Before and After: Angelina Dörfler’s Inspiring Home Makeover

Why hello there! You know I love a good before and after – nothing shows the possibilities of a home better, don’t you agree? There’s something so magical about seeing the bones of a space and then watching it completely transform with just the right touches. Ready for this one? Come on in!

When award-winning interior designer Angelina Dörfler started to rent her home in Vienna, she knew instantly that it had great potential. The high ceilings, herringbone wood floors, and period details whispered of charm – but it all felt a little tired and unloved: yellow walls, heavy finishes, and an outdated kitchen didn’t really do the space justice.

So, Angelina rolled up her sleeves and out went the old kitchen, and in came one that makes clever use of every inch of height in the small room. She introduced soft, muted hues to create a serene feeling throughout, and best of all, she reintroduced wall mouldings to bring back that turn-of-the-century elegance. 

And the interior? Light, neutral tones keep things calm and airy, while layers of texture – linen, wool, wood, stone – add depth and warmth. Sculptural lighting hangs like artwork, while fresh flowers and thoughtful little vignettes give the rooms life. Isn’t it amazing how just the right mix of details can completely shift the energy of a space?

I especially love how the natural light pours in through those big windows, softened with Roman blinds and flowing curtains. Step this way, scroll on, and enjoy the before-and-after pics – I hope they’ll leave you inspired!

Kitchen

Dining area

Sitting room

Bedroom

From tired walls to a calm, light-filled retreat — such a dreamy spot to wake up in, don’t you think? 

If you’d like to see more of Angelina’s beautiful home, head over to her Instagram, it’s full of inspiration.

And for more before-and-after tours to spark your imagination, check out: 

A dark house becomes a fresh and vibrant home
A Copenhagen townhouse becomes a fresh family home
A rundown property becomes a beautiful Swedish farmhouse

And so many more in the makeover archive! 

Thank you so much for stopping by today. Happy lillördag all! 

Niki

Photography courtesy of Angelina Dörfler, shared with kind permission.

Ps Behind the scenes I've been working away on a feature about the cute new children's IKEA Sandlöpoare collection which includes a fun quiz (in case you'd like to show it to a little one in your life!).  

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A Beautiful Swedish Home Tour with A Smart Bathroom Makeover

Tjena! Hur är läget? Do you have awkward angles at home? Perhaps a sloped ceiling that’s causing you decorating strife? If so, you might just find inspiration in Natalie’s lovely Swedish home.

Natalie (known as @huslyftet on Instagram) and her partner are true decorating wizards – and they don’t do things by halves. Not only did they lift their entire house and move it two and a half metres (eight feet) across the lawn, but they also added an extension before transforming the entire living space to create a truly personal haven.

Today, their pretty, light-filled home features a wonderful array of whimsical floral wallpaper, providing the perfect backdrop for traditional kitchen cabinetry, vintage furniture, and personal touches. But what really caught my eye is the bathroom. Tucked under the sloped roof, the awkward angles made it a tricky build, but with some clever design work, they created the most beautiful space – complete with a shower, bath, and twin basins.

So, pour yourself a coffee and get comfy – here’s the full tour, along with a peek at the before-and-after shots of the bathroom!

I was so excited to see this armchair. I once picked up a pair exactly like this at a 'loppis' (flea market) here in Malmö. Sadly, they were in quite bad disrepair and I couldn't afford to get them reupholstered so I gave them away, but I always wondered who made them. Maybe now I'll find out! 

The guest bathroom door can be spotted in to the right of the above picture. This is what it looks like inside: 

I love how Natalie has picked out tones from the William Morris wallpaper and matched them with accessories like towels - very pretty!

Note the built-in cupboards and drawers in the master bedroom to the right which make use of every inch of space. 

The bathroom

And now friends, as promised, it's time to take a peek at the bathroom. The before pictures (or should I say, the picture of the shell of the room just as the work started) gives a great idea of the shape of the room. not an easy space! 

And here, is the after. Practical (note the amount of storage), pretty and in keeping with the rest of the house.

Such a lovely home! 

I really loved the craftsmanship in the bathroom - and how they created such slim cabinetry to make the space of what would have otherwise been dead space. If anyone else has teenage girls like I do, you'd understand the need for PLENTY of storage!

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

There are lots more corners to discover over on her inspiring instagram feed here. 

Update– here are some of the wallpapers and paint colours used this home: 

 

Kitchen

Honeysuckle wallpaper by William Morris

Cabinets painted in NCS 1510-Y10R

Sitting room

Painted in NCS 2005-G10Y

Bedroom 

Robinson Crusoe wallpaper by Charles Burger

Guest bathroom 

Golden lily wallpaper by William Morris

Hallway / entrance

Door painted in S2040-Y20R

Bathroom 

Chrysanthemum toile wallpaper in eggshell / gold by William Morris

Cabinets painted in 2010-Y20R

In case you'd like to see more before and after make-overs today, there are lots to discover in this home makeover archive (if this home comes up first, just scroll down for more!). 

Have a wonderful start to the week friends! 

Niki

Photography courtesy of @huslyftet 

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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 'Gullhår' 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:

Makeover: a dark house becomes and fresh and bright home

A Copenhagen home is transformed into a fresh family home

A dated house becomes a vibrant summer cottage

Stor kram! 

Niki

Photography by Katrine Brandt, shared with kind permission. 

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