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Before & After: A Dated Danish Home Gets a Fresh and Vibrant Makeover



Often when you look at pictures of interiors the design looks so effortless, almost as if someone has waved a magic wand and everything has just fallen into place. Anyone who has carried out a makeover by hand will know this is far from the truth (the sheer labour of love that went into our cottage bedroom this winter remains etched in my mind!). Halfway through you might wonder why on earth you've taken the project on, and the result might not always be perfect (speaking for myself here!) but the connection you feel with your home afterwards makes the work feel completely worthwhile!

Artist Katrine Brandt and her husband bought an early 20th century brick house (known simply as No.14) in Skanderborg, near Aarhus Denmark six years ago and have taken on the task of updating it by hand. Starting many of the rooms again from scratch, the pair have been busy installing a kitchen, transforming a laundry room into a light-filled workspace and giving the bathrooms a fresh update. The rooms have been mainly furnished with second-hand finds and many of Katrine's own artwork can be seen on the wall. Here are some before and after pictures so you can witness the renovation first hand! 

Kitchen - before

The IKEA kitchen was in need of a fresh update. Katrine installed new units in blue (a theme you'll see throughout the house) and sanded down the wood floor in order to remove the varnish which had turned yellow with time. The ceiling has also been plastered and painted - with spotlights added. 

Kitchen - after


Sitting room - shelving before

In my experience, Danes love to create wall-to-wall bookshelves around a doorway - which is a great way to create space for plenty of books! Katrine and her husband built these shelves and cupboards by hand. You can find more details - including step-by-step pictures and measurements in this instagram post

Sitting room shelving - after


The result is simply beautiful! It's also provided plenty of coveted open and closed storage. Note the ceiling lamp from one of my favourite Danish brands - Le Klint



The walls have been painted in Jotun 'GullhÃ¥r' and the curtains are simple ones from IKEA. The chair was found in a friend's loft and given a new lease of life with a set of new cushions. 


A 'kakelugn' (tiled masonry oven) is in full working order and perfect for colder days! 

The art on the wall is by Katrine and can be purchased via her online shop Made By Brandt. Note how the shelves have been painted the same colour as the wall for a smart, seamless affect. 

Utility room - before 

I know a thing about making over laundry rooms - except this one is different. Recognising the beauty of the room and how much natural light it has, Katrine and her husband decided to transform the space into a light-filled workspace.

Utility room - after

A simple, DIY make-over, the pipes are still in place under the desk and a built-in desk has been added over the top. Dark red drawers and a blue chair add a touch of colour to the space. 

Downstairs toilet - before


Bathroom make-overs can be eye-wateringly expensive and tiling etc requires a lot of skill. But sometimes a simple refresh is all that's needed (just as we did with our downstairs loo) - a lick of bathroom-friendly paint, a new cabinet and sink and a shelf was just what this 'powder room' needed, and no doubt saved gazillions of Danish Crowns in the process! 

Downstairs toilet - after



I love the mood lamp in the corner. If you look closely, you'll spot various forms of ambient lighting throughout the entire home - all of which help to create the cosy 'hyggelig' feel the Danes are so good at. 

Bathroom - before 

The bathroom featured a separate bath and shower before being reconfigured. Opting for just a shower has made it so much more spacious and touches of blue (code S 1515-R90B) ensure the room remains in keeping with the look and feel of the rest of the house. 

Bathroom - after



Such a lovely transformation - I love the subtle pastel shades throughout, adding a hint of colour and interest without feeling overbearing. There are also some lovely details throughout - including lamps, ceramics and art. 

The house is still very much a work in progress. If you'd like to follow their decorating journey, check out @nr.14a

Is there anything that stood out to you about Katrine's home? 

If you love a before and after as much as I do, check out:


Stor kram! 

Niki

Photography by Katrine Brandt, shared with kind permission. 

LATEST COMMENTS:

  1. Beautifully decorated interiors. I really like this style, my apartment is decorated similarly. Natural accessories such as woolen blankets in the bedroom, wooden decorations and flowers add warmth and coziness to any interior.

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  2. I love the thread of blue thoughout!

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  3. There are many lovely touches throughout the home. Like another reader commented, the repeated blue color is a favorite and such a pretty color, too. Most of all, I adore the shelving/bookcase built out around the door in the sitting room.

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    1. Yes, I love the way Danes build bookshelves around doorways. This hand-built one is particularly impressive.

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  4. I love the bookcase around the doors and the beautiful blue. To be honest, the desk in the former laundry room looks too small to be useful.

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    1. Agree, the bookcase and blue are indeed lovely! I had to go back and look at the desk space - and it is quite slim, having said that, you'd fit a laptop on it for sure (so it would work for me) - but if you need a lot more things around you for work it would probably be a bit tight.

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  5. Welcome back! I missed the sparkle you share.

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  6. They did a lot of updates to this home! The bathrooms, built-ins, and the converted laundry-to-office space are what caught my eye. I'm wondering where the washer and dryer were relocated.

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  7. Love the blue, it goes so well with the dark wood and white walls. I dream of an utility area with huge windows, though it does look great as an home office too. That bookcase and the rug, children would just love to lounge there on winter days.

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    1. That little area in the porch with the windows is lush - so full of light! It could be used in so many different ways. I'd love a room like this at home… I'd go for a mud room I think.

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  8. I love the blue bathroom after its renovation. Before, the shower area was so tiny that I wondered how can anyone comfortably shower in such a tiny space; the After looks a million times better.

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    1. Yes, completely agree Alena. If we ever get around to renovating our upstairs bathroom I'd definitely get rid of the bath to make room for a big shower!

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