Houzz Tour: A White, Christmassy Home in Vienna
Simple, natural touches dress up this Scandinavian-style apartment in Austria for the holidays
Dream homes come in all shapes and sizes, and Svenja Bruecker discusses hers on her blog, Traumzuhause (Dream Home). Since moving from Munich to Vienna with her boyfriend, she has fulfilled all her decorating wishes in their roomy apartment in a traditional building. The place is especially cozy at Christmas.
An empty apartment is like a blank sheet of paper on which you can live out your creativity. “Of course, before moving in, I already had the apartment completely planned out in my head. After all, this is my favorite thing to do. But once we moved in, we didn’t end up sticking to the plan in setting up most of our things.”
As dreamy as the apartment is now, things didn’t go so smoothly at the start. When the couple arrived after their strenuous move, they had neither electricity nor gas. “Our landlord was in South Africa. Unfortunately, this problem could not be solved over the weekend, so we stayed in a hotel two minutes away from the apartment for the first few days. It felt pretty ridiculous to walk past our own home and then have to sleep in the neighboring hotel. Fortunately, everything took a turn for the better, and today we can laugh about it,” Bruecker says.
As dreamy as the apartment is now, things didn’t go so smoothly at the start. When the couple arrived after their strenuous move, they had neither electricity nor gas. “Our landlord was in South Africa. Unfortunately, this problem could not be solved over the weekend, so we stayed in a hotel two minutes away from the apartment for the first few days. It felt pretty ridiculous to walk past our own home and then have to sleep in the neighboring hotel. Fortunately, everything took a turn for the better, and today we can laugh about it,” Bruecker says.
Readers can follow the couple’s progress in furnishing the apartment on Bruecker’s blog. One room has been newly done up, a rug has been replaced, and now, in winter, she offers tips for DIY Christmas decor.
“I think the Christmas season has the most beautiful decorations. I love it simple and natural, keeping away from exaggerated kitsch,” Bruecker says.
Fir wreaths are some of the most important details. “Also, I cannot do without a Christmas tree, because my grandfather grew and sold Christmas trees himself for as long as I can remember, so I cannot imagine Christmas without one.” Brass accents are another favorite touch.
“I think the Christmas season has the most beautiful decorations. I love it simple and natural, keeping away from exaggerated kitsch,” Bruecker says.
Fir wreaths are some of the most important details. “Also, I cannot do without a Christmas tree, because my grandfather grew and sold Christmas trees himself for as long as I can remember, so I cannot imagine Christmas without one.” Brass accents are another favorite touch.
“For me, having lots of candles is also suggestive of Christmas.… For example, I made a DIY from simple glass bottles. I placed fir branches inside and stuck a candle on top. Simple but stylish,” Bruecker says.
The living room is Bruecker’s favorite room. It’s round, about 215 square feet (20 square meters) and has ceilings that are 13 feet (4 meters) high.
“The room has a particularly beautiful and airy atmosphere. In the summer, you can go outside to the balcony — which wraps around the whole room — through the big doors,” she says.
“The room has a particularly beautiful and airy atmosphere. In the summer, you can go outside to the balcony — which wraps around the whole room — through the big doors,” she says.
The Duke coffee table by Norr11 is decorated with an Advent wreath from the Danish online design store Ferm Living and a Kubus 1 candleholder from By Lassen.
Sofa: Fashion for Home
Sofa: Fashion for Home
Double doors throughout the apartment frame various views of the home. The kitchen (and its dining corner) connects to the home office with its fireplace, followed by the living room.
“My style is bright, spacious, light and clean, yet cozy, featuring a lot of Scandinavian influences. Nevertheless, I would not say that my home is only characterized by a Scandi, cottage or boho look. For me, it is more a blend of all the things I like,” Bruecker says.
“My style is bright, spacious, light and clean, yet cozy, featuring a lot of Scandinavian influences. Nevertheless, I would not say that my home is only characterized by a Scandi, cottage or boho look. For me, it is more a blend of all the things I like,” Bruecker says.
The next room serves as an office. Bruecker finds inspiration for her website from other blogs, interior design magazines and Instagram. “When I’m on the road, I usually have a clear head. This is when what has really stuck in my mind takes shape. Then, most of the time, I implement it,” Bruecker says.
265 wall light: Flos; Möckelby dining table (which Bruecker painted white): Ikea
265 wall light: Flos; Möckelby dining table (which Bruecker painted white): Ikea
Bruecker made the wooden candleholder with the help of her grandfather.
“White is my favorite color because it emanates tranquillity; it’s soft, light and cozy but also refreshing in the summer. My favorite material is definitely wood, whether it’s painted white or finished with a nice patina, like our old workbench,” she says. Bruecker and her boyfriend found this great piece by chance in a Munich antiques shop when, as often happens, they weren’t even looking for anything. It holds their coffee machine, for much-needed caffeine kicks during work breaks.
Pocket shelves: String
Pocket shelves: String
What Bruecker likes the most is searching for new home furnishings in online shops, because that way she can find treasures from all over the world. “For example, we ordered our Beni Ourain rug on Etsy directly from Marrakech. Nonetheless, strolling through downtown you always find great pieces too.”
Her boyfriend is involved in every decision. “In most cases, he likes my ideas, so I basically have complete freedom to arrange the apartment to my tastes — jackpot! Since [he] is now confronted with the subject on a daily basis, he has started to take an interest and have fun with it too,” Bruecker says, laughing.
Her boyfriend is involved in every decision. “In most cases, he likes my ideas, so I basically have complete freedom to arrange the apartment to my tastes — jackpot! Since [he] is now confronted with the subject on a daily basis, he has started to take an interest and have fun with it too,” Bruecker says, laughing.
Bruecker created a retreat for herself on the other side of the room, which is about 300 square feet (28 square meters). The DIY pallet couch with its fur cover is amazingly comfy. Candles appear again in the fireplace. “If it gets really cold, we light it up,” she says.
Find pillar candles
Find pillar candles
“I am proud of how much attention the landlord paid to detail when he had the apartment renovated,” Bruecker says. The old brass fittings on the windows and doors were kept, and you can still turn the light on with nostalgic rotary switches. The old double doors were also repaired.”
Brass-colored bowls and fir branches also adorn the white kitchen, which is about 190 square feet (18 square meters). The double doors offer a peek at the adjacent dressing room.
The couple like to cook together and enjoy the beautiful view from the kitchen windows. “All the houses in the neighborhood are old buildings with gorgeous facades, and I could look at them forever. Every morning at breakfast, I discover new details on the houses that face us from my kitchen window,” Bruecker says.
The couple like to cook together and enjoy the beautiful view from the kitchen windows. “All the houses in the neighborhood are old buildings with gorgeous facades, and I could look at them forever. Every morning at breakfast, I discover new details on the houses that face us from my kitchen window,” Bruecker says.
What’s next for Bruecker’s dream home in Vienna? A little more white, this time mixed in with some new black accents — all described in detail on her blog and Instagram account.
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More home tours: Apartments | Small Homes | Colorful Homes | Contemporary Homes | Eclectic Homes | Farmhouses | Midcentury Homes | Modern Homes | Ranch Homes | Traditional Homes | Transitional Homes | All
House at a Glance
Who lives here: Svenja Bruecker of Traumzuhause and her boyfriend
Location: Vienna
Size: About 1,290 square feet (120 square meters)
Bruecker, 26, and her boyfriend moved to Vienna in 2016. The blogger had previously worked as an editor for an interior design magazine, and she saw the move to a new city and a new home as the perfect opportunity to strike out on her own and pursue her passion.
“I love writing and photography, and interior design has been my favorite topic for years,” Bruecker says. “My interest in design, especially interior design, has grown over the years. My design-loving mom was probably the one who had set it in motion. With my blog, Traumzuhause, I would like to give my readers an understanding of my personal sense of style, inspire them with DIYs and furnishing ideas, excite them [about interior design], and convey my attitude towards life.”
Because her boyfriend is a professional poker player, Bruecker often travels the world. “With blogging, I can combine everything I like to do, anytime and anywhere. I can be creative and therefore also very flexible. I couldn’t be happier about my decision to start a blog.”