ON THE COVER SCANDI MAGIC Rustic touches set the tone at Christmas in this villa on the Danish coast

SITTING ROOM

Above The house’s high-ceilinged rooms allow for a lofty tree. Pernille (above right) decorates it with baubles from Arket and Beau Marché, as well as cherished decorations made by her daughter s soon as the mistletoe goes up, Christmas has arrived,’ says Pernille Arlien-Søborg, an interior designer and owner of Co.Designstudio in Copenhagen. ‘I buy a giant ball of it, and also love choosing a selection of fresh seasonal flowers.’ These natural touches are a key part of setting the festive tone, as are the family’s trusty decorations, brought down from the attic in the last week of November. ‘I rely on them to instantly create a beautiful Christmassy mood at home,’ she says.

December may be a hectic month for Pernille – ‘Many of my plans tend to go out the window due to work’ – but the most important part of the season is time spent with loved ones, and she’s happiest when her home is full of friends and family. ‘Cooking with my brother is one of my favourite things to do at this time of year,’ she says. ‘We listen to music while we cook; often it’s old songs by Charles Aznavour. Other traditions include my father singing a Swedish Christmas song by the tree, and an annual trip to the ice rink in nearby Frederiksberg with my husband and children. There’s such a heartwarming atmosphere – it’s full of happy people of all ages.’

Another of the family’s cherished December rituals is watching an old steam train pass by at the weekend. ‘It has adorable old carriages, and smoke coming out of the chimneys,’ explains Pernille. ‘When the whistle sounds from our nearest station, the whole family runs out into the conservatory, from where we get a good view of it.’

The original period features and majestic high-ceilinged rooms were a big draw for Pernille and her husband when they first viewed the house. ‘We decided to preserve the rooms as they were, making only minor changes on the ground floor, where we opened up the kitchen, dining room, sitting room and o ce,’ she says. ‘This means that,