Comments on: Minimalist Design, Danish Style

By: Daniel

Daniel — Sat, 05 Mar 2011 00:54:13 +0000

My first encounter with minimalism was in Copenhagen. I went to visit a friend of my brother’s while I was living in Europe. When I used to go to Scandinavian furniture stores in the U.S. I remember thinking that it looked a bit spartan. I mean, surely it’s just a store! People wouldn’t actually *live* with just a few things in an empty room, right. I remember showing up in their flat and, yup, people would actually live with just a few things in a basically empty room. I mean each wall had like one thing and otherwise it looked empty. I said “you don’t even have books?!” (it’s a tradition in my family to line rooms with bookshelves and fill them with books). They said “we go to the library”. I remember that their flat was so old that it didn’t have a tub or shower. They had something I’ve never seen in the U.S.: a fold-up shower stall on wheels. When you want to use it, you plug one tube into the sink which goes to the top and another from the drain at the bottom which goes back to the sink (was there a pump to get the water back up? maybe). I’m still amazed: I mean, they didn’t even seem to have food. Just a chair and a table and a shower stall. Anyway, I may move to Manhattan soon and if I do I’m going to try owning a futon and a chair and a dresser and nothing else. Well, ok, and a set of dishes for two people and nothing else. Maybe a desk. Might need some curtains so I can sleep at night. Uh oh.

By: Caroline

Caroline — Wed, 23 Feb 2011 16:50:19 +0000

The reason I like the movie “Munich” is for the decor. And the houseboat in particular blew me away. I wish I could find stills of it on the internet…

By: Cynthia

Cynthia — Tue, 22 Feb 2011 22:06:20 +0000

I love Danish design. Oprah has a video online in where she tours a danish women’s home (and offending her simplicity but the danish lady handles it gracefully). Google interior danish homes and you’ll find it. I love the look and am happy to read they use wood for a warm look. I use 3 rules for decorating my house; it has to be simple (minimalist), the things I do have have to have beauty and the rooms have to be cozy. Sometimes the simple and cozy compete but cozy doesn’t mean clutter. And wood definitely adds warmth. Another rule I use are the “2 P’s”; things have to be pretty and practical. Aestetics are very important to me and so is practicality. I know the danish design has inspired me a lot and was so pleased to see this article. Now I know I’m not the only one who thinks outside the box and borrows european ways.
Thanks for the article and this website!

By: A Year Ago on miss minimalist « miss minimalist

A Year Ago on miss minimalist « miss minimalist — Tue, 22 Feb 2011 09:15:59 +0000

[...] Minimalist Design, Danish Style: This past weekend my husband and I visited Copenhagen, an incredibly beautiful city. It was also incredibly cold, so in order to keep warm, we spent more time than usual going in and out of shops. We had a wonderful time browsing the local housewares and furnishings stores. We’ve always been drawn to the Danish design aesthetic, as we find its clean lines and simple forms quite appealing. We’ve been using simple glass Bodum coffee mugs for years, and our former sofa (currently in storage back in the States) was made by a small Danish company…{read more} [...]

By: smiling eyes

smiling eyes — Thu, 18 Nov 2010 20:55:53 +0000

I am Danish and a huge fan of Scandinavian design. We have wooden floors in most of our house (tiles in kitchen and bathroom). I love wooden floors – it makes a room more serene. We havent got any carpets at all. We havent got a lot of furniture, but the furniture we have is mostly made out of wood: coffee table, dining table ect. I would however like to live with even less furniture – I am working on it.
Since the winter here is long and dark we try to let as much sunlight in as possible, so we havent got heavy curtains or other window treatments.
Love Anette from Denmark

By: jack wieland

jack wieland — Sat, 25 Sep 2010 16:38:02 +0000

Have tumbled into your site searching for interior designers specializing in danish modern design. i live in atlanta, but would consider someone from the east coast or a two hour flight. any thoughts? thanks.

By: miss minimalist

miss minimalist — Sat, 29 May 2010 19:29:49 +0000

Hi Cat’s Meow — I was just in Helsinki last weekend! Finland seems like a beautiful country in which to live.

By: Cat's Meow

Cat's Meow — Fri, 28 May 2010 21:20:24 +0000

Being from Finland, I think this style of decor is in my blood
I definitely love the use of wood and other natural materials, light, functional and comfortable (and sparse) furniture… The Shaker and Scandinavian modern design are often quite alike. Modest, simple, inviting. Though the inherited rococo sofa will have to fit in there somewhere…

By: miss minimalist

miss minimalist — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 09:38:33 +0000

Your house sounds lovely, Heather!

By: Heather

Heather — Sun, 28 Feb 2010 17:52:50 +0000

Lovely inspiration. My look leans toward a pared down beach look but is similiar in I like simple white or grey or washed out furniture design. I look for simple lines and everything that is in a room is condisered part of the decor. We have plantation shutters, which work for me because we don’t need curtains and they add a texture to the wall. We can open them all the way or open the slats in each individual panel. What I have learned, no matter what style you choose, texture is very important in taking something from bland to oh la la!!! : )