When Josephine Reich moved into her Copenhagen apartment two years ago, she made a bold decision. ‘There were so many pastels in Danish homes at that time. Everyone wanted pink, delicate yellow and mint-green schemes, and I wanted to buck the trend,’ she says. Instead, when it came to decorating the space, she took inspiration from the German design school Bauhaus, known for its clean, primary colours.
‘I wanted to go for something completely different. I chose to go all-out with colour on the woodwork and floors, and keep the walls more neutral,’ she says. Throughout the one-bedroom apartment, Josephine has chosen a powder-beige for the walls, punctuated with red, green and blue accents.
‘For me, colours are something you can play around with in a home. Painting is so easy. It’s quick to paint a wall or a room, and it can easily be repainted. I’m never afraid to make a wrong decision,’ she says.
What adds to the striking feel of her home, is the almost sculptural furniture – which is mostly mid-century – and quirky accessories. It’s a place with a curated feel, which is perhaps not surprising, given that Josephine is a homewares designer with her own interiors brand, Jore Copenhagen.
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‘Jore started as a hobby. It began with pillowcases that I designed and made from home and then started to sell. It grew from there,’ she says. Her ceramics, lighting and textiles have a playful yet modern, minimal feel that sits well in her own home. ‘I’m drawn to pieces that have interesting shapes or colours,’ she says.
This is clear from a glance at her homemade office table, made from an old tabletop attached to four cardboard pillar ‘legs’ and a side table made entirely from green wire. ‘My tastes evolve over time,’ she says. ‘I have friends who are architects, and I’m inspired by the clean, modern lines of their homes.’
Mid-century pieces slot seamlessly into her aesthetic, too. ‘I have a mix of modern and vintage furniture,’ she says.
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‘I love vintage pieces and appreciate items with personality. I don’t want it to look like I bought everything on the same day from the same store. In 20th-century furniture, function and design are perfectly aligned. I particularly admire Italian and Danish designers, and find pieces at auctions, on Instagram, and now through my design work at the Copenhagen textile and wallpaper shop, Tapet Cafe.’
The bold scheme of Josephine’s home makes for a jolly backdrop to Christmas decorations. ‘These colours add extra cosiness and warmth to festive touches,’ she says.
She decorates for the season at the end of November, so that the whole of December can be dedicated to Christmas – a time when she spends as much time as possible with friends and family, scheduling in a visit to the famous Tivoli Gardens, and plenty of time for drinking mulled wine at home.
The desk lamp is from Jore Copenhagen. - Christina Kayser O./Living Inside -
Although Josephine doesn’t have a Christmas tree (‘that will come when I get a house one day,’ she says), she goes all-out with candles. ‘I love candles and buy them all year round. I’m especially drawn to quirky ones with stripes, and designs in unusual colours and in different shapes. Candles are the epitome of cosiness for me and I like my home to always feel cosy and personal,’ she says.
Find out more about Jore Copenhagen at jorecopenhagen.com