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Expression at Home with Helene Houe

Interior stylist and content creator Helene Houe has created a home that feels calm, characterful and quietly dramatic. Her light-filled 1900s apartment in Aalborg balances old-world detail with everyday warmth, shaped by instinct and a lifelong love of Scottish nature and grand old buildings.

THE PAST, LIVED IN THE PRESENT

Helene’s journey into interiors began in childhood. “I loved to repaint my room, rearrange furniture and always saw possibilities in other people's homes,” she says. But it wasn’t until adulthood that her creativity had a deeper purpose.

During a difficult period marked by stress, design became her outlet. “Interior design became what gave me energy,” she explains, recalling internships with an interior designer who taught her invaluable lessons.

So when she and her husband found their Aalborg apartment, it felt like the natural canvas for everything she had imagined.

Describing herself as “completely obsessed with old mansions”, Helene immediately fell for the architectural details.

The apartment’s natural light was another captivating detail. Together with the property’s original features it allowed her to realise a vision she’d already formed of a flowing layout where you can “sit on the sofa and look down through the living rooms.”

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I had dreamed of herringbone parquet floors and four living rooms en suite. The beautiful original details such as stucco on the ceiling, and French double doors are a work of art in themselves.

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- Helene Houe

CALM, AND A TOUCH OF DARING

Helene’s style is soft and soulful, but with edge. “I am very drawn to a light palette with a few statement pieces,” she explains, pointing to her leopard-print chaise longue that adds drama to the calm room.

She gravitates towards linen, organic shapes and painted ceilings that add depth – and she isn’t afraid to take risks. “I never thought I would paint with black,” she explains, “but wow it gives a nice edge and something dramatic to all the finery.”

And despite living with two young boys, Helene doesn’t design around her children.

“I don't actually think much about it being child-friendly. I decorate with what I like and our children should be allowed to live in it,” she says. “Even when it comes to eating on the sofa. I love cozy days when we have duvets on the sofa and sit and eat something delicious. I grew up with that myself, so I want to pass that on.”

Because for Helene, warmth matters more than perfection. She and her husband want guests to feel that their doors are always open; to experience a home that feels welcoming, layered and lived in– by everyone.

DANISH HEART WITH SCOTTISH SOUL

Scotland holds a special place in Helene’s heart, and its romantic, timeworn spirit quietly threads through her home.

“My heart is lost to Scotland,” she says. “The more I visit the country, the more I see my home develop. The endless ruins, old castles and the magnificent nature.” These landscapes influence both her aesthetic and her emotional connection to home.

That fascination translates into dark woods, lace, ruffles and pieces with history. Helene loves the thought that something once belonging to another life now lives in hers.

Looking ahead, she dreams of restoring “an old croft house on the coast side in Scotland” and making it a place to share with family and perhaps others.

INSTINCTIVE, EXPRESSIVE DESIGN

For Helene, decorating is entirely expressive. “I don't follow any design rules,” she proudly states. “If I have a vision, I don't think twice about it, and that's when magic happens.”

Her home has evolved slowly. Scaling back rather than adding more has allowed colour and pattern to enter naturally over time. Textiles play a defining role in this. She loves “light, soft material that looks classy, expensive but still comfy.” Fabrics add atmosphere, depth and a sense of ease.

At its core, Helene’s philosophy is simple: “A home is not a home without those who live in it.” And for Helene, that means a space shaped by memory, emotion and instinct – layered, welcoming and uniquely her own.