Sedsel's Serene Oasis In The Heart of Copenhagen | Smart is Beauty

Tjena! I hope you had a wonderful weekend! The weather broke here after weeks and weeks of sunshine which was a real blessing in disguise as it meant we finally got around to doing a few things at home - phew! I promise to share our bedroom make-over soon! In the meantime, across the Öresund strait, Sedsel Roug and her family have just returned to their apartment in Copenhagen after a few weeks in the Danish countryside. You might recognise her serene apartment from a feature in 2019 - when it was a sea of light green. Today, the flat has been undergone an off-white transformation resulting in a calm oasis in the heart of the city. I caught up with Sedsel (who I've had the pleasure of meeting before), to find out more about the colour palette, how to work with contrast, shapes and scale to add interest - and her passion for all things vintage. 

Can you tell us more about your apartment and why you fell in love with it?

The building was built in 1863 and is located next to eat French street Værnedamsvej in Frederiksberg, where you can find lots of cosy shops and cafes. I lived in Brussels and New York and just fell in love with the international vibe of the neighbourhood. 

Since I last featured your home, the colour palette has changed from sea green to a serene off-white. What was the thought behind this? 

I felt the need to create a calmness and wanted the art and vintage finds to stand out. So, I recently repainted the entire apartment in the same colour: 4311 from Flügger. 

Speaking of which, I absolutely love that your home is full of interesting pieces. Can you tell us more about your decorating ethos?

When it comes to decor, I always love an eclectic mix of vintage and found objects, which are collected over time and tell stories of their past. Decorating a home should be like a book - where you enjoy the journey rather than the end. 

What are the important elements to you, when decorating a home? 

I love working with scale, shape and placement. Decorating a home is a feeling and an intuition. I seek intrigue and curiosity with every element I add. I also love working with contrast - using a calm wall colour and then placing art and ceramics in dark colours in front. Somehow, the contrast creates thyme balance I am constantly searching for. 

Do you like to follow the latest trends? 

My home doesn't reflect a certain trend or style - it's a mix of things that move with me and items that tell a story. It's this blend that magically creates an interesting balance and calmness. 

Do you have a favourite piece of furniture? 

I have a big passion for wooden vintage objects. The little eight stool in the shape of an 'eight' (see above) is a big favourite (I found it on Etsy). Wood only becomes more beautiful with time. it brings so much warmth and tranquillity to a room. One should never be afraid of mixing different wood. 

What do you love most about your home?

Our home tells a story and I love to embrace the very fact that our table has stains from glasses, or that our floors are worn from our children running around. I guess I search the beauty in imperfection. Life isn't perfect and stains and patina don't ruin your living space but show someone is living here. 

Beautiful, and so inspiring, don't you think?

I love her quote: ''Decorating a home should be like a book - where you enjoy the journey rather than the end". This is exactly how I feel about my own home. It will never be 'finished'. 

Is there anything that stood out to you about Sedsel's home and / or words? 

You can see more snapshots of her living space over on her beautiful instagram @sedselroug. 

Fancy peeking inside a few other Copenhagen homes to kick off the week in style? here are a few of my favourites:

A cosy Copenhagen apartment full of vintage finds and plants

A wonderful Copenhagen apartment full of soul

A Copenhagen family home brimming with books and design treasures

Have a great start to the week!

Niki

PS I'm still on summertime over here (despite the not very summery weather!) and posting Monday, Wednesday and Friday until a return to my daily posts once the girls are back at school. Thank you for your patience! 

Photography: Sidsel Roug, shared with kind permission. 

Smart is Beauty

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