Home tour | A calm and considered London apartment

The beautiful apartment featured in today’s home tour belongs to Christina Thaisen, the founder of online interiors shop NABO.

Originally from Copenhagen but now living in London, Christina is a big believer in sourcing meaningful, functional and long-lasting design, rather than following throwaway trends. It’s an admirable ethos which carries through her business and her home – a minimalist yet characterful space with a wonderful blend of old and new, including treasured family heirlooms and timeless mid-century design. She also has a fantastic eye when it comes to colour, balancing moody shades of teal and forest green with airy white and grey.

I chatted to her to find out more about her interiors style and where she finds inspiration…

In Christina’s living area, crisp white walls and kitchen units are offset by swathes of dark teal and forest green, creating cosy corners in the open-plan space. The striking print above the sofa is Anne Nowak’s ‘Hazy Pink’, sold at NABO. 

Please can you tell us a bit about yourself?

“I was born and bred in Copenhagen but I’ve been living in London for five years this summer. I’ve always been interested in interior design and art, which led me to study an MA in Art & Visual Culture and later to open NABO.”

Where’s home?

“Home is a two-bedroom apartment in a warehouse conversion in Bermondsey, where I live with my boyfriend and our two-year-old son. I love living in Bermondsey: there are independent shops, great restaurants, cosy coffee shops and lots of different markets – basically everything you need! Our area has a local feel to it, which makes it really homely.

“I still call Copenhagen home too, though. I’ve spent so much time there and the city, its people and its way of life are an integral part of who I am.”

How would you describe your interiors style?

“Well, everyone who visits us says we live in a very Scandinavian way (no surprise, really!). I like mixing sharp design with ‘softer’ handmade objects, as well as combining old and new furniture and lighting. I also like to add warmth and personality through the charm and imperfections there are in things like hand-crafted ceramics, and I think they go really well with the clean lines that I’m naturally drawn to. I like colour, but I prefer sticking to a muted palette in my own home as it creates a calm and relaxing space for everyone.”

The master bedroom and bathroom are soothing white sanctuaries with lots of handy built-in shelving. The pastel-coloured linens, Hein Studio art print and many of the ceramics are from NABO. 

Where do you find inspiration for your home?

“I find inspiration in art and photography, on our travels, and in books and various magazines. My favourite magazines at the moment are Apartamento, Monocle and Kinfolk.”

What’s your favourite part of the apartment and why?

“Our dining area is my absolute favourite part of our home. All the best moments during the day are spent here: it’s where we have our morning coffee (which we cherish), where I draw with my son and where I catch up on work. I also very much like the look of it – the colour palette and the furniture we’ve chosen. We’re always trying to be mindful when buying new furniture, so when we couldn’t find the dining table of our dreams we bought one that we knew we’d want to keep as a desk once we replaced it with something else. I kind of like that approach.”

The dining table is flanked by a selection of iconic mid-century chairs, including the ‘Ant’ and ‘Series 7’ by Arne Jacobsen and the ‘DSW’ chair by Charles and Ray Eames. A wall-hung sideboard adds useful storage. 

And your favourite piece of furniture?

“It has to be a 1960s daybed which came from my grandmother’s home. The piece itself is teak and very minimalist – it’s something we’ll keep forever, I’m sure – but I’ve added a blue seat cushion to make it a little more unusual.

“In fact I love heirlooms in general. As well as the daybed we have lamps, dining chairs and a coffee table from our grandparents on both sides, and I love the personality that things which have been in the family for generations give to a space. Whenever I buy something new for our home, I ask myself if it’s something I would want to pass on to my children.”

Christina’s grandmother’s teak daybed fits perfectly into the corner of the living area, providing a comfortable spot for reading and relaxation. 

Where else do you like to source items for your home – any favourite brands or shops?

“It’s a little cheeky to say NABO, isn’t it? Hah! Anyway, I love newer brands like Please Wait To Be Seated and Matias Moellenbach, and work by graphic-design studio All The Way to Paris. When I’m in Copenhagen I love to visit the File Under Pop showroom and independent shops like Dansk Made For Rooms and Stilleben.”

Do you have any future plans for your home?

“I always have a lot of things that I’d like to do and next on the list is my son’s room. We’ve used it as a guest room up until this point, so now that the big guest bed is gone I’d like to rearrange the furniture, get him a new bed, paint a wall or two and really make it his room.”

Christina’s son’s room is bright and airy, with plenty of space for play and creativity. The cute little chair is the ‘Mouse’ design by Nofred.

Finally, what’s your top interior-design tip?

“Focus on craftsmanship and detail when you add something new to your home. Things that are made to last may be a little pricier upfront, but they’re an investment in the long run.”

Wise words to end on! Thanks Christina.

Head over to NABO to browse its wonderful range of lighting, furniture, textiles, ceramics, art and stationery. There’s also a journal where you’ll find decorating advice, interviews with designers, Christina’s Copenhagen tips and more.

All photography via Christina Thaisen