ON THE COVER HOME FOR CHRISTMAS Nordic

alene Smidt Hertz and her family had no plans to move from their home near Copenhagen. But on a sunny day one September, on a car trip to picturesque North Zealand, they drove the wrong way and, stumbling across a beautiful countryside of forests and lakes, were immediately smitten. As fate would have it, they happened upon a house for sale and contacted the estate agent. ‘Even as I walked up the garden path, I knew I wanted to live here,’ says Malene. ‘The tranquillity and feeling of being close to nature sparked something in me. It just felt right.’

In fact, being close to nature and part of the changing seasons is essential for Malene. ‘My work [as a wine buyer] involves the development of flavour, and it’s important for me to take inspiration from my surroundings,’ she explains. ‘One part of my business, Malenes Gløgg, is associated with Christmas – it’s all about the feeling and tradition of the season and being together.

‘November and December are really busy in the wine industry, but once all the hard work has been done, I like to light the candles, set a beautiful table and pour some mulled wine. There’s something wonderful about blending the traditions of my and my husband’s families – and now we have our own children, the customs have

continued.’ One such custom involves Malene’s father-in-law, who is a jeweller. Every Christmas, he places a small ball decoration on the tree. Inside, he puts a gift he has made and, during the festive meal, everyone must guess what it is, whether animal, plant or mineral. Whoever guesses correctly gets the gift.

Originally designed in 1913 by architect Frederik Wagner, the house is on two levels. In the late 1950s and again in the late 1960s, it was rebuilt, and an extension was added by another architect, Ole Hagen, who lived in the house at the time, in collaboration with his friend and fellow architect Børge Mogensen. Decades later, in 2009, the house underwent further renovations. The result is its current form.

The ground floor is divided into an entrance hall and large, open family space, which includes the living room, dining room and kitchen. On the first floor are the bedrooms, television room and bathroom. The theme is Nordic minimalism, with pale walls, simple furniture and furnishings, and unusual lighting.

Throws and rugs add subtle colour, and houseplants feature throughout. Christmas decor is kept unfussy, with small family favourites and red amaryllis teamed with pine cones from the forest. The built-in stove and fireplace date back to when the house was built, adding a feeling of history and warmth to the airy, modern interior of this cosy home. This mix of old and new creates the perfect setting for a family that happily blends the traditions of the past while creating new ones of their own in this magical home – a serendipitous find on a family trip one autumn day.