A Curated Life: Inside the Copenhagen Home of House of Finn Juhl’s Design Duo

For Kathrine and Christian Poulsen, the journey to their current residence in Copenhagen’s historic Humleby neighborhood began not with a grand master plan, but with the subtle, shifting rhythms of a decade-long partnership. Both hold senior roles at the House of Finn Juhl—the prestigious brand that preserves and reissues the iconic works of the late Danish architect and designer—where they manage the brand’s global presence. Kathrine serves as the Chief Brand Officer, while Christian oversees operations as the Chief Sales Officer. Yet, before their professional lives became inextricably linked, their personal connection was, by their own admission, a slow burn.

“It was definitely not love at first sight,” Kathrine says with a laugh, recalling their meeting ten years ago. At the time, Christian was effectively the sole steward of the House of Finn Juhl office in Copenhagen. When Kathrine joined the team, she felt as though she were stepping into his domain. “I came along and invaded his space,” she notes. However, the shared intensity of their work and a mutual, deep-seated passion for furniture design eventually forged a bond that transcends the typical nine-to-five. Today, they describe their daily lives as a near-constant collaboration, often spending 24 hours a day in each other’s company—a dynamic they credit with the success of their domestic and professional life.

A Historic Find in Humleby

While their professional chemistry took time to develop, their reaction to their home was immediate. Three years ago, when a listing for a circa-1895 property in Humleby hit the market, the couple was instantly captivated. The neighborhood, renowned for its historic charm and community-focused atmosphere, promised the kind of life they wanted for their six-year-old son, Henry.

The house itself presented a fascinating history. Once subdivided into multiple small apartments across three floors, it had been converted into a single-family residence by previous owners. This provided the Poulsens with a 1,400-square-foot canvas—a structure that was functional but open to their personal touch. Their approach to the home was measured and deliberate. Rather than opting for a total renovation, they chose to honor the home’s original character while injecting warmth and personality. One of their first major interior decisions was painting the central staircase a deep, resonant reddish-brown, a choice that immediately grounded the space and established a sophisticated, earthy palette that carries throughout the residence.

The move to Humleby has fulfilled their hopes for a tight-knit community. “We hoped for children playing in the streets and a real relationship with our neighbors, and that is exactly what we found,” Christian says. It didn’t take long for Henry to settle in; within months, he was knocking on doors in the neighborhood, building friendships that characterize the vibrant, active life they now lead.

Curating an International Aesthetic

Inside, the home is a testament to the couple’s eye for craftsmanship. It is an eclectic, international mix that eschews the sterility of a showroom in favor of a lived-in, soulful aesthetic. While the house is naturally anchored by Finn Juhl’s legendary designs—such as the Chieftain Chair and the Poet Sofa—these pieces exist alongside a collection of personal treasures.

Christian’s own woodworking projects, including small tables he crafted himself, sit comfortably next to a dark brown De Sede sofa. More recently, the couple has begun incorporating works by the Korean artist Kim Hyejung, adding a contemporary, sculptural layer to the home. “We probably share an attraction to things that feel special and aren’t immediately recognizable or easily replaceable,” Kathrine explains. This philosophy extends to how they acquire pieces. While they have access to the world’s most iconic furniture, they find the most joy in the hunt—often searching online marketplaces or finding unique items from independent designers globally.

Music is the final, essential element of their home’s atmosphere. Christian’s vast record collection has long since outgrown the dedicated living room cabinet, now spilling over into large wooden storage boxes. When the turntable isn’t spinning the likes of Kurt Vile, the couple keeps a steady stream of Danish radio, specifically P6, playing in the background. It is a home that values sensory experience over perfection.

Living with Design

The living room serves as the heart of the home, a space where the boundaries between “living” and “designing” are intentionally blurred. “This room is where we spend most of our waking hours,” Kathrine notes. “Playing with LEGOs on the floor, making food in the kitchen, drinking coffee in the lounge area. It’s just the space where everything is going on at once.”

For Christian, the Chieftain Chair is the most important piece in their collection, not because of its value, but because of its resilience and comfort. “It’s a substantial piece that invites you to lean back and relax,” he says. “It’s the place to enjoy a cup of coffee, while our son Henry loves climbing all over it.” Because the chair features metal-reinforced armrests, it easily handles the rough-and-tumble play of a six-year-old, proving that high design can be a functional part of a family home.

The couple’s philosophy regarding their possessions is refreshingly pragmatic. They view furniture as companions that gain character through use rather than museum pieces to be protected. “We like living with furniture long enough for it to become part of our lives rather than treating it as something precious that shouldn’t be touched,” Kathrine adds. “There needs to be room for a child to swing next to a collection of ceramics, and greasy little fingerprints on natural leather simply become part of its patina.”

This approach is evident in the kitchen and dining area, where a large, slightly oversized artwork by Gudrun Hasle hangs—a piece that has traveled with them through several apartments. They embrace the tension of scale, intentionally placing massive artworks next to tiny, microscopic objects to keep the visual composition dynamic rather than static. Their dining chairs are vintage steel designs by Henning Larsen, a deliberate contrast to the organic wood and upholstery of the Finn Juhl pieces they work with daily.

Personal Touches and Small Treasures

In the bathroom, the couple eschewed traditional fixtures in favor of a sculptural ceramic sink designed by an independent artist in Athens, discovered on Etsy. “We liked the idea of introducing something handmade and unexpected into the house rather than choosing a conventional bathroom unit,” Kathrine explains.

Upstairs, the guest room and office double as a repository for their travels. The Panel System, another Finn Juhl design, displays objects collected from across the globe, including a marble ball and a black incense burner from a studio in Mérida, Mexico. The marble piece, in particular, carries a story: it was originally a display item, not for sale, but the couple’s persistence and appreciation for the craft eventually convinced the owner to part with it.

For Kathrine, her personal workspace is a reflection of Christian’s understanding of her creative spirit. Her desk, built by her husband, is adorned with a heavy bronze tape dispenser by Mats Theselius—a gift from Christian that symbolizes his support for her individual creative practice outside of their shared work at the company.

As they continue to curate their home, the Poulsens remain committed to the idea that a house should be a reflection of the people who inhabit it, not a catalogue of design trends. By balancing the legacy of Finn Juhl with the reality of family life, they have created a space that is as functional as it is beautiful, proving that the best homes are those that evolve alongside their owners.