"Sit on a cardboard box for 6 months" - Joachim Bremer, designer and founder of Space Between
We meet the designer and owner of Space Between, Joachim, at Original Coffee in Nordhavn. The place, like the neighborhood, is industrial in its expression - in a cool way. There is a sharp combination of classic design stools, custom-made tables, and industrial lamps, as well as beautiful wavy curtains that provide softness to the raw concrete floor.
“We have tried to create different moods in the various areas of the café. You can sit bathed in light at the front, or you can retreat to the cozy corner at the far end of the room. And the place has an agreement with a running club, so the curtains also serve a function: hiding the runners' clothes and bags.”
The surroundings set the stage
When Joachim designs and decorates a new place, he always starts with the surroundings. It could be something historical, nature, or the colors of the area.
“Right here, it's the water and the neighborhood that have an industrial feel. There are the levels, both in the water but also in the buildings. We have used that in the choice of colors, and we have decorated in different levels, just like the apartments in the area”
Joachim built the round tables in various heights himself, painted in light and dark blue shades, just as the sea also has different levels and shades of blue.
Function at the forefront
The space and the interior prioritize function, with different areas of the coffee shop serving different purposes. At the back of the room, the curtain can function both as a room divider, to provide the right light and atmosphere, and it's good for the acoustics. For seating, they have chosen stools with handles purchased from KEEPR, among others, so they can be easily moved around. Choosing movable stools invites guests to rearrange them and sit however they like.
Function is an element Joachim advises others to think about first when decorating a place. This also applies when prioritizing your budget. For example, if you are somewhere to eat or work, you stay there for a longer period. Here, the core function is to sit comfortably. This applies everywhere, whether at a restaurant, in the office, or at home.
“Comfort means a lot for the experience of a place. Instead of spending a lot of money on a beautiful picture hanging on the wall, spend it on sitting well.”
Quality and longevity go hand in hand
Joachim and Original Coffee have integrated the entire topic of quality and longevity into the interior design. They have a special focus on keeping furniture in circulation and choosing materials thoughtfully.
At the coffee shop, cork has been chosen, for example, for the seats on the custom-built benches and on the front of the bar. Cork is an environmentally conscious material, as it comes from bark that regenerates itself and does not necessarily require the tree to be felled first.
According to Joachim, furniture and accessories must be of a certain quality so they can last a long time and have the possibility of being maintained. “Design furniture often has this. And I really like wood, for example, because when it gets worn, we can sand it and give it a new treatment, and then it can be used again.”
“If it is of high quality, it still has a high value, even if it has been used.”
An important tip from Joachim is to avoid buying something temporary, as it is wasteful in terms of environmental consideration and not something you will be happy with in the long run.
“Sit on a cardboard box for 6 months and then buy that chair you actually want. Don't buy something temporary because you won't be as happy with it, it won't last as long, and if it ends up being thrown away after a short time, it's a waste. So wait and buy what you dream of.”
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At KEEPR, we hope you can use Joachim’s approach to interior design as inspiration. Let it inspire you on how to consider surroundings, function, and quality the next time you decorate or buy furniture for your home.