Story
Grand Illusions
Stine Hollesen
Behind this Copenhagen apartment’s luxurious Art Deco-inspired interior lies a functional and family-orientated home that’s a thoughtful homage to its past.
We visit the home of interior designer Stine Hollesen in Copenhagen. When Stine Hollesen inherited the early 1900s apartment that once belonged to her formidably stylish grandmother, it was clear to the Danish interior designer that all alterations should respect the home’s unique history. In 1974, Stine’s grandmother — who owned the entirety of this elegant five-storey building in central Copenhagen — took the trailblazing step of commissioning renowned Danish architect Mogens Lassen to redesign the second floor. “I’ve always been fascinated by this space and inspired by her decision to use a modernist architect for such a classical apartment,” says Stine. “I think it was really daring of her at the time.”
Needless to say, Stine isn’t afraid of colour. Adventurous in spirit as well as style, she began her interior design career at 21, after moving from Denmark to Spain. “I’ve designed a lot of homes across Europe over the years, which have influenced elements of my approach,” she shares. “Colour, light and functionality are at the core of every space I create, alongside carefully chosen textiles and wallpapers, selected for depth and warmth.”
On Sundays, Stine’s children and grandchildren fill the apartment, when they all gather round the vast antique table. It’s for times like these that the apartment has to be practical as well as beautiful. “In my grandmother’s era, children weren’t even allowed on the sofa, we had to sit on a rug on the floor,” Stine recalls. “With this in mind, I’ve made sure to choose materials and fabrics that can withstand modern life.” In the living room facing the fireplace are two Nun armchairs, upholstered in fabric by Holland & Sherry. Next to the chairs, a striped Aton sofa adds a sophisticated splash of colour to the space.
In the library the walls of this characterful room are painted in a muted and earthy shade of red, which adds to its cocooning atmosphere. It was designed by Mogens Lassen in 1974 and still features a pocket door with a Chinese silk panel chosen by Stine’s grandmother. A Streamline sofa by Eilersen fits perfectly into an existing niche, above which hangs a photographic print.
This space, and the home as a whole, is an apt reflection of Stine’s outlook, which is perhaps not dissimilar to that of her much-admired grandmother. It’s a dare-to-be-different approach that shuns convention, as great design so often does. Stine delights in the effect her home has on new visitors, “People are often surprised; they don’t expect to see that much colour in a Danish apartment, but it’s designed for us and how we like to live,” she states.
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Design: Jens Juul Eilersen
Design: Jens Juul Eilersen
Design: Jens Juul Eilersen
