My Houzz: Parents-to-Be Whip Up an Apartment Overhaul, Hold the Color

Graphic designer Karlijn de Jong works with color all day long. So when she arrives home, she prefers to unwind in a "calm, subtle environment," she says. In others words: no bright colors, please!

Drawing from strong Scandinavian influences and a monochrome palette of black, white and gray, de Jong created a fuss-free retreat in her Netherlands high-rise apartment that she shares with husband Pieter Horvers. Their super-refined color palette also helped calm and focus them as they found their rental unit just six weeks before the arrival of their son. They needed the meditative state as they installed new flooring, painted the walls and pulled everything together in just two weeks.

Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: Karlijn de Jong, Pieter Horvers and their son, Finn
Location: Tilburg, The Netherlands
Size: 110 square meters (about 1,184 square feet); 2 bedrooms, 1 bathroom

De Jong enjoys mixing accessories from her favorite Scandinavian brands, including House Doctor, Muuto and HK Living, with Ikea furnishings. Although cool tones of white and gray dominate the clutter-free space, pillows, candles and throws add warmth. “I am very drawn to the Scandinavian style that relies mostly on light and subtlety," says de Jong. "White, gray with wood accents form the style that I am most drawn to.”

Sectional: Månstad, Ikea; rug: Diamond, Naco Trade; white wooden stool: Kruk Harm, Leen Bakker; white metal stool: Karwei; floor lamp: Atlas, Woon Express


A solid oak table with clean contemporary lines and a mix of replica Eames chairs ground the couple's dining area. A potted olive tree in the corner adds a touch of nature.

Table: Bigboy, Steigerhout Stunter; gray cutting board: HK Living; teapot and teacups: Hoganas Keramik; pendants: Workshop (grey), HK Living; curtains: Hema


They decorated this nook off the living area with handmade paper pompoms for their newborn son, Finn.

The floors are laminate.

Ladder: Tierlantijn; retro car: Marquant; postcard: Postcard Oh Baby by Maren Losing, April and May; playpen: Brent, Bopita


Horvers and de Jong worked with Steigerhout en Zo to customize a stock Ikea TV unit with a piece of wood cut to size. The new unit displays a collection of vases. De Jong found the small vase at a thrift shop and spray painted it a matte black.

Floor lamp: Tripod Wood White, Zuiver; TV cupboard: Bestå, Ikea; concrete vase: 101 Woonideeën; green vase: Hema


Black countertops and white cabinets original to the space luckily fit in perfectly with the couple's color scheme.

Step stool: Bekväm, Ikea; print "You Make me Happy," Paqhuis


This locker cabinet is one of de Jong's favorite pieces and provides much-needed storage in the home office. "It’s a little tough and industrial but not too much, and it's white," she says. "I just love white. It’s clean, it’s crisp, and with not a lot of natural light it can lift the mood of a space."

Cabinet: Locker White, HK Living; wire basket: Leenbakker; paper bag: Merci Paris; glass boxes: PM 0322, House Doctor


De Jong's home office area is nestled behind the living area and next to the kitchen. Here, she works on her graphic design and projects for her webshop, Paqhuis, that she manages with friend Femke Brooks. A muted pink framed calendar adds a hint of femininity to her signature color palette.

Desk: Linnmon/Finnvard, Ikea; poster: Snug; frame: Ribba, Ikea; wire basket: Leenbakker; lamp: Wood Lamp by Taf Architects, Muuto; chair: Eames replica; faux sheepskin: Rens, Ikea


An entryway vignette sets the tone for the apartment's monochromatic scheme.

Dresser: Malm, Ikea; print: Elephant; frame: Ikea; cardboard vases: Snug; lightbulb pendant: Muuto


The main bedroom also incorporates the soothing minimal palette. De Jong had the gray color on the wall behind the bed mixed at a local hardware store.

Bed: Ikea; bed linen: Hema; throw blanket: Fresh Home Collection; nightstands: Marktplaats; lamps: Leitmotiv; wardrobe: Ikea; prints: "You’ve Got Style" by Maren Losing, April and May; "You Make me Happy," by Paqhuis


De Jong says she keeps clutter at bay with constant editing. “I tidy the house often and edit the space regularly to create a calm space. If I don’t like something, I get rid of it,” she says. “I also use a lot of storage to stash away unsightly things.”

Dressers: Malm, Ikea; white vase: Hella Jongerius for Ikea; paper bag: Merci Paris; frame with Finn's footprint: Ikea; wire stool: Cees Braakman for Pastoe; gray plaid: H&M; rug: House Doctor; prints: "Clean up Your Mess," House Doctor, Postcard Heart, April and May


When designing Finn's nursery, de Jong says, "I wanted his room to suit the rest of the house so the color scheme would be white and gray, but I wanted it to be sweet and calm at the same time."

De Jong customized the changing table/dresser by adding gray leather drawer pulls.

Wooden stool: Kenk Shop; Volkswagen van: Saartje; rocking chair: Eames replica; gray plaid: H&M; changing table/drawers: Babydump; drawer pulls: Nu interieur | ontwerp; rug: Keet in Huis; pendant: Loods5


Minimalistic accessories adorn the shelf above the baby's changing station.

Print: "I Love You to the Moon," by Paqhuis; wooden shelf: VT Wonen; gray shoes: Gray Label


De Jong exercised the same degree of restraint in decorating Finn's room as she did in the rest of the home. A soft shade of gray adorns one wall to give the large space warmth.

Minimalistic use of color, furniture and accessories keep the space clutter free, allowing Finn plenty of space to play and explore as he gets older.

Bed: Babydump; wall stickers: April and May; cardboard horses: Kidsonroof via Bijzonder Mooi


A locker cabinet similar to the one in de Jong's home office is used as Finn's wardrobe. A favorite sweater is displayed on oversized button hooks. De Jong painted the toy wooden village above the cabinet for Finn to play with when he gets older.

Wardrobe: VT Wonen


"There are things I would like to see different," says de Jong, pictured here with Finn. "But for now it's OK and we have made the best of it and it feels like home."

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