Chef, author and food consultant Mikkel Karstad and his wife Camilla Karstad have made a home in Copenhagen's Østerbro district that feels both lived-in and carefully considered. It's full of books and art, and it's a place for long conversations and time spent together.
They have shaped this home over the years with their four children. At the centre of the living area is the Outline Sofa 3-Seater in Hallingdal 350. It gives family life a calm anchor. It's a place for quiet reflection and for time together, much of which revolves around food and food culture.
Tell us more about your home. How long have you lived here?
Mikkel: We've lived in this flat for about twelve years. It's actually in the same neighbourhood Camilla and I moved to when we first got together. As our family grew, we moved to a bigger flat in the same building. It used to be two smaller flats, which we knocked into one. That gave us a large kitchen and an open-plan living area, plus extra bedrooms for the children. A lot has changed since we moved in, and it's still changing. A bookcase that used to be green is now red. We swap artworks around and repaint walls … The flat keeps evolving with us.
Camilla: Three of our four children live here with us. One has already moved out, but our youngest and our two other teenagers are still at home. There's always a lot going on, and that's exactly what makes our home feel so alive.
Why did you choose the Outline Sofa?
Camilla: We liked the simple design. It's clean and calm, and the Hallingdal fabric is hard-wearing. That matters when you have a big family. The warm brown shade, number 350, goes beautifully with the red bookcase and our wooden floors. It brings calm to the room and ties everything together without taking centre stage. We don't have a fixed style. It's more a mix of classic furniture, colours we love and pieces that mean something to us. The sofa is part of that balance.
Mikkel: We have a lot of art and colour in the flat, so we balance it with furniture that feels timeless and grounded. This sofa does exactly that. It's big enough for us to actually use, but simple in shape and proportions. The colour also works perfectly with the bookcase behind it, which we only recently painted red. That small change made a big difference.
"The shelves hold my cookbooks, art and little things we've collected over the years. Together with the sofa, they create a warm, lived-in corner that feels honest and personal. For us, it's the heart of our home." – Mikkel Karstad
What role does the sofa play in your everyday life?
Camilla: It just fits the way we live. It's where we come together, talk about our day, play a game or watch a film. In the evening, it becomes a cosy spot where Mikkel and I stretch out. He might be reading while I sit next to him, watching something or simply relaxing.
Is the sofa more a place for quiet moments or for socialising?
Mikkel: Definitely for quiet moments. It's where we wind down at the end of the day. We don't usually have guests in the living room. When people come for dinner, we mostly sit at the big kitchen table. The sofa is really our family spot. It's where we all gather once the day is over.
"It's not often that all six of us are on it at the same time. But that's part of its charm. Some of us sit on the sofa, others on the floor. It feels natural and relaxed." – Mikkel Karstad
Are there any rituals or personal habits connected to this spot?
Mikkel: In the evening, I usually end up there. Sometimes I'm still working on my laptop. Sometimes I have a glass of wine or a late cup of tea. And more often than I'd like to admit, I fall asleep there. It's just that comfortable.
Camilla: There's no single ritual, but I love it when we all come together there, even if it's only for a little while. Sometimes I sit on the floor next to our daughter and brush her hair. Or we watch a film and turn it into a little film night. It's nothing formal. It's about being close to each other.
What makes you feel at home?
Mikkel and Camilla: Having our family around us. They give this place its soul. The furniture, the colours and the objects all matter. But in the end, it's the people who bring it to life.
"The bustle in the kitchen, the children coming and going, the small moments on the sofa in the evening: that's what makes this home ours." – Mikkel and Camilla Karstad
