Past meets present

Julie Simonsen feels blessed to spend time in the family home where she celebrated Christmas as a little girl

- SEAN O'CONNELL

HOME TRUTHS

THE PROPERTY

Detached house, built in 1918

LOCATION Denmark

ROOMS Sitting room, dining room, kitchen-diner, four bedrooms, three bathrooms

INHERITED 1991

PREVIOUS PROPERTY

‘Our main home is an apartment in Copenhagen,’ says Julie.

DINING ROOM

The design of the glass window panes is reflected in the ceiling.

Gustavian dining table, £1,995; Leksand chairs, from £395 each, Nordic Style, share this look. Mariposa Butterfly chair, €232, Cuero. Try the Gronlid chaise longue, £310; Lattnad candles, 75p each, all Ikea

If home is where the heart is, then Julie Simonsen’s is unquestionably a certain pretty villa in a Danish fishing harbour. Ever since Julie’s parents bought it 50 years ago, family Christmases have been spent in the seafront house, just 45 minutes’ drive from Copenhagen. ‘I’ve had to update it since I took it over,’ she says, ‘but luckily my parents renovated it to a high standard, which has been such a blessing.’