Here is one final reader kitchen from our call for your Ten Favorite Things. This one comes all the way from Copenhagen via Susan Serra, the kitchen owner's niece and the proprietor of The Kitchen Designer. We love Susan's blog and her wonderful eye for kitchen design, so we were thrilled to see this small, joyful corner of her own family history. Read on for more about Uncle Thorvald and his Copenhagen kitchen.Susan says:
This is my Uncle Thorvald's kitchen just outside of Copenhagen, which he last remodeled 50 years ago. Uncle Thorvald is 95 and is a busy guy. He cooks, he plays music, he entertains the "old people" at the nursing home a few times a week with music, he entertains, reads books and lives a happy life with many friends and family surrounding him.
I have visited this kitchen for 40 years and have been amazed with the efficiency that he and his wife (Vabs, my aunt) prepared for dinner parties and set up, prepped, and cleaned up in a jiffy, while cooking everything from scratch, of course.
They worked, and he still works in the kitchen in a happy, focused, way. I was a little surprised to see a case of Tuborg (beer) in the kitchen, but Danes are never without beer!
Susan, thank you so much for this peek into Uncle Thorvald's kitchen.
• Visit Susan's blog: The Kitchen Designer
(Images: Susan Serra)
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I love a real retro kitchen - the cabinet latches are gorgeous
My parents are both from Denmark and I have enjoyed many wonderful kitchens like this one in my visits to DK. These pictures bring back so many wonderful memories. My sister, who lives in Copenhagen, is in the process of renovating her kitchen. I wonder what will happen with her old green cabinets and round sink.
wow i do love me that faucet!
I love Uncle Thorvald's kitchen!
I am getting a sense of déjà vu though -- I'm sure it was on AT last year...
i LOVE THIS - reminds me so much of my grandparents' orange formica kitchen and of all the wonderful meals my Bubby made there. I can't wait to send her the link.
I love that faucette
I don't understand why Susan was surprised about the Tuborg beer in the kitchen... did I miss something?
I guess I'm surprised he'd have a whole case! He's 95! Unless it was just the case and it held sodas, which he always has, so yes, I thought that was funny/cute. It's also common to have a beer at lunch in Denmark.
He'll all of a sudden break out the mandoline and sing some ancient Danish folk songs softly and in a casual way, bring out photos and he has a real spring to his step. He'll jump up and get the English/Danish dictionary to look up a word in English here and there. He worked selling shoes for 50 years and then met the Queen some years back, a huge event. He's a big thinker and a real optimist and just delightful.
Susan, I love this! I have an Uncle Thorvald too, complete with the Danish folksongs and the unfailing optimism. Wonderful.
First of all, I want an Uncle Thorvald like yours. Second, I want Uncle Thorvald's kitchen faucets. Hmmm-he remodled 50 years ago, so find them for sale anywhere is probably quite a long stretch. Any clues on this?
Will Uncle Thorvald adopt me? And how do the Scandinavians make everything so freaking adorable?
Susan, you need to video your uncle playing the mandolin and singing. My father played clarinet and would dance like a mad-man - I wish I had recorded it as it is a fond memory. Just a thought!
Susan, would you please do what greenjean said? We'd all love to see Uncle Thorvald in action.
This is an amazing kitchen! I feel like Uncle Thorvald and I are kindred spirits. Love the orange.
You got it....let me find some images, just got back here. I'll add them today or tomorrow, my pleasure!
So, here's a little album with a few pictures from a couple of years ago. I took some good photos last year but they're in a hard drive that I can't find at the moment. I have some actual paper photos, some good ones, with him playing the mandoline, and here he's playing the accordian.
The other old guy there is Uncle Finn, his brother. Doesn't he look like a Viking? He was the youngest. My father was another brother, whose name was Svend, and then there was Gunnar, Poul Anker and the one girl, Ellen. All are gone now except for Uncle Thorvald, who happened to be the oldest. They all lived in a tiny apartment when they grew up.
Is everyone asleep yet??? Lol! Uncle Finn also plays the mandoline and they often played together. They play a bunch of old school instruments and sing old Danish folk songs. How adorable is that?!! I wish I could tell you the energy and the spring in his step that he has. He's terriffic. Always happy, always thinking, soft spoken and always likes a little laugh.
Oh, and at special family events, he would compose special, adorable songs that everyone would sing. They were usually humorous in a sweet way.
Thanks for asking, I've totally enjoyed sharing these things with you. :)
http://sserra.smugmug.com/gallery/7523200_Er95f#485856618_MfVBB
Susan, thank you for the pics. He is quite the handsome man (and his wife is beautiful). Are you in pic #5? We also had a very tiny kitchen when I was growing up, but I remember my father at the stove (he did all the cooking) singing and doing silly dances. Again, thank you for sharing.
Oh, sorry I didn't get back till now. No, I'm not in that picture, but that is my husband and kids on the left side!
What a nice memory for you. Those moments are so precious.
Hello!.this is an 'older post'..but thank you for it!!! It made me so happy to just SEE!..thank you..he's wonderful and it shows all over him!!! fortunate man and family!