This bright kitchen belongs to two leaders of the style pack in Denmark: Frederik Bille Brahe is the chef-owner of Atelier September, the now-departed Apollo Bar and Kantine, and the brand-new Daphne, all of which we adore. Caroline Brasch Nielsen (who also goes by Bille Brahe) is one of the world’s leading fashion models and has her own clothing line, Caro Editions. Their wedding was chronicled in American Vogue—Helena Christensen was a bridesmaid—and the couple now have two young kids.
They live with an easy flair, as evidenced by every inch of their quarters on the top floor of a 17th-century house in the heart of Copenhagen. Come have a look at their center of action.
Photography courtesy of Reform.
Above: The couple describe the kitchen as “Donald Judd meets Ellsworth Kelly—living in a
centuries-old house made us hunger for something contemporary and efficient.” The cabinets are composed of Ikea components fronted with vibrant doors from Reform’s Match design by Muller Van Severen.
The white porcelain wall fixtures with half-chrome bulbs are from THPG of Germany.
Above: The countertop is stainless steel and the matte brass faucet is the Fusion design from Quooker.
The cabinet doors are composed of HDPE (high density polyethylene) and come in six colors that can be mixed and matched as desired. Reform is based in Denmark and has showrooms in Brooklyn and LA, among other places. The company specializes in offering upgrades for Ikea cabinets, but also makes its own cabinet line.
Above: In addition to cooking just about all of the family’s meals here, Bille Brahe experiments with recipes. The juicer is the Frieling Citrus Press. The Japanese-designed SANAA Armless Chair with rabbit ears is available from Maruni.
Above: Like most chefs, Bille Brahe likes to keep tools and everyday dishes within easy reach.
Above: The metal open shelves are much like Vitsoe’s 606 Universal Shelving System.
Above: The apartment’s exposed beams are original. The cooktop is an induction model with an integrated vent from Gaggenau. The dishwasher is situated to the left of the sink, behind the peach-colored cabinet.
Above: A serving idea worth borrowing.
Above: The dining chairs are Børge Mogensen’s J39 design, which has been in continuous production since 1947. “We wanted the kitchen to be practical and functional for everyday use,” the couple say, noting that they kept the space open “so our kids can dance and play here, and naturally
become a part of the cooking.”
Above: The upholstered bench is akin to the Danish classic PK80 Daybed by Poul Kjærholm.
Above: “For Fred, the kitchen is his office,” says Brasch Nielsen. “He uses it for making recipes and sometimes working on the computer. It’s also a nice spot to have a drink when we have guests.” The hanging light is a vintage PH Snowball Kontrast Pendant Lamp by Louis Poulsen.
Above: The room has a courtyard view and golden light. Go to @frederikbillebrahe and @caroline_brasch to catch glimpses of the kitchen being lived in.
Here are three more kitchens with Reform’s cabinet doors:
- Kitchen of the Week: Base Cabinets by Ikea, Chic and Colorful Doors by Reform
- A Line of Ikea Cabinets Made with Dinesen Wood
- A Japanese- Style Upgrade for Ikea Kitchens
N.B.: This story originally ran on September 8, 2022 and has been updated with new information.