My Houzz: A Blush Pink, White and Grey Scandi House
A workplace accident had a rosy outcome for this Danish blogger when she discovered her true talent in interior design
Sanne Kragelund
21 May 2017
The first time you set foot in this house, you have to wonder: What does her husband think about this shade? “He is colour-blind, so he’s convinced that we live in a black-and-white home,” says Pernille Riis, the Danish blogger behind Krea Pernille, laughing. Riis is well versed in design. In 2016 she was named Stylist of the Year by Bolig Magasinet, one of Denmark’s biggest interior design magazines, and she was also the winner of manufacturer by Lassen’s 2014 stylist competition. She lives in Holstebro, in the west of Denmark, in a fabulous home where pink is the backbone of a meticulously put together décor scheme.
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here Pernille Riis,32, her husband, Dan, 35, their two children, Noah, 11, and Alba Viola, 7, and their dog, Conrad
More on the owner Riis is the creator of the blog Krea Pernille and the Instagram account of the same name. Together with her partner Tanya Louise Wija Nielsen, Riis also runs the graphic design company Livink, which was founded in 2014. Riis and Nielsen produce everything from posters to pillows to quirky personalised cups.
Location Holstebro, West Jutland, Denmark
Size: 125 sq m and a 90 sq m basement
Year built 1938
That’s interesting The house was originally a waffle bakery
Who lives here Pernille Riis,32, her husband, Dan, 35, their two children, Noah, 11, and Alba Viola, 7, and their dog, Conrad
More on the owner Riis is the creator of the blog Krea Pernille and the Instagram account of the same name. Together with her partner Tanya Louise Wija Nielsen, Riis also runs the graphic design company Livink, which was founded in 2014. Riis and Nielsen produce everything from posters to pillows to quirky personalised cups.
Location Holstebro, West Jutland, Denmark
Size: 125 sq m and a 90 sq m basement
Year built 1938
That’s interesting The house was originally a waffle bakery
“I have always been creative, and I’m a very stubborn person when I’ve made up my mind to do something,” Riis says. She also says she can be clumsy and impatient, though her Instagram feed may not show it. “It’s never a long road from idea to action,” she says. This could not be more obvious then when you visit her home. The lights, which illustrate Riis’ style, are from Nordic Tales.
Table, Hay.
Table, Hay.
Riis’ blogging career emerged out of tough circumstances. She was forced to take a sabbatical from her work as a social and healthcare assistant after she suffered a serious back injury on the job. After many months in bed, a friend encouraged her to set up an Instagram account. “I was just lying on the couch, not contributing in any way and wondering how I ever had the money for the sofa,” Riis says.
During this tough time, her passion for interior design started to blossom. She began to acquire more skills and knowledge in home design and photography, and she started to garner a lot of attention on Instagram. After only a year, Riis had 10,000 followers – today she has over 60,000. The bouquet shown here is from Bloomon.
Cushions, Livink. Picture, Tenna Kramer/Livink. Galaxy mobile, Planteplaneter.
During this tough time, her passion for interior design started to blossom. She began to acquire more skills and knowledge in home design and photography, and she started to garner a lot of attention on Instagram. After only a year, Riis had 10,000 followers – today she has over 60,000. The bouquet shown here is from Bloomon.
Cushions, Livink. Picture, Tenna Kramer/Livink. Galaxy mobile, Planteplaneter.
Although Riis loves to redecorate and fix up homes, she points out that taking so much time off work was good for her economically because she had to adjust to spending less. “Before my accident, I spent a lot of money, but now I’m a better planner,” she says.
The house is an ode to pink, but there are limits to Riis’ love of colour. She doesn’t like bright red or orange. “Those colors hurt the eyes, that’s why I hate Christmas colours,” she says. This is why she owns a white plastic Christmas tree that she decorates with pink ornaments and a gold star on top. All decorations have to complement the house’s pink, white and gray tones. “I love pink because it goes with almost everything,” Riis says. She recently painted her dining room doors and walls a striking burgundy colour.
Handmade shelves, Jem & Fix.
Want to see how pink works in a bathroom? Find out here
Handmade shelves, Jem & Fix.
Want to see how pink works in a bathroom? Find out here
Riis’ workspace is in the dining room, located centrally in the ‘big white box,’ which is what she calls her home. “Without a neutral foundation, there’s no room for all my indulgences and different colour choices,” Riis says. She also loves to decorate with green plants as they create a living contrast to her many décor items.
Clock, Lovewood.
Clock, Lovewood.
Right now, Riis wants to redecorate the living room. “I am ruled by my feelings and I think the décor has become too boring here,” she says. Riis is emotionally invested in decorating her home – her husband is not. “That’s why I do the sketches and the painting, and Dan goes shopping for my ideas,” Riis says. “He takes on so many responsibilities. It can be a challenge to live with me, but he knows exactly how much he means to me,” she says.
Sofa, Couz.
Sofa, Couz.
So much has changed since the house was a waffle bakery. It was built in 1938, and Riis says that when she and her husband bought it in 2008, there was wall-to-wall carpeting everywhere, even on the stairs. With her husband’s help, the home underwent a massive renovation. In spite of the constant makeovers, Riis loves the old house and its charm.
Wall art, Livink. Lights, Pust.
Wall art, Livink. Lights, Pust.
“I grew up in a house in Holstebro similar to this one,” Riis says. She recalls a cosy and colourful home decorated with care, with heavy wood furniture and black leather sofas – “this was in the 1990s,” she says.
“I decorated the living room knowing that I would entertain a lot of guests, and maintaining a focus on comfort and my cheerful style was a priority,” Riis says. She also says that there can always be more grey in the house. “Grey gives me life because there are so many shades of it.” Brass also has a special place in her interior decorator’s soul. The hanging diamonds are from Tvåfota Design.
Couch, Couz. Rug, TinyTiny.
Couch, Couz. Rug, TinyTiny.
In the kitchen, blue is used as an accent. Riis is a collector, and she didn’t think twice before adding Royal Copenhagen’s Musselmalet (‘Blue Fluted’) porcelain set to her wish list. “I love to collect things, and there are always several things I have my eye on,” Riis says. “I think the style is beautiful and I just love Danish design – who doesn’t?”
However, she is not completely satisfied with the kitchen. “I’m not a fan of the décor, but since we added the shelves for my Royal Copenhagen dishes, I think it looks okay. The kitchen still feels very old-fashioned.” Stickers on the cabinets have updated the space.
Stickers, Hverdagsgleder.
11 other ways to get creative with stickers
Stickers, Hverdagsgleder.
11 other ways to get creative with stickers
The kitchen leads into the hall.
Here, functionality and style meet. “It’s important for a hall to have enough storage space for coats, shoes, hats and mittens, but not be too clunky or chaotic.” Therefore, the shoes are concealed in a cabinet and good lighting, sleek décor and nice artwork create a pleasant ambience. The black Dots coat hooks from Muuto double as decoration.
Bench, Nomess.
Here, functionality and style meet. “It’s important for a hall to have enough storage space for coats, shoes, hats and mittens, but not be too clunky or chaotic.” Therefore, the shoes are concealed in a cabinet and good lighting, sleek décor and nice artwork create a pleasant ambience. The black Dots coat hooks from Muuto double as decoration.
Bench, Nomess.
The house is located in the city center. It has three floors and a spacious basement used for recreation. The basement has not been renovated yet – the children will move in there when they are a little older, and Riis is waiting until then. The bedrooms, including the children’s rooms, and a bathroom are on the upper floors. The peg board, from Roon & Rahn, keeps the family organised.
Mirror, TinyTiny.
Mirror, TinyTiny.
Ascending the staircase is like walking into a dream, with cloud-like lights dominating the décor. “I love these because for me they symbolise the sky, and it just feels right that they would be on the upper stories,” Riis says. The lights are from Vita Copenhagen.
All of the floors in the house are painted white. “The floors were old and hard to clean, so we painted them instead of buying new ones,” Riis says. The white floors create an airy harmony with the other light tones. “When all of your surfaces are white, you have more options for decorating.”
Stickers, Hverdagsleder. Miffy lamp, Børnenes Kartel.
Stickers, Hverdagsleder. Miffy lamp, Børnenes Kartel.
“I had the idea for the bed when I got tired of the slanted walls,” Riis says. It was a challenge to come up with something when it all seemed impossible: You simply cannot have a canopy bed in a room with slanted walls, can you? Riis can! As she began sketching, her husband got the supplies and built the bed himself. “What I love most is that the bed is homemade, and it’s my design. That makes it more than just a bed,” she says. They also knocked the wall out themselves to expose the brick. “We wanted it to serve as a contrast to all the white, and we achieved that.” The illuminated letter ‘N’, from Seletti, adds glamour.
Picture,Trine Holbæk Designs.Stool, Bent Hansen.
What do you think of this rosy house? Share your thoughts in the Comments below.
What do you think of this rosy house? Share your thoughts in the Comments below.
Related Stories
Houzz Tours
My Houzz: A Masterclass in Renovating a Ruin Beautifully
This couple restored a derelict property in the French countryside with historical sensitivity and a modern touch
Full Story
Houzz Tours
My Houzz: White Simplicity Offers Peace in a City Centre Flat
This fashion blogger’s job involves a constant riot of pattern and colour, so she made her home a calm white sanctuary
Full Story
Houzz Tours
My Houzz: Pretty Pinks and Neutrals in a Boho-chic Loft Apartment
By Faith Towers
Macramé blends with midcentury cool in this couple’s converted 1887 warehouse home
Full Story
Houzz Tours
My Houzz: Ingenious Space Planning Updates a Family’s 1930s Home
Thoughtful design added a downstairs cloakroom, a utility cupboard and some rather clever loft storage
Full Story
Houzz Tours
My Houzz: From Boring Brick to Hamptons Chic on a Budget
Crisp white décor and space-smart bespoke storage turned this house into a bright, uncluttered family home
Full Story
Houzz Tours
My Houzz: A Small Space Cleverly Reinvented as a Light, Cosy Home
By Paolo Fusco
A former dental practice has been transformed into a welcoming flat with upcycled furniture and beautiful design details
Full Story
Houzz Tours
My Room: An Extension Gives a Period Home a Relaxed Family Space
Building out at the back of this Victorian house created a ground-floor kitchen-diner and living space to suit all ages
Full Story
Houzz Tours
My Houzz: A Scandi-chic Home Simply Decorated for Christmas
By Helle Sindal
Natural winter decorations embellish a white-and-wood Scandi palette in this revamped Danish home
Full Story
Houzz Tours
My Houzz: A Revamped Post-war Home Full of Light, Colour and Character
A creative couple transformed their post-war house into an airy, modern home packed with warmth, light and family memories
Full Story
Houzz Tours
My Houzz: A Light-filled Live-work Space in a Former Factory
By Giulia Zappa
A design duo have cleverly magicked a beautiful home and an inspiring studio out of one empty factory building
Full Story
Love It!
I like the Danish china.
what color is the pink wall in the dining room?