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BRAND
Dinesen
INTERIOR
Mentze Ottenstein
PHOTOGRAPHY
Monica Grue Steffensen
TRANSLATOR
Gina
Collection

The previously family-owned residence in Jels begins a new chapterDinesen, Denmark’s foremost manufacturer of high-end wooden flooring, and five-generation family company, has crafted high-quality wood solutions since 1896. Their former family house, Dinesen Country Home, is located near the company's manufacturing facilities in Jels, Denmark, and has been an integral part of the Dinesen legacy since 2004 when the family acquired the estate. Recently, the residence underwent a thoughtful renovation by Copenhagen-based architecture and design studio Mentze Ottenstein, signalling a new chapter in the history of the estate and its role in the company.

The house served as the Dinesen family's private home for 15 years before being transformed into a company-representative home and guest house. Now, the estate enters yet a new chapter. Todayan elegant guesthouse, the space is primarily reserved for Dinesen's friends, design clients and relations to enjoy its breathtaking surroundings and inviting interiors. The house might also later be available for public booking on select dates.

Built in 1885, the residence is a traditional southern Jutland longhouse with a thatched roof, nestled amid lush green forestry, meadows, and lakes. As a place steeped in the Dinesen family’s history, the home is a living testament to the values and craftsmanship that define the company and the family behind it.

Mentze Ottenstein approached the task of reimagining the estate with humility and respect for Overby's initial restoration. The studio’s work strongly emphasises context, often incorporating historical references and revealing unfamiliar narratives through in-depth research. While the framework of the original building remains, Mentze Ottenstein has introduced more material and ornamental qualities to the house. The connecting rooms were previously all very similar but now offer guests an element of surprise through the use of colour and the creation of hidden rooms.

Mathias Mentze and Alexander Ottenstein comment on the transformation, saying: “We've maintained a consistent colour for door frames and ceiling beams while introducing a gradient from room to room, starting with brighter colours and ending in what used to be a family living room, which is now decorated as a cosy dark-walled library.”

While the original framework carried out by Overby was still sound, Mentze Ottenstein reviewed all surfaces and material compositions, introducing a fresh take on colour and working thoroughly with detailing to create a more harmonious experience. The cabinets of a handcrafted Garde Hvalsøe kitchen have been painted an eye-catching shade of green as a nod to its countryside location. Elsewhere, a series of hand-turned ceramic bowls from Georgia sit comfortably alongside new walnut and pear kitchen handles. Further colour can be seen in the aisles and small chambers on the first floor, painted in golden ochre, creating a warm and intimate experience.

Fittingly, wood still takes centre stage as the central material palette within the house. The architectural Pawson Furniture Collection by John Pawson for Dinesen in Douglas fir, released earlier this year, sits elegantly next to antique furniture and a series of bespoke new furniture pieces designed by Mentze Ottenstein. These pieces have been made of ash with an oil finish resembling amber and a grain pattern reminiscent of black elm. In addition, deeper-toned wood selections such as walnut and pear are represented, for instance, in frames by Cassetta, which offers a flattering contrast to the light Douglas floors.

Mentze Ottenstein adds “A space is like a portrait of the person or the people who inhabit it.  Wehave attempted to draw a portrait of where Dinesen is today through choices and approaches that allow for change so that it is not a static project but open to being filled with new stories.  We hope to come back and see that the library has been filled with books, that cabinets are full of textiles and that furniture pieces from and by friends and partners of Dinesen are included and speak to each other in a unified experience.”

The notion of time and its impact on aesthetics occupies much of the design work. The house is designed to evoke a sense of home rather than a showroom while showcasing the stories of numerous exciting collaborations throughout the years.  In addition to the bespoke furniture they have designed, Mentze Ottenstein has a notable skill for curating antiques and collaborating with artists, craftsmen and other fellow Scandinavian designers, giving the home interior an aesthetic diversity.  Soft lighting is provided with lamps by Christian+Jade and Wästberg.  The staircase and glass elements are by Nina Nørgaard, with mirrors and frames by Cassetta and chairs by RønholtKurz.  London-based Jamb London have been commissioned to source one-off antique pieces to enhance the historical elements and references within the house.

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