Designing Through Snowstorms – Annex Progress, Permits, and Winter Discoveries

We're thrilled to share that we’ve officially completed the design of the annex and have now submitted the permit application! This little 28m² building has come a long way in our plans—what started as an idea to create a space for my dad is now a thoughtfully designed living space (on paper, at least) just waiting for official approval.

Navigating the Danish permitting process has been…a journey. Between the zoning terms, official application systems, and translating architectural requirements, we’ve definitely had to flex our patience and language skills. But we’ve learned a lot—and it’s been worth it to feel this project take shape.

And while we’ve been moving ahead indoors, Denmark decided to show off with one of the snowiest, coldest winters in the last 16 years. Temperatures have dipped to -5°C, snow has blanketed the fields, and everything has taken on this hushed, magical quality.

The only downside? The sauna build has slowed way down—but we're not letting that stop us from getting our sauna fix. My husband and I have been visiting local public saunas and cold plunging in the sea, It’s intense, invigorating, and wildly addictive. It’s also making us even more excited to complete our own setup at home.

This was as far as we got between the snow and bitter temps.

To keep our spirits up, we’ve also been battling the seasonal blues with a few beautiful outings: visiting my cousin and her daughter and taking in the art at Kunstmuseum Brandts in Odense, and catching a little slice of home when an Asheville-based band played a sold-out show in Copenhagen. Small joys with big impact.

Wednesday in Copenhagen! They sounded so good.

Meanwhile, inside the house… we decided to peel back the layers in the entryway—just to see what’s underneath. And what a surprise: we uncovered original wood floors, beautiful plank ceilings, and even a fragment of an old painted wall design. From what we can see so far, it looks like vines and leaves—delicate, faded, and full of story.

There’s an old mural under that yellow paint….we are trying to see if we can uncover a piece of it to see what it once looked like.

I’m already dreaming about how to bring that feeling back into the space in a fresh way. It’s a reminder that every layer holds a little history—and that good design doesn’t always mean starting from scratch.

We’ll share more soon as we (hopefully!) move through permitting and get ready to start the remodel.