No.2
Cathrine and Anders de Lichtenberg’s flat features vibrant designs that complement cheery Christmas decorations
FEATURE EVA MARIE WILKEN/LISA FAZZANI
HOME TRUTHS
THE PROPERTY A flat conversion in a 1890s villa
R O O M S Sitting room, dining room, kitchen, two bedrooms, bathroom
L O C AT I O N Copenhagen, Denmark
SITTING ROOM
‘I’ve been inspired to play more with colours since living abroad,’ says Cathrine. Leather sling chair, Where Saints Go, has this look
HALLWAY
Painting the ceiling the same colour as the floor creates a warmer feel. Large round mirror, Dunelm, has this look. Benuta sells similar rugs
Returning to Denmark having been in Africa for several years, Cathrine and Anders de Lichtenberg were looking forward to setting up home permanently. ‘We’d been living out of a suitcase for years,’ says Cathrine, ‘so it was great to finally make plans for a home of our own. When I found this apartment – even before I showed it to Anders – I sat down with an architect and came up with a plan for what we could do, so I could then convince Anders that it was the place for us. We both loved the lovely old marble window sills, stucco work, panelling and parquet flooring.’
TURNING THE FLAT INSIDE OUT
‘It was a huge project. We basically turned the house inside out, so that the kitchen became the bathroom and the sitting rooms became the kitchen and bedroom. In addition, all the windows had to be replaced and the bay window in the sitting room completely rebuilt as the old iron support work had worn away, leaving it in danger of breaking. It was the subject of many discussions during the renovation!’ says Cathrine. ‘For eight months we lived without windows with just a temporary wall protecting us from the cold. It was worth it though as the bay is now a lovely focal point and the windows look absolutely beautiful with long curtains.’
TAKING INSPIRATION FROM TRAVELS
When it came to the decor, Cathrine was inspired by her time abroad. ‘The Angolans like bold decoration with lots of metal and bling, while in South Africa, it’s more about the pleasure of craft and colour. It’s definitely made an im
