Houzz Tours
Houzz Tour: A Stylish Home Flooded With Light
With a tight budget and a small original structure to play with, this couple have created a serene, spacious family home
When renovating their home, architects Mette and Martin Wienberg incorporated quite a few out-of-the-box solutions: a polygonal, oak-boarded living room; a bedroom that’s all white from floor to ceiling, and a small atrium at the centre of the house, which acts as a brilliant source of natural light.
Perhaps even more impactful is the fact that every room was designed with a focused, consistent colour scheme that contrasts with other spaces in the home for a curated feel.
Perhaps even more impactful is the fact that every room was designed with a focused, consistent colour scheme that contrasts with other spaces in the home for a curated feel.
Taking charge of the planning themselves, the couple turned what was once an 860 sq ft (80 sq m) summer cottage into a spacious, 1,960 sq ft (182 sq m) home. At first glance it looks like the kind of property only very few people might be able to afford, but appearances can be deceptive. When Mette and Martin started on the project 10 years ago, keeping to a fairly moderate budget was a priority.
“The construction cost per square foot was low. We were successful in part because we found some materials that weren’t very spectacular or especially nice in themselves, but that worked surprisingly well when they were used in the right way and in larger areas,” Martin says.
“The construction cost per square foot was low. We were successful in part because we found some materials that weren’t very spectacular or especially nice in themselves, but that worked surprisingly well when they were used in the right way and in larger areas,” Martin says.
Well-thought-through lighting design is a huge part of this effect. “That way, there is no need for expensive materials. Light usually plays the most important role, so whether the floor is expensive wood, a cheaper variety or raw concrete becomes less important,” Martin explains.
The ability to prioritise and be selective is also vital. “You don’t need to have expensive materials everywhere. Avoid focusing on every single detail from the start, because if you do, the costs will add up. Think in general terms: what’s the most important thing for each room?”
A mini patio is the focal point of the house. “It’s not really a useful space, just a ‘hole’ in the house, but it lets the sunlight in and ventilates,” Martin says. It was originally an outdoor courtyard formed by three sides of the U-shaped house.
Incredible light pours into the house through this glass-framed well. “The inner patio is the visual centre of the house. It’s see-through, so you get a sense of what’s happening in other parts of the house and, for me, that’s a great quality,” he says.
The ability to prioritise and be selective is also vital. “You don’t need to have expensive materials everywhere. Avoid focusing on every single detail from the start, because if you do, the costs will add up. Think in general terms: what’s the most important thing for each room?”
A mini patio is the focal point of the house. “It’s not really a useful space, just a ‘hole’ in the house, but it lets the sunlight in and ventilates,” Martin says. It was originally an outdoor courtyard formed by three sides of the U-shaped house.
Incredible light pours into the house through this glass-framed well. “The inner patio is the visual centre of the house. It’s see-through, so you get a sense of what’s happening in other parts of the house and, for me, that’s a great quality,” he says.
Here’s a view from the kitchen, in the extension, into the original structure, with the hall to the right and the patio on the left.
Why every home needs this ecofriendly miracle cleaner
Why every home needs this ecofriendly miracle cleaner
The bedroom, with its all-white décor, is on the opposite side of the courtyard from the entrance.
“The bedroom is an interior room with no windows other than the one to the patio. But even though there’s only light from one side, it seems bright and welcoming precisely because it’s all-white,” Martin says.
“Being in such an undisturbed space invites you to be mentally purified before going to sleep. Lying there looking out on the green plants and being in touch with the season and the weather in such an intense way makes me really happy. Sometimes the moonlight illuminates everything through the patio window – it’s absolutely magical.”
The resulting simplicity of the space was also part of the design philosophy. Martin suggests that homeowners “look at the big picture and consider carefully which details are really important. Take advantage of simplicity, aim for surprises with contrasts and remove anything redundant.”
“The bedroom is an interior room with no windows other than the one to the patio. But even though there’s only light from one side, it seems bright and welcoming precisely because it’s all-white,” Martin says.
“Being in such an undisturbed space invites you to be mentally purified before going to sleep. Lying there looking out on the green plants and being in touch with the season and the weather in such an intense way makes me really happy. Sometimes the moonlight illuminates everything through the patio window – it’s absolutely magical.”
The resulting simplicity of the space was also part of the design philosophy. Martin suggests that homeowners “look at the big picture and consider carefully which details are really important. Take advantage of simplicity, aim for surprises with contrasts and remove anything redundant.”
The bedroom’s all-white palette sets the tone for the rest of the house, not through its colour – it’s the only all-white space in the home – but because it demonstrates the consistent approach with which each room is executed.
“It’s one of the central ideas of this house to create [spatial] experiences and transitions that create a kind of tension that shifts you into a different state of mind, depending on which room you’re in,” he says. “The house is completely black on the outside, but everything in the bedroom is white, and when you go from the bedroom into the wood-panelled living room, not only the experience of the space, but the experience of the materials is completely different.”
“It’s one of the central ideas of this house to create [spatial] experiences and transitions that create a kind of tension that shifts you into a different state of mind, depending on which room you’re in,” he says. “The house is completely black on the outside, but everything in the bedroom is white, and when you go from the bedroom into the wood-panelled living room, not only the experience of the space, but the experience of the materials is completely different.”
The bathroom is in the original part of the house.
“The bathroom might look simple, but a lot of work has been put into it. In fact, I think that’s the room we spent the most time planning, because we weren’t really sure how to deal with it best,” Martin says.
The very deep window ledge and its window seat were a particularly successful solution. The couple got the idea when they were making room for a wall-hung toilet to the right of the basin (not pictured).
“Instead of just creating a small, customised solution by bringing part of the wall behind the toilet forward, we chose to bring the whole wall forward, so it makes one clear line. At the same time, this gave us the opportunity to create the deep niche with seating below the window and a built-in niche with a mirror and shelf over the basin. In this way, we didn’t have to install any extra shelves,” he says.
“The bathroom might look simple, but a lot of work has been put into it. In fact, I think that’s the room we spent the most time planning, because we weren’t really sure how to deal with it best,” Martin says.
The very deep window ledge and its window seat were a particularly successful solution. The couple got the idea when they were making room for a wall-hung toilet to the right of the basin (not pictured).
“Instead of just creating a small, customised solution by bringing part of the wall behind the toilet forward, we chose to bring the whole wall forward, so it makes one clear line. At the same time, this gave us the opportunity to create the deep niche with seating below the window and a built-in niche with a mirror and shelf over the basin. In this way, we didn’t have to install any extra shelves,” he says.
The tiles throughout the bathroom are made of a composite material purchased from the Danish hardware store Stark. They aren’t much to look at in themselves, “but because we’ve used them all over the space, they actually look really good,” Martin says. “It’s almost like being inside a block of stone – safe and homogeneous. Lying in the lovely warm water of the bath, relaxing and looking out on all the greenery, it can hardly get any better.”
When you walk down the three steps into the kitchen, contrasts in colour and materials are brought to the forefront.
“The main elements here are the solid concrete floor and the kitchen island,” Martin says.
The materials highlight the general cleanliness and function of the room just as in other parts of the house, though the effect is different here.
“The island is from Ikea, while the steel fronts have simply been glued to some MDF boards and attached to the whole. We think the steel offers some really nice reflections that complement the concrete floor,” he says.
Worktop, customised from bordpladen.dk. Cupboards on the rear wall, Svane Køkkenet.
The materials highlight the general cleanliness and function of the room just as in other parts of the house, though the effect is different here.
“The island is from Ikea, while the steel fronts have simply been glued to some MDF boards and attached to the whole. We think the steel offers some really nice reflections that complement the concrete floor,” he says.
Worktop, customised from bordpladen.dk. Cupboards on the rear wall, Svane Køkkenet.
The couple tried to create a neutral contrast to the island with the white rear wall.
Light is provided by two table lamps, one at either end of the island. “My wife is quite sensitive to light, and I’m not really crazy about pendants or spotlights in a kitchen. They’re OK as work lights, but when you use ordinary lamps as a primary source of light, like here, the atmosphere in the kitchen becomes much cosier,” Martin says.
Lamps, Artemide.
Is it over for kitchen islands?
Light is provided by two table lamps, one at either end of the island. “My wife is quite sensitive to light, and I’m not really crazy about pendants or spotlights in a kitchen. They’re OK as work lights, but when you use ordinary lamps as a primary source of light, like here, the atmosphere in the kitchen becomes much cosier,” Martin says.
Lamps, Artemide.
Is it over for kitchen islands?
Looking at the overall design of the relatively large kitchen-diner, it could be argued the island takes up a disproportionate amount of space, while the dining area is quite small.
Martin explains that this was a conscious choice. “There are never many people eating here on work days, and when we do have a lot of visitors, we set up a longer table in front of the island. So the arrangement of this room is really about how we live our everyday lives, and we like the fact that it’s a little smaller and more intimate than normal, rather than, for example, a long table with eight chairs, which would be the standard solution.”
Martin explains that this was a conscious choice. “There are never many people eating here on work days, and when we do have a lot of visitors, we set up a longer table in front of the island. So the arrangement of this room is really about how we live our everyday lives, and we like the fact that it’s a little smaller and more intimate than normal, rather than, for example, a long table with eight chairs, which would be the standard solution.”
With so many hard materials, such as concrete and steel, acoustics can be a problem. The couple solved this in part by installing curtains that stretch beyond the window frames.
“They hang from the ceiling to the floor and are wide enough to wrap around the whole room. When we have a smaller group, for example on New Year’s Eve, we pull the curtains all the way around, decorate with a bit of light and set a beautiful table. Something happens when you close everything up – you create completely different scenery, almost like a backdrop. The room is more powerful when you can change the atmosphere,” Martin says.
“They hang from the ceiling to the floor and are wide enough to wrap around the whole room. When we have a smaller group, for example on New Year’s Eve, we pull the curtains all the way around, decorate with a bit of light and set a beautiful table. Something happens when you close everything up – you create completely different scenery, almost like a backdrop. The room is more powerful when you can change the atmosphere,” Martin says.
The most spectacular room in the house is undoubtedly the wood-panelled living room in the extension of the kitchen-diner. The consistent, eye-catching materials were once again selected to form a contrast.
“We wanted to create a room that’s different from the others. For example, in contrast to the bedroom, the living room is very outward-facing, not only in extension and height, but also in terms of materials. We used wood to create substance and a natural interaction with the green environment outside,” Martin says.
“We wanted to create a room that’s different from the others. For example, in contrast to the bedroom, the living room is very outward-facing, not only in extension and height, but also in terms of materials. We used wood to create substance and a natural interaction with the green environment outside,” Martin says.
At the start, the couple had considered a lighter wood, such as birch laminate. “But when we had to select the windows, we couldn’t find anything matching in light wood. So we found some wooden frames in oak and then found these boards of laminated MDF, which are actually so standard you can buy them at DIY retailers. When we saw them together with the solid veneered wood we wanted to use for the windows, we immediately saw how well they matched,” he says.
The décor and furnishing in the multi-faceted, asymmetric living room were carefully designed to echo and enhance its functionality.
“It’s been organised and furnished in such a way that people are forced to sit together. If the walls had been parallel, people would be sitting directly in front of each other, but this way they sit in a group. This automatically makes the atmosphere more informal, which was a conscious choice,” Martin says.
“It’s been organised and furnished in such a way that people are forced to sit together. If the walls had been parallel, people would be sitting directly in front of each other, but this way they sit in a group. This automatically makes the atmosphere more informal, which was a conscious choice,” Martin says.
The built-in ‘floating’ sofa bench that encircles almost the room invites both children and adults to be social.
“We often see that when children come into the room, they run all the way around the bench, while adult guests quite naturally feel like lying on it,” Martin says. “It’s super-cool to have a room where guests feel that the space allows them to lie down just because they want to – and when guests are lying down, everything is informal from the start.”
The custom-made sofa bench has storage space underneath the seats. Its large cushions were made to order.
“We often see that when children come into the room, they run all the way around the bench, while adult guests quite naturally feel like lying on it,” Martin says. “It’s super-cool to have a room where guests feel that the space allows them to lie down just because they want to – and when guests are lying down, everything is informal from the start.”
The custom-made sofa bench has storage space underneath the seats. Its large cushions were made to order.
The warm living room offers contrasting views into both the bedroom and kitchen-diner.
The living room’s wood panelling continues up to the second-floor office.
The floors on the second storey are also oak. “Because we used oak so consistently, the surfaces have become one in a way that produces a very tranquil effect,” Martin says.
There’s remarkably little artwork and decoration on the walls in Mette and Martin’s home. The wooden walls are decorative in themselves, so this was partially a deliberate choice, but not entirely.
“I think we both thought that we’d just [put the pictures up] when we got to it. But when you see this room, it’s really difficult to bring yourself to put nails into the wall. All in all, there are many expressive items that I think fit well with the space, such as the pink chair and the lights,” Martin says.
He points out that the large and well-placed windows act like live artworks to a great extent.
Armchair, Hay.
“I think we both thought that we’d just [put the pictures up] when we got to it. But when you see this room, it’s really difficult to bring yourself to put nails into the wall. All in all, there are many expressive items that I think fit well with the space, such as the pink chair and the lights,” Martin says.
He points out that the large and well-placed windows act like live artworks to a great extent.
Armchair, Hay.
Martin says that the aesthetics of two countries in particular have had a huge effect on the design of the home.
“We’ve travelled quite a lot in Japan, and have lived in Finland. It’s probably primarily the Japanese houses that have inspired us. They’re the source of the consistency we’ve tried to introduce into the rooms, and they often have wooden décor,” he says.
“We’ve travelled quite a lot in Japan, and have lived in Finland. It’s probably primarily the Japanese houses that have inspired us. They’re the source of the consistency we’ve tried to introduce into the rooms, and they often have wooden décor,” he says.
The original summer cottage only had one level. “But when we saw the house and realised we’d be allowed to build another floor, we went up on the roof and discovered we could see to the horizon on all sides and that the view is very green,” Martin says.
This was part of what convinced the couple to buy the house and build an extra floor with a large terrace, making full use of the maximum permissible structural height of 8.5m.
“Not many people know that we have a rooftop terrace, because it’s not visible from outside and is furnished with low chairs. Moreover, it’s sheltered and you see no houses from there, only trees. So it’s easy to imagine that you’re all alone in the middle of the forest. It’s absolutely amazing,” he says.
This was part of what convinced the couple to buy the house and build an extra floor with a large terrace, making full use of the maximum permissible structural height of 8.5m.
“Not many people know that we have a rooftop terrace, because it’s not visible from outside and is furnished with low chairs. Moreover, it’s sheltered and you see no houses from there, only trees. So it’s easy to imagine that you’re all alone in the middle of the forest. It’s absolutely amazing,” he says.
The exterior maintains the themes of simplicity and contrast. “The original house was also covered with black wood on the outside, but it needed a loving hand, which is why all the black wood was replaced. We also covered the extension with pine, painted black. You could say that the original character of the black, wooden cottage in the middle of the greenery has been preserved,” he says.
It might seem strange to create a home that’s so full of contrasts. However, Martin believes a lot of other people could benefit from thinking outside of the (white) box when they build and renovate.
“If I could give some good advice to people, I would tell them to rely on their own feelings of what is right instead of thinking, ‘It has to be completely white, or we won’t be able to resell it.’ If you trust that it’s OK to make it more personal, then I’m sure you’ll create a house with greater value overall,” he says. “So have the courage to believe that what you feel and think is right, instead of sticking to what is standard.’
Tell us…
What do you think of this Danish home? Share your thoughts in the Comments section.
“If I could give some good advice to people, I would tell them to rely on their own feelings of what is right instead of thinking, ‘It has to be completely white, or we won’t be able to resell it.’ If you trust that it’s OK to make it more personal, then I’m sure you’ll create a house with greater value overall,” he says. “So have the courage to believe that what you feel and think is right, instead of sticking to what is standard.’
Tell us…
What do you think of this Danish home? Share your thoughts in the Comments section.
Who lives here Mette, who has her own business, Wienberg Architects, and Martin Wienberg, who works for Friis & Moltke architects, plus their 10-year-old son, Oscar
Location A residential area in Højbjerg, Aarhus, Denmark
Size About 1,960 sq ft (182 sq m)
Date built and renovated Built in 1942; the couple bought the house 10 years ago and started the renovation and expansion shortly afterwards
Photos by Mia Mortensen