Nestled on a quiet side street in Copenhagen’s fashionable Vesterbro district, sits the old workshop in which Pernille Holm, stylist and boutique owner, now lives with her husband, Leif Thingtved. Not only is it an unexpected oasis of calm in the heart of the lively hustle and bustle of the city, but it is also the building where the couple first met, 32 years ago.
![Kitchen workshop table](https://c02.purpledshub.com/uploads/sites/42/2024/07/Copenhagen-workshop-kitchen.jpg?fit=683%2C1024&webp=1&w=1200)
Back then, Leif used the space to work on his old English motorcycles, and on her visits Pernille says she would dream about decorating the place if she lived there, never really imagining that it might be possible.
So when the chance to transform the workshop into a home came up, she was already ahead of the game with her plans, and they both agreed that it was important to retain its raw, industrial character. But to make the space work as a home it was necessary to create separate spaces. To do so they used salvaged materials to create several large, glazed room dividers, which feel as if they are original to the building.
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‘I love things that are different. I feel good when I’m surrounded by quirky stuff,’ says Pernille, adding that if decor is too perfect, she feels the need to counteract it in some way. ‘That’s probably also why we have a lot of vintage,’ she says. ‘But things with history also just suit our home really well.’
She also loves the thrill of the chase; what she calls the ‘quest’ to find something special. ‘I’ve often dragged awkward things home with me from our many travels around the world,’ she admits, and on the occasions when she’s found herself unprepared – either without funds or transportation for her finds – the frustration haunts her.
![Lush oasis of the balcony](https://c02.purpledshub.com/uploads/sites/42/2024/07/Copenhagen-workshop-outdoors-dining.jpg?fit=683%2C1024&webp=1&w=1200)
‘We visited a market in Paris many years ago, and I found a huge carpet from the 1920s in dove-blue with a light purple and black pattern. I didn’t have the money to buy it, but I was obsessed,’ she laughs.
It is not only abroad that Pernille hunts for vintage finds. She loves to browse the lots at Bruun Rasmussen Auctioneers, both online and at their base in Lyngby, on the outskirts of Copenhagen, and she often admires the curated glass vases and art at lifestyle store Holly Golightly.
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A favourite source of antiques and vintage pieces is Indenfor & Udenfor, a gallery in the centre of the city that’s open by appointment, where she almost always finds something special. As a seasoned vintage hunter, Pernille recommends being discriminating: ‘Only go for items in really good condition,’ she says. ‘Some of the joy is lost if you buy something that is broken,’ though a little wear and tear adds character: ‘of course, there must be patina,’ she concedes.
Pernille recommends focusing on quality and good craftsmanship, and avoiding passing trends that encourage a throwaway culture; tenets that are clearly evident at the old workshop. ‘I can quickly scan whether something is made of proper materials and whether it is good workmanship. I buy good things with a long life, which equates to sustainability for me.’
![Tranquil corner of the backyard](https://c02.purpledshub.com/uploads/sites/42/2024/07/Copenhagen-workshop-chair-in-backyard.jpg?fit=683%2C1024&webp=1&w=1200)
When it comes to her interiors aesthetic, Pernille doesn’t stick to specific styles or eras, and her home is filled with African handicrafts, vintage rugs, industrial design from the 1930s alongside modern Danish art: ‘I love mixing things up, creating contrast. I find it pleasing if something is a little too big or a little too small, has a wild colour or quirky patterns. I have no rules when I decorate.’
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