Houzz Tour: A White Backdrop Showcases Danish Classics in Denmark
Only the blue door survives this home’s transformation from ‘ugliest house on the street’ to Scandinavian-style haven
In 2014, Astrid and Henrik Larsen got the keys to what they had nicknamed “the ugliest house on the street” when they first saw it. They had a plan to transform this villa in Aarhus, Denmark, into their dream home, and for two years, they put all their efforts into the project. Today its blue front door — the only thing that didn’t change — leads to a bright and cozy Scandinavian interior that highlights clean lines, herringbone-pattern floors and Danish design classics.
When the couple bought the then-red-brick villa about four years ago, they hadn’t really fallen head over heels. Dating from 1957, it wasn’t their dream 1920s home. Both its location and its view of Aarhus were incomparable, however, and the couple weren’t afraid to roll up their sleeves. They spent the next two years renovating the house from top to bottom.
They tore down everything but the outer walls and the front door. Still, they say the huge revamp didn’t take that much courage: They had a plan all along.
“We luckily also had valuable help from Henrik’s father, who is a retired bricklayer. He was a huge help, and we wouldn’t have got through the project without him,” Astrid says.
“We luckily also had valuable help from Henrik’s father, who is a retired bricklayer. He was a huge help, and we wouldn’t have got through the project without him,” Astrid says.
Today the house is known as “the white house with a blue door,” she says. The front door is blue on the inside too, and the dark color breaks up the otherwise bright entrance hall.
The wainscoting brings in some of the feel of the grand decor and airiness of 1920s houses.
Houzz Quiz: What Color Should Your Front Door Be?
The wainscoting brings in some of the feel of the grand decor and airiness of 1920s houses.
Houzz Quiz: What Color Should Your Front Door Be?
The entryway leads directly into the heart of the house. The large living room incorporates the dining area, while a set of French doors leads to the kitchen.
The style is Nordic and simple, featuring lots of Danish design elements and warm colors. “We think it’s great,” Astrid says. “It’s important for us to feel at home and to have enough space for family and friends here. We both come from big families, so it’s innate in both of us that there should always be room for everyone — and then some.”
The style is Nordic and simple, featuring lots of Danish design elements and warm colors. “We think it’s great,” Astrid says. “It’s important for us to feel at home and to have enough space for family and friends here. We both come from big families, so it’s innate in both of us that there should always be room for everyone — and then some.”
A few months ago, the couple replaced their large rectangular dining table with a round one.
“The long table worked really well, but we wanted to create more air and space in the living room, and the round table let us do that,” Astrid says. “We really like that when we have guests, everyone can see each other.”
Browse dining tables by shape in the Houzz Shop
“The long table worked really well, but we wanted to create more air and space in the living room, and the round table let us do that,” Astrid says. “We really like that when we have guests, everyone can see each other.”
Browse dining tables by shape in the Houzz Shop
Henrik built the bookcase during his paternity leave. The idea was that the bookcase would bring life into the living room and act as a work of art. “I think we’ve really succeeded,” Astrid says. “There is a travel section, a cooking section, a children’s section, an interior design section and an autobiography section, to name just a few. This way, each part of the bookcase has its own story.”
The bay window is Astrid’s favorite spot. She can see every corner of the house from here, including the firewood niche in the kitchen, the new staircase in the entryway and the light coming in through the big windows.
The French door behind the dining table leads to the patio, where the couple often enjoy morning coffee in the summer. The Molecular lamp is by House Doctor.
The French door behind the dining table leads to the patio, where the couple often enjoy morning coffee in the summer. The Molecular lamp is by House Doctor.
Both Astrid and Henrik come up with decor ideas. Astrid is a sales consultant at design firm House Doctor, and Henrik is a real estate agent, so they both “bear the scars of their work,” as she puts it.
“I see opportunities and new ideas everywhere. It really didn’t take us long to come up with the right style: I grew up in a house that had a similar style, and we feel at home right away in this kind of interior.”
“I see opportunities and new ideas everywhere. It really didn’t take us long to come up with the right style: I grew up in a house that had a similar style, and we feel at home right away in this kind of interior.”
Originally the pair had wanted the kitchen to be open to the dining room, but when they created a space for the French doors, which they love, the doorway wasn’t large enough to make the kitchen truly open. So they added an island with built-in seating, which turned out to be the perfect solution for them.
Find a kitchen designer near you on Houzz
Find a kitchen designer near you on Houzz
“We cook on separate sides, so we can see each other. But as Henrik says so often, he’s probably just sitting on a bar stool and watching me while I’m cooking,” Astrid says.
To one side of the kitchen island hangs a painting that has great sentimental value for both of them. It was painted by Astrid’s mother and, in a way, tied Henrik and Astrid together long before they met.
“On our first date, Henrik saw the painting and asked if I knew the painter,” Astrid says. “I told him that it was my talented mother and asked him why he was asking. He replied that it reminded him of an artist he knew in his childhood — an old man with white hair, who he would often spot painting in his studio and at the Nybøl watermill. That man actually knew me well: It was Viggo Kragh Hansen, my great-grandmother’s brother, who was also my mother’s muse and the reason she paints. It was a bit of a surprise for both of us. We agreed that it was probably meant to be, and we named our firstborn Viggo.”
To one side of the kitchen island hangs a painting that has great sentimental value for both of them. It was painted by Astrid’s mother and, in a way, tied Henrik and Astrid together long before they met.
“On our first date, Henrik saw the painting and asked if I knew the painter,” Astrid says. “I told him that it was my talented mother and asked him why he was asking. He replied that it reminded him of an artist he knew in his childhood — an old man with white hair, who he would often spot painting in his studio and at the Nybøl watermill. That man actually knew me well: It was Viggo Kragh Hansen, my great-grandmother’s brother, who was also my mother’s muse and the reason she paints. It was a bit of a surprise for both of us. We agreed that it was probably meant to be, and we named our firstborn Viggo.”
On the other side of the island is the wood-burning stove. It’s here simply because this is where the original chimney was located.
“I really wanted to have a fireplace or wood-burning stove. Even though we do not use it much, we think that it fits into the room very well aesthetically,” Astrid says.
“I really wanted to have a fireplace or wood-burning stove. Even though we do not use it much, we think that it fits into the room very well aesthetically,” Astrid says.
The flooring on the ground level is laid in a herringbone pattern. It didn’t take much discussion. “We think it’s the most beautiful floor you can have,” Astrid says. “It fits perfectly into the style we want and livens up the room in a way that other floors do not.”
Shop for herringbone-pattern flooring in various materials
Shop for herringbone-pattern flooring in various materials
You don’t have to look hard to spot greenery throughout the home. Nature means everything to the 31-year-old sales consultant.
“If a room does not have any plants or flowers, it’s not really alive,” Astrid says. “The greenery helps create life in the space. We ordered these beautiful bouquets on Posy.dk. I would sooner use money on this subscription than on food: We get a new bouquet delivered to our door every Friday, and it is absolutely fantastic.”
“If a room does not have any plants or flowers, it’s not really alive,” Astrid says. “The greenery helps create life in the space. We ordered these beautiful bouquets on Posy.dk. I would sooner use money on this subscription than on food: We get a new bouquet delivered to our door every Friday, and it is absolutely fantastic.”
Upstairs, a small hallway leads to the master bedroom, Viggo’s room and the bathroom. It’s not very big, so the couple wanted to make it as bright as possible. They installed a Velux skylight and painted the whole area white. Only a single blue work of art interrupts the dominant white.
“We love bright rooms and see the paneling as a work of art in itself,” Astrid says. “So we did not think there needed to be much more than the beams, paneling and a single picture.”
“We love bright rooms and see the paneling as a work of art in itself,” Astrid says. “So we did not think there needed to be much more than the beams, paneling and a single picture.”
Viggo’s room is also bright and friendly. It doesn’t have much furniture. “He is still so young that he has no opinion on the decor, so for now creating a calm atmosphere was the most important thing,” Astrid says.
“When he grows up, the room will of course need different decor, as the bed will have to be longer and there will have to be more space for his toys and clothes. But we’ll deal with that project when the time comes,” she says.
How to Decorate a Nursery to Grow With Your Baby
How to Decorate a Nursery to Grow With Your Baby
Viggo’s bed is a Viggo Einfeldt-designed Juno bed from 1973. Astrid found it on Danish classified site DBA and spruced up.
“I love that it has a story. It became a project for my maternity leave, and I think it’s been so nice.”
“I love that it has a story. It became a project for my maternity leave, and I think it’s been so nice.”
On the shelves next to the changing table are a few well-chosen figurines.
“Viggo doesn’t need more in his room right now, so I’m enjoying being able to make the decisions. I know well that it’s only a matter of time before a giant racetrack will be sitting on a light green soccer-themed rug, which will go with the soccer posters and clothes he’ll surely have,” says Astrid, smiling at the thought.
“Viggo doesn’t need more in his room right now, so I’m enjoying being able to make the decisions. I know well that it’s only a matter of time before a giant racetrack will be sitting on a light green soccer-themed rug, which will go with the soccer posters and clothes he’ll surely have,” says Astrid, smiling at the thought.
Astrid and Henrik also agreed on the bathroom design. It had to be bright, large and easy to clean. “We went for large surfaces, green plants and a sense of airiness, so there is room for the whole family in the morning,” she says.
For the same reason, they also installed two sinks. “We had dreamed of being able to spit out our toothpaste without hitting each other’s necks. It also suits the big mirror well, and, luckily, there was plenty of room.”
Browse vessel sinks on Houzz
For the same reason, they also installed two sinks. “We had dreamed of being able to spit out our toothpaste without hitting each other’s necks. It also suits the big mirror well, and, luckily, there was plenty of room.”
Browse vessel sinks on Houzz
The shower is finished in the same tile as the rest of the bathroom.
Just like the rest of the house, the couple’s bedroom is a quiet spot with a focus on contemporary and classic decor. The black door contrasts the walls, breaking up the space.
“We did not want to decorate in the ‘old’ style — just a classic style — and we think the black door helps in this respect,” Astrid says.
“We did not want to decorate in the ‘old’ style — just a classic style — and we think the black door helps in this respect,” Astrid says.
Astrid says they chose the long curtains for the bedroom because they fit the room so well. “And maybe because I did not have any in the living room. Next time I decorate a bedroom, they will have to be even heavier and made of dark velour. It gives the room character and a sense of luxury, even if it’s ‘just’ a bedroom.”
She won’t have to wait long. “We have just put the house up for sale, as we want to move on to another project. We think we did very well in achieving our goal with our first house here, but we would like to come even closer to our dream of big rooms for our big families. We want to renovate again, but this time with more [professional help] because now we have Viggo and therefore different priorities. But the style will be the same, just with some new ideas and more square footage,” Astrid says.
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She won’t have to wait long. “We have just put the house up for sale, as we want to move on to another project. We think we did very well in achieving our goal with our first house here, but we would like to come even closer to our dream of big rooms for our big families. We want to renovate again, but this time with more [professional help] because now we have Viggo and therefore different priorities. But the style will be the same, just with some new ideas and more square footage,” Astrid says.
More
Beyond ‘Hygge’: How to Enjoy Scandinavian Style at Home
See How People in 13 Countries Interpret Scandinavian Style
Read about other homes around the world
Find an architect for your project
Who lives here: Astrid Larsen, a sales consultant for House Doctor; her husband, real estate agent Henrik Larsen; their 18-month-old son, Viggo; and their dog, Svendsen
Location: Åbyhøj neighborhood of Aarhus, Denmark
Size: About 2,260 square feet (210 square meters)