All is calm

The owner of this chic apartment decorates for Christmas with a traditional yet minimalist aesthetic in mind

- Eva-Marie Wilken

One of the pleasures of Christmas is the chance to revisit the past, retelling old family stories, sharing memories of people and times long ago, and digging out all those festive ornaments you’d almost forgotten about, some of them years, perhaps even generations, old.

This sense of the past meeting the present is something Pernille Baastrup Jakobsen loves to express in her home each Christmas. At this time of year, you’ll find her 96-square-meter apartment in Copenhagen softly scented with a mixture of aromas, from aniseed to orange, and the airy, white rooms carefully dressed with just a few simple, modern ornaments. However, Pernille has a way of integrating traditional Christmas decorations into her decor that feels both timeless and contemporary.

“Christmas, to me, has always been connected to traditions,” Pernille says. “I spend Christmas in my parents’ home, with my two brothers, in a small village in Jutland, and it’s a completely family-orientated occasion.

“We all gather before the 23rd of December, when we celebrate my brother’s birthday. The house is full of people and it’s quite informal.

It’s a great time to see old friends and catch up with lots of family members.”

In contrast to her parents’ home, Pernille’s festive style is very simple: just candles and a few decorations throughout. However, a real Christmas tree is absolutely essential, complete with beautiful old decorations inherited from her grandmother.

“I love using my grandmother’s things as they can beautifully complement my own, much simpler decorations,” says Pernille, who favours a clean, minimalist aesthetic.