Paper Collective visited the lively apartment of Puk Sjeldan on the canals in Copenhagen's Christianshavn district. We let Puk re-interpret our collection through her colourful lens, curating a collection of floating gallery shelves, frames and artworks that accentuated the distinct colours of her small yet striking space.
Paper Collective:
Hi Puk, and thank you for allowing Paper Collective into your space. Can you start by telling me where you live in Copenhagen and what you love about this area?
Puk Sjeldan:
We live in the charming Copenhagen neighbourhood of Christianshavn, right by the canal, in one of the historic coloured houses with a view of the Church of Our Savior. Beauty is everywhere you look, and it makes my aesthetic heart happy every day – and nothing beats living by the water in the middle of the city.
I’ve shared a guide with some of my favourite things to do in the hood on my Substack, Á LA POP.
PC:
I know your apartment has a heritage listing. Can you tell me about its history and how the unique qualities of the space have shaped how you style and use your home?
Puk:
The apartment is located in a building from the mid-1750s and was originally a packhouse. It became part of Wildersgade Barracks during the 19th century until 1924 when it was converted into apartments. Due to the listing, all original details must be preserved—for example, all the woodwork has to be painted in NCS colour N-1500 and the walls have to stay white.
That was a big challenge at first. The white walls felt so sterile and impersonal, and I would have loved to go colour-crazy, but instead, I focused on coloured furniture and objects. Now, I love how the white walls make the colours pop.
PC:
Alongside sharing your interior passion with people around the world as @poppelgade, you are also the co-founder of local organization Femmunity. Can you tell me about your work with the organization and the events and workshops you are regularly hosting?
Puk:
Femmunity(@femmunity.dk) is a magazine and community for fempreneurs. Only 27% of Danish entrepreneurs are women – we want to push that needle. We started Femmunity to empower and inspire women to create a work life they love. For some, that means flexibility to balance family life; for others, it’s the freedom to set their own direction. And for many, it’s something else entirely—turning a passion into a business, building something from scratch, or having the freedom to work in a way that feels right for them.
We share the stories of inspiring women who’ve done just that, and we host events like our Pep Talks, where fempreneurs and those dreaming of it can come together to connect, share experiences, and get an inspiring pep talk from a fellow Solo Sister.
PC:
We love how you have used our Floating Gallery Shelves. Can you tell me about how you plan to use them going forward and why you wanted to utilise them in this way?
Puk:
I like how the shelves make it easy to change things up without making a big deal out of it. They let me play around and curate little displays that can change day to day—whether it’s a framed print and a vase in the bathroom or a mix of books, objects, and records in the living room. I see them as a way to bring personality into a room without it feeling fixed. A place for things that inspire me right now—art, design, music—knowing that I can easily switch it up whenever I feel like it.
PC:
We let you curate any of the pieces within our Paper Collective catalogue, and you chose many pieces from our MADO range of art for the whole family. What was it about these pieces that fit so well into your space?
Puk:
I was drawn to the MADO range because it’s playful, a bit quirky, and most of all, colourful. I like how the pieces add personality and joy to the space.
PC:
What advice do you have when it comes to using colour within the home, as you have such a good eye for combining bold, yet harmonious colourways.
Puk:
I’m writing about the use of colours on my Substack, Á LA POP.