Benjamin Ahearn
Home Series are conversations with friends about parenthood, work-life balance and treasured items.
Born and raised north of Boston, Benjamin now lives in Østerbro, Copenhagen, with his Danish wife and their two children. He’s a trained architect who designs and produces premium furniture at his company, BACD Studio.
When did you become a parent, and what surprised you most about the experience?
Our daughter Eileen was born in 2018 while we were arguably still in the process of settling in Copenhagen. Having a child was an adjustment from day one, as one would expect, and immediately after she was born, I had a bit of imposter syndrome - am I really a parent? However, in the long term, the most surprising thing has been the community of friends and fellow parents we have gained through having children. It has been one of the best and most important ways for me to feel more integrated into Danish society.
How has parenthood impacted your work-life balance and creativity?
It’s all about time and perspective. On one hand, there is of course, less time for work, but on the other hand, I feel I've gained a valuable perspective about the role and importance (or lack thereof) of work. A balance must be struck, and while my work can always use more time, pushing me to rise earlier and work later, I also want to be present in my kids' lives and value time spent with them overall. With regards to creativity, there is certainly less time for fussing over the small things, decisions must be taken and furniture produced. I do still fill sketchbooks with new designs and ideas, but for the time being most of these ideas will remain just that. Ultimately, becoming a parent has been an exercise in patience - I always aspire to have a bigger, more established company, more products, more sales, a better workshop, etc. but the reality is it’s all a process, and I try to embrace the balance.
In the dining area, Benjamin's Thea Table is accompanied by chairs from Artek and Stokke
As a furniture designer, do you use your designs at home?
Almost to a fault. I think my wife often wishes we could just go buy whatever furniture we need, yet I almost always insist on making it. I have made every piece of furniture in our house except for a few vintage Alvar Aalto dining chairs that I pulled from a dumpster. These I plan to replace as soon as time permits. For me, it is the ultimate learning experience, as I get to understand how the products I design will function, wear, and age - I simply can't pass up the opportunity.
What’s your most treasured item in your home?
To be honest, I try not to put too much value in material items, stuff is just stuff. This is of course, a bit ironic coming from someone who earns their living from making valuable objects. In the end, it comes down to what memories and meaning do we associate with a particular object. In this case, I chose these sculptures that my good friend and co-worker (of sorts) Nicholas Shurey has made. They are in fact his scraps, vestiges of broken first attempts, but after staring at them piled in the corner of our workshop collecting dust for over a year, I convinced him to let me clean them up and bring them home. Thanks, Nick.
A wooden sculpture by Benjamin's workshop partner and friend Nicholas Shurey. The shelf is Benjamin's design.
Can you tell us about the bespoke furniture you built for your children?
It all has arisen from necessity. A bed to sleep in, a desk to draw at, a stool to reach the sink, and a chest to sit on that stores their shoes. Each one is unique and a little bit playful. I want them to be able to use it themselves and enjoy interacting with it. Often, this means making it from inexpensive but durable materials (Swedish Kalmar Fir for the win), softening the edges, and painting it with a fun color. As they get older, they have more opinions about the things I make for them, and while that can present some challenges, it also means they become more involved in the process and have a stronger attachment to the finished product.
How does family life in Copenhagen differ from your upbringing in the U.S.?
This is hard for me to answer, as somehow I feel like there is no difference. A strange part of becoming a parent is wanting to give your children all of the same values and experiences that you yourself had as a child. This is of course, both impractical and impossible, yet I do feel blinded by nostalgia and my fading memory. The reality is that our family life in Copenhagen is in fact very different from my American upbringing: City vs. Country, Apartment vs. House, Danish vs. English, Leverpostej vs. PB&J the list goes on... But on the other hand what matters most is not so different: Loving family, good friends, weekend adventures, and time together.
What are your favorite places in Copenhagen to visit with your children?
Raising my children in the city makes me want to get them out in 'nature' as much as possible. The beach is always a hit when the weather is right, or the nearby forests; Copenhagen also has many incredible playgrounds that we love to explore as well. However, if I must pick one favorite, it has to be Frilandsmuseet, or the Open Air Museum, just north of the city. As an architect and craftsperson, I could spend an unending amount of time wandering around admiring the old houses, their construction, and furnishings. For the kids, there are crafts, games, playgrounds, farm animals, and food, everything good for a day outside.
Can you provide any advice on involving kids in home decoration?
Listen to their imagination, and make spaces dedicated to them. The small leftover space under our stairs is a hiding spot that my daughter has transformed into her secret hideaway. Our sofa is in fact all the parts and pieces required to build the ultimate indoor slide, hidden in plain sight, and the roof beams upstairs become fixing points for swings, hammocks, and even a trapeze. If the kids get to use the house in creative ways, they stimulate their imagination, and everyone ends up happier.
Photography: Sannie Nielsen
Interview & styling: Malene Stausgaard
The interview has been edited for clarity.
Published on October 2nd, 2024.
