Welcome to Scandi-land, our celebration of the magic that is Scandinavian design. All week, we'll be bringing you tours, features, and shopping guides that dive deep into what makes Nordic design so covetable. Want more to read? Check here.
When former Royal Danish Ballet principal dancer Alexander Kolpin sought to open a hotel in Copenhagen's city center, he didn't want to rely solely on what travelers might envision when they think "Danish design." "There was a distinct intention to shy away from the latest trends," explains Kolpin, who opened Hotel Sanders with help from London interior design team Lind + Almond in 2017. Tucked into an Art Nouveau building that dates back to 1869, the 54-room stay reflects a variety of design influences: old world, modernist, and yes, some Scandinavian thrown in.
Video of the Day
Earth tones mingle with bold hues and natural materials like timber and stone in a minimalist environment that feels timeless. There's a heavy play on textures, with areas defined by a mix of materials like velvet, rattan, and leather. Darker and neutral tones, combined with strategically soft lighting, crafts an atmosphere that is cozy, yet stately. (Speaking of light fixtures, there are real gems to be found here, like a vintage 1940s chandelier designed by Carlo Scarpa — scored from a Zurich bank, and crafted with glass cut in Murano — that hangs above the reception desk.)
"The design is inspired by personal experience and travels," says Kolpin, "bringing a refined aesthetic sensibility and ideology to the property, which is deeply rooted in my creative history."
