Lene's colourful pottery

Paint over and over again. A new colour can transform a piece of furniture and prolong its life. Lene's dining table has had many colours over time.

Creative corner for children | Søstrene Grene

Unique. In Lene's home, coffee is served in homemade ceramic cups with a view of wonderous nature finds in the windowsill.

What is important to you when you decorate?

Colours mean a lot to me. I am not interested in trend colours, but I let my intuition guide me and let the colour schemes develop over time. Colours have a great affect on us, both psychologically and physically. I, for one, am very fond of contrasting colours, such as a yellow poster on an aubergine-coloured wall. It brings a lot of energy.

Personal display. Three big shelves in the living room make for a living display of memories and personality. The radiator is painted the same colour as the wall to make it discretely blend with the wall.

Drying time. On the shelves, Lene's passion for pottery is clear, as several vases, cups and bowls are left here to dry before going in the kiln.

Workshop in the living room. The potter's wheel is never far away when Lene is hit by a creative desire. It is permanently placed in the living room.

Diverse. At Lene's work place in the living room, vases, cups, plates and even a ceramic lamp foot once in a while are created.

Network. Lene has a large network of creative people. For instance, one of her neighbors' has her own kiln where Lene's creations are also fired when the drying time is done.

What does pottery mean to you?

I have been making pottery on and off since I was 17 years old. I have always thought to myself that I wanted to become a potter when I retired from work. But one day I just thought to myself: Why wait? I thrive when I am making things with my hands. It is very pleasurable activity for me to make pottery. It is almost a form of therapy.

Aqua. The wall colour in the living room is inspired by an underwater universe. To Lene, it was important that the living room would be painted an uplifting colour where it would be pleasant to spend many hours.

Art and shapes. Colourful works of art adorn Lene's walls and shelves. Combined with this, a basket hanging on the wall almost becomes another work of art.

Where do you find the inspiration for your colourful home décor?

I am inspired by what I see as I walk around. It might be the colour of a wall or the meeting of two colours in nature. It might even be something that is ugly at first sight, but works if you zoom completely in or see it in another setting. I move around the world with attention. And I take hundreds of pictures of things that inspire me as I pass by them.

Calm. In the bedroom, dark, sudbued colours bring the calm. A giant bookcase functions as a headboard.

Green. Lene thought the view to the backyard was a bit dreary. So she framed it and gave it some edge with a distinctive green colour. The paint was left over from a previous project.

Oasis for sleep. Lene likes the cave-like mood created by the large bookcase by the bed.

Still life. The old suitcases have been with Lene for many years. Currently, they are located in the bedroom as part of a small display.

Colour sample. Lene has painted a small piece of the wall in the hallway. This way, she can take some time to feel whether the colour is just right before painting the whole wall.

Do not be afraid to paint. It is just a wall. You can always paint over it again if you are not happy.

There are many surfaces in the home. You can also paint floors and ceilings in lovely colours. Avoid painting the ceilings too dark, however, as this might feel oppressive.

Art is another great way of bringing colour to your home. If you are creative and you know other creative people, it is fun and exciting swapping works of art and craft pieces with each other.

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