Ulrikke Siva Toft Simonsen
Home Series are conversations with friends about parenthood, work-life balance and treasured items.
Ulrikke is a student at the Royal Danish Academy of Architecture and a mother of two. She and her husband recently bought their dream home near Gentofte Lake, where she was born.
When did you become a parent, and how was the transition to motherhood for you? What were some of the challenges and joys you experienced during this time?
My due date with my daughter, who is my firstborn, was on my 28th birthday, so when she finally decided to come out eight days overdue, I had just turned 28. I remember being completely shaken up emotionally from all the hormones, and also breastfeeding her was initially a challenge, so the first three months, I was really insecure about how I was doing as a new mom. But after that time, I had a feeling that everything fell into place, and I have felt natural and confident in my motherhood since then.
How has having children impacted your professional life? What adjustments have you made to balance your career and family responsibilities?
Having children obviously impacts all aspects of my life, but it has specifically shown up in my professional life as fewer hours are spent at school. Still, then, I am just being way more efficient during the time that I am actually there. People at my school are generally really ambitious, so standards are set really high for the projects we work on, so that’s definitely still a balance that I am working on figuring out since I will soon be starting my bachelor's semester in September.
You recently moved into a new home. Could you share some details about your house and explain what makes it special to you and your family?
I think buying a house is all about gut feeling, and the feeling for us was just right from the get-go when we first saw this house. We had already looked at another fixer-upper house in the area and had fallen completely in love with the lake and its proximity to nature, even though it's only 15 minutes from Nørreport by train. So we just bid on it right away after seeing it, and we were so lucky to actually get it because the interest was really high; so we felt so grateful and almost shed tears once we found out that they accepted our bid.
Is there a specific item in your home that holds sentimental value to you?
I generally have so many things that I love and hold sentimental value, but this wooden vase is particularly special to me because Brian and I got it on our first-ever long trip together to Costa Rica. We rented a car and just drove around all of Costa Rica, experiencing the entire country (as it is actually relatively small). We bought this vase at a small roadside shop really high up in the mountains and dragged it along with us on the rest of the trip and all the way home.
As an architect, what advice would you give to families looking to decorate their homes? Are there any specific tips or principles you recommend?
I really believe that all objects hold the most value when they are both functional and beautiful at the same time, so this is what I strive for when decorating our home. Or I’ll try to go a little Marie Kondo on myself and ask myself if the item sparks joy or not, and if it doesn’t I’ll get rid of it.
Swallow Mobile at Billy's changing station
Daisy Bedding Blue with Astrid Lindgren's Pippi Longstocking - a family favorite
How do you prioritize self-care while managing a busy family life?
Self care to me is all about wellness, so I try to take long hot baths and listen to podcasts every week. I like to do facemasks and bodyscrubs and all things that feel and smell good to just give myself the necessary attention and relaxation.
What is one piece of advice you would give to other upcoming parents?
I think it should be a pretty simple piece of advice: don't Google too much. Try to give yourself the respect that it is to just go with your own instincts. I think that builds up your self-esteem as a parent and creates less stress.
Photography: Katrine Møbius
The interview has been edited for clarity.
Published on August 23rd, 2024.
