Seaside Scandi : A 1970s Cabin Makeover on the Danish Riviera

by Margot Guralnick

Designers Christine Sofie Johansen and Rasmus Robert are among their own best clients. In addition to running Studio Force Majeure, their Copenhagen interiors firm, the couple have spent the last seven years rehabbing and flipping vacation houses on Denmark’s north coast, just a hop and skip from Copenhagen.

They call this venture The Business and Pleasure Society, are their new partners in it are their friends Trine Andersen and Martin Neve, the star creative couple that founded Ferm Living. As their first joint project, the group acquired a 1972 log cabin in the Danish Riviera town of Holløselund in Vejby parish minutes from the beach. The four assessed the structure’s best features and came up with a remodeling plan. Studio Force Majeure ran the on-site building process, and along the way, they all gathered to garden, have long lunches, talk things over, and, says Johansen, “make work feel like play.”

Dark and interesting on the outside, it’s light and bright inside, and filled with sophisticated summer house ideas. We’re happy to be the first to present the results.

Photography by Martin Neve, courtesy of Studio Force Majeure (@studioforcemajeure).

danish 1970s cabin in northern zealand, vejby, remodeled by studio force majeur 0 Above: The cabin is freshly painted black—”matte not glossy,” specifies Johansen—and has a new sod roof.

The property is listed (and currently under contract) with Alecsander Delfs, a boutique real estate firm offering some good alternatives should this one no longer be available.

danish 1970s cabin in northern zealand, vejby, remodeled by studio force majeur 1 Above: Furnished with Togo lounges, the living room opens to the dining room, a newly built addition that looks as if it’s always been there. The canvas over the table is by Charlie Roberts.

The entire interior is brightened with paint from Blēo, a new Copenhagen color house that collaborates with leading designers, including Studio Majeure, on its palettes: the walls of the cabin are in Highline (“our most popular color,” says Johansen, “it has a funny way of showing itself as either green or blue”) and the doors and details are in Bowery—the couple spent time living in NYC. Good news: Blēo’s paints—and its Muller Van Severen zellige tiles, too—have just become available to order online in the States. In this country the paint—water-based acrylic, low VOC, and Greenwise-certified—is produced in Michigan by a fourth-generation, family-owned company. Find more info here.

danish 1970s cabin in northern zealand, vejby, remodeled by studio force majeur 2 Above: Once the rooms were ready to be furnished, everyone contributed art and others pieces from their collections resulting in next-level staging. “We have been over every surface in the house to make it fresh: we aimed for a combination of modern-yet-still-old-school country cabin,” says Johansen. 

The 26-foot-long Douglas fir floorboards are new. The Douglas Fir Vist Dining Chairs and rattan Dou Lampshades are from Ferm Living.

danish 1970s cabin in northern zealand, vejby, remodeled by studio force majeur 3 Above: The living spaces flow into our favorite part of the project, the all-stainless-steel kitchen.danish 1970s cabin in northern zealand, vejby, remodeled by studio force majeur 4 Above: The kitchen components from Italian brand Alpes Inox are freestanding and were custom designed and built for the space.danish 1970s cabin in northern zealand, vejby, remodeled by studio force majeur 5 Above: An idea to replicate—simple built-in shelves put tableware at hand and on display. Ferm Living’s green bubble Oli Water Glasses and Oli Wine Glasses are paired with vintage French pink glasses. The platter is a 1970s piece by Gmundner Keramik of Austria.danish 1970s cabin in northern zealand, vejby, remodeled by studio force majeur 6 Above: Read about Alpes Inox’s stainless steel designs in Race-Car-Style Components for Compact Kitchens.danish 1970s cabin in northern zealand, vejby, remodeled by studio force majeur 7 Above: Murano Ceiling Lamps from Vetro hang in the bedroom hall. (For more candy-striped pendant lights, go to Remodelista Reconnaissance.)danish 1970s cabin in northern zealand, vejby, remodeled by studio force majeur 8 Above: Johansen describes the hallway shelf as “a gallery for books to borrow and share between the rooms and a place to show personal items.”danish 1970s cabin in northern zealand, vejby, remodeled by studio force majeur 9 Above: The designers found space to build a sleeping alcove out of what had been an indoor sauna.danish 1970s cabin in northern zealand, vejby, remodeled by studio force majeur 10 Above: “We really tried to make it a home where people want to stay and invite guests over,” Johansen tells us. “Whats important when you remodel a holiday home? You need comfortable spaces for you and your family and guests. Little nooks to cozy up in. Displays for thrift findings and beach treasures.”

The walnut Feve Desk (paired with a vintage chair) and Braided Wall Pockets are from Ferm Living.

danish 1970s cabin in northern zealand, vejby, remodeled by studio force majeur 11 Above: Tekla towels hang on a wooden ladder in the bathroom.danish 1970s cabin in northern zealand, vejby, remodeled by studio force majeur 12 Above: The bathroom tiles, shower set, and sink were sourced from Sekelskifte, a Swedish hardware store specializing in vintage-style products.danish 1970s cabin in northern zealand, vejby, remodeled by studio force majeur 13 Above: The bedding is percale from Copenhagen brand Tekla.danish 1970s cabin in northern zealand, vejby, remodeled by studio force majeur 14 Above: Newly added XL French doors connect indoors and out.danish 1970s cabin in northern zealand, vejby, remodeled by studio force majeur 15 Above: The striped outdoor Desert 3-Seater and Desert 1 Seaters are by Ferm Living, as is the Dapple Dining Table and Dapple Chairs.danish 1970s cabin in northern zealand, vejby, remodeled by studio force majeur 16 Above: The sauna and wood storage (for indoor and outdoor fireplaces) are designed as companions to the log cabin. The planters are Evoke Pots of fiber stone from Ferm Living.

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