Marie Jedig chose an idyllic life in a summer cottage close to nature and spending time as a couple

One Monday in June, Marie Jedig, a musical theater singer and influencer, left Copenhagen with her boyfriend for an idyllic summer cottage getaway. We spoke with her about how well-thought-out details and beautiful surroundings create the peace of mind needed to balance both work and relaxation.

Why did you choose to stay at a summer cottage in Denmark?

The truth is, we’re just two people who’ve been used to traveling a lot, and the pandemic put a stop to that. It was about getting out to see something new and getting that exotic travel feeling, while still following the rules. The need simply arose because we needed to get away. We usually travel and work at the same time, so it’s not as if we’re necessarily taking a traditional vacation when we’re away—it’s just as much about getting out and experiencing something different, seeking inspiration. It was a combination of wanting to see something different, needing to work, and spending time together in new surroundings.

Does the setting of the vacation home mean anything to you?

It means everything to me. I think that if you have a fundamentally aesthetic sensibility, you’ll always be drawn to something beautiful. Of course, what you find beautiful is individual, but I think most people would recognize that feeling. The feeling you get in an architect-designed house is that someone has really put in the effort here. It’s functional, it’s well thought out, and at the same time, it’s beautiful. I think many people would see this house as a great setting or a great place to work—no matter what your line of work is.

You just relax because everything is aesthetically put together all around. The fact that everything is beautiful all around is something I appreciate—even when I’m working. I’m an aesthete through and through.

What do you pack for your summer house trip?

Mostly I pack work gear like my computer and camera, and I pack a lot of the clothes I’ll need for shooting campaigns. I had to make a quick trip back to Copenhagen during our stay to pick up more clothes because it was such an incredible place. I just had to make the most of this setting that had been gifted to me.

> All those romantic things we used to be good at doing in the beginning—we focused a little more on them while we were away. It was nice to be able to go all out.

We also packed swimwear, just in case. But I thought the water was just a bit too cold, even though the temperature was lovely. We ended up lounging in our swimwear in the garden anyway, because the weather was just amazing.

What was on the menu?

We did our grocery shopping on the way there, so we knew we wouldn’t have to go shopping while we were away. We wanted to focus on just being there, and it’s also really nice not to have to think about what to make for dinner. That sets the stage for a truly relaxing trip.

> When you’re at a vacation home, it’s as if you’re just giving yourself permission to take the time to do the things that might otherwise be mundane or trivial.

We picked up some delicious ingredients, and we were lucky enough to find some active sourdough starter, so we could bake buns. We never do that otherwise. Never. When you’re at a summer house, it’s as if you just give yourself permission to take the time to do the things that might otherwise be mundane or trivial. You spend extra time cooking or baking those buns that you otherwise don’t get around to making. We also cooked together every evening, which is something we tend to neglect a bit in our daily lives. We focused a little more on all those romantic things we used to be good at doing in the beginning, but we were away. It was nice to be able to make an effort.

What about entertainment—did you bring books, games, or anything like that?

I mostly listened to podcasts while I went for walks up to the nearby rapeseed field. At home, I’d usually have watched TV, but we didn’t do that at all while we were away. If it had rained, we definitely would have made more use of the nice TV room. Instead of watching TV, we played games—something we never usually do. We normally can’t be bothered with that, but at the vacation home, it was different. That’s how you grow closer to each other when you’re away.

Had you planned to do anything in particular?

We usually plan our vacations down to the smallest detail. But this time, we agreed that when you go to such an idyllic and secluded place, we’d just go with the flow and see what we felt like doing.

When we arrived at the vacation home, there was a really nice handwritten letter waiting for us with the host’s best tips on what to do in the area, so that gave us some great inspiration for little outings. We ended up taking a trip to the harbor in Hornbæk, to the beach, and into the woods, and then we visited the Rudolph Tegner Museum—since we’d never been there before and it was right nearby. It’s an incredibly beautiful place and was an absolutely fantastic experience.

We really wanted to be outside and enjoy the weather—and there were plenty of opportunities to do so with such a large and lovely garden.

> While other vacation rentals are designed to be rented out, this one is 100 percent designed for you to actually live there. It was very easy to find your way around and intuitive, even though it’s a huge vacation home.

What does cottage life mean to you? Is it something you’ve done a lot?

We take an annual family trip to a cottage, and as soon as we arrived here, I immediately called my mom and told her, “This is where we need to come back.” We were so envious that this wasn’t our cottage. You just feel incredibly well taken care of, and we felt very welcome. Sometimes you can get the feeling that you’re not at home when you rent a vacation home. But here, the feeling was simply that we were home right away. From day one, we knew where everything was, and it was all very intuitive. Whereas other vacation rentals are designed to be rented out, this one is 100 percent designed for you to actually live there. It was very easy to find your way around and intuitive, even though it’s a huge vacation home.

What kind of experience are you taking with you from the vacation home?

It’s the little things you do all the time that matter. The first evening, we cooked dinner together while the sun was streaming in through the windows, and the weather was just amazing. As a Copenhagener, you don’t usually get to just take your food outside, sit in the garden, look out over a field in the blazing sunshine, and eat dinner. So I sat there at the most beautiful round table with my beautiful girlfriend and thought, “How can I be this lucky?” Even though it’s actually one of the simplest experiences, I just felt incredibly honored. Being away has been like something out of a movie.