Emilie Holm

Hi Emilie, so happy to be here in your home talking to you. How would you describe yourself?
– I’m a creative, aesthetically minded person who enjoys life with my kids and my partner Nicolai, whi is a music producer. Elio, my oldest, is 4 years old, and Alice—who is named after my grandmother—is 1. She was born here, while Elio was born in Christianshavn, where we lived before moving her. Our life here feels like a wild and beautiful mix. A blend of chaos and beauty.

Your home is so beautiful, like a sanctuary on top of this hill overlooking the sea.
– It’s an old house, full of charm and always something that needs fixing. We have the lower floor, sharing this house with the nicest couple who owns it. We love waking up here. The sun rises right as we get up with Alice, and our bedroom turns completely pink and orange. In the winter, we eat breakfast by the window, and it feels magical. It gets extremely cold in the winter though—we sleep in layers! The house is filled with history and Danish “skæve detaljer”. I love taking the stroller out early in the morning, sipping coffee in the cold air. It’s something special here.

How did you find the house?
– It´s a rental and how we find it has its own story. Before Alice, I had a miscarriage, and it was incredibly difficult—physically and emotionally. I was three months along, my body had started changing, and then it all ended in complications. I tried to go back to work, but I realized I wasn’t okay and I fell into a light depression. Just before,  we have talked about finding a  for a bigger place in Copenhagen and one day, by total coincidence, I came across a rental listing. The family had the same day put this apartment up for subletting. I was the first to message them—places like this never come up for rent. I went to see it, and we talked with them for two hours. It just felt right moving here and out of the city. And we got it. The whole miscarriage experience, finding this home so quickly, and then getting pregnant again with Alice  right after—it all felt very full circle.

That´s really positive, how life’s traumas makes us find new ways, something we perhaps didn’t knew we needed. And how did you and Nicolai meet?
– We met ten years ago, back when Nicolai was in a very popular boyband called Julias Moon. They were always playing  on the radio, and he was constantly touring, so things were chaotic at first say the least. We kept bumping into each other at various places and parties, and eventually, we really connected at a party. At that point, he was super focused on his career, and I was finishing my Bachelor’s in Communications and planning to go to NYC. I did go and didn’t expect to hear from him again—but then he wrote to me, and we started spending time together. None of our friends thought we’d make it as a couple because we were so different. But somehow, we just worked. We found each other, and I think all the early chaos actually gave us a kind of calmness later. We had already weathered so much. And moving out here gave us a fresh start.

I read somewhere you have a special connection to the sea, why is that?
– Yes, I grew up in a small fishing village near here. My stepdad is a great sailor, and we spent our summers sailing with my sister and mom, often to the Swedish archipelago near Gothenburg. Being near water is deeply rooted in me—it has grounded me. Even now, I try to stay close to the water, though it’s harder with small children. But it’s still a priority when I can. In spring and summer, I used to swim in the morning after dropping Elio at kindergarten, then have a coffee by the water. That’s my version of calm.

You work now as a photographer with Apollo Bar, Atelier September and La Bagatelle, tell us abour your work life!
– I’ve learned in my work life is how important it is to stick to your guts and only work with people who makes you happy. If something doesn’t feel wright, it probably isn’t. I’ve tried to be in an unhealthy work environment before and the whole experience really taught me how crucial it is to set healthy boundaries and know how much you are worth.  I started working in marketing and communications, at first for an Italian Michelin restaurant here in Copenhagen. The restaurant world is intense, and I love working with passionate people. That’s how I met Frederik Bille Brahe. He told me he need someone like me and I took the leap. I started at Atelier September. Through him, I discovered the beauty of photography—even though I never had a formal education in it. Frederik has a gift for seeing people’s potential and lifting them up. He’s one of the kindest and most creative people I’ve ever met. I’ve been working with him for seven years now.

How does a work day look?
– I work mostly from home or from Atelier September or Apollo Bar, and also at Malene Mallings boutique and creative space, La Bagatelle. I visit these places, take photos, always analog, develop them, and I take care of their Instagram.   Malene is amazing at setting a scene. Both she and Frederik have such creative, aesthetic minds. Very inspiring to be around.

What else makes you creative heart beat faster?
– I get so inspired by the people I work with, and by travel—France especially. La Colombe d’Or has been an inspiration since I was a child. We went there regularely since I was 4, and now it’s kind of an Instagram hotspot, which is a bit sad, but the place has stayed the same. It’s still magical and real. I also love the Pyrenees—the rugged, beautiful places that has so many natural wine producers.
The flower artist, Christian Ravnbak, he used to do the flowers at Apollo and Atelier September. He created a small floral wreath for Elio when he was baptised, which is now hanging in Elios room. There’s a poetry to everything he creates and I’m deeply fascinated by his work and eye for beauty. Another floral artist, Tage Andersen. His place is near Apollo Bar. Definitely worth visiting.

Three words that describe you?
– Vintage collector—almost everything in my home is from flea markets and thrift stores. When the kids sleep, I love scrolling through online auctions like DBA or Auctionnet. Romantic –  I don’t even like calling it that—but yes, I am. Nature – Elio and I are always picking flowers, chestnuts, stones from the beach… The prettiest things are the ones you find in nature. It’s what brings the most authentic feeling. I couldn’t live without that sense of realness.

What do you read?
– When I have time, I love reading cookbooks. Frederik Bille Brahe introduced me to Alice Waters, author to The Art of Simple Food: Notes, Lessons, and Recipes from a Delicious Revolution: A Cookbook, among many. I also love Nigel Slater and his poetic writing. No author, bur Danish gardener and TV host Søren Ryge and his calm, slow voice. I watched it as a child and again when having contractions with Elio to relax.

What do you eat?
– We eat really well and love cooking. There’s this non-profit market Grønne Bønner at Nørrebro in Copenhagen who works with regenerative small-scale farms in Zealand. It’s my favourite place to buy greens. We get our meat from an amazing farmer in Jutland called Hedeager.

What is your favorite thing to cook?
– Vegetables in season—whatever is fresh. In summer, it’s tomatoes. The simpler, the better. I also love baking. Right now, it’s all about apple cakes from the trees in our garden.

A favorite wine?
– My favourite Champagne is from Laherte Frères! And at the moment I really enjoy white wines from Andreas Tscheppe. On cold winter days I enjoy red wines more, especially from Anders Frederik Steen.

Do you have a life philosophy you try to live by?
– I try to be positive about most things, and Nicolai is even more so. People often say we have a unique way of going into things, to just trusting the process. Nicolai is very good at lifting me up when I get too deep in my feelings.

Is there something in your home that means more to you than other things?
– I have small paintings, stones, and a clay figure that my grandmother made. She’s one of the most important persons in my life—along with my mom. She was a hobby photographer and deeply influenced my creativity.

Do you want to recommend something to us?
–  I would have breakfast at Alle Tiders, which some of our best friends just opened. It’s cheap and absolutely delicious. Go shopping at Malene Mallings Studio La Bagatelle and at Caro Editions. Lunch and grocery shopping at Aurens Deli. And dinner and drinks at Apollo Bar – during summer there’s no better place than to sit in the courtyard sipping wines and drinks all night. Sushi Anaba for special occasions. My favourite museums are Karen Blixens Rungstedlund and Sophienholm. During summer always, always go swimming at Søbadet or the small beaches at Taarbæk just north of Copenhagen. On the way you’ll pass by both Atelier September and newly opened Sommer Café, for cakes and coffee.

Emilie Holm is a Copenhagen-based creative consultant and photographer renowned for her work with esteemed establishments such as Apollo Bar and La Bagatelle. Her expertise lies in film photography and content strategy, contributing significantly to the visual narratives of these venues. At La Bagatelle, Emilie’s photography has been instrumental in capturing the brand’s essence. Notably, she contributed cover images to “The World of La Bagatelle,” a 200-page publication that offers an intimate look into the brand’s universe, featuring pieces shot in the studio and at the homes of founder Malene Malling.

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