When interior architect Synne Bersvendsen designs a home, she does so with longevity in mind. Her commitment to sustainability, timeless interiors, and thoughtful choices shapes both her professional work and the home she shares with her family.
Synne works as Senior Design Lead – Interior Architect at Henning Larsen Architects.
Products: Falcon First, Sia, Less, Modell 711
We live in Asker, just outside Oslo, in a modern house built in 2018. When we moved in, almost all the walls were black and white, so we’ve gradually made it feel warmer by introducing natural materials such as leather, stone and wool. The house has large glass surfaces and quite sharp architectural lines, so it became important for us to find furniture that could soften the overall expression. At the same time, we wanted pieces that would last for many years and have a timeless aesthetic.
My favourite place is the corner by the living room windows. I usually wake up before everyone else, so I sit here with a cup of coffee and the newspaper. It’s where I feel closest to nature, above the treetops with a view of the sea.
The room changes constantly with the light throughout the day, so the living room feels completely different in the evening than it does in the morning. It was important for us to find an armchair that was timeless, functional and genuinely comfortable for this corner. We chose the Falcon because we feel it complements the house beautifully.
I’ve always believed that the things we surround ourselves with should last. It’s easy to be influenced by trends, but the main pieces of furniture – the sofa, the armchairs, the ones we use every day – need to stand the test of time. I’ve also chosen several pieces of Norwegian-made furniture because I think it’s important to celebrate the traditions and craftsmanship we’ve built up in Norway over generations.
My goal is that one day our children will argue over who gets to inherit the furniture in this house. With that kind of long-term perspective, you can’t just fill your home with anything. It’s about choosing solid, natural materials that develop a beautiful patina over time, such as wood and leather. The furniture should also be repairable and easy to maintain.
After all, this is a home. It shouldn’t be the kind of place where you need to cover the sofa with plastic to keep it looking good. The most beautiful furniture is furniture that’s lived in and enjoyed, not pieces that simply stand in a corner for display.
Our living room actually stood empty for a whole year after we moved in because we were struggling to sell our previous home. Looking back, that turned out to be a good thing because it gave us time to think carefully about what we really needed. Waiting and seeing how you actually use a space makes it much easier to furnish it well.
We wanted the seating area to sit in the centre of the room, which means you walk behind one of the sofas when moving through the space or heading upstairs. Because of that, we were looking for a sofa that looked just as beautiful from the back as it does from the front.
We chose the Less sofa. It has a subtle Japanese-inspired aesthetic with a light, floating appearance that allows light to move freely through the room.
Get to know your home before making decisions. Walk through it, get a feel for where furniture naturally belongs, where you want to sit, and which spaces you enjoy spending time in. Think about the materials you’re drawn to and build your palette from there.
Furniture is an investment. Find the piece you truly want to live with for the rest of your life, even if it costs a little more. Then complement it with more affordable pieces, ideally second-hand. Trust your instincts and choose what genuinely speaks to you.
A good home is a place where you can enjoy everyday life – not a museum. It should feel carefully considered, but never rigid. It should be somewhere you can relax, recharge and simply be.
A good home also needs to work for many different situations. We have three children of different ages who all use the house in completely different ways. They have friends over, we celebrate birthdays, and we regularly host family. It’s wonderful to be able to rearrange the furniture and adapt the space to whatever life brings.