scandi styleJen Lee Koss Brika
Jen Lee Koss

Jen Lee Koss Seeks Comfort in Her Cool Scandi Library

Self-isolate but make it Oslo

Now that we’re all inside all the time, making home a joyful place to be is more important than ever. In this week’s Happy Space series, stylish Canadians invite us inside the room where they feel coziest, safest, and most, well, at home. 

As the CEO of Brika, the innovative retail agency, Jen Lee Koss is already busy. Now,  she’s self-isolating in Oslo—her husband Johann’s hometown and the new family homebase—with Johann and their four young kids. There are sweet perks to all the togetherness: When Johann snapped the photo for this story, one of their daughters snuck in to cuddle with Koss on the couch.

Koss’s favourite room right now is the dining room/library, which is where she takes her Zoom calls and does quick online Pilates classes. She says she misses sitting in a café and enjoying a beautiful cup of coffee, but she and her family are adjusting. Making an effort, Koss says, is key. “Order a bunch of tulips or rearrange your furniture to keep things fresh. Making your space ‘new’ every once in a while is necessary!” 

room decor ideas Jen Lee Koss Brika

What you love most about the room

“It has the best natural light, and although we completely renovated and gutted our house, we kept this room relatively untouched. It’s closed off to the rest of our living room/kitchen with glass French doors, so it feels like you can be in a private place to have calls or have peace and quiet—but I have four small kids so there is inevitably someone coming in!” 

 

room decor ideas Jen Lee Koss

Your decor style in three words

“Simple, Scandinavian (of course), and unexpected.”

 

room decor ideas Jen Lee Koss Brika

Statement lighting can transform a space

“I love this light from Apparatus. It feels so unexpected in a room that has a super old-school feel to it—just like the fireplace!”

 

room decor ideas

A personal touch

“This large handmade tapestry was made by my husband’s grandmother, who was someone very special in his life.” 

 

room decor ideas Jen Lee Koss

Use your best things every day

“We love using the linens we had embroidered for our wedding! We have more than 150 napkins in this house with our initials on them…we clearly need to host more parties!” 

 

SHOP THE SPACE

Hay Hay pillar candle, $45, hay.com
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“I love this shop and I love these candles.”

 

Jiggy PuzzlesJiggy Puzzles, $48, jiggypuzzles.com
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“I love the idea of a puzzle becoming a real work of art after completion. The fact that they are all designed by emerging women artists is such a bonus.”

 

Adeline WangAdeline Wang rug, $530, etsy.com
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“I’ve admired Adeline Wang’s work for a while and would love to find a little space for this rug.”

 

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