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Creating a home that truly reflects your passions and personality can be difficult. Thankfully, for Scandinavian lifestyle lovers, help is at hand.
I recently chatted with Danish designer, stylist and TV personality, Katrine Martensen-Larsen, about her new book, ‘Nordic Moods’.
So, whether you live in a newly built rented flat, a mid-century suburban semi or an older period property, you too can create the Nordic-inspired interior you’ve always dreamed of, wherever you live.
Here’s what Katrine had to tell me:
For those who haven’t come across you in the UK yet, can you start by telling us a little about yourself and what you do?
Copenhagen is the place I call home; it’s where I was born and raised, as well as where I live and work now.
It was while living in London, working as a Marketing Manager for Mulberry, that I actually discovered my love for interiors.
My mother was a trained interior designer and my father handcrafted furniture, so it probably came as no surprise to anyone when I returned home and started my own business, KML Design.
As well as private interior clients, I create images for commercial interior companies and produce features for Danish and International interior magazines.
For years I’ve been a regular contributor to the largest Danish interior magazine, Bo Bedre, as well as participated in a TV-programme on national TV called, ‘The Treasure Hunters’.
Ten years after publishing my first book I’ve released ‘Nordic Moods – A Guide to Successful Interior Decoration’ to help everyone create the perfect Nordic-inspired home.
In your book, Nordic Moods, you feature a wonderful mix of unique, vintage and new modern designs. What was the inspiration behind it, and which one is your personal favourite?
I feature many beautiful houses in the book as I wanted to show how we can all live with great Danish design.
My aim was to show that it is not about spending a lot of money, but creating a personal and harmonious setting throughout.
Personally I love my friend, Thomas Schlosser’s stunning collection of modern vintage furniture and ceramics, my brother’s use of brave colours as well as architect Henrik Kjær’s apartment with its rich details.
All that said I probably would not swap my own home for any other!
Nordic interiors are renowned for their clean lines and muted colours, but why do you think this sense of style has become so popular in homes around the world?
We have a long tradition for making furniture in Denmark and luckily we have had, and still have, some very skilled designers and manufactures.
In the past the furniture architects and cabinetmakers worked closely together and some teams still do. This is when the product turns out best.
In the northern countries we spend many months inside our houses, due to the cold, dark and long winter climate. Therefore we are so good at creating nice and cosy interiors.
I guess other countries have noticed the good quality, simple and welcoming moods we are able to create.
A Nordic sense of home is not just about how it looks but how it affects us too. What are your top tips for creating a feeling of hygge, especially at this time of year?
Lighting is the most important thing in creating a cosy home, especially in the wintertime.
Being able to dim your artificial lights is a must and of course lots of candlelight. It is impossible to create hygge without candles!
What would be your advice to anyone looking to become an interior designer. What invaluable words of wisdom would you like to share?
It is a difficult question to answer. But, you can be a great self made interior designer if you have good taste and a great sense for colours, if you have knowledge of art and crafts and if you can understand your clients’ needs.
I would advise anybody with an interest in interior design to read my book and then begin to work seriously with mood boards. It is actually a much more important tool than drawing. To have a good selection of various materials, woods, stone, fabrics, leathers, metals, tiles, wallpapers, colour cards, etc is an absolute necessity.
Thank you so much to Katrine for chatting with me. Nordic Moods is available to buy now, priced £35.00.
My copy of Nordic Moods was kindly gifted for this post, but all words and opinions are my own.
Exciting news!
To celebrate the publication of Nordic Moods, I’ve teamed up with Katrine Martensen-Larsen to create an Instagram competition. One lucky Nordic Notes follower will win their very own copy of the book, worth £35.00.
To enter: Just follow both Nordic Notes and Katrine Martensen-Larsen on Instagram. Like the competition photo and tag a friend who you think would like to win. You can tag as many people as you like, and each tag counts as one entry.
Disclaimer: The giveaway is open to those in the UK only and ends at midnight on Tuesday 10th December. The winner will be randomly selected and announced on my Instagram account afterwards. Good luck!
Please note this competition is in no way associated with or endorsed by Instagram.
Image two courtesy of Katrine Martensen-Larsen, all other images by Nicola Capper.
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