Houzz Tour: Copenhagen Attic Gets a One-of-a-Kind Makeover
A renovation enthusiast glams up his 1777 Danish apartment with special pieces, DIY touches and a bit of rock ānā roll
In this project, there was no Danish minimalism, no standard furniture and no simple fixes. Rather, Jeppe BjĆørnberg Hansenās fourth- and fifth-floor attic apartment in the center of Copenhagen is packed with quirky and surprising features such as gold-colored radiator pipes, rafters augmented with plant-filled gutters and a customized Egg chair.
BjĆørnberg Hansen bought the apartment in the summer of 2015. Itās part of an 18th-century building that overlooks Thorvaldsens Museum, a gallery devoted to Danish sculptor Bertel Thorvaldsen and Denmarkās first public museum. The neighborhood is sandwiched between Christiansborg Palace, the seat of the parliament, and the StrĆøget shopping area.
At the time, the apartment was quite run-down, and BjĆørnberg Hansen was able to get it for a bargain. Since then, itās undergone a complete makeover.
At the time, the apartment was quite run-down, and BjĆørnberg Hansen was able to get it for a bargain. Since then, itās undergone a complete makeover.
BjĆørnberg Hansen set aside all of 2016 for the renovation. The self-proclaimed handyman was involved in every detail of it, although he hired professionals for the plumbing, electrical work and carpentry.
āI took care of the finishing,ā he says. āIāve filled with putty, painted, done some carpentry and decorated. My strength definitely lies in aesthetics and creating the final look.ā
āI took care of the finishing,ā he says. āIāve filled with putty, painted, done some carpentry and decorated. My strength definitely lies in aesthetics and creating the final look.ā
The home is dominated by natural materials and metallic accents. BjĆørnberg Hansen describes the style as ārustic with a flair for contrasts.ā Raw brick walls are juxtaposed against 200-year-old timber framing, whitewashed walls and ceilings, and gold-colored radiator pipes.
āIāve turned up the charm of the old apartment while taking its former look ā with its irregularities and timber frames ā and respect for this old style as starting points,ā BjĆørnberg Hansen says.
āIāve turned up the charm of the old apartment while taking its former look ā with its irregularities and timber frames ā and respect for this old style as starting points,ā BjĆørnberg Hansen says.
The light-toned flooring is knot-free American Douglas fir, and itās a good example of how the original elements play a key role. āIt was already in the apartment when I bought it, and it looked very old and brown, so I was afraid that it would never look good,ā BjĆørnberg Hansen says. āBut once it was polished and treated with lye, I think it turned out gorgeous.ā
The original beams have been stained to give off a warm, golden glow. āI was born in BogĆø [an island in the Baltic Sea] and grew up on a farm there, so I didnāt want to get rid of the rustic ambience of the framing,ā BjĆørnberg Hansen says with a smile.
The original beams have been stained to give off a warm, golden glow. āI was born in BogĆø [an island in the Baltic Sea] and grew up on a farm there, so I didnāt want to get rid of the rustic ambience of the framing,ā BjĆørnberg Hansen says with a smile.
In the raw brick wall of the living room, the light from the niche illuminates without being blinding, and the wall serves as a kind of āwall of fameā for precious rock ānā roll keepsakes, including Kurt Cobainās autograph, framed in gold.
The raw, multicolored wood panels on the neighboring wall are from old scaffolding, purchased from Genbyg.
The raw, multicolored wood panels on the neighboring wall are from old scaffolding, purchased from Genbyg.
The wall on the other side of the room is also covered with old scaffolding boards, while the adjacent one is papered with wallpaper that resembles old metal plates, bought from Rue Verte in Copenhagen.
In the corner sits another one-of-a-kind piece. āIāve lined the back of Arne Jacobsenās Egg chair with a cowhide that matches the cognac color of the front,ā BjĆørnberg Hansen says. āItās one of the many unique touches in the house. I think itās something special to know that things are unique and that no oneās got the same thing.ā He made the painting with the American flag and the guitar himself.
In the corner sits another one-of-a-kind piece. āIāve lined the back of Arne Jacobsenās Egg chair with a cowhide that matches the cognac color of the front,ā BjĆørnberg Hansen says. āItās one of the many unique touches in the house. I think itās something special to know that things are unique and that no oneās got the same thing.ā He made the painting with the American flag and the guitar himself.
āIn my previous apartment, which was also a do-it-yourself project, I ended up not getting enough light, so from the outset I thought about the lighting here a lot,ā BjĆørnberg Hansen says.
The apartment is therefore fitted with two ālayersā of lighting: the powerful, built-in spotlights in the ceiling and the cozier black cube wall lamps, LED strip in the guitar niche and other indirect lighting.
The apartment is therefore fitted with two ālayersā of lighting: the powerful, built-in spotlights in the ceiling and the cozier black cube wall lamps, LED strip in the guitar niche and other indirect lighting.
BjĆørnberg Hansen, who has no professional background in construction or interior design, mostly relied on instinct during the project. āBut in some places I was able to employ my experience in auto body painting,ā he says. āFor example, all the electrical outlets are spray-painted to match the wall colors.ā He also spray-painted the hot water pipes that lead to the radiators gold.
The kitchen is a mix of expensive and low-cost materials. The cabinets are from Ikea, while the countertop is Corian with a built-in sink and flush cooktop; the backsplash is copper. The refrigerator is hidden behind a cabinet door.
āOverall, I think Iām good at combining materials that are not necessarily costly and spicing them up with expensive details, so the finished result is gorgeous and unique,ā BjĆørnberg Hansen says.
The dining table is made of old Indonesian ship planks, purchased in the Dutch store One World Interiors. The dark, leather-textured wallpaper was purchased at Rue Verte.
āOverall, I think Iām good at combining materials that are not necessarily costly and spicing them up with expensive details, so the finished result is gorgeous and unique,ā BjĆørnberg Hansen says.
The dining table is made of old Indonesian ship planks, purchased in the Dutch store One World Interiors. The dark, leather-textured wallpaper was purchased at Rue Verte.
After having stored various building materials in the kitchenās beams during the renovation, BjĆørnberg Hansen felt they suddenly seemed a little empty after the cleanup. So he came up with the idea of installing ivy-planted gutters on top of them.
āThe attic is [about 15 feet] high and large Velux windows are installed in the sloping walls, so the three gutters with greenery contribute to making the kitchen seem cozier and lusher,ā BjĆørnberg Hansen says. He made special feet for the gutters at the guitar shop where he works.
āThe attic is [about 15 feet] high and large Velux windows are installed in the sloping walls, so the three gutters with greenery contribute to making the kitchen seem cozier and lusher,ā BjĆørnberg Hansen says. He made special feet for the gutters at the guitar shop where he works.
The gold-painted border that frames the wallpaper is another idea that emerged along the way.
āHere I just thought, āWhat goes well with the dark colors?ā Well, gold does!ā BjĆørnberg Hansen says. Overall, he says, the renovation turned out pretty much as he envisioned it.
āHere I just thought, āWhat goes well with the dark colors?ā Well, gold does!ā BjĆørnberg Hansen says. Overall, he says, the renovation turned out pretty much as he envisioned it.
Above the kitchen is the bedroom, which can be accessed through a hatch in the ceiling.
The wall and door to the bedroom feature the same repurposed scaffolding boards used in the living room, and the door blends in so well itās easy to miss if you donāt know itās there.
āMany have been surprised to find that there is a space behind the wall,ā BjĆørnberg Hansen says. āThere is no visible handle at all, so when the door is closed, you have to know which board to press in order to open the bedroom.ā
āMany have been surprised to find that there is a space behind the wall,ā BjĆørnberg Hansen says. āThere is no visible handle at all, so when the door is closed, you have to know which board to press in order to open the bedroom.ā
Large rafters slice through the room.
The bathroom offers its own small surprises. The floor and shower are lined with what looks and feels like wood but is actually Italian tile, which BjĆørnberg Hansen says is particularly beautiful when wet.
BjĆørnberg Hansenās takeaways from the project? āFirst, it always takes longer than you think,ā he says. He suggests that homeowners embarking on a renovation project estimate the required time and then double it, so they donāt get stressed and annoyed along the way.
Second, he says, āyou must dare to put your thoughts and ideas into practice without fearing that everything must be white and minimalist. And without being anxious about whether you will be able to resell the space: Individual charm is highly rated.ā
Second, he says, āyou must dare to put your thoughts and ideas into practice without fearing that everything must be white and minimalist. And without being anxious about whether you will be able to resell the space: Individual charm is highly rated.ā
Even though BjĆørnberg Hansen has owned the apartment for less than two years, heās ready to move on. āNow that itās done, Iāll soon get restless and search for other projects and a new apartment, where I can enjoy similar work,ā he says.
Thatās why heās signed a contract for a new apartment ā another bargain itching to be renovated ā just a few hundred yards away.
āI think Iāve already happily forgotten how hard and demanding such renovation work is,ā he says. āThe next thing Iām doing is going to be even wilder. Among other things, Iām dreaming of creating a library with a secret door.ā
Browse more homes by style: Apartments | Barn Homes | Colorful Homes | Contemporary Homes | Eclectic Homes | Farmhouses | Floating Homes | Guesthouses | Homes Around the World | Lofts | Midcentury Homes | Modern Homes | Ranch Homes | Small Homes | Townhouses | Traditional Homes | Transitional Homes | Vacation Homes
Thatās why heās signed a contract for a new apartment ā another bargain itching to be renovated ā just a few hundred yards away.
āI think Iāve already happily forgotten how hard and demanding such renovation work is,ā he says. āThe next thing Iām doing is going to be even wilder. Among other things, Iām dreaming of creating a library with a secret door.ā
Browse more homes by style: Apartments | Barn Homes | Colorful Homes | Contemporary Homes | Eclectic Homes | Farmhouses | Floating Homes | Guesthouses | Homes Around the World | Lofts | Midcentury Homes | Modern Homes | Ranch Homes | Small Homes | Townhouses | Traditional Homes | Transitional Homes | Vacation Homes
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: Jeppe BjĆørnberg Hansen, 28, who works at the guitar shop Copenhagen Guitars. An award-winning former auto body painter, he has also been an artist and graffiti artist, among other things.
Location: StrƦderne, downtown Copenhagen, Denmark
Size: 860 square feet (80 square meters)
Year built: 1777
Year renovated: 2016