Photographer Michael Falgren Sertdemir takes design enthusiasts on a tour of his minimalist and dynamic home, a former restaurant in central Copenhagen. The walls remain raw, the floors carry the scent of jasmine, and the rooms are defined by delicate curtains, warm oak furniture, and sculptural steel details. The sparse décor reflects Michael's need for calm surroundings, where he can retreat and simply be.
'I was drawn to the story and energy of the apartment. My father came to Denmark as a guest worker from Turkey. He's a Kurdish Turk, and it was in these premises that he opened Denmark's first Turkish restaurant, Restaurant Istanbul. Now, I've bought the place and turned it into my home. I've transformed the apartment into a large open space, replacing the old doors with wall sections, and now the rooms are divided by curtains. This creates a dynamic flow throughout the apartment. I chose a sisal carpet for the floor, which massages your feet and has a jasmine scent. The large open space serves as a music room, workspace, and bedroom, with the area around the bed made more private by the airy curtains. I've decorated the room with books and ceramics from around the world, as well as scented stones. I love stones.'
'I prefer the imperfect. In my world, there's nothing beautiful about perfection. Only the imperfect can be beautiful. That's why I stopped the renovation process before the walls were fully limewashed. The walls have a lot of texture, and the play of light they create is, in my opinion, incredibly beautiful. I generally love working with light. Light is my biggest inspiration. No matter how beautiful something is, it means nothing without the right light.
'To me, a home should foster creativity. I need to be able to relax and use everything without fear of something breaking. I like signs of use because they tell a story. They add character and say something about the people who live here. Furniture should be used, and my children are welcome to play on it. Of course, they should take care of things, but it's important to me that we can live and be here without worrying about material objects.
My home reflects who I am as a photographer and a person. I love working from home, and I use it as visual inspiration. My style is minimalist, and I live simply. I'm very perceptive of my surroundings and get easily overstimulated if there are too many things around. I love photographing homes filled with layers and objects for Apartamento magazine, but I can't create that myself. Personally, I need to live in a calm environment without too many things. For example, I never watch TV but spend my time working, thinking, reading, or just being. I want my home to inspire me, and I like it to reflect what's going on in my mind.'
More information:
Kristina Dam Studio
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https://kristinadam.dk