Whiter Shade Of Pale

By choosing a neutral colour scheme, Birgitte Scharling was able to mix iconic design classics with high-street finds

- Juliet Benning

Birgitte and Mugge Scharling were undaunted by the diminutive size of the Danish property that was to become their first family home. Its allure, located just 30km from Copenhagen and within easy walking distance of the historic town of Hillerød and the surrounding countryside, proved irresistible. ‘We knew that it was far too small for four people, but we simply fell in love with it,’ says Birgitte nostalgically.

Twenty years ago, the house was a very different prospect to the one it is now, but the couple planned to extend it as their family grew. Accompanied by their then young children, Amanda and Milla, now 22 and 20, the Scharlings lived in the house for two years before making any changes. This enabled them to have a full understanding of their future needs. ‘It was a one-storey building, so we added another level, just for the girls,’ explains Birgitte. ‘It has two bedrooms, a small cloakroom and a sitting room.’ On the ground floor, the kitchen-diner was expanded to create a large, open space.