My Houzz: A Small Apartment Packed With Clever Design Features
The many sloping walls and awkward nooks in this attic flat called for imaginative design and genius storage solutions
Kasper Iversen
29 January 2017
When you step inside Trine Lundager’s home, it’s not just the abundant light at the top of the five-storey staircase that seems impressive. The apartment’s many alternative and connected levels, with lofts, landings and a raised balcony, undoubtedly evoke more “aha” and “wow” reactions than most other homes.
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here Trine Lundager, a freelance journalist and co-owner of women’s clothes webshop Don’t Tell, her husband, Jakob, and their two daughters, Svea, 10, and Vilde, 6
Location On the 5th floor of an old property in the Frederiksberg area of Copenhagen, Denmark
Size 100 sq m (1,076 sq ft) plus lofts and balconies
Who lives here Trine Lundager, a freelance journalist and co-owner of women’s clothes webshop Don’t Tell, her husband, Jakob, and their two daughters, Svea, 10, and Vilde, 6
Location On the 5th floor of an old property in the Frederiksberg area of Copenhagen, Denmark
Size 100 sq m (1,076 sq ft) plus lofts and balconies
“Many people are surprised at how small the apartment really is, as it seems bigger and airier than 100 sq m. We’ve utilised every corner,” says Trine Lundager of her light, spacious-feeling home. “I’m still surprised that I can sit in the loft bedroom and am able to look down into the living room.”
Lundager and her family moved into the apartment in 2004 and a lot has changed since then. Principally, they’ve built a spacious balcony off the living room. “The other apartments have bay windows in the same position [below], so we had to raise the window level to build a balcony on top,” Lundager says.
The solution was a neat and distinctive landing that leads out to the balcony. When the sliding glass doors between them are opened, the raised landing and balcony combined can function as one area, perfect for parties.
The solution was a neat and distinctive landing that leads out to the balcony. When the sliding glass doors between them are opened, the raised landing and balcony combined can function as one area, perfect for parties.
Lundager describes the style of her home as “relatively colourful and with a certain sense of humour, but without being over the top”.
Above all, the décor is personal. “Every piece in here is something we instantly fell in love with, and even though it may not fit perfectly, we always make it work,” she says. They’ve created cohesion by repeating colours, such as purple and teal.
Above all, the décor is personal. “Every piece in here is something we instantly fell in love with, and even though it may not fit perfectly, we always make it work,” she says. They’ve created cohesion by repeating colours, such as purple and teal.
Classic timber furniture is peppered throughout the apartment, adding warmth and character. “I adore teak,” Lundager says. “My grandmother’s home was filled with teak furniture, so there’s some nostalgia about it, and I love the softness and roundness typical of furniture in this particular wood. I always want to touch it, and I’ve specifically been looking for furniture that’s similar to my grandparents’ pieces.”
The Arne Jacobsen Series 7 chairs around the dining table were bought for 50 kroner (around £5.80) each, when Esbjerg’s town hall had its furniture replaced in the early 1990s. “We got them reupholstered in black leather, and although today they’ve become common property, so much so that they’ve almost become unfashionable, I’m very happy with them – they’re comfortable, beautiful and simple.”
Series 7 chairs by Arne Jacobsen, Republic of Fritz Hansen. Vintage Orient pendant light (over dining table), Jo Hammerborg.
The Arne Jacobsen Series 7 chairs around the dining table were bought for 50 kroner (around £5.80) each, when Esbjerg’s town hall had its furniture replaced in the early 1990s. “We got them reupholstered in black leather, and although today they’ve become common property, so much so that they’ve almost become unfashionable, I’m very happy with them – they’re comfortable, beautiful and simple.”
Series 7 chairs by Arne Jacobsen, Republic of Fritz Hansen. Vintage Orient pendant light (over dining table), Jo Hammerborg.
Décor inspiration can come from many different places, some of which have nothing to do with interior design, says Lundager, who finds inspiration in her work selecting and selling clothes. “I probably have an aesthetic sense, which means I like unusual items and textures. I’m drawn to beauty and love pretty things, but not necessarily a flawless kind of beauty – it has to have charm, personality and a history.”
The polar bear from Royal Copenhagen was a present from her uncle, who found it with a lot of rubbish next to a container. “I’ve always loved the fury in this figurine, so he gave it to me. Sadly, my uncle is dead now, which is also why this bear means so much to me,” she says.
The polar bear from Royal Copenhagen was a present from her uncle, who found it with a lot of rubbish next to a container. “I’ve always loved the fury in this figurine, so he gave it to me. Sadly, my uncle is dead now, which is also why this bear means so much to me,” she says.
A lot of items in the home have a story to tell, including this Ole Wanscher Senator chair. Lundager’s husband Jakob spent a lot of time searching for it until he finally found it on DBA (a Danish version of eBay).
“We bought it from a young woman and she was almost in tears when selling it, as it had always been in her home, but she no longer had room for it. I find it beautiful, with its shapes, lines and wood. I like it that our treasures also have meant something to others.”
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“We bought it from a young woman and she was almost in tears when selling it, as it had always been in her home, but she no longer had room for it. I find it beautiful, with its shapes, lines and wood. I like it that our treasures also have meant something to others.”
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In the midst of heirlooms, flea market bargains, designer trinkets and photo art, unique accessories pop up – ceramics, which Lundager invents herself, shaped and coloured over the past 10 years during pottery evening classes, where she’s released her creativity.
“In the beginning, it was mostly to be sociable with my mother’s group, but it quickly became something I couldn’t do without. Every week, it’s three to four hours of mindfulness, with my hands in the clay. 100% focused, I sit and mould, and I can feel it gives me energy.”
For instance, she models figurines, which she calls “my men”, and they are all different. They take on a form and expression as she works with them, and on the shelf in the living room they contribute so much personality that guests often stand and stare.
“In the beginning, it was mostly to be sociable with my mother’s group, but it quickly became something I couldn’t do without. Every week, it’s three to four hours of mindfulness, with my hands in the clay. 100% focused, I sit and mould, and I can feel it gives me energy.”
For instance, she models figurines, which she calls “my men”, and they are all different. They take on a form and expression as she works with them, and on the shelf in the living room they contribute so much personality that guests often stand and stare.
A few years ago, she also started modelling hemispheres that could hang between illustrations, drawings and photographs on the living room gallery wall over the sofa. Before, something was missing, something that could break the somewhat ‘flat’ look. So she came up with the hemispheres idea, which look as if they’re breaking through the wall.
“I’m always doing something creative. About 2-3 years ago, I started making bracelets. My friends liked them and wanted some, so this is how my little jewellery brand, Luna Blau, started. Today, it includes bracelets, rings, necklaces and earrings. I make everything by hand and let’s just say I’m very busy – women love jewellery!” she says, laughing.
The living room also has a little balcony on the opposite side to the main one. “We constructed the little balcony when we got a new roof on the building a few years ago. Two balconies means always having a place to go out, no matter where the sun is. On the large balcony, we have sun from morning to early afternoon; on the small one, from early afternoon until sunset. It’s fantastic,” Lundager says. The only thing the couple regret is that the small balcony doesn’t run all the way to the kitchen. The idea came to them a bit too late.
The kitchen cabinets are shiny black – an upgraded Ikea edition the couple got when they moved in 12 years ago. “They need to be replaced by something else. This is the next project,” she adds.
The kitchen cabinets are shiny black – an upgraded Ikea edition the couple got when they moved in 12 years ago. “They need to be replaced by something else. This is the next project,” she adds.
When you ask Lundager which items influence the house the most, she mentions the sloping walls. “Sloping walls force us to be creative and always think about interior design, especially when it comes to finding storage space for things we don’t want to look at. It can be a challenge, because there aren’t many straight walls to place bookcases or dressers against.”
Lundager has found a decorative and clever solution to solve the problem of insufficient storage space. “We use old suitcases to store things we don’t need on a daily basis – Christmas decorations, clothes and toys. It’s about stacking everything in a strategic way, so the objects we use most – such as bedding – are placed on top,” she says.
The office, which has a desk in the brightest spot, also serves as a wardrobe, with an open clothes rail to the right (see next photo).
Lundager made the clothes rail from a branch from her parents’ garden and a couple of leather straps. “I really like natural materials and the clothes rail adds something personal to the room.”
From the office, a ladder leads up to the couple’s bedroom. It’s located in one of the home’s two lofts and is a space the family uses in the smartest possible way, and has learned to love.
“The lofts are primarily additional space – for storage, for guests, for us. It’s important [to make use of such space] when you live in an apartment that has sloping walls and is, on paper, a little too small for a four-person family.”
See 9 simple ways to create your perfect bedroom
“The lofts are primarily additional space – for storage, for guests, for us. It’s important [to make use of such space] when you live in an apartment that has sloping walls and is, on paper, a little too small for a four-person family.”
See 9 simple ways to create your perfect bedroom
Light from three Velux windows makes the bedroom brighter and feel more spacious than the square metres would suggest. “The lofts give an illusion of spaciousness, because they can accommodate beds, which would otherwise take too much floor space in the other rooms. I also think the lofts give more charm to the apartment by adding another floor.”
It looks as if the old, leaded window between the loft bedroom and the living room below has always been here. But this is far from the case: it was recently bought on dba.dk, the Danish version of eBay.
“Generally, I can’t get enough light and windows, and I often let my eyes wander around the apartment to find a new place where more light could get in,” Lundager says.
Besides brightening the bedroom and living room and being a beautiful detail, the window has a third function. “It’s a way of being closer to our girls, who sleep at the other end of the apartment; when the window’s open, we can hear them better,” she says, but adds, “It can be closed when they want some peace.”
“Generally, I can’t get enough light and windows, and I often let my eyes wander around the apartment to find a new place where more light could get in,” Lundager says.
Besides brightening the bedroom and living room and being a beautiful detail, the window has a third function. “It’s a way of being closer to our girls, who sleep at the other end of the apartment; when the window’s open, we can hear them better,” she says, but adds, “It can be closed when they want some peace.”
Originally, the two children’s rooms were one large room. “The girls shared it for more than five years and during the last two years they slept in the same bed. They loved it and therefore it was natural to keep this bond, even though they each now have a room of their own,” Lundager says about their daughters, Svea, 10, and Vilde, 6.
With nine small windows and the help of a carpenter, they built a large window, which lets light into both rooms and the girls feel closer. “When they want to later on, we can put up a curtain, but neither of them has mentioned anything about this yet.”
With nine small windows and the help of a carpenter, they built a large window, which lets light into both rooms and the girls feel closer. “When they want to later on, we can put up a curtain, but neither of them has mentioned anything about this yet.”
It took time to find a storage solution that would fit under the loft bed. By sawing off the plinth from an Ikea chest of drawers and removing the top plate, it was possible to slot the unit underneath.
“Svea chose the smallest, rear room with the slanted windows. I guess, subconsciously, it was a choice of privacy, since she has to go through Vilde’s room to get to hers and not vice versa,” Lundager says. The floral, dust-blue wallpaper, designed by Helene Blanche for Flügger, is used twice on both wall and table and contributes harmony and wholeness to the room.
The bathroom is relatively large. It houses not only a shower and basin, but also a washing machine and tumble dryer.
The apartment’s largest balcony overlooks nearly all of Copenhagen’s spires, from city hall and Christiansborg Palace, Church of Our Lady, Børsen, Rigshospitalet and Marble Church at Amalienborg to the towers at Tivoli. This is one of the reasons why the couple have a very hard time imagining living anywhere else.
“This home is characterised by the fact that we insist on living here, even if we’ve grown out of it. When the kids were younger, we considered moving, as five flights of stairs isn’t practical. But we survived it and now we’re absolutely determined to always live here, no matter how old we are. I’ve had this feeling for quite a while since living here,” Lundager says.
“This home is characterised by the fact that we insist on living here, even if we’ve grown out of it. When the kids were younger, we considered moving, as five flights of stairs isn’t practical. But we survived it and now we’re absolutely determined to always live here, no matter how old we are. I’ve had this feeling for quite a while since living here,” Lundager says.
Trine Lundager’s three tips for living in an attic apartment
What do you think of the use of space in this attic apartment? Have you overcome sloping walls or awkward spaces in your home? Share your thoughts, ideas and photos in the Comments below.
- “Think outside the box. A lot of storage solutions that work in apartments with straight walls – such as tall cupboards and shelves – won’t work when the sloped wall begins 3ft above the floor. Instead, you can stack old suitcases under the sloping wall or find a low cabinet or sideboard for table linen – they are typically quite deep and can accommodate a lot.”
- “A raised ceiling is one of the great bonuses of living in an attic apartment. Consider utilising the ceiling and establishing a loft over some of the rafters. The extra floor space is really worth it!”
- “If you have a wall that goes all the way to the apex, then use it. Place your pictures and other decorations up on the walls. It looks like a surprise when something is ‘happening’ over the normal ‘decoration height’, and it’s great when the eyes can explore everywhere.”
What do you think of the use of space in this attic apartment? Have you overcome sloping walls or awkward spaces in your home? Share your thoughts, ideas and photos in the Comments below.
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In love with this apartment. It's great when the architecture can accommodate an open plan living. It's always pleasing to see such attention to details and personality behind the decor.
I just got a Senator chair myself! They're so beautiful. Mine is my dream, in rosewood.