At home with Katrine Møbius: A 19th-century farmhouse shaped by everyday life
Photographer Katrine Møbius lives with her family just outside Copenhagen.
Hi Katrine! Could you introduce yourself to our readers?
“Hi! My name is Katrine Møbius. I’m a freelance photographer with a passion for capturing everyday moments. I live just outside Copenhagen with my partner and our two children in a charming old farmhouse from the 19th century. It’s a special place for us, full of character, history, and a bit of countryside calm not far from the city.”
The Vaarnii 001 dining chairs were designed by Fredrik Paulsen.
How did you find this farmhouse?
“It was both quite random and incredibly fortunate. Before moving here, we lived in a small apartment in the heart of Vesterbro in Copenhagen. After having two children, we began to feel the lack of space more clearly, the absence of air, of being able to open a door and step straight outside. We also knew that finding a place that matched both our needs and our finances wouldn’t be simple.
Then, through a very good friend, we heard that her in-laws were selling their small farmhouse just a bit outside the city, and that they wanted it to go to us.
Not long after, we moved into this 19th-century house. It’s something I still must pause and take in. Living in a farmhouse was always more of an idea than a plan, and yet here we are. There’s a weight to a house like this; time, materials, everything it has held. It makes you move a little more carefully.”
The 001 dining table is made in Finland from Finnish pine.
The dark finish highlights the unique character of pine.
How would you describe your home's interior?
“I would say it’s minimal, but not strict; personal, but not overly composed.
The house itself sets the limits – low ceilings, small rooms – so we’ve had to keep things pared back to let it breathe. Furniture needs to hold its own without taking over. Wood is everywhere, and light matters more than anything else, how it moves through the rooms. At the same time, I’m really drawn to objects! Things picked up over time, from travels or flea markets, fragments of our own history. I think they are a great contrast to the minimalistic approach and make the rooms less controlled.”
“I’m especially drawn to the contrast between the romantic setting of the farmhouse and the more raw, almost brutal expression of our Vaarnii furniture.”
“The wood in both the house and the furniture complements each other beautifully. I also like that everything doesn’t feel too polished or perfect, you can sense that it’s a lived-in home, and that it truly belongs to us.”
The Hoop table lamp combines solid pine with high-quality pine veneer.
The Hoop table lamp was designed by John Tree.
How have Vaarnii's pieces settled into your everyday life?
“They’re made to be used, and that’s exactly what we do. With two children, things can’t be too precious. The furniture must take part in daily life, meals, work, drawing, playing, and it does. Marks and wear aren’t something we try to avoid. They build up slowly and make sense over time.
The 001 Dining Table is where everything happens. It shifts function throughout the day without us really thinking about it. The stools and chairs move constantly. Nothing is fixed for long. I like that the rooms can change slightly depending on what we need. The house feels more alive that way. A chair might become a bedside table for a while or end up in the hallway. Things overlap in function. If everything stays too defined, it becomes static, and then it loses something.”
Do you have a particular favorite among them?
“It’s hard to choose, but the black 001 Dining Chair has something distinct. It has so much character with its dark tone. It’s incredibly beautiful, I think.”
What first drew you to Vaarnii’s products?
“In the heart of Copenhagen there was a wonderful interior and design shop called STUDIOX where I first got familiar with Vaarnii. I’ve always been drawn to Alvar Aalto and Finnish design in general, so Vaarnii felt familiar in a way, but also more direct, less softened.
The 001 Dining Chair was the first piece I bought. I love the pine wood, the bold form, and the comfort. Since then, the collection has grown slowly.”
Vaarnii’s Ast stool was designed by Dimitri Bähler.
The Ast stool can be used as a nightstand or side table.
What kind of dreams or aspirations do you have for your home?
“I dream of living in our farmhouse for many years to come. We have an entire upper floor that we haven’t renovated yet, so that’s still to come but we’re in no rush. Our needs are constantly evolving, especially with young children, and I think this place naturally invites a slower pace where things take time.”
What’s your favorite spot in your home?
“We live very close to other farmhouses, so there aren’t wide, open views. Still, I love standing in our kitchen and looking out the window, where you can see the rooftops of the neighboring houses peeking through.”
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Published on 21 Apr, 2026
