Introducing Charlotte Schultz
Charlotte Schultz is the founder of hyperhyper, an interior studio and vintage atelier launched in 2004. With over 20 years of both commercial and creative interior experience under her belt, Charlotte is one of Denmark’s leading authorities on interior styling and curation.
Subsequently, we are pleased to announce that Charlotte will be joining the team at The Audo as an interior consultant and advisor. We caught up with Charlotte at her home and studio in inner Copenhagen to discuss client projects, impulse shopping and the ephemeral relationship between a collector and their design pieces.
THE AUDO: AS A CURATOR, DO YOU EVER FIND YOURSELF BUILDING EMOTIONAL CONNECTIONS TO THE OBJECTS YOU COLLECT? HOW DO YOU NAVIGATE THESE FEELINGS WHEN PARTING WAYS WITH A PIECE?
Charlotte: Many of the objects I collect are selected for styling purposes and I keep very few of these findings in the long run. It’s a constant circulation, of kinds. There are very few objects which I feel as though I can’t live without. That’s not to say that I don’t love every single piece. I treasure them deeply but when I let go, they’re gone — no sorrows from me.
TA: WOULD YOU SAY THAT THERE'S A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF TIME THAT PASSES BEFORE YOU CAN ACCEPT THAT AN OBJECT HAS SERVED ITS PURPOSE AND YOU CAN PASS IT ON?
C: Exactly
THE AUDO: DO YOU HAVE A SPECIFIC PHILOSOPHY THAT YOU FOLLOW IN REGARD TO ACQUIRING NEW OBJECTS?
C: Every time something comes in, something must go out! I always do this and have taught my kids to do the same.
TA: HOW DO YOU HONOUR THIS PHILOSOPHY IN YOUR CLIENT WORK?
C: I’m very honest with my clients. When they ask if they should get rid of this and that, I always say that if they don’t have any serious or lasting attachments to the object then yes, of course. Give it to someone who likes it or take it to the flea market. If it’s absolutely necessary, I will point out things that have to go. Although, there are a lot of things that you can repurpose. Perhaps an artwork that was once hanging in the living room, can bring new life to a basement wall.
I tend to repurpose a lot, however, sometimes they agree and we decide to let it go. I always ask clients if an object is important to them before suggesting it be removed. If it is dear to the client, I will try to find a new place for the object or furnishing, rather than take it away. Because if you take out everything, then there will be nothing personal left.
TA: WHAT IS ONE THING THAT YOU ALWAYS ADVISE YOUR CLIENTS TO DO, OR NOT DO, DURING THE FIRST STAGES OF A PROJECT?
C: Oftentimes, I have my clients messaging me, “Can I buy this? May I buy that?” If we’re in the beginning stages of planning then the answer is always “no, not yet. Don’t buy any art, lighting or additional furnishings until everything is ready."
This way, they won’t impulse shop. I always avoid impulse shopping whenever I can. The only exception to this rule is if I’m shopping in a flea market and come across something that’s truly one-of-a-kind. If you don’t buy it — someone else will.
TA: HOW LONG DOES A PROJECT WITH A PRIVATE CLIENT TYPICALLY TAKE?
C: In the past, it was quite reasonable, but now there are several reasons why it can take much longer. With COVID, it can be challenging to get builders in and acquire the furniture. We have to wait for everything. Everything is related, you see — without the kitchen completed, you can’t buy the tables or chairs. If you don’t have the couch, you can’t get the coffee table, and so on.
Secondly, I’ve noticed that most clients now want the entirety of their house or apartment renovated. In the past, it was often just a single room in the house like a living room. Today, it’s building a whole new home so it takes time and discussion. Oftentimes, during this process, clients want to do something drastic to a new home, such as tear down walls. However, after making the change, they find that they don’t like the vastness of the new space. I will typically advise them against making a big change like that right off the bat. Instead, I suggest that they allow themselves to acclimate to the space as it is. Most of the time, after gaining a greater sense of the space, they decide to keep the original walls. If in doubt I always advise clients against dramatic changes. Overall, my projects typically average between 6 to 12 months in total.
TA: DO YOU FIND THAT YOUR CLIENTS' AESTHETIC DECISIONS MIRROR THAT OF YOUR OWN?
C: Yes, very often. I guess that might be one of the main reasons why they hire me. I just keep telling them that they’re doing great and to keep on the amazing work. Sometimes all the client is missing is an extra hand to help create a sense of cosiness or build an atmosphere. For example, perhaps the client has an aversion to miniature decorative objects. However, I find that small, curated items are often the glue that binds the room together and can help create a sense of warmth.
And they don’t have to be expensive things, which is why I often advise flea markets and secondhand because I don’t want to encourage my clients to spend a lot of money if they’re working within certain financial parameters. In the past, I’ve often helped clients on strict budgets find the right furniture and objects for their homes. This is also why it’s important that the budget is clearly outlined in the first stages of the project so that I know how big I can dream.
TA: HOW MANY PROJECTS ARE YOU TYPICALLY WORKING ON AT ONCE?
C: I am typically working between 6 to 8 private or corporate clients at a time, however, that can vary depending on the scope of the projects.
