Cornelia renovates houses in France

Family. Together with her family, Cornelia has renovated four houses, and her four children have been part of the process.

The beauty of the quirky. Cornelia sees beauty in crooked angles, old bricks, and alternative solutions.

The beginning of the journey

"I am going to marry that guy," Cornelia said to her friend when she saw a 19-year-old, handsome man at the bar at Vorbasse Fair in Denmark. He caught her eye because he was different. And that was the beginning of an adventure. With challenging childhoods behind them, Cornelia and Oliver quickly found a home in each other. They bought an old, dilapidated house just outside the Danish city Aarhus and immediately started to renovate despite their financial challenges. But it was exactly these challenges which turned out to be the start of Cornelia's creative journey. "I decided to make the house look like a million without it costing a thing," she says.

Life with children. Cornelia has adapted breastfeeding, school starts, and everyday toddler challenges into the renovation projects.

Creative corner for children | Søstrene Grene

In it together. Cornelia's children are now 17, 13, 8, and 3 years old and are part of the projects.

Breastfeeding and spackling

Cornelia and Oliver's four children have been a part of the journey, for better or worse. "I was both breastfeeding and spackling at night," Cornelia shares, describing her first renovation project in Denmark with, at that time, three children, the youngest of whom was just four months old. Cornelia and Oliver find it important that everyone helps out. In fact, it has been the recipe for their success. Being an active part in renovation projects, as well as experiencing a cultural shift from Denmark to France, the children have learnt not to be frightened by the fear of the unknown and that they are deeply valued and important to the family, each and every one of them. "It is very important for me that I help them believe in their own worth," says Cornelia, who could not have gone through her journey without her family.

An adaptation. Cornelia does not necessarily stick to one style, but she decorates in a way that suits the room.

House for sale in France

Cornelia and Oliver, have always been adventurous. On their way home from a vacation with their children in 2018, Cornelia spontaneously googled: House for sale in France. It was love at first sight when the first house appeared; an old house with almost 800 square metres close to the Mediterranean coast. With a sharp turn, they pulled over, and within a few minutes, the decision was made. They would move to France. They put their house in Denmark up for sale, and before they knew it, the whole family stood outside Le Petit Chateau in France and their French life began.

Details. Cornelia cares more about details and the cherry on top rather than precision and orderliness.

Cornelia found her talent

Cornelia has always had creative interests and even as a child she often had a paintbrush in her hand as an active part of various creative processes in the home. It became especially clear for Cornelia when she renovated her first house in Denmark that she was actually quite skilled. She rarely does 'what one is supposed to' but finds alternative methods for decorating. For example, she has built her own bathtub and transformed old boards into sparkling floors. "One can surely make a lot out of nothing," she has learnt. Since moving to France, the family has renovated no fewer than three homes all with the same creativity and authentic style.

Authentic. Cornelia respects the room she is in and decorates according to what the room calls for.

French idyll. Cornelia is living her dream life in France and has not regretted the big step away from Denmark.

Imperfection is beauty

Cornelia loves embracing alternative solutions, and she sees beauty in odd angles, old bricks, and upcycling of worn furniture. "I have put aside the level," she says, making use of her sense of aesthetics instead. It is all in the detail, she believes, and we should all be better at letting crooked be crooked and gaining a new appreciation for beauty.

Worth preserving. Cornelia could never dream of damaging antique floorboards to install underfloor heating, which, according to her, is an unfortunate priority among Danes.

Constant development. Cornelia and her family have lived in two locations in France and have also renovated an atelier, which is rented out for photography.

Respect for materials

Cornelia has developed a special love for quality materials. Old bricks and antique floors are like gold to her. Thus, she renovates with great respect for the original elements. "I have gained a new understanding of beauty," she says about her experience after moving to France. Therefore, Cornelia also puts a lot of effort into ensuring that her interior design adapts to the room – and not the other way around. That is why her spacious French house has both old floors, worn bricks, and original tiles. And although some of the tiles may have chips, she sees it as a sign of life and authenticity. Instead, she makes a great effort to preserve, polish, and add coziness and aesthetics with detailed, creative solutions.

Reuse. Cornelia and Oliver visualise how old furniture can be reused.

Upcycling. Thus, old furniture has been given new life in the family's home.

Drive and dreams

Although Cornelia and her family have already renovated four homes, their current home is now for sale. The couple have an unmistakable drive that constantly leads them to new adventures. However, Cornelia is still practising enjoying her passion. In the process of renovating their first house in Denmark, she found herself in the middle of a personal financial crisis, incidentally with three young children in tow. But as Cornelia states: "Necessity is the mother of invention - I should get that tattooed." At the time, she survived on her talent, turning her house into a home with very limited means and selling it at a profit. Now, she is living her dream with creativity and the joy of creation as her greatest passion.

Outdoor life. The beauty of the surroundings is unmistakable.

From a child's perspective. Cornelia's youngest child, Arwin, is here exploring newly purchased vegetables from the local market.

My family is my home

"I am so happy every day," Cornelia says as one of the last things before we part ways. She has been on a journey, not just geographically but also personally. The journey has not always been rosy, and they have all, including the children, experienced tough times. "Maybe there are aspects of their childhood they do not want to carry forward, but that is okay," Cornelia says about the way she has involved the children in all processes. But there is no doubt that Elias, Karla, Nora, and Arwin along with Oliver are Cornelia's home — no matter where in the world they might find themselves in the future.