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 ’n’ roll
Kasper Iversen
July 19, 2017
In this project, there was no Danish minimalism, no standard furniture and no simple fixes. Rather, Jeppe Bjørnberg Hansen’s 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.
Photos from Jeppe Bjørnberg Hansen
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: Jeppe Bjørnberg 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: Stræderne, downtown Copenhagen, Denmark
Size: 860 square feet (80 square meters)
Year built: 1777
Year renovated: 2016
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: Jeppe Bjørnberg 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: Stræderne, downtown Copenhagen, Denmark
Size: 860 square feet (80 square meters)
Year built: 1777
Year renovated: 2016
Bjørnberg Hansen bought the apartment in the summer of 2015. It’s part of an 18th-century building that overlooks Thorvaldsens Museum, a gallery devoted to Danish sculptor Bertel Thorvaldsen and Denmark’s first public museum. The neighborhood is sandwiched between Christiansborg Palace, the seat of the parliament, and the Strøget shopping area.
At the time, the apartment was quite run-down, and Bjørnberg Hansen was able to get it for a bargain. Since then, it’s undergone a complete makeover.
At the time, the apartment was quite run-down, and Bjørnberg Hansen was able to get it for a bargain. Since then, it’s undergone a complete makeover.
Bjørnberg 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.
“I took care of the finishing,” he says. “I’ve filled with putty, painted, done some carpentry and decorated. My strength definitely lies in aesthetics and creating the final look.”
“I took care of the finishing,” he says. “I’ve filled with putty, painted, done some carpentry and decorated. My strength definitely lies in aesthetics and creating the final look.”
The home is dominated by natural materials and metallic accents. Bjørnberg Hansen describes the style as “rustic with a flair for contrasts.” Raw brick walls are juxtaposed against 200-year-old timber framing, whitewashed walls and ceilings, and gold-colored radiator pipes.
“I’ve turned up the charm of the old apartment while taking its former look — with its irregularities and timber frames — and respect for this old style as starting points,” Bjørnberg Hansen says.
“I’ve turned up the charm of the old apartment while taking its former look — with its irregularities and timber frames — and respect for this old style as starting points,” Bjørnberg Hansen says.
The light-toned flooring is knot-free American Douglas fir, and it’s a good example of how the original elements play a key role. “It 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,” Bjørnberg Hansen says. “But once it was polished and treated with lye, I think it turned out gorgeous.”
The original beams have been stained to give off a warm, golden glow. “I was born in Bogø [an island in the Baltic Sea] and grew up on a farm there, so I didn’t want to get rid of the rustic ambience of the framing,” Bjørnberg Hansen says with a smile.
The original beams have been stained to give off a warm, golden glow. “I was born in Bogø [an island in the Baltic Sea] and grew up on a farm there, so I didn’t want to get rid of the rustic ambience of the framing,” Bjørnberg 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 “wall of fame” for precious rock ’n’ roll keepsakes, including Kurt Cobain’s 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. “I’ve lined the back of Arne Jacobsen’s Egg chair with a cowhide that matches the cognac color of the front,” Bjørnberg Hansen says. “It’s one of the many unique touches in the house. I think it’s something special to know that things are unique and that no one’s got the same thing.” He made the painting with the American flag and the guitar himself.
In the corner sits another one-of-a-kind piece. “I’ve lined the back of Arne Jacobsen’s Egg chair with a cowhide that matches the cognac color of the front,” Bjørnberg Hansen says. “It’s one of the many unique touches in the house. I think it’s something special to know that things are unique and that no one’s got the same thing.” He made the painting with the American flag and the guitar himself.
“In 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,” Bjørnberg Hansen says.
The apartment is therefore fitted with two “layers” 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 “layers” 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.
Bjørnberg Hansen, who has no professional background in construction or interior design, mostly relied on instinct during the project. “But in some places I was able to employ my experience in auto body painting,” he says. “For example, all the electrical outlets are spray-painted to match the wall colors.” 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.
“Overall, I think I’m good at combining materials that are not necessarily costly and spicing them up with expensive details, so the finished result is gorgeous and unique,” Bjørnberg 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.
“Overall, I think I’m good at combining materials that are not necessarily costly and spicing them up with expensive details, so the finished result is gorgeous and unique,” Bjørnberg 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 kitchen’s beams during the renovation, Bjørnberg 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.
“The 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,” Bjørnberg Hansen says. He made special feet for the gutters at the guitar shop where he works.
“The 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,” Bjørnberg 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.
“Here I just thought, ‘What goes well with the dark colors?’ Well, gold does!” Bjørnberg Hansen says. Overall, he says, the renovation turned out pretty much as he envisioned it.
“Here I just thought, ‘What goes well with the dark colors?’ Well, gold does!” Bjørnberg 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 it’s easy to miss if you don’t know it’s there.
“Many have been surprised to find that there is a space behind the wall,” Bjørnberg Hansen says. “There 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.”
“Many have been surprised to find that there is a space behind the wall,” Bjørnberg Hansen says. “There 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.”
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 Bjørnberg Hansen says is particularly beautiful when wet.
Bjørnberg Hansen’s takeaways from the project? “First, it always takes longer than you think,” he says. He suggests that homeowners embarking on a renovation project estimate the required time and then double it, so they don’t get stressed and annoyed along the way.
Second, he says, “you 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.”
Second, he says, “you 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.”
Even though Bjørnberg Hansen has owned the apartment for less than two years, he’s ready to move on. “Now that it’s done, I’ll soon get restless and search for other projects and a new apartment, where I can enjoy similar work,” he says.
That’s why he’s signed a contract for a new apartment — another bargain itching to be renovated — just a few hundred yards away.
“I think I’ve already happily forgotten how hard and demanding such renovation work is,” he says. “The next thing I’m doing is going to be even wilder. Among other things, I’m dreaming of creating a library with a secret door.”
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That’s why he’s signed a contract for a new apartment — another bargain itching to be renovated — just a few hundred yards away.
“I think I’ve already happily forgotten how hard and demanding such renovation work is,” he says. “The next thing I’m doing is going to be even wilder. Among other things, I’m dreaming of creating a library with a secret door.”
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
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Thank you very much for the nice words! Now I've built a new place, and it's great too!
I love the big wood chest...this is a fantastic place!
I just love both renovations, you have a good eye and follow your insticts very well!! I too, enjoy new projects and soon forget the stress while doing them, the result more than pays for the time, stress and cost of the project, so far...