Jennie K.'s Profile

This can totally be a great space!

My suggestion:
Swedish style kitchen bench against the wall just opposite of the door/steps to the hallway.
Kitchen table that can double as a workspace by the bench.
Supplement with two comfy chairs, preferably with armrests.
In the corner, next to the stairs, have a bigger comfy chair, or loveseat.
Under/by the window across from the sink, have a little coffee table/tv/etc.

When you have guests, you can easily go from dining at the table, to turning the comfy dining chairs around, and making a nice little space for watching a movie etc.

You already mentioned a grey, but that would almost be too sad, as the light is really lovely. It's kind of obvious that you really want to paint, so I'm throwing this out there, and don't poo-poo it before you check out all shades. I'm suggesting a *really* light, not grey/not too colorful - lilac or lavendar. People really forget that all shades og purple are actually neutrals, in that there's a little bit of the whole color wheel in there. A light lilac/lavendar would tie the yellow, the brown etc together. Keep it below the trim though, the extra white abpve the trim would be fab, and you need it in that small space.

Do yourself a favor and find small swatches that match the yellow, brown etc, and buy some test paint and pick the one that disappears the most behind those colors.

The brush we use for manual dishwashing.
I've heard of some people dishwashing their sunglasses too.

With that color of wood, I actually like stainless steel for the counter and backsplash. A more modern feel, since another material might be more folksy teamed up with it.

Ooooh, this has been such a big deal. I live in Copenhagen, and can truthfully say, while this may epitomize modern state of the art Danish design/architecture, this is far from how typical people live.

The woman is an architect and the firm she and her husband own designed this. They are now selling, so they can live in something a little more suitable for a 3 kid family.

I have blogged about this, and given a video tour of my own pad in Copenhagen, a little more typical if I say so myself:

http://copenhagenfollies.blogspot.com/2009/10/keep-it-real-oprah.html

I'm a sucker for the metallic and light blue ones out of the picture.

That's a great concept! Though I think people in an emergency would benefit more greatly from a more soothing color than red.

I agree on covering the brick. I would paint it something lighter as well. The mantel too. Also, the lamp is a bit too high, like the other things mentioned. A shelf or two behind the chair with books would be a nice touch. And a small side table between the chair and the wall. You definitely need a little area rug too. A little foot rest wouldn't hurt either, inviting someone to sit at your feet by the fire perhaps?

Agreed! Spouse and I are masters of packing light. We managed to take our two small kids (6mos and 2yr) to France by train (from Denmark) with only one bag. We're doing it again, this time all the way to Morocco.

Remember, most everything you "need" can be acquired at your destination or along the way. If you really need it, that is. Requiring there are other humans there of course!

Wow, that reminds me of Finland with the wood. I would suggest getting a hold of some BIG frames or canvases (4-5), and picking two or three Marimekko patterns and making a series out of them. Hang them on the big panelled wall, and the white wall too.