MIKKEL KURE
Permalink More is More!
or as Jagger once put it- "too much is never enough!"
photo Åse Helena Hansen
MIKKEL KURE was born in Copenhagen, grew up in the very center of the city and lives next to the Queens Palace, Amalienborg. He has studied art history in Paris and at the University of Copenhagen. In 2004 his interior design company ‘Mikkel Kure’ was founded, handling styling, design and events.
Mikkel is well known in Denmark, from a popular tv show named ‘The Ugliest Room in Denmark’ where he and his team transform nightmarish rooms into dreamy rooms, in people’s homes.
His clientele list among others Royal Copenhagen, Ikea family live magazine, Broste Copenhagen as well as a group of private clients. Mikkel is the interior designer behind the beautiful Restaurant Orangeriet in the King’s Garden (Kongens Have), of which his brother Japser Kure is the owner and headchef.
Only in rescent years has the use of interior designers found its way into Danish homes. For most homeowners it is an overwhelming task and too great a challenge to do it all on their own. The lists, the decorative possibilities and crucial decisions are endless.
Well. . . this is where Mikkel Kure enters the picture!
"Did you watch the movie Marie Antoinette?- well if you did, that’s exactly what it looks like inside of my head"
Mikkel’s signature is without a doubt in his use of colors and patterns- his way of rebelling against Danish style, as we know it.
"Modernism is dominating everything Danish; there simply isn’t an accepted alternative. When you suggest colors for a home to clients in Denmark, most of them instinctively reach for their sunglasses, but that’s not how I use colors at all."
Color to Mikkel means anything but white. The tones can be pale or deep or several colors combined in harmony. "The Japanese have an amazing talent for combining crazy colors in a pattern that make the end result surprisingly beautiful and stylish."
When hiring interior designers, the outcome is always best when you give them the space to do what makes them the experts. Mikkel creates great moodboards, which are a large part of how he communicates his ideas to his clients. It is so much better to discuss ideas from a visual standpoint.
One of Mikkel's missions is to change the Scandinavian 'stiffness', when it comes to our interior decor. His motto 'MORE IS MORE' certainly underlines his mission.
"The eye naturally seeks beauty- because beautiful physical surroundings stimulate the psyche. So beauty before sensibility, at all costs. In France beauty is no. one, then functionality. The Danes have a tendency to let functionality rule- a piece of furniture or design must be practical, if you are to consider it for your home. I believe it’s so much more fun to think beauty first, because to me beauty has a function in itself, which is what my clients find appealing about my work. Phillip Starck has a great way of using historical reference and form that work so well in modern homes.
There is a lack of identity in Danish homes, we hide behind a repertoire of approved design pieces, instead of having pieces we really like. The Danes have been raised to believe that furniture by architects is the only right way, and have a deep fear of standing out, as if the SEVEN chair, is the only chair of real value in this world."
To Mikkel it is all about making his clients happy, and to provide them with a sense of safety in a home surrounded by things expressing their personality, in an honest way.
The WOWs of the clients are his reward.
Kure is presently working on a book on how to give your home an identity reflecting your personality. A book with tips and advice on how you with simple solutions, can distinguish your home from your neighbors.
TIP: "Do not exclude knick-knacks. But gather and display them all in one area, for example on a tray or a small table. That way you will avoid clutter, express a sense of order and space, and at the same time add character to the room. Remember, beautiful things are here to please the eye, and to make you feel happy."
MIKKEL'S FAVORITES
STYLE PERIODS- I love the over-the-top expression of the Baroque period . I find it extremely dynamic, and at the same time very elegant. The comtemporary style of the 50ties is another favorite, with its clear colors and organic forms.
Rosenborg CastlePLACE IN THE WORLD- The Versailles Trianon castles and gardens. Every single time I go there, I’m overwhelmed by the beauty and perfection of the place.
PLACE IN DENMARK- Rosenborg Slot (Rosenborg Castle) is one of my favorite spots in Copenhagen- I love the intensity of the place – it reminds me of a dollhouse.
SHOPPING-
Tapet Cafe
The Rug Company
Kartell
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