"And then I came along and invaded his space," Kathrine recalls with a smile, looking back at the professional introduction that eventually blossomed into a lasting partnership, both in business and in life.
Over time, as they worked side by side, the pair discovered a profound alignment in their personal values, aesthetics, and professional ambitions. Chief among these shared passions was a deep, abiding love for mid-century modern furniture design. That mutual appreciation is what has anchored them to the brand for years. House of Finn Juhl holds the exclusive rights to reissue the iconic, sculptural furniture pieces originally created by the legendary Danish architect and designer Finn Juhl. Today, Christian and Kathrine occupy top leadership roles as partners within the company, with Christian serving as Chief Sales Officer and Kathrine as Chief Brand Officer.
"On many days, we are together almost 24 hours a day, but fortunately, most of the time, that works very well for us," Kathrine notes, reflecting on the unique dynamic of running both a household and international careers together.
Discovering a Historic Haven in Humleby
While butterflies may not have fluttered at the start of their romance, Christian and Kathrine experienced instant infatuation three years ago when they stumbled upon a real estate listing for a circa-1895 house in Copenhagen’s historic Humleby neighborhood. Built during a distinct era of urban development, the charming property had once been sliced up into multiple independent apartments spread across three separate floors. However, the previous owners had thoughtfully restored and reconfigured the structure into a cohesive, 1,400-square-foot, single-family home.
This sensitive prior renovation allowed Christian and Kathrine to step in effortlessly and begin making the space their own through gradual, personal touches. One of their very first design interventions was painting the central architectural staircase a striking, deep reddish brown, establishing a warm and tactile anchor for the home’s vertical core. Beyond the physical walls, the couple was instantly captivated by the neighborhood’s unique sense of community.
"We hoped for children playing in the streets and a real relationship with our neighbors, and that is exactly what we found," Christian shares. Within just a few months of moving in, their now-six-year-old son, Henry, was already knocking on neighboring doors to invite new friends out to play in the quiet, pedestrian-friendly lanes.
A Layered International Mix of Art and Music
Over the years, the couple’s living spaces have evolved into a carefully curated international tapestry. The interior effortlessly bridges iconic Danish design—such as a beloved, sculptural Chieftain Chair designed by Finn Juhl—with a dark brown De Sede sofa, custom-built occasional tables crafted by Christian’s own hands, and, most recently, expressive works by contemporary Korean artist Kim Hyejung.
"We probably share an attraction to things that feel special and aren’t immediately recognizable or easily replaceable," Kathrine explains, describing their shared collector’s ethos.
While museum-quality modernist furniture anchors the physical layout, music provides the home’s auditory backdrop. Christian’s expansive vinyl record collection has steadily outgrown its designated living room cabinet, spilling over into large, rustic wooden storage boxes nearby.
"At the moment, we’re listening to Kurt Vile, and P6"—a specialized Danish radio station—"is always on when we’re not playing vinyl," adds Kathrine.
Daily Life in the Heart of the Home
For the family, the open-plan main living space serves as the vibrant epicenter of daily activity. "This room is where we spend most of our waking hours," Kathrine says. "Playing with LEGOs on the floor, making food in the kitchen, drinking coffee in the lounge area. It’s just the space where everything is going on at once."
At the center of this active family life sits the Chieftain Chair, a masterpiece of mid-century Scandinavian design that holds immense personal significance for Christian. Today, he maintains that it is the single piece in their extensive collection that he would never part with.
"It’s a substantial piece that invites you to lean back and relax," Christian says. "For me, it’s the place to enjoy a cup of coffee, while our son Henry loves climbing all over it. The insides of the armrests are reinforced with metal, so it’s incredibly sturdy and can easily handle a six-year-old treating it like a climbing frame."
When it comes to sourcing furnishings, the couple rarely relies on traditional Copenhagen vintage storefronts, preferring instead the digital hunt. "We probably enjoy the thrill of finding a good deal on online marketplaces too much," Kathrine admits. For those seeking beautifully curated vintage pieces in the city, however, the couple readily points enthusiasts toward specialized local dealers such as Dansk Form, BBBigum, and Særligt Samlet.
Thoughtful Updates and Unexpected Textures
Rather than undertaking a massive, disruptive overhaul, Christian and Kathrine approached their home as an ongoing exercise in adding warmth, texture, and distinct personality. Throughout the residence, they have introduced custom built-in cabinetry, detailed wall paneling, and tailored bathroom fixtures.
One of the more sculptural and unconventional elements in the home is a freestanding ceramic sink located in the bathroom. Designed and cast by a small independent artist in Athens, the couple discovered the piece online via Etsy.
"We liked the idea of introducing something handmade and unexpected into the house rather than choosing a conventional bathroom unit," Christian explains.
This philosophy of unexpected juxtaposition extends to the dining area and kitchen, where a large, expressive artwork by Gudrun Hasle—sourced via Galleri Tom Christoffersen—has followed the couple through successive apartments. Though the piece is arguably oversized for what was originally a modest nineteenth-century worker’s cottage, its bold scale feels entirely correct to its owners.
"We like playing with scale," Kathrine notes. "We might place a huge artwork next to a microscopic object rather than trying to create a perfectly balanced composition."
Surrounding the dining table are vintage steel chairs designed by Henning Larsen. The couple appreciates how the industrial metal brings a contrasting material language into a home where Finn Juhl’s organic wooden designs otherwise exert a powerful presence. Overhead and throughout the rooms, window treatments featuring Sahco curtains offer varying qualities of lace, pattern, weight, and texture, subtly softening the light and binding the furniture and art into a harmonious whole.
Emotional Connections to Design
While Christian and Kathrine work daily with Finn Juhl’s historic catalogue, new additions to their personal home are driven strictly by emotional resonance rather than domestic necessity.
"We tend to add Finn Juhl pieces when we have a real emotional response to them rather than because we need another piece of furniture," Christian observes. "We already have enough furniture for an entire boarding school!"
A prime example is the iconic Pelican Chair. Initially, it was not love at first sight for the couple, but years of professional familiarity eventually transformed the unusual lounge chair into a household companion. The turning point arrived when they encountered animal-inspired textiles by Sahco. Imagining the sculptural seat in a radically different upholstery version finally inspired them to bring it home.
Nearby, a collection of vintage ceramic bowls by Grethe Meyer for Royal Copenhagen sits displayed on open wooden shelving. Far from being treated as untouchable museum artifacts, these pieces are actively integrated into daily domestic routines, frequently put to work in the kitchen for cooking and baking.
"We like living with furniture long enough for it to become part of our lives rather than treating it as something precious that shouldn’t be touched," Kathrine says. "There needs to be room for a child to swing next to a collection of ceramics, and greasy little fingerprints on natural leather simply become part of its patina."
Personal Sanctuaries and Dedicated Creative Spaces
Upstairs, the home transitions into quieter, more intimate zones. The primary bedroom has been deliberately styled to evoke the serene, polished ambiance of a boutique hotel, complete with a minimalist artwork above the headboard by Mathias Malling Mortensen and tactile bedding from Magniberg.
In the combined guest room and home office, a classic Finn Juhl Panel System houses a carefully curated assortment of travel mementos. Among them are small objects collected in Mexico, including a tiny marble ball nestled inside a stone sculpture and a black incense burner discovered at a studio in Mérida. The marble piece, originally part of the studio’s permanent display rather than active inventory, only found its way to Copenhagen after the couple repeatedly returned to plead their case.
Further reflecting their personal lives, a dedicated workspace features a custom desk built by Christian and paired with minimalist leather desk chairs by Poul Kjærholm. Resting on the surface is a heavy bronze tape dispenser designed by Mats Theselius, given to Kathrine as a gift by her husband.
To Kathrine, the small, dense object carries a profound personal meaning. "It is a small, very heavy object, and to me, it says that Christian sees me," she reflects. "The desk and the tape dispenser are small symbols of the fact that he understands my desire to make things—to have a creative practice of my own alongside the creativity I am fortunate to experience through my work at House of Finn Juhl."
