Candy CHRISTMAS

Pastel hues, vintage decorations and bowls of sweet treats: the festive run-up is gloriously joyful at Bettina Færgeman's historic Copenhagen apartment, where there's an emphasis on entertaining...

- PIA OLSEN/LIVING STORIES

When Christmas is over, Bettina Færgeman delicately packs her collection of hand-blown vintage baubles away. While doing this, she does something rather unusual: she begins planning what Christmas will look like next year. ‘I love Christmas. It’s the ultimate holiday,’ she says. ‘Every year I go all out on a new theme – Christmas here never looks the same as the year before.’ Her collection of decorations fills 10 boxes, so she doesn’t often need to buy new pieces. But says that, when she does, they’re always special: fine vintage finds or treasures handmade by artisans. This year, she has gone for a ‘Candy Christmas’ theme, choosing pastel decorations inspired by a new David Hockney artwork in the dining room.

Bettina and her partner, Jakob Færgeman, bought the first-floor apartment in Copenhagen’s Frederiksstaden district 17 years ago. The apartment is one of four in a historic 1870s house. ‘I don’t think we will ever move,’ says Bettina. ‘We fell in love with – and still dearly treasure – everything about it: the neighbourhood, (characterised by old cobblestones and street lamps, which on a dark and foggy evening make you think of Sherlock Holmes), the history of the building and the fact that we bought it from my husband’s colleague, now a dear friend.’