Hello everyone, how have you been? Today, I’m opening the doors and inviting you inside for a full apartment tour in Portugal. If you’ve watched my videos before, you’ve probably caught glimpses of our home here on Madeira. But this time, I want to slow down and really show you the details — the little things that make this apartment feel like our space.

For me, a home isn’t just about design. It’s about atmosphere, memories, and the freedom to be yourself. Our apartment is colorful, a little quirky, and filled with plants, personal treasures, and stories from our travels. It’s far from perfect, but that’s exactly why I love it — it feels like us.

So, let me take you on a tour through each room, from our plant-filled living room to our cozy bedroom, and share how this tropical island home has become a true reflection of our life together.

The Living Room: Plants, Plates, and Personality

The living room is the heart of our apartment — the place where mornings begin with sunshine on the balcony and evenings often end with friends gathered around the table. It’s large, full of life, and for me, it truly captures the feeling of living on a tropical island.

The first thing you’ll probably notice is the plants. They’re everywhere, and I love it that way. Each plant has its own character — some tall and dramatic, others small and delicate. To me, they’re not just decoration, they’re companions that bring life, texture, and calm energy into the space.

Another feature I adore is our plate wall. In traditional Portuguese homes, it’s common to hang decorative plates, so I wanted to create our own version of that tradition. Over the years, Joen and I have collected plates from different parts of the world, and now they tell a story on our wall. Some are gifts from family, others we’ve picked up while traveling — each one holds a memory.

And then there’s our playful side. With our Danish roots, it’s no surprise that we have LEGO on display. Joen is a big collector, and instead of hiding it away after building, I decided to treat it as art. It adds a quirky and personal touch that makes the space feel less “styled” and more alive.

This mix of plants, plates, and playful details makes the living room perfectly imperfect — just the way we like it.

A Blue Cabinet Full of Memories

Against one wall of the living room stands what might be my favorite piece in the entire apartment — our bright blue cabinet. On the surface it’s just a repurposed IKEA Billy bookcase, but to me, it’s so much more than furniture. It’s a love letter to the life Joen and I have built together.

When I first put it together, it was a bit of a disaster — uneven, wobbly, and definitely not showroom quality. But somehow, that’s exactly why I love it. It represents the imperfect perfection of our relationship: a little messy, a little unconventional, but full of meaning.

Inside, the cabinet is like a treasure chest of our memories. Every item tells a story. There are the two wooden ducks we painted while traveling in Vietnam, the handmade game Joen and I created when we first started dating, and the colorful babushkas we bought on his first trip with my family.

There’s also a drum gifted by a friend from Mozambique, a tiger mask from a costume Joen once wore, and countless other little keepsakes. To anyone else, it might look like a random collection of objects. But to us, it’s a timeline of our life together — reminders of where we’ve been, what we’ve created, and the moments that shaped us.

This cabinet doesn’t just hold things. It holds us.

The Bedroom: Calm, Neutral, and Personal

If the living room is bold, colorful, and full of life, then our bedroom is the opposite — calm, neutral, and serene. I’ve always slept best in spaces that feel like nature, so this room is intentionally quiet in tone. Almost no colors, just soft neutrals that create a cocoon for rest.

Some of my favorite items here are the dreamcatchers my sister made for us. Each one is deeply personal: Joen’s includes symbols that reflect his Taurus personality, while mine features a bee, which has always felt like my spirit animal. They’re delicate, thoughtful, and so full of love — and every time I look at them, I think of her.

Above the bed hangs a huge painting called “Fuel”, created by a talented artist and fan, Frederik Gheysen. It was gifted to us six years ago, and it’s based on our love story. Sometimes I feel a little awkward seeing such a large image of myself on the wall, but the meaning behind it outweighs any insecurity. It’s a reminder of how far we’ve come together.

Other touches make the bedroom uniquely ours — Joen once gifted me the sweetest little piece of decor for Christmas, something small but deeply meaningful. And even though we don’t use blackout curtains (we actually prefer waking with the sun), the view from this room makes it worth it. It feels less like a bedroom and more like a private suite, complete with a walk-in closet and bathroom.

This space is simple, but it holds so much heart.

The Office: Creative Chaos and OCD Solutions

Next up is the office, which I lovingly call the war zone. When we moved in, I put a lot of effort into designing this space — I wanted it to be colorful, inspiring, and practical. I added artwork, pops of color, and thoughtful details that could spark creativity while still leaving room for focused work.

But of course, design intentions and real life don’t always align. Joen is a self-proclaimed “messy head,” and the office has become the one place in our home where he’s free to let that side out. Papers, cables, and clutter pile up here, and honestly, I’ve learned to accept it.

That’s because having this space as Joen’s zone is part of my own system for balance. I’ve struggled with OCD in the past, and while I’ve worked hard to get better, clutter in shared spaces can still be stressful for me. So by giving Joen the freedom to make a mess in here — and only here — the rest of the apartment stays calm and ordered in a way that feels manageable for me.

It’s not the Pinterest-perfect office I once imagined, but it’s functional, personal, and, most importantly, it works for us.

The Kitchen: Spacious, Tidy, and Full of Flavor

The kitchen is one of my favorite places in our apartment — it’s where I feel the most creative. Compared to many European homes, it’s surprisingly spacious, with lots of storage that lets me tuck things away and keep the counters clear. For me, a tidy kitchen is essential. I don’t enjoy eating if I know there’s a mess waiting afterward, so I always clean as I go.

Cooking here is pure joy. I rarely follow recipes — I can’t help but change things up. Instead, I love experimenting and recreating flavors I’ve tasted in restaurants or while traveling. Our meals range from global dishes to more recent Ayurvedic-inspired recipes, like the kitchari I cooked for lunch today. Food is an adventure, and this kitchen gives me the space to explore it.

Of course, I don’t cook alone. Lara has her spot in the kitchen, always watching me like a little sous-chef — or maybe just waiting for a treat to fall her way.

This room also carries small personal touches: an incense holder gifted by a friend, the scent of spices from past meals, and the daily ritual of tea and chai. It’s more than just a kitchen; it’s a space where nourishment, creativity, and rhythm come together.

The Guest Room: A Cozy Retreat for Family

At the far end of the apartment, tucked away for privacy, is our guest room. Since all of our family lives in Denmark, this space has become really important. It’s where we host parents, siblings, and friends whenever they visit — a little home-away-from-home that lets them feel comfortable while being close to us.

The style in here is a bit eclectic. It has warmth and coziness, but I also feel like something is missing. I’ve been thinking about giving this room a small makeover — maybe refreshing the decor or adding some new personal touches. It’s nice to have projects like this in mind, something to evolve and improve over time.

Even as it is now, the guest room feels like an invitation: a quiet space where loved ones can rest, recharge, and still feel connected to our home.

The Quirky Details: Instruments, Poufs, and a Trampoline

Our apartment wouldn’t feel like us without all the quirky details that make it a little unusual — and a lot of fun. Over the years, Joen and I have collected a mix of things that don’t necessarily “fit” in a traditional design sense, but they fit perfectly into our lives.

One example is our growing collection of instruments. From an Australian didgeridoo to a gong, handmade drums from a shamanic workshop, a guitar we can’t really play, and even a singing bowl from a vintage store in Singapore — each piece tells a story, even if we’re far from mastering any of them.

Then there’s the beautiful pouf we brought back from Alentejo. We visited a family of rug makers and fell in love with their craftsmanship. This pouf adds warmth, texture, and a memory of that trip every time I see it.

And of course, perhaps the most unexpected item of all: our trampoline. Scientists say you can’t be mad while jumping on one — and I completely agree. It’s silly, it’s playful, and it’s a reminder not to take life (or home decor) too seriously.

These details might seem random to some, but for us, they’re part of what makes this apartment truly ours — imperfect, joyful, and full of stories.

Closing Reflections on Home and Belonging

As I walk through each room, I’m reminded of how much I love this apartment — not because it’s perfect, but because it’s ours. Every corner tells a story, from the plants that breathe life into our living room, to the dreamcatchers handmade by my sister, to the quirky treasures tucked into our blue cabinet.

This home is a reflection of Joen and me — a little colorful, a little crazy, but filled with love, memories, and laughter. It’s not just a place where we live, but a place where we belong.

Living on Madeira adds its own magic too — waking up to the morning sun, sharing meals on the balcony, and being surrounded by nature every single day. It’s a dream I never take for granted.

Thank you for joining me on this apartment tour in Portugal. I hope it gave you not just a look at our space, but also a sense of the life and love that fills it.

And as always, you’re welcome to connect with me on Instagram @DearJamilaa. Hugs x