and I had fewer means then. My kids, Gustav and Nora, are 27 and 23. Now that my youngsters have moved out, I’ve realized to like residing alone, however I additionally really feel fortunate that I’ve family and friends simply across the nook.
Silver candlesticks and porcelain dish: “inherited from grandparents.” Fashionable candlestick: Luxo Residing.
Available-me-downs: These vintage silver candlesticks got here from my grandmother. My father gave them for me after my grandmother died, and he at all times stated that I might promote them if I wanted the money. He was half joking, half critical. As a baby, each Wednesday, I’d bike from faculty to my grandmother’s home in Hellerup, the identical neighborhood that I reside in now. I’d arrive round 1 p.m. – she would have simply woken up – and we’d have tea and toast. She would inform me tales about all of the small items round her home. These days I gentle the candles every single day within the winter. It’s a typical Danish hygge factor.
On surrounding your self with books: I attend a guide membership with my girlfriends, so I learn so much. I largely hearken to the audio books, however I’ll purchase a bodily copy of the guide if it’s actually good. I’ve a masters in English, so my bookshelf has a variety of classics from after I studied. I’ve truly written a couple of books myself, so that they’re on the cabinets, too. I additionally did three cookbooks with pals — one developed the recipes, one other took the pictures, and I did all of the writing. I nonetheless cook dinner from them, as does my 86-year-old mom.
BEDROOM
Rug: Kusiner, “from an earlier assortment of Berber tufted carpets from Marrakech,” related. {Photograph} above the mattress: Kristian Granquist. Sheets: Studio Feder. Bedside desk: classic, related. Bedside lamp: classic, related. Caftan: Britt Sisseck, related.
On beginning a brand new enterprise midlife: I’d learn in regards to the Bedouin ladies within the Negev Desert who weave carpets and went there to go to. The Bedouins had been historically nomads, however now they can’t wander anymore attributable to politics and borders. I began working with them — I used to be 51 and prepared for a change — however I used to be additionally a complete novice. I hardly knew tips on how to calculate sq. meters. It labored out due to exhausting work and dedication, however largely due to coronary heart. By weaving and promoting their work, these ladies make a residing and turn into unbiased. To me, this cooperation could be very fulfilling. I’m going there often each 4 months, as a result of these relationships are so essential. I by no means imagined that this could be my enterprise, however now I dream solely of carpets and my weavers and wool and dyes.
Rug: Kusiner. Dresser: “from my grandparents,” related. Lamp: Arne Jacobson for Louis Poulson. Mirror: “from my father,” related. Market totes: “collected from all around the world,” related.
On Danish heirlooms: Twentieth century items from Danish architects are a part of the Danish DNA. You see them in every single place, like within the dentist ready room and within the library. They nonetheless really feel very fashionable, despite the fact that some are from the Nineteen Thirties. They don’t scream ‘I’m a design object!’ They mix naturally into any sort of setting, like the desk lamp by Arne Jacobson on my grandparents’ dresser. It’s a pleasant and unassuming design. I generally handle to search out secondhand items by twentieth century architects, and I’ll finally move them on to my youngsters.
On chilly swims: I exploit all these totes! Some are for storage (scarfs, hats and gloves), some I exploit for purchasing, and a few I deliver my towel and flip flops in after I go to the ocean. I’ve been swimming within the winter for 20 years. Winter swimming is a giant factor right here and I can’t reside with out it. Most individuals do it with a sauna, however the place I swim, we’ve solely a bridge with a small altering facility. My buddy and I soar in (no swimsuits), then sit and chat afterwards with espresso and bread. At this level, we all know everyone there.
KITCHEN
Cupboards: Ikea, “unsure what I acquired however the Havstorp seems to be related.” Brass handles: Norrgavel, related. Ceiling-mounted lights: And Mild. Brass candle holder: Barbara Bendix Becker, related.
On kitchen renovations: Earlier than, this kitchen was small and darkish with cupboards from flooring to ceiling. They blocked virtually all the sunshine from the kitchen window. I opened issues as much as make it really feel larger, and I added brass handles to Ikea cupboards.
Teapots and cups: Wedgewood. Classic finds and reducing board: Andrea Brugi, related. Cabinets: “constructed by a carpenter.”
On ritual: Espresso within the morning. Tea within the afternoon. I don’t cook dinner every single day for myself, however after I do I’ll make one thing straightforward and lightweight, like an omelet and a salad.
DINING ROOM
Rugs: Kusiner. Desk: “classic teak from the fifties,” related. Chairs: Thonet and Arne Jacobsen. Overhead gentle: Le Klint. Artwork: “classic or from my grandmother, plus a rust lithograph by Catherine Raben.”
On enjoying musical chairs…with rugs: Okay, rugs! Now we’re speaking. These are patchwork rugs that I assemble from leftover items. As a substitute of a stable rug that takes up the entire area, the unevenness and patched look suits effectively with my smaller house. I transfer my rugs round on a regular basis. A lot of the orders we get are for very massive rugs, however I feel individuals are too hung up on measurement. If the rug is gorgeous with traces of the palms that made it, you’ll discover a spot for it. And you can also make small islands of woolen fluffiness that add a variety of character to a room. Or combine many small rugs for an elegant, messy look.
Desk: “classic teak from the fifties,” related. Chairs: Thonet and Arne Jacobsen. Overhead gentle: Le Klint. Artwork: “all classic or from my grandmother, plus a rust lithograph by Catherine Raben and a Matisse print from Fondation Maeght in France.” Lamp on dresser: Barbara Bendix Becker, related. Dresser: classic, related.
On Sunday dinners: We nonetheless have Sunday dinners with my youngsters, their companions, my ex-husband, and the youngsters’ granny. I even have pals over for dinner. I prefer to make a variety of small dishes, like salads, a number of veggies, cheeses, and desserts. After all, I additionally use my cookbooks.
Poster: classic. Dala horse: classic from Sweden, related. Pottery: Barbara Bendix Becker. Lamp: “an vintage inherited from my grandmother.”
On posters: I purchased this poster on the Nationwide Gallery of Artwork in Washington, D.C. after I traveled to the States in 1986. I like exhibition posters.
Desk: “classic teak from the Fifties,” related. Chairs: Thonet and Arne Jacobsen. Overhead gentle: Le Klint.
On evolving household buildings: My ex-husband and I are excellent pals and have truly simply purchased a shared summer time home for the household to assemble. My son is anticipating a child lady in August, so it is going to be a spot for younger and outdated. My daughter lives in Barcelona, so we’ve lengthy chats on the cellphone. Each my youngsters are very unbiased and at all times have been, however they name me recurrently. Ideally, to be a mother or father of a younger grownup is to be like the sting of the pool. The ‘child’ will swim in direction of the sting, then push with their legs towards the sting and swim again out once more.
BALCONY:
On getting probably the most out of a small balcony: It’s simply off the eating room, and I like protecting the doorways open all summer time lengthy. I develop recent herbs, small strawberries, figs, and some climbing flowers. It’s superb what can develop in small pots, survive by winter, and are available again within the spring.
Thanks a lot for sharing your lovely house, Nanna.
P.S. Many extra home excursions, together with a colourful farmhouse and the household residence with an epic board sport assortment.
(Photographs by Nana Hagel.)
