Pet style at home with Annika von Holdt

Pet-friendly decor

“The dog is named Futte, and she's a Maltese,” says Annika, a best-selling author in Denmark. “The cat's name is Rosie, and she is a regular house cat. I include them in my photos because I like to have a subject matter, rather than just four white walls.” Ghost chairs in black and clear and a wooden tabletop are all pet-friendly, polished choices.

Mirrored clawfoot tub

With 21,000 followers as of this writing, Annika’s photos have clearly found an appreciative audience. We asked what devices she uses to get these stunning photos. Annika says she uses an iPhone 6 for the most part, and underwater shots (which she takes on vacation) are snapped with a GoPro. Glimpses into a charmed family life, such as this image, are part of the appeal. An elegant mirrored clawfoot tub makes an appearance in a number of her posts, the mirrored surface reflecting an intricate Moroccan handmade-tile bathroom floor.

Captured moments

A pillow fight with her son becomes an unforgettable feathery moment captured on camera with Futte the Maltese. “I hope when it's all over for me here, that I'll be remembered as a fun mom,” she says in the caption of this image. We suspect that will be the case. Softly rumpled bedding, all in light tones, contribute brightness to her bedroom in a Denmark apartment.

It's all about the slipcovers

Slipcovers are always a smart choice when you have either pets or small children. But aside from the practical considerations, they add a bolt of oomph if you choose an unexpected shade in a primarily black-and-white room as seen in Annika’s living room. You can change them not only with the seasons, but also your mood.

Classic white diamond Bertola chair

Annika catches Rosie next to her classic white diamond Bertoia chair, the likes of which is still produced by Knoll. It’s amazing how sunlight, magazines, an iconic chair and a beloved pet can produce such a powerful and compelling scene. Sometimes Annika writes captions in Rosie the cat’s voice, to hilarious effect, for instance: “... If only I could get my butt up on the ball.” “People seem to buy the personification of the cat (especially),” Annika says. “Sometimes I think they actually think the cat said what I wrote.”

No paws or claws in the furniture

A Pantone chair adds sinuous, sexy lines to a Saarinen tulip table. We asked Annika if there’s anything, decor-wise that she will not incorporate on account of her furry friends. “No, I don't avoid anything because of my pets. They abide by the house rules: no paws or claws in the furniture,” she says. “Well, most of the time.”

Gallery wall

Futte the dog, and if you look more closely, Rosie the cat are captured in this lovely shot near Annika’s photo and art wall. Gorgeous black-and-white images are set on ledge-style picture rails. Framed art on rails gives you endless opportunity to switch things around and play with your displays.

Less is more

In North America, we sometimes fall into paroxysms of delight over more-is-more, bigger-is-better design along the lines of, “What do you mean you don’t have a double vanity in the master bathroom!?” It’s easy to forget that in Europe and elsewhere, people are living much more simply and arguably, more beautifully. A simple and small bathroom mirror, a table vanity topped with a square sink and pretty flowers (and Rosie) are all that’s needed for stylish ablutions.

Crisp white bed linens

“That's just too cute for words!” writes one of Annika’s followers on Instagram. Crisp white bed linens can mix with pets, at least in Annika’s home. “People from far away often ask me why my home has to be all white and how I can stand everything in one color,” she has written on her website. “Well, I am on a map to the far north, and it’s dark outside here for about 5 months of the year….so lovely when the clouds decide to leave a little gap, so the light can get in.”

Enjoy the little moments

You can spend your time and energy keeping your pets away from your tabletops, vases, handbags and such, but Annika seems to embrace it. (A recent Instagram post featured her dog Futte cheekily standing in her pink Valentino handbag.) Somehow, post after post, she catches these lovely moments with her pets. Is it patience? Is it some photography trick we all should know about? “Oh, I don't know,” she says. “ I think it's an eye for the moment.” We would have to agree.