Home tour | Rustic minimalism on the Danish coast

If I was asked to describe my dream home, the house I’m sharing today would pretty much be it. The latest project from Norm Architects, it’s minimalist yet full of warmth and character – a place where neutral colours, natural materials and a deep respect for the architectural and historical context come together to form a soulful, harmonious haven.

Hidden among the towering pines of Denmark’s North Zealand, a short walk from the sea, the property is known as No. 16 and was built in 1934 as an annex to the neighbouring guesthouse. The building reflects the transitional style of the era, with Italian-inspired Neoclassical references alongside unpretentious Danish coastal charm. It’s a mix the Norm team sought to celebrate during their sensitive and considered renovation, drawing on Scandinavian and Japanese influences to create pared-back interiors that allow the architecture and materials to speak for themselves. 

A sense of refined rusticity now runs throughout the house. The pine floors have been sanded back and treated with lye and soap, while the original doors – complete with their 1930s brass and dark-oak handles – have been restored and refitted. Many of the ceiling roses and plaster details were missing and had to be replaced, but were crafted to look as if they have always belonged and lend a timeless elegance to the rooms.

Layered into this framework are tactile wood, stone and linen, which forge an ongoing connection with the surrounding landscape. The colour palette also blurs the lines between inside and out, further grounding the house in its beautiful natural setting. Carefully chosen to respond to the shifting daylight and changing seasons, the muted tones are proof that subtlety can be just as powerful as bold hues. The use of lime-wash paint from St. Leo adds depth and texture to the walls and ceilings, transforming them into canvasses for dancing sun rays and shadows.

The dining room sits at the front of the house and was designed with slow meals and long conversations in mind. Despite its lofty proportions and grand bay window, the mood is relaxed and intimate thanks to a curated mix of old and new pieces. The gnarled wooden table is flanked by simple, Shaker-inspired ‘F’ chairs from iconic Danish brand Brdr. Krüger, with vintage finds and hand-woven wall hangings on display behind. A large conical paper pendant lamp from Karimoku Case – Norm Architects’ joint venture with Tokyo studio Keiji Ashizawa and Japanese manufacturer Karimoku – makes a statement without overwhelming the space. 

Linked to the dining room by double doors, the living room is anchored by a newly built Swedish tiled stove with brass detailing – a sculptural yet functional focal point. Here, the furniture strikes a deliberate balance between the raw and the soft. A tree-trunk-like side table and an old Chinese door repurposed as a coffee table contrast gently with a wonderfully squishy, rounded ‘Soffia’ sofa, designed by Norm Architects for Italian company Lema. A deep-pile Linie Design rug and more wall hangings provide further layers of cosy texture. 

Another set of double doors lead from the living room to the kitchen, where handmade tongue-and-groove panelling, Shaker-style rails and a freestanding wooden island unit give a traditional farmhouse feel. The worktops are made from Italian limestone, with a brush-hammered finish to enhance their tactility and durability. Open shelves and bespoke cabinets provide a mix of storage and display space, much of which is used to showcase a collection of nature-inspired clay tableware. Originally developed in collaboration with Copenhagen-based Ancher Studio specifically for the house, it’s now in general production and features lightly speckled glazes that recall the local sand and stone. 

The ground floor also encompasses a calm, cosy snug. The ceiling and the upper half of the walls are painted in the same shade to create a cocoon-like atmosphere, with lighter-toned panels on the bottom half for quiet contrast. A pair of Dux shearling chairs and a loose-cover ‘Offset’ sofa from Audo Copenhagen (another Norm Architects creation) add to the feel of laid-back ease. 

Up a sweeping staircase, the first floor has six bedrooms linked by a landing clad in the same tongue-and-groove panelling as the kitchen. Each has been kept purposefully simple, with understated ceramic pendant lamps, plain linen bedspreads and occasional artwork. Instead of curtains the windows are dressed with handcrafted Italian-style shutters in keeping with the building’s rural location and Neoclassical roots. 

Also on the first floor is the main bathroom. This has been completely reconfigured to form a spacious and serene retreat, its clean lines softened by a series of architectural arches that create a sense of rhythm and flow. Kronos Ceramiche ‘Block’ floor tiles, sawn-oak shelving, stone plinths and an old French trough repurposed as a washbasin add rustic texture to the space. 

Another spa-like retreat with a spectacular open shower sits in the basement. It’s accessed by steps carved from solid oak blocks at a local sawmill, the timber left untreated so that it will slowly crack and patinate over time. The walls and ceilings are finished with a breathable lime glue – a material typically used only as a base layer but here left exposed to showcase its raw beauty. Also on display are the original pine beams, whose worn character is echoed in the low Japanese-style benches and wooden pedestals dotted around the space. 

Completing the renovation is a standalone garden studio, once a stable for horses and now transformed into a versatile venue for photography shoots, exhibitions, talks and gatherings. At its centre is a bespoke 6m-long table crafted from Douglas fir planks, which can serve as both a low display surface or a high dining table. The floor is covered with large Italian tiles, and the pine beams were sourced from an architectural salvage yard to match those inside the house. 

Photography by Jonas Bjerre-Poulsen of Norm Architects

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