Inside the creative mind of — Cathrine de Lichtenberg
Housing consultant Cathrine de Lichtenberg lives with her husband Anders and their two daughters in an old, divided patrician villa from 1898 in Frederiksberg, Copenhagen. Read along for a peek inside the creative mind of Cathrine de Lichtenberg.
Inspiration is all around
Everything from flowers and colours to fruits, furniture and materials can quickly plant a seed of inspiration which Cathrine wish to implement in her home. This type of inspiration is often translated into new wall colours, crooked jugs, coloured glasses, new furniture or a total redecoration of the interior. It’s the energy of the room and new inspiration that spark the need for change in general.
Even though I like all colours, I’m very aware of how they are mixed and what energy they bring. Our kitchen is filled with strong colours, whereas our bathroom is kept in calm and cooler nuances, as this is the room where we slowly start the day.
Cathrine's three favourites
Iris, Clay, and Ruby are Cathrine's favourites, although she always ensures they are mixed with darker colours, as contrast and balance are key when she decorates.
“The dresser in my daughters' room is one of my favourite colour combinations at home. Iris dominates and does what Iris does best – creates energy and a wow effect. Clay is used on top to tone it down and provide a calmer background for all the colourful objects on the dresser. Lastly, Parsley on the handles and plinth adds more edge to the piece. Ruby is the pink we all dreamed would become part of the colour palette. It is delicate, versatile, and mild, without becoming too feminine. I love it in its pure form, without mixing it with other colours, allowing it to stand out. On my KEEP dresser, I have added steel legs to give it a cooler touch.”
For Cathrine, a colourful interior brings joy to her core. “Our home is our sanctuary and playground, and there are no rules of right or wrong. It is always in motion and evolves as we grow and develop as a family. For the past few years, our living room has been full of toys, which we try to organise in the PLAY boxes. However, most of the time, they are scattered across the floor, and this extra element of colour from the toys makes me want to minimise colours in other areas. Again, it’s all about balance.”
“The pink we’ve all dreamed about”
The KEEP dresser is the perfect storage solution for the bedroom, living room, or hall. Cathrine has it in her bedroom in the soft pink shade, Ruby.
Cathrine's advice – follow your gut
Do you want to take your cues from Cathrine? She encourages you to follow your gut and not be limited by a certain styme or rule: "It's important to create a foundation of peace and functionality. Try out new colours by testing with a bouquet of flowers or a dish of fruits and vegetables. You will quickly work out if the chosen colour fit the room and if it brings the energy you wish for. Afterwards, you can implement the colour with a vase, bowl, wall colour or fabric."
A couple of years ago, Cathrine was reluctant to use the colour orange in her home, but at the same time she loved a colourful dish of oranges. She went with her gut and bought a Snoopy lamp from FLOS in orange, and now she loves the energetic orange colour.
Do you like Cathrine's style? Find more inspiration on Instagram. Follow @cathdelichteberg here.
Contrast and balance are to me very important, and I try limiting myself in not putting all colours into one room. Therefore, I aim at having two dominant colours and a twist of a third. For example in the living room, where blue and purple are dominant.
There’s something liberating in going with the flow and not having set your mind on a specific style or look. Don’t be afraid of trying things out or painting a wall. If you change your mind – you can always repaint.
Cathrine's customised wardrobe
Cathrine transformed a room into a stylish walk-in closet. Here, she has a custom Montana System wardrobe in deep green Pine. With drawers, open shelves, and glass shelves, it accommodates all her wardrobe favourites – from shoes to blouses and jewellery.
Colour as therapy
Colours to Cathrine are both a sort of therapy and sanctuary. Whenever she throws herself at a new decoration project in her home, she works with emotions and energies, and hardly ever have a plan to begin with. Go about it as Cathrine and build your own Montana composition in our vibrant colour palette.
