Name: Olivia Ellen (3)
Location: Copenhagen, Denmark
Room Size: 107 sq ft

When your mother is a professional stylist you know you're going to end up with an amazing room. Rikke Graff Juel designed this space for her daughter, Olivia Ellen, in much the same Scandinavian style as the rest of her home - white walls, plenty of vintage wood pieces combined with fresh modern colors and accessories. The space somehow manages to feel simultaneously sophisticated and perfectly playful - a charming room that will grow well with its little inhabitant.

How would you describe the look and feel of this room? The look is Denmark in the 50's and 60's with a lot of teak wood and mint, orange and pink colors. I like kids' rooms with color, but I don't like too many different colors in one room. I think it looks messy because all of the toys are also very colorful. So I let the mint be the basic color because I think it is fresh and not too girly. The last thing I wanted was a princess room.

I also tried to make the room very personal and creative. I am not into complete solutions where you buy everything from one brand. Almost everything was found at flea markets and second hand shops where I especially look for things I remember from my own childhood. I wanted the room to invite play and have a kind of nostalgic feeling.

What is your favorite piece or element? I love the teak desk where my daughter can sit and do creative stuff. It is Danish design from the 50's and has a lot of storage. The mint "put in the box" on the wall is also a favorite. It is here that Olivia Ellen keeps all the little gadgets and figures she gathers. It's a collection of memories because many of the things are from holidays and other good experiences. When she is with me at flea markets she always brings her little purse with change so she can buy some little thing for the box.

What was the biggest challenge decorating this room? The room is very small and difficult to furnish because it has a panoramic window and had to accommodate many functions. But in the end I think it turn out the way I wanted it.

What do your friends say about the room? They think it is very cozy, very personal and very typical me. The style of the room matches the rest of our home. The rest is just a bit more toned down.

Do you have any advice for parents creating a room for their child?

• Pick a few colors and type of materials (ex. wood) you like and use them throughout the room. This way you link the room together and the eye will find peace.


• Don´t go for the easy solutions and don´t be afraid to design, build and paint things yourself.


• Storage, storage, storage. It is important. Without it the space will look like a war zone.


• Look for furniture and toys made of wood and maybe toys from your own childhood. Let the nice looking toys be a part of the decoration of the room, and keep all of the plastic toys away in boxes when not in use.

If money were no object, what's your dream source? I am not dreaming of anything expensive for Olivia Ellen's room, but if money was no object I would want to give her more space.

Many of the prints on the walls are from the fantastic Danish webshop Mimi's Circus. I really like the Danish brand Ferm Living - their children's things are so nice. Another Danish brand is Lucky Boy Sunday - they have a lot of wonderful knitted cushions, blankets and dolls.

Source List:

• Bed: Juno


• Tapestry: Bobo Choses


• Cushions and knitted dolls from: Lucky Boy Sunday & Creme de la Creme a la Edgar


• Chair: Verner Panton


• Pear Poster: Fine Little Day


• Mint counting poster with birds: Isak


• Uhho poster: Jall & Tofta


• CD player: Muji


• Pendel: Verner Panton


• Little piano: Vilac.com

....the rest is vintage.

Thanks, Rikke! See more of Rikke's work on her blog - Ellen's Album

(Images: Frederikke Heiberg, Tia Borgsmidt and Rikke Graff Juel. Published in the Danish magazines Boligmagasinet and Alt for damerne.)

• MORE KIDS' ROOMS ON APARTMENT THERAPY
• SUBMIT A BABY OR KID'S SPACE