Country Home

Set amid woodlands, open fields, and winding streams, Dinesen Country Home stands as a quintessential South Jutland longhouse, built in 1885 with a thatched roof and delicate mullioned windows. Steeped in the Dinesen family’s history, it embodies the values, craftsmanship, and quiet elegance that have shaped the brand for generations.

Just a short walk from Dinesen’s headquarters and workshop in Jels – and the creative hub Orbi, which hosts architectural residencies in collaboration with Dinesen and the Royal Danish Academy – the house reflects a deep commitment to tradition, collaboration, and curiosity.

Inside, the home has been sensitively reimagined by design duo Mentze Ottenstein. Their approach gently marries historic character with a contemporary sensibility, ensuring that in its new role as a guesthouse, the space retains the warmth and intimacy of a true family home.

The building underwent a major restoration in 2004 by architect Jørgen Overby, who reinstated its original charm after earlier modernisations had stripped away much of its character. While Overby preserved the structural essence, Mentze Ottenstein’s 2024 update layered in texture, colour, and detail – adding a tactile richness that invites slow, lingering appreciation.

The interiors flow in a harmonious sequence of colours and materials. “We kept a consistent treatment for door frames and beams, while shifting the palette gradually from lighter tones to deeper, cosier shades,” explain the designers. The journey culminates in a library with dark, enveloping walls – a warm and intimate retreat.

Wood, naturally, takes centre stage. John Pawson’s minimalist furniture collection for Dinesen, crafted in Douglas fir, is seamlessly integrated, its purity of line offering a counterpoint to antiques and bespoke pieces by Mentze Ottenstein in oiled ash with a soft, amber glow. Frames from Cassetta in walnut and pearwood lend a grounded quality alongside pale Douglas plank floors, treated with lye and white soap. Hand-turned Georgian bowls by Peter Møller Rasmussen and Christian Vennerstrøm echo the home’s underlying narrative of craftsmanship and collaboration.

This spirit extends to every corner, from antiques sourced through Jamb in London and glassworks by Alexander Kirkeby to contemporary design accents. Each object has been chosen with care, creating a layered dialogue between history and modernity. Contributions from Christian+Jade and Wästberg bring gentle lighting, while Nina Nørgaard’s glass elements and RønholtKurz’s custom chairs add distinctive touches. The result is a composition that bridges eras – heritage meeting innovation.

“A room is like a portrait of its inhabitants,” says Mentze. “We wanted to paint a contemporary portrait of Dinesen – open enough to evolve over time, to gather new layers and stories.”

The home speaks to a time when heirlooms were treasured for their stories as much as their beauty. “For us, these narratives hold their own aesthetic value,” say Mentze and Ottenstein. “Our aim was to tell the story of Dinesen’s collaborations over the years, while keeping the house authentic – more a home than a showroom.”

The kitchen, in a warm, muted hue, reflects the rural setting, with walnut and pearwood handles offering refined, tactile notes. Upstairs, smaller rooms in golden ochre exude intimacy and charm.

“Dinesen Country Home expresses our love of wood and tradition – values passed from generation to generation. It’s a cohesive story, a collection of fragments reflecting the lives lived here. We hope it will continue to be a place where memories are made, and where our identity, rooted in the past, can grow and evolve.” – Hans Peter Dinesen, Brand Director and fifth generation.