Spaces of Intention: Cathrine Raben Davidsen’s Waterside Retreat
On The Paper Island, a newly established residential neighborhood in central Copenhagen, visual artist Cathrine Raben Davidsen lives with her husband and their daughter in a bright, modern three-level townhouse.
The shift from small, uneven rooms and limited daylight to clean lines, generous ceiling heights and large expanses of glass has created a new framework for everyday life – and for Cathrine's approach to interior design.
The move has proved a welcome opportunity to significantly pare down their belongings. Tableware, objets d'art and artworks have been selectively reduced, and space has been consciously created between individual pieces. At the same time, the furniture is expected to serve more than one purpose: Finn Juhl's Silver Table, for instance, can be extended and rotated, benches can be moved between floors, and in this way the home can effortlessly accommodate many people at once.
The Silver Table was, in fact, the first piece by Finn Juhl that Cathrine and her husband, Jens, acquired – bought through a friend long before their interest in Finn Juhl's work fully took shape. "It has truly been with us for many years, and we've used it a lot and had it treated several times," she says.
Cathrine is drawn to organic forms, refined craftsmanship, and the free mixing of classics across periods and origins – and her home reflects this in a blend of newly produced design icons, vintage finds and her own ceramic works, which add warmth and provide a counterpoint to the modern architecture.
She experiences interior design as a form of curation, much like working on an exhibition. "For me, it's important that objects have personality. It's a bit like putting together a group show: what do you include, and what can work together?" Cathrine explains.
She grew up in Copenhagen with a father who was a designer, so beautiful furniture, paintings and ceramics were a natural part of her home – and her interest in materials, forms and colors has since been further strengthened through her work as a visual artist. Despite her love of aesthetics, her approach to furnishing has always been guided by a clear principle: "It's about having as little as possible and choosing things that can last for many years."
