“Fanø and Esbjerg are my home, but you need to get inspiration abroad as well. And when we lived in Copenhagen, we came once a month here to slow down, to set a different pace than we do in our daily lives. Now we live here, we visit Copenhagen, we visit Hamburg, we travel the world, because we still need that energy.”
We’re in great company with Mette Hyttel, the Creative Co-Owner of not one, but two boutique hotels on the western coast of Denmark, Fanø Krogaard and Hjerting Badehotel - both perfectly placed to savor the senses of the seaside, from the smell of the lightly salted air to the view of the sea buckthorn blowing in the wind.
After pursuing a creative career in Copenhagen, Mette was called home to the familiar family atmosphere of these seaside hotels. Tempted by the never ending projects they would become for her, Mette finds energy in restoring and redesigning these hotels - from their cozy corners to their coastal cuisine.
In this episode, Mette shares with us how she welcomes the change in seasons of her hotels like the changes in the tides, appreciating the calm and the chaos they bring to her sense of community.
Top Takeaways
[1:45] Mette grew up with an appetite for creativity and a thirst for learning - from working in her hometown bakery to following the fashion trends in Copenhagen.
[4:45] Between journaling about her dreams in a coffee shop and answering a call from her parents who happened to purchase a beachfront boutique hotel, Mette found herself returning home with a newfound project, passion and purpose.
[15:00] A history of inns sprinkled around Denmark meant to welcome all travelers, from the farmers to the royals, and how Mette recreates that warm welcoming environment today.
[18:45] The story of two different houses in two nearby towns and the two sisters who now share in each other’s talents to ensure their success.
[21:40] Experience Fanø an island where time slows down, where the locals choose to live there not because they have to, but because they want to - to be a part of the eclectic community and rich culture.
[25:20] Hjerting Badehotel is a timeless take on a “Badehotel,” a cozy seaside lodge that is a staple of the Danish summer, where pastel colored umbrellas and striped beach towels can still be seen scattered along the shore.
[31:15] Dine in Good Company with artisanal Danish rye bread and ample fresh seafood including a local delicacy, Bakskuld.
