The Danish Karstad family enjoys cabin life between the sea and the forest

Camilla and Mikkel Karstad sitting at an outdoor dining table with their child — Outdoor living takes center stage at the Karstad family’s cottage just outside Copenhagen.

At Mikkel and Camilla Karstad’s cabin just outside Copenhagen, outdoor cooking and year-round sea swims are part of everyday life. At the heart of their forest-surrounded retreat are Muuto’s outdoor furniture pieces, which set the scene for a relaxed outdoor lifestyle.

Text and photos: Muuto

JUST NORTH OF COPENHAGEN, where dense forest meets open coastline, chef, author, and food consultant Mikkel Karstad and his wife Camilla have found a place to slow down. Tucked within a quiet summer house area, their home sits on a generous plot surrounded by tall trees – private and unhurried. Though part of a community, the spacing between houses creates the feeling of having your own place, even when others are near.

We meet Mikkel at the end of the week, as he gets ready to leave the city. On Friday afternoons, once work is done, he and Camilla make their way north, a drive of about an hour that has become one of the steadier rhythms of their week. What began as regular visits to friends in the area eventually led to something of their own – a place to come back to, away from the pace of Copenhagen.

The house itself was designed with straightforwardness in mind, a low, black wooden structure with clean lines and a flat roof, built with a carpenter to the Karstads’ own drawings. It sits among the trees, unassuming and quiet, much like the life they've built around it.

Muuto Linear Steel table and bench on a lawn — Muuto’s Linear Steel table and bench are made from powder-coated steel designed to withstand the elements with ease.

Camilla Karstad arranging plants in a vase — The Linear Steel collection was created by Danish designer Thomas Bentzen.

Tell us about the area and the summer house you’ve created here.
“The plots are larger than in most summer house areas, which makes a real difference. Even though there are neighbours, you don’t feel them; it's quiet, and the trees give you a sense of having your own place. The beach is also very close, so you have the forest and the sea within easy reach. That combination, and the calm that comes with it, was what drew us here in the first place.

The house was designed with simplicity in mind. We drew it up ourselves and built it with a carpenter, keeping everything as straightforward as possible. Black timber, clean lines, a flat roof, a low structure that sits in the landscape without imposing on it. The black wood blends naturally with the trees, and the flat roof keeps the height down. We wanted nature to remain the dominant thing here, not the building.”

Muuto's Assemble bench in teak — Designed by Anderssen & Voll, the Assemble bench is crafted from teak, a material exceptionally well suited to outdoor use.

Mikkel Karstad sitting on a bench with his child — Benches placed in front of cottages are a familiar sight throughout the neighborhood.

Muuto Raise glasses on a wooden bench — Muuto’s Raise carafe and glassware were created by design duo Broberg & Ridderstråle.

How does the simplicity of the house shape the way you use it?
“It makes it easy to actually go. On a Friday afternoon we can leave work, drive an hour north, and be properly settled in before the evening. Closing up takes just as little time. That ease means we go regularly, not just through summer but across the whole year.

“The house should be simple enough to push you back outdoors.”

We never wanted a house that would keep us inside. The thinking was always that the house should be simple enough to push you back outdoors. The terrace runs around the building and gives you different spots depending on the light and the time of day. Most of life here happens out there. The kids use it on their own sometimes too, coming up with friends – which feels like the best kind of confirmation that the place works.”

Camilla Karstad seated at a beautifully set outdoor dining table — The family fell in love with the location after visiting friends who had a summer cottage in the same area.

Serving grapes above an outdoor dining table — Meals are prepared outdoors year-round, either on the grill or in the pizza oven.

Summer table setting with grapes, bread, and cheeses — During the summer months, dinner often stretches long into the evening.

Man spreading cheese on a slice of bread — Chef, author, and food consultant Mikkel Karstad draws inspiration for his cooking from the changing seasons.

How do the seasons shape life here?
“Almost every meal is cooked outside, on the barbecue or in a small pizza oven we have. The indoor kitchen is mainly used for breakfast. That doesn’t really change in winter either. Working with food, I follow the seasons closely and that becomes very immediate here. You look outside and it's obvious what the moment calls for.

In spring, when everything starts blooming back, it gets lighter and greener. Summer is long evenings at the table with whatever is fresh. In autumn, we’re in the forest picking mushrooms, the temperature drops, and the fire gets lit most nights. In winter, we still cycle to the beach every morning and swim. You come back cold and hungry, ready for something warm. The activities shift with the seasons, but the draw to be outside stays the same.”

“The activities shift with the seasons, but the draw to be outside stays the same.”

When do you feel most connected to nature?
“The sea is important to both of us. We swim year-round, here and in Copenhagen, and there’s something about being in the water that slows everything down in a way nothing else quite does.

The forest is a different kind of connection. Walking with the kids, looking for mushrooms, it’s quieter and more unhurried, more about being together without much of a plan. Both matter, and having them so close to each other is a big part of what makes this place work for us.”

Mikkel and Camilla Karstad with their child outside their summer cottage — Mikkel and Camilla designed their dark timber-clad, flat-roofed house themselves and built it together with a local carpenter.

Mikkel and Camilla Karstad carrying a bench outdoors — Made from slender steel profiles, the Linear Steel furniture is lightweight and easy to move when needed.

Mikkel and Camilla Karstad sitting on a bench beneath a tree — Although the surroundings feel deeply wooded, the sea is just a short bike ride away.

Muuto Ease portable lamp on a lawn — Designed by Johan Van Hengel, the rechargeable Ease lamp is equally at home indoors and out.

What drew you to Muuto’s Linear Steel series and Assemble bench for your outdoor space?
“They suited the house and the surroundings. The dark green sits naturally next to the black timber, and the clean lines feel consistent with how the house itself is put together. Nothing pulls focus away from the setting, which was important to us.

The table and chairs are where most meals happen and where evenings tend to wind down. The bench sits out front, which feels right for the area – a lot of the houses here have something similar. We think about furniture the same way we think about the house: simple, well made, and worth keeping for a long time.”