Houzz Tour: A Simple Scandi Christmas in Vienna
Simple, natural touches spruce up this Scandinavian-style apartment in Austria at Christmas Time
Dream homes come in all shapes and sizes, and Svenja Bruecker discusses hers on her blog, Traumzuhause. Since moving from Munich to Vienna with her boyfriend, she has fulfilled all of her decorating wishes in their roomy new apartment. Her dream home 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 dream-like as the apartment is now, things did not go so smoothly at the start. When the couple arrived after a strenuous move to Vienna, neither electricity nor gas were available. “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 neighbouring hotel. Fortunately, everything took a turn for the better and today we can laugh about it,” Bruecker says.
As dream-like as the apartment is now, things did not go so smoothly at the start. When the couple arrived after a strenuous move to Vienna, neither electricity nor gas were available. “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 neighbouring hotel. Fortunately, everything took a turn for the better and today we can laugh about it,” Bruecker says.
Readers can witness the ongoing process of furnishing her 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.
This is Bruecker’s favourite room – the round, 215-square-foot living room (20-square-metre) with 13-foot (4 metre) ceilings. “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 the Kubus 1 candle holder 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 is connected 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.
Wall light: 265, Flos; Dining table: Möckelby, Ikea, which Bruecker painted white
Wall light: 265, Flos; Dining table: Möckelby, Ikea, which Bruecker painted white
Bruecker made the wooden candle holder with the help of her grandfather.
“White is my favourite colour because it emanates tranquility; it’s soft, light and cozy but also refreshing in the summer. My favourite material is definitely wood, whether it’s painted white or finished with a nice patina, like our old workbench,” she says. Bruecker and Jonas found this great piece by chance in a Munich antiques shop when they, as often happens, weren’t even looking for anything at all. It holds their coffee machine, for much-needed caffeine kicks during work breaks.
Wall shelves: String Pocket
Wall shelves: String Pocket
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,” she says. 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 Jonas 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 about 300-square-foot (28-square-metre) room. The DIY pallet couch with its fur cover is amazingly comfy. There are, again, candles in the fireplace. “If it gets really cold, we light it up,” she says.
“I am proud of how much attention the landlord paid to detail when he had the apartment renovated. 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-coloured bowls and fir branches also adorn the about 193-square-foot (18-square-metre) white kitchen, whose double doors offer a peek at the adjacent dressing room.
The couple likes 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 likes 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.
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: Svenja Bruecker, 26, who founded and writes the blog Traumzuhause (“Dream Home”), and her boyfriend Jonas
Location: An apartment in a traditional building in Vienna, Austria
Size: About 1,290 square feet (120 square metres)
Bruecker and her boyfriend, Jonas, moved from Munich to Vienna in 2016. The 26-year-old 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 get something of her own going and pursue her passion.
“I love writing and photography, and interior design has been my favourite 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.”