"I want people to see how easily life can be beautiful": Designer Louise Roe on her defining Danish gallery

Hidden in the heart of Copenhagen’s city centre lies Louise Roe Gallery – a simplistic yet inspiring place surrounded by the business of the city. In many ways, 'gallery' doesn't do the space justice given it incorporates a store and a cafe as well. Regardless of the semantics, you immediately feel a sense of calm and surprise at the same time. Every single detail has been consciously placed and is aesthetically pleasing.

It’s a feeling that lies at the heart of everything Louise Roe creates. "I am intrigued by how things look. It means a lot to me. It means a lot to all of us even though some people might not consciously be aware of it," she says. "It is such a special thing to get this overwhelming feeling of beauty and inspiration when you enter a room. Why create a space purely for functional reasons if it doesn’t bring you joy?"

Just as with her 'gallery', reducing Roe to one tag would fail to do her justice. She launched her eponymous interior design brand in 2010 after having worked in the fashion and interior world. Her creations, which vary from glass sculptural vases to ceramic tableware, have a minimalistic style in common which makes them highly sought-after pieces by Scandi and international tastemakers alike. "The simplicity of Scandinavian style has influenced me in my work," she says. "But the unexpected twist is something Danish for sure."

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Roe's work is mostly inspired by the calmness and realness of nature, she explains. "I choose materials and colours that are inspired by nature because it is honest and real. A tree that exists for a hundred years seems to be still, yet it’s full of life." The same goes for her own designs. They have an unexpected detail that entreats your eye to linger just a little longer, without knowing exactly why. "My designs appear to be calm and minimalistic, yet there is always movement in them," she says. "It’s all about balance."

It's a craft that Roe has spent years building. "I have always been into interior," she explains. "When I had friends over at our home when I was a kid, I always wanted to change up the furniture to create the most beautiful space." Taking things into her own hands didn't stop there. In the absence of a sustainable and inspiring showroom concept to showcase her designs, she started Louise Roe Gallery in 2018. "I was tired of going to these fairs where you had to create your own universe on just a few square metres and then tear it down again. It is bad for the environment, and the coffee was bad too," she laughs. "I wanted to show we could do things differently and create something inspiring that last."

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Soon after she launched the gallery - which is now known as a true design hot spot in Copenhagen - Roe's concept began to shift away from a pure showroom. Although this wasn’t the initial plan, it fits perfectly. "I wanted to invite people into our space and make them feel comfortable," she explains. "If there is no coffee, no good food then something is missing. People can come here and experience the interior while enjoying their coffee at the same time. I always get asked how I can do all those different things. For me it’s all complimentary; I love good food, I love a beautiful space and creating experiences that stimulate the senses. I want people to see how easily life can be beautiful."

Roe took many risks when starting her gallery, including different elements that weren’t necessarily looked upon as a great match before. But "risks" doesn’t exist in the vocabulary of Louise Roe: "I never see risks, I see opportunities. I always work very instinctively," she says. "If things don’t feel right, they must change. I was allowed to dream when I was younger, my parents believed in me and encouraged me to try things. I do the same now with my daughter Sophia [the stylist and fashion designer, red.], because in this way, you might end up realising your dream."

Everything Louise Roe does, be it creating her designs, running her gallery or creating a new dining concept, is based on emotions. "Whether it's fashion, interior or architecture, it’s all about visuals that surround us and therefore create an emotional impact," she explains. "The value of a beautiful environment is easily overseen. The doctor says you have to eat an apple a day to stay healthy, I think you need that breathtaking feeling regularly to feel happy and alive. It is all about experiencing a unique feeling that stimulates all your senses and creates curiosity. It’s like you taste something with your eyes."

And that’s exactly what you will find in her eponymous gallery.