My Houzz: A 1960s Danish Bungalow Gets a Fresh Scandi-Asian Update
Despite having no renovating experience, Brit Folke dove right in to transform an uninteresting house into her practical, warm home
It is one thing to get your dream house built. It’s quite another to build it yourself. And yet, despite having hardly any renovating experience, plus a job that had her flying around the world, as well as three sons to take care of, that’s more or less what Brit Folke has managed to do. The Danish single mother-of-three has transformed an uninspiring, poky breeze-block bungalow just outside Copenhagen into her dream home: open-plan, practical, luxurious and decorated with a touch of southeast Asian style. “I like to call the look “Eurasian”, as European expats are called in Asia,” Folke explains. “The design combines all the inspiration I have gathered during my many travels.”
But what makes a single mother with three sons and a full-time job as an air stewardess take on a construction project that would last several years? “When I got divorced,” she explains, “It felt time to create my very own home. I obviously had to make some design compromises because of financial considerations but I’ve created a home that is almost without compromise – and which is very much me,” says Folke. Perhaps serendipitously, she has since met a new man who is a building contractor. Together, they plan to build their new joint dream house. When he first saw Folke’s updated 1960s bungalow, he was full of admiration. Read on to discover why.
But what makes a single mother with three sons and a full-time job as an air stewardess take on a construction project that would last several years? “When I got divorced,” she explains, “It felt time to create my very own home. I obviously had to make some design compromises because of financial considerations but I’ve created a home that is almost without compromise – and which is very much me,” says Folke. Perhaps serendipitously, she has since met a new man who is a building contractor. Together, they plan to build their new joint dream house. When he first saw Folke’s updated 1960s bungalow, he was full of admiration. Read on to discover why.
One of the biggest decisions Folke made was to get rid of the cramped feeling created by having lots of small rooms, so she removed walls to make way for a large, open-plan living room/kitchen. Just off this, and behind a half-wall, is the master bedroom.
Folke was inspired by New York loft style to include concrete flooring, even though it wasn’t particularly fashionable in Denmark at the time. She wanted an industrial edge to contrast with the warm colours, organic materials and Asian furniture and accessories she would be adding to the house when it was finished.
Folke was inspired by New York loft style to include concrete flooring, even though it wasn’t particularly fashionable in Denmark at the time. She wanted an industrial edge to contrast with the warm colours, organic materials and Asian furniture and accessories she would be adding to the house when it was finished.
The construction project was also the start of a new, more creative path in Folke’s work life: the dining chairs are one of her own projects.
The wood and leather chairs, designed with great attention to detail, were made in Bali, where she also sourced the tabletop for the large dining table.
The wood and leather chairs, designed with great attention to detail, were made in Bali, where she also sourced the tabletop for the large dining table.
Good lighting, both natural – from the large windows – and artificial – from lamps over the tables and around the edges of the ceiling – has been a key factor in helping to streamline the cosy, exotic elements of the decor with the clean-lined aesthetic of the architecture. In the main, open-plan space, seen here, these two sides of the design merge seamlessly.
Creating her dream home has taken Folke several years, plenty of ingenuity and tenacity, all of her spare time – and most of her money.
Apart from a few favours from friends, she has had surprisingly little help.
“I’m not the type who asks for it,” she says. “My brother helped in the beginning, but otherwise I’ve pretty much done everything myself, along with my cool, 70-year-old mother. Of course I had to make compromises with a couple of things. But not with the core architectural elements. For instance, I didn’t want an off-the-shelf kitchen – since the house is designed down to the last detail, this would destroy the whole aesthetic. Instead, the kitchen is designed as a piece of furniture,” she says.
Apart from a few favours from friends, she has had surprisingly little help.
“I’m not the type who asks for it,” she says. “My brother helped in the beginning, but otherwise I’ve pretty much done everything myself, along with my cool, 70-year-old mother. Of course I had to make compromises with a couple of things. But not with the core architectural elements. For instance, I didn’t want an off-the-shelf kitchen – since the house is designed down to the last detail, this would destroy the whole aesthetic. Instead, the kitchen is designed as a piece of furniture,” she says.
She chose to spend a lot of her budget on a solid wenge wood kitchen. It is built by Søgaard Møbler as an integrated part of the architecture.
When the basics are so perfect, and many of the accessories are exotic and unique, you can get away with adding in some cheaper furniture. In this context, will look more expensive than it is.
“I couldn’t afford the sofa I wanted, so I chose one from Ikea,” Folke says. “A sofa, textiles, and other accessories are things you can always change later.” Many of the rugs, textiles and furniture were picked up on her travels to places including South Africa and Bali. She even had an entire door brought home from Bali.
“I couldn’t afford the sofa I wanted, so I chose one from Ikea,” Folke says. “A sofa, textiles, and other accessories are things you can always change later.” Many of the rugs, textiles and furniture were picked up on her travels to places including South Africa and Bali. She even had an entire door brought home from Bali.
The fusion of styles is in evidence throughout the house. A low coffee table with solid planks held together by steel bands combines the rustic Scandinavian look with something simple and Asian.
Folke worked hard to get a feeling of spaciousness throughout the previously poky Sixties house. Here, for example, three bedrooms with space-saving sliding doors elegantly punctuate the wide, light hallway, which also contains a small office space. The sparse styling and bamboo lampshades add a dash of Asian style.
Folke devised many practical solutions that not only make clever use of the available space but look great, too.
These minimalist bunk beds are one example, and there are also no wardrobes in the bedrooms. Instead, bespoke storage and cupboards were designed to fit into in a utility room, which also houses the washing machine and dryer.
One of the things Folke’s job as a flight attendant taught her was how to find practical solutions for rooms with limited space.
These minimalist bunk beds are one example, and there are also no wardrobes in the bedrooms. Instead, bespoke storage and cupboards were designed to fit into in a utility room, which also houses the washing machine and dryer.
One of the things Folke’s job as a flight attendant taught her was how to find practical solutions for rooms with limited space.
This small bedroom has a soft, tranquil feel to it, not unlike a beautiful Japanese hotel room – all that’s missing is a rippling water sculpture in a Zen-like garden outside. It is decorated with things from her many travels.
Behind a half-wall on which hangs a beautiful, carved wood Asian artwork is another bedroom.
The semi-open-plan room was a key part of Folke’s vision, and she worked hard for months pulling down walls, removing doors (11 in total) and carrying several tonnes of rubble away in a small trailer.
The semi-open-plan room was a key part of Folke’s vision, and she worked hard for months pulling down walls, removing doors (11 in total) and carrying several tonnes of rubble away in a small trailer.
In the bathroom she wanted a design that was “practical, with clean lines but also a warm touch”. The large, square black tiles extend floor-to-ceiling on the wall of the open shower. This dramatic effect is balanced by the white walls, wicker lamps and wood tables.
Both bathrooms are monochrome; the handles were picked up in Bali and add an Asian design accent.
Although the walls are very dark – a daring decision in the context of usually-pale Nordic design – there’s still plenty of light thanks to the half-walls and large windows.
The decor is inspired by the typically Asian tradition of sitting on the floor, while the Eastern Architecture provides smooth transitions between rooms.
“I hate baseboards, mouldings, and all that kind of stuff. Therefore, I have made the house without any transitions, but with open spaces and sliding doors,” she explains.
See how Scandi style is moving from all-white to colourful
The decor is inspired by the typically Asian tradition of sitting on the floor, while the Eastern Architecture provides smooth transitions between rooms.
“I hate baseboards, mouldings, and all that kind of stuff. Therefore, I have made the house without any transitions, but with open spaces and sliding doors,” she explains.
See how Scandi style is moving from all-white to colourful
BEFORE
There was nothing unusual or exotic about the boxy house. With a flat roof, breeze blocks, and large sliding doors facing the garden, it was simply an unremarkable 1960s bungalow.
There was nothing unusual or exotic about the boxy house. With a flat roof, breeze blocks, and large sliding doors facing the garden, it was simply an unremarkable 1960s bungalow.
AFTER
By painting the woodwork in warm colours and black, and hiding the ugly breeze blocks with render, the house now has the appearance of modern Asian bungalow. The rustic patio with plants provides an exotic atmosphere.
Browse more contemporary exterior photos
By painting the woodwork in warm colours and black, and hiding the ugly breeze blocks with render, the house now has the appearance of modern Asian bungalow. The rustic patio with plants provides an exotic atmosphere.
Browse more contemporary exterior photos
BEFORE
The building had a distinctive, eye-catching wooden beam running underneath the overhang of the flat roof. This has now been partially disguised by the addition of a muted, warm glow from downlights, seen in the images before and after this one, and the hard edges of the house are further softened with a terrace made with ‘tiles’ in walnut wood.
And, of course, Folke put in every tile herself.
The building had a distinctive, eye-catching wooden beam running underneath the overhang of the flat roof. This has now been partially disguised by the addition of a muted, warm glow from downlights, seen in the images before and after this one, and the hard edges of the house are further softened with a terrace made with ‘tiles’ in walnut wood.
And, of course, Folke put in every tile herself.
AFTER
The first thing Folke did was to build a 129.1 square foot annexe, where the family lived for eight months, when the renovation took place. They also lived in a trailer for two months.
“It was really hard, especially because I was also working all the time, too. At times I had to take a bath outdoors, before going to my job and flying to New York or somewhere. But I just kept going and going. And I am very proud of the result.”
TELL US
What do you think of this unusual Danish renovation? Share your thoughts in the Comments below.
The first thing Folke did was to build a 129.1 square foot annexe, where the family lived for eight months, when the renovation took place. They also lived in a trailer for two months.
“It was really hard, especially because I was also working all the time, too. At times I had to take a bath outdoors, before going to my job and flying to New York or somewhere. But I just kept going and going. And I am very proud of the result.”
TELL US
What do you think of this unusual Danish renovation? Share your thoughts in the Comments below.
The house: a 1960s villa in Vallensbæk, near Copenhagen in Denmark. The one-story house is 1776 square feet/165 square metres, the annexe is 129.1 square feet /12 square metres and the outdoor kitchen is 387.5 square feet/36 square metres.
Photographs: Jesper Ray
Late one evening in 2010 Brit Folke sat down to draw her dream house. The ideas flowed and she had a very clear picture of the home she wanted to create. “An architect tried to transform the vision into professional drawings. But he didn’t understand at all what I wanted, so the drawings went straight in the bin,” says Folke of just one of many challenges along the way.
So she decided to do the work herself and later got an engineer friend to correct her own drawings.