Yvonne Koné and Rasmus Juul moved to the Copenhagen suburb of Vesterbro a decade ago because they were inspired by its rich history and historic atmosphere. The apartment building they currently live in with their children—Johanna, Bror and Hasse—was built in the 19th century by the Art Nouveau–inspired architect Anton Rosen and offers a welcomed respite from the rest of the city. “This is where I relax completely with no filters,” Yvonne says. She and her husband, a children’s book illustrator, have watched their neighborhood shift over the years (a recent influx of residents has brought a new mix of families, professionals and young newcomers), and Yvonne feels like both she and their home are changing along with it. “I like things in movement and the feeling that nothing is static,” she says. With half of her brain leaning toward perfectionism and the other half toward what she describes as complete disorganization, the couple’s home is usually redecorated at least once a year. “Painting the walls has always given me the feeling of a fresh start—it’s like a clean canvas,” she says. “I’m not very attached to physical things, and when I’m redecorating as often as I do, I see it more as a form of exchanging rather than consuming—I sell some items and then find a few more.” Whenever she redecorates, Yvonne tries to make the decor minimal and manageable, as having three children and a time-consuming job as a designer keeps her busy as it is. She and Rasmus are fans of their home’s foundation of smooth, clean walls combined with pinewood floors, but she says, “The perfectionist in me has accepted that it’s OK for there to be a little—or sometimes a very big—mess.” The duo also believes that a resident’s personality should be clearly visible in their space. “After looking at a few items in a home, you can tell that someone selected a particular piece for a reason—not necessarily because it was beautiful, but simply because someone liked it,” she says. A possession that speaks to this notion is a set of warm, plush bathrobes that Yvonne gave to the family members for Christmas a few years ago. Along with lighting some flickering candles, wearing the robes has become a household tradition during the dark Danish winters when they function as the family’s around-the-clock loungewear. While the robes aren’t fancy (“Rasmus thinks they’re kind of sloppy,” she says, laughing), they exemplify a sense of comfort that she hopes to keep throughout her home. "Painting the walls has always given me the feeling of a fresh start." Yvonne designed the couch in the living room, the rug is a handwoven Berber carpet from Morocco and the coffee table was found at a thrift store in Italy. Her son, Bror, created the drawings displayed on the windowsill. This story appeared in The Kinfolk Home in 2015. The chair in the kitchen is by Danish brand Please Wait To Be Seated. Rasmus enjoys whipping up meals for the family, especially dishes that remind them of their trips to Greece. TwitterFacebookPinterest The chair in the kitchen is by Danish brand Please Wait To Be Seated. Rasmus enjoys whipping up meals for the family, especially dishes that remind them of their trips to Greece. Yvonne’s favorite sketchbooks are made by the Copenhagen design company L.A. Graphic Design. The couple’s children love the spacious feel of the apartment. Rasmus is an avid collector of art books and drew most of the sketches on their bookshelves. Related Stories Interiors Issue 19 Prankster’s Paradise Is the nine-to-five grind approaching monotony? Arrive at the office early to even the playing field and invoke mirth for your co-workers. Interiors Issue 18 A View from the Porch The shapes and sizes of our homes are changing, and society along with it. Avi Friedman has come to make sense of the new era of household realities. Interiors Issue 16 My Bedside Table: The Fashion Designer Starr Hout, who cofounded fashion brand Apiece Apart with her friend Laura Cramer, talks about her evening rituals and a kid-friendly bedroom. Design Interiors Issue 15 The Community Entrepreneurs: The Food Enthusiasts Food can be used to enrich, strengthen and connect people of all societies and cultures: All you need is a passion for tasty morsels and tradition. Interiors Issue 14 My Bedside Table: The Editor The editor in chief of Milk Decoration magazine in Paris discusses what she likes to have at hand while slumbering. Interiors Issue 14 Home Tour: The Evergreen Cottage For this home tour, we look inside a festive house in a cobblestoned corner of Copenhagen.
Interiors Issue 19 Prankster’s Paradise Is the nine-to-five grind approaching monotony? Arrive at the office early to even the playing field and invoke mirth for your co-workers.
Interiors Issue 18 A View from the Porch The shapes and sizes of our homes are changing, and society along with it. Avi Friedman has come to make sense of the new era of household realities.
Interiors Issue 16 My Bedside Table: The Fashion Designer Starr Hout, who cofounded fashion brand Apiece Apart with her friend Laura Cramer, talks about her evening rituals and a kid-friendly bedroom.
Design Interiors Issue 15 The Community Entrepreneurs: The Food Enthusiasts Food can be used to enrich, strengthen and connect people of all societies and cultures: All you need is a passion for tasty morsels and tradition.
Interiors Issue 14 My Bedside Table: The Editor The editor in chief of Milk Decoration magazine in Paris discusses what she likes to have at hand while slumbering.
Interiors Issue 14 Home Tour: The Evergreen Cottage For this home tour, we look inside a festive house in a cobblestoned corner of Copenhagen.