The Artful Summer Home of Annika Semler
Annika Semler is a ceramic artist working in Copenhagen. Her work is represented at contemporary ceramic art galleries in Europe and the United States. Annika is also the sister of VERDEN founder, Charlotte Semler…
Where is your summer home, and what drew you to this location?
My summer home is in the north eastern part of Denmark, just a short distance from the village called Hornbæk, which is on the sea, facing Sweden.
As it is an old fashioned, wooden summerhouse without heating or wifi we close it down completely for winter. We open up the house and start our summer season at the end of April - depending on what the weather is doing.
How does the design of your summer home differ from your main residence?
I love the low key atmosphere of the house. It makes me feel grounded because it’s super-basic and we can only use it in summer. The way I’ve designed and styled the space reflects this: most items in the house are hand-me-downs or bought second hand. I love a fleamarket and the summerhouse is my treasure trove of finds. The objects in the house are not at all colour coordinated, they are a mix of different cups and plates, stripes and flower printed textiles, ceramics and second hand furniture. To my eye, they match what I see when I look out of the windows at our wild cottage garden.
My everyday life - and my ceramics studio - are in the heart of Copenhagen: a spacious flat with high spec, contemporary interiors. My summerhouse is half the size and has a casual, laid-back vibe that I love as a contrast to my normal home. My art draws inspiration from nature and my summer retreat reconnects me with the natural world. The recharge I get from summer in the country feeds my creativity through the dark Danish winter in the city.
What scents remind you of summer, and how do you incorporate them into your home?
The environment around my summerhouse is fragrant with wild roses, pines and sea air. I love how VERDEN captures the joy I get from natural fragrance in the wild. My favourite VERDEN fragrance is Arborealist because it echoes the scents of my summer.
What’s your favourite room or outdoor space, and how do you love to spend time there?
My favourite outdoor space is the wooden terrace which gets the afternoon sun, nestled between the small house and the even smaller annex. It has a great view of the nordic pines in the distance.
Is there a particular piece of furniture or décor item that embodies summer for you?
My favourite furniture is the big round outdoor table with benches and a large canvas parasol. This table takes up most of the morning terrace by the kitchen and feels like an extension of the kitchen.
What’s your ideal summer gathering at home - who’s there, what’s on the table, and what’s in the air?
In Copenhagen I am surrounded by my children, all grown up but all living in the streets just around me. So in the summerhouse I enjoy spending evenings with friends as a lot of them are close by. The area is full of farm shops and fresh fish can be bought on the pier in Hornbæk harbour. I love to entertain with a beautifully presented meal of local fish, summer salads and strawberries.
Find Annika:
https://www.instagram.com/annikasemler/
