Modern minimalism and quirky finds with Michael Schmidt - Creative Consultant and Gallerist

Photo: Philip Høpner.

Michael Schmidt makes a living telling stories in images and words, as a Creative Consultant, as a gallery owner, and via the Instagram profile @michaeldansk. The interest in design and interior decoration has come naturally to him. He grew up in a family of architects, and design has therefore naturally played a part in his life since childhood.

Photos: Philip Høpner. 

At Michael's home, in Nørrebro in Copenhagen, it is filled with colors and contrasts that are magically in balance. The interior design in the beautiful grand apartment, with plank floors and a unique ceiling height of 310 cm, is an extension of who Michael is. His home is a stylish, colorful oasis that has a minimalist tranquility, even though it is a home with many quirky finds that tell various exciting stories.

Photo on the left: Ditte Isager. Photo on the right: Michael Schmidt.

What is your style?

“I fight an eternal inner battle between something stringent, minimalist, and a total thing-finder mentality, where there are plenty of quirks to explore.” The search for balance is not only in the style between the curious, colorful universe and the minimalist calm expression; it is also in the balance between function and aesthetics. “The objects that live in the home with me should ideally be experienced as a natural extension of the life we lead here, so they must of course be useful, but also preferably have some personality.”

Quality is a design requirement for Michael. Things must be able to last for many years and also preferably be passed on to future generations. Since aesthetics, functionality, and quality are the starting points for the furniture in Michael's home, it naturally takes a long time when he needs to find something for the home. 

“I would rather wait for the absolutely perfect piece of furniture than continuously replace and make temporary solutions. I believe that also creates the most personality in the home, and then I enjoy the process of finding the right elements. Often it involves many hours of searching online.”

Art and heirlooms are particularly important to Michael. They equate to personality and tell stories. It's not just the old that can tell a story; modern design certainly can too. Here, Michael has a penchant for geometric lines and colors.

Photos: Michael Schmidt.

The wooden sideboard from the 50s was originally Michael's grandfather's piece of furniture, which has a special meaning to him. “It was produced at Knoll, where he worked as an architect, and still smells of the drawing equipment he kept in the sideboard for decades.”

The ceiling lamp was designed by Vittoriano Viganò in 1951 and is part of the Cinquanta collection from Astep. With a double-stemmed construction, it is a kind of kinetic object designed to utilize the principle of equilibrium in its design. Find it used at KEEPR here.

Is sustainable design important to you?

“I believe that many of us in recent years have gained a greater awareness of our consumption and the effect it has on our surroundings. I myself buy much more secondhand than I did before – this applies to both clothes and furniture. At the same time, I am also very concerned that the things I buy can have a long life and potentially pass on to others when I no longer need them. It makes a lot of sense for me to look at the quality of a design, the materials, and the craftsmanship when I buy new. I hope that less focus on trends and greater awareness of quality can have a positive effect on our surroundings.”

Michael spends a long time finding the right objects for the home so that there is no need for much replacement. When something is updated from time to time, he makes sure to sell the used items so others can enjoy them. And he also buys a lot secondhand himself.

“Secondhand has more charm than new things”  

If Michael needs to buy something new, it is important for him to look at materials and production. “I would rather buy a stool made of Scandinavian pine and crafted by a local carpenter than buy a plastic stool made in a factory outside Europe.”

It is quite natural that Michael likes to spend a lot of time finding a beautiful piece of furniture. He has always enjoyed looking in thrift stores, and in his neighborhood in Copenhagen, there are quite a few good places. He combines thrift store finds in shops with thrift store finds online. 

Why do you like to buy secondhand?

“For me, interesting design and good materials mean more than perfect condition. I would much rather buy a secondhand piece of furniture that is well-produced than buy something new just because it is completely 'flawless'. Design that is well-thought-out and well-produced can often be maintained and cared for, so even if it may show signs of use, the quality is still good.”