Growing up in a family of architects made me appreciate details—the well-crafted details made with care and compassion for how a house is its own story—a story of everyday tasks and life, a kitchen story, a story of food making, a story of fire and fireplaces, of home offices, sleep, and play.
This home in Trosterudstiebn, Oslo, was created by my grandfather, Jens Selmer, and his wife, Wenche Selmer. The house will now pass on to new owners. Still, I have been photographing and honoring all the small and more significant details of hidden walls, secret storage, and beautifully designed rooms, doors, drawers, and wooden furniture for the last week. As a friend said when joining our last gathering, "Everything in this house is thought of; there are no coincidences." And it's true. They offered so much time and thoughtfulness in every situation, in all the details of their home, and showed us how sustainable quality is because you don't want to change a thing.
I was also reminded of how good it is to be in a house made of unpainted wood and how important it is to fill a house with laughter, food, and love for it to shine brightly.