Baum und Pferdgarten:
A House, A Home

Copenhagen label Baum und Pferdgarten is part of a new guard of fashion houses. Helmed by founders and creative directors (and close friends) Rikke Baumgarten and Helle Hestehave, the brand celebrated 25 years in business last year – but it’s their tone rather than tenure that positions Baum und Pferdgarten in the current cohort of Scandi-cool.

Known for its feminine appeal and playful punctuations, each collection by Baum und Pferdgarten feels distinctly Danish. This is a quality that’s woven into how Rikke and Helle approach most aspects of their work and life: design, daily routines and a general disposition that reflects hygge – a cosy, contented mood that often focuses on wellbeing.

When it comes to style, Rikke self-describes as a maximalist, while Helle has more minimalist tendencies. “Our homes really reflect who we are,” they both agree on a call from Copenhagen.

Rikke’s home life is largely centred around an open-plan living and dining room – a space where “everything is going on.” At the heart of this is a Tulip table by Finnish designer Eero Saarinen, which plays host to both daily meals and dinner parties with friends. “It was an investment but I believe I will love it for the rest of my life. It’s oval, which means that you can fit a lot of people around it.”

For Helle, colourful art – including a favourite piece by Aron Barath – and tactile furnishings are layered with pared-back furniture. “It’s a mix that makes things interesting for me. Having some sort of diversity – in our collections or in my home – is what keeps it from getting too boring,” she says.

“We use our homes a lot. For seven months a year, it’s cold and rainy, so we’re inside,” Helle says. “It’s a big part of us, to make our homes a nice place to be.” Rikke agrees, adding that she sees Denmark’s history of architecture and design as another reason the country is famed for its cosy-chic vibes: “I think because of that, people are more aware of what they put in their homes.”

The idea of a home as a place to gather, to relax and to seek shelter from the elements is something that extends to the brand’s Copenhagen flagship. The store, which is in the centre of the city, is arranged with apartment-like appeal, showcasing the collection within scenes of ordinary life. Four rooms are divided into functional spaces: there’s a kitchen, a living room, a bathroom and a bedroom. It’s a unique approach to bricks-and-mortar retail that allows the Baum community to feel, quite literally, at home.

While winters might be dark and cosy, the duo admire how Copenhagen comes alive in the summer. “There’s so many great places around the city. You’re near the harbour and the sea and there’s so many bridges that connect the neighbourhoods ...there’s also festivals and parties all over.” Of course, they both cycle most places, especially in the warmer months.

Food is another key part of life in Copenhagen. From cooking Ottolenghi recipes at home to evenings at Locale 21, a beloved Italian bar and restaurant in the Østergade neighbourhood, and an abundance of bakeries, both Rikke and Helle have an appetite for the good life. “One of the great things about Copenhagen is all the bakeries. We have awesome bread but also in terms of the interiors and architecture.”

Denmark often ranks as one of the happiest countries in the world – it’s a culture that supports a high quality of life. From Rikke and Helle’s perspective, it all comes down to balance. “I think everybody talks about this balance in your life, and of course, it’s true. I also think when you have a home where you feel comfortable and can be yourself, that is very important,” Rikke shares.

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Featuring RIKKE BAUMGARTEN & HELLE HESTEHAVE OF BAUM UND PFERDGARTEN
Photography by PHILLIP HUYNH
Written by ALICE JEFFERY