Perfectly placed amongst the open meadows and rich forests of South Jutland; you’ll find the Dinesen Country Home, a lovingly restored Danish longhouse now available to stay in for the very first time.
Once the private retreat of the Dinesen family, who have been proudly producing their timber flooring and wood products nearby in the small town of Jels since 1898, this picturesque place is so much more than a showroom. It’s a celebration of a shared past, present and future.
Built in 1885, the Dinesen Country Home, with its thatched roof and pane glass windows, was initially converted into an event space and guesthouse twenty years ago by architect Jørgen Overby, and it was he who restored its historical proportions and period charm after undergoing a number of unsympathetic modernisations.
This latest makeover however, completed by Mathias Mentze and Alexander Ottenstein of Copenhagen-based design studio Mentze Ottenstein, now sees the introduction of more materiality and aesthetically ornamental elements too.
Set over two equally beautiful levels, as soon as you step inside the love of wood is evident everywhere. Contemporary crafted furniture, designed by the likes of John Pawson sits happily alongside custom-made pieces from artists and craftspeople such as Nina Nørgaard and RønholtKurz, as well as age-old heirlooms such as hand-turned walnut and pear bowls from Georgia.
Colour also plays a major role here, used to create a gentle transition which leads the eye from living and dining space to a panelled library and on to a soothing kitchen with rural views beyond. “We wanted the rooms to unfold like chapters in a story,” Mentze and Ottenstein explain. “We maintained a consistent colour for door frames and ceiling beams while introducing a gradient from brighter colours to cosier tones.”
Upstairs the harmonious blend of history and modernity continues with bedrooms and bathrooms all wrapped in warm timber and handcrafted elements occasionally painted in eye-catching shades, further fostering a cosy, comforting and calm atmosphere.
“This dialogue between the old and the new gives the house a sense of life and continuity,” the duo say. “In the past, people lived with heirlooms passed down from generation to generation – objects with meaning tied to them, more than just aesthetic value. We believe that the narrative – the stories these objects carry – is important.” Adding, “We want the space to tell the story of all of Dinesen’s wonderful collaborations over the years and to maintain a certain authenticity in being a home.”
Filled with personal stories, as well as a passion for craftsmanship and professional endeavour, the Dinesen Country Home will now continue to reflect the lives lived here while inviting future generations to make memories of their own.
The Dinesen Country Home is open by invitation, with some availability for public bookings for stays and events on selected dates. To find out more, visit the Dinesen website.
All photography by Monica Grue Steffensen, and courtesy of Dinesen.
Enjoyed reading this post? Then find out more about the John Pawson and Dinesen furniture collection.
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