Eras change each other, different styles leave and come, new technologies develop, and family values do not give up their positions! This house in Copenhagen became their reliable stronghold.
Private house interior photo
Christine and Jens Winter bought this three-story mansion thirteen years ago. By that time, they had already managed to give birth to three children, a fourth was on the way, but the child-loving couple was not going to stop there. So housing (500 square meters) was bought, as they say, for growth. The two upper floors of the house were cut into tiny rooms. It is believed that such a layout does not correspond to the modern lifestyle, which requires large and open spaces, but the Winters decided not to change or redraw anything here. Fashion is fashion, and family interests come first. The “archaic” layout allowed each child (now there are six of them) to have, albeit small, but their own territory. This is the first priority for a healthy family climate. The new owners also did not combine the two living rooms into a single space – so that they could be grouped according to their interests.
Christine (with a baby in her arms) is not only the mother of a large family, but also a successful decorator. She is currently managing two Tine K interior boutiques in Copenhagen. And when does she manage to do everything ?!
Photo 1: Native hearth. The traditional Scandinavian style fits perfectly with the architecture of the house. It ideally meets the patriarchal way of life of a large family. As you know, nothing holds the bond of kinship as strong as a meal together. Unsurprisingly, the dining room took up the largest room in the house. The fireplace is designed to emphasize its dominant position. As applied to him, the phrase “family hearth” is not an artistic image, but a one hundred percent truth of life. “Where do they cook?” – you ask. A logical question, because in such a large family, the kitchen should be huge. The winters did not become modest – they equipped a full-fledged culinary workshop in the basement of the house.
Photo 2: I left the forest … New Year’s table setting, invented by Christine and her children, is as simple as anything ingenious. Fir cones, painted with silver-white spray paint, are scattered on the snow-white tablecloth. Glasses made of colored glass turned into candlesticks.
Photo 3: Eternal values. On the table are porcelain dishes from the Blue Fluted Mega collection. The famous Danish manufactory Royal Copenhagen has been producing it for many years and is not going to discontinue production, so Winters can always buy a missing cup or plate. A very practical solution for a large family.
Photo 4: In hindsight. Although the rooms in this house are small, Christine has managed to maintain a sense of spaciousness and airiness in them. Here is just one of the tricks she used: the cupboard from the inside is painted in the color of the walls. Thanks to this trick, the furniture seems almost weightless.
Photo 5: X-Files. It is believed that white walls are not the best option for a family with many small children. In fact, it’s just the opposite: white surfaces are Christine’s main secret weapon, who has to wage a daily war on dirt. To tidy up a stained wall, it is enough to have a roller and a jar of whitewash ready. Such a number would not work with wallpaper!
Photo 6: Archive! Christine and Jens do not have a bad habit of taking work home, but still they could not do without an office. Danes are famous for their law-abidingness. Vinters are no exception here – they regularly fill out tax returns and pedantically store paid bills, all kinds of certificates and extracts. We took this corner of the living room to work with the documentation. Numerous papers are neatly sorted into folders. If necessary, they can be taken out into the light of day and laid out on a large wooden table.
Creative team
Active preparations for Christmas begin in November. The main thing in this business is not even the result, but the process itself, in which not only the younger Winters are involved, but also numerous friends of the family. Adults and children gather around the dining table with scissors, glue, colored paper and start making paper hearts, stars, and cones. These gatherings have already become a tradition and have received an intricate name: “Afternoon creativity”. In general, the circle “Skillful hands” in the Danish manner.
Salt and pepper
In Scandinavian interiors, the color is usually set by white, and bright textiles are designed to revive it. Christine as a whole did not deviate from this tradition, she only slightly modified it: instead of fabrics with characteristic flowers, checks and stripes, she used a blanket with a recognizable oriental ornament.
Text: Shanti Broeng, Malue Drejer Stylist: Pernille Vest Photo: Heieli Lerkenfeldt / Linnea Press
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Shanti Broeng, Malue Drejer