- Start
- World of Byon
- Bubbles with Ann-Sophie Ulka
- Start
- World of Byon
- Bubbles with Ann-Sophie Ulka
Bubbles with Ann-Sophie Ulka
Bubbles with Ann-Sophie Ulka
Who lives here? Ann-Sophie with her husband and three sons
Instagram? @Fieulka, @fabrek_
Works with? Owner of FABREK
It means everything to me – it’s my hobby, my passion and my job.
A festive everyday table setting
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Which is the most momentous tangible you own – tell us its history and why it’s so special?
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In the beginning of my and my husband’s relationship we bought a vintage poster at Lauritz.com. We had to pick it up in Malmo and the trip there was fantastic. There was nearly not enough space for the poster in the car when we drove home again. Since then it has always been placed in the centre of all the homes we have had. I think I love it even more today as it was our first purchase together.
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What is and does interior decorating mean to you?
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It means everything to me – it’s my hobby, my passion and my job. The decorating in my home must make me feel at home. It should be nice but also functional for us as a family of five. We have for example a big couch where we like to relax in the afternoons and on weekends. We can be close together on the couch and still see how beautiful it is. I have great love for various still life arrangements and often move our beautiful things around, then it feels like something new is happening at home.
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Which is your favourite room at home – and why?
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The kitchen! It’s the room closest to nature with a door straight into the garden. I love it. The mornings in the kitchen are extra significant. In the summer we open the door and let the light and the greenery come in. In winter we light candles and watch the snow through the window.
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When people come to your home what do you want them to feel? How do you create that feeling?
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Everyone who comes to our home should feel welcome to a place where it’s easy to relax and enjoy. I try to have a personal home which mirrors us who live there. It should feel homely, a feeling I create with a high coziness factor – lots of candles, cushions and blankets create just that.
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You run a tremendously popular boutique in Odense (@fabrek) tell us how everything started. What has your journey to success been like?
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I missed a shop like FABREK, so I started one myself. I have been inspired by my parents who always have been independent and dared to go their own way. My mum cheered me on and encouraged me, but my husband was a bit more hesitant. I started out small, in an old forge in the old part of Odense. Then the focus was on vintage products, posters and eternity bouquets. Specially the eternity bouquets became a talking point. People came from all over Denmark and the queue curled along the whole street some weekends. It was amazing! From there it really took off. I found a larger place in the same neighbourhood and grew from 20 m2 to 120 m2. Suddenly I could fill the shop with everything I liked. FABREK’s assortment was carefully selected with products I wanted in my own home. In conjunction with Corona I opened a webshop. Today we send packages all over the world.
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What’s your goal with FABREK, what kind of products can you find there and how do you pick them out when you purchase them?
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FABREK is more than just a shop to me. It’s a way of living and to look at interior decorating. I want it to be a destination for inspiration and joy. I always choose the things I want myself, in my own home. I rely totally on my gut feeling.
I love to be inspired and I get inspired quite easily. When you break the everyday routines with a walk in the forest, a visit to a new café or look at architecture.
Ann-Sophie Ulka favourites
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When you started FABREK, did you ever believe you would be where you are today? Why do you think FABREK is one of Odense’s favourite shops?
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It started as a hobby and now it is my fulltime job. The best job you can think of. I feel the same joy about it today as I did earlier, and I’m happy for every visitor, order and comment on Instagram.
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Which is the latest place you visited that gave you decorating inspiration?
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I love to be inspired and I get inspired quite easily. When you break the everyday routines with a walk in the forest, a visit to a new café or look at architecture. It’s the details that capture me, which give me inspiration. My latest inspiration is probably the trip to Copenhagen I just returned from.
I love to follow new trends and always keep updated with what’s happening, I simply can’t help it. Interior decorating is in my DNA.
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If you could pick anyone or anyplace, and had completely free reins, for whom or where would you choose to decorate and why?
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I think personal homes are the finest there is. The personal is the key to a fantastic home which inspires me. Therefore, it’s difficult to choose a home I would like to decorate. Instead I mention a home I’ve always been fascinated with and inspired by, it’s where the couple Ganni live. Their combination of colours and the way they use new and old is totally magical.
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Which are your three tips for more sparkling moments on a day in the middle of the week?
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Enjoy the tiny moments. Why not break routines and eat popcorn with the kids on a Wednesday, then it will feel better in both the tummy and soul. In our home it’s important to have fun. Even busy afternoons in the middle of the week should be enjoyed in all thinkable ways.
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Fill in -
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When I was younger, I wanted to – work with fashion, preferably at HM. I love HM.
In ten years – more products will be signed FABREK.
A dream I want to come true – to travel with my kids, perhaps be away for a year.
An achievement I’m extra proud of – to be a mum to three beautiful boys.
A day off I prefer to – have a late breakfast preferably at a café where I can watch people, take a long walk by the water and enjoy the peace.
I get energy and butterflies in my tummy from – my kids and my family. Our weekends. together with duvets on the couch, a trip to the local market for fruit and veggies, and to bake a cake together.
One thing I’ve learned in the last year – that the world changes and we never know what tomorrow will look like.
Three favourite products from Byon – the beautiful Crumble Jug, the Mussel bowl in blue and the champagne cups Bubbles.