The Quiet Beauty of Home | Anouck Brinkerink

There’s a special kind of magic that happens when someone’s home feels like an open invitation, not just to visit, but to truly be. That’s exactly what drew us to Anouck. In this conversation, she shares how a simple island home became a sanctuary filled with intention, warmth, and everyday rituals. From the values that guide her choices to the quiet moments that bring her peace, Anouck invites us into a life shaped not by perfection, but by presence. Her story is a reminder that beauty lives in the way we care, the way we gather, and the way we listen to our spaces and ourselves.

Let’s begin with an introduction.
Can you share a little about yourself — what you do, where you live, and what “home” looks like for you right now?

Hi, my name is Anouck, I am originally from Holland (The Netherlands) where I grew up in a small town and after my studies in Utrecht, as a visual merchandiser and interior stylist, my journey brought me to Athens-Greece, and what was supposed to be a “gap year” became an interesting challenge in an upcoming bedding company, where I was very lucky to be part of the marketing & decoration department. This company, Coco-Mat, had the same values and appreciation for the environment. Together with the owner, we developed beautiful home wear collections and strategic marketing campaigns through photo styling and shop designs that could visualize their brand identity. After meeting my husband on a nearby island named Poros, it was an instant love affair: not only did I meet the person I call my soulmate, but the energy of this small island gave me the courage to switch my career and move from Athens to Poros. Living in a small community has its ups and downs, but I have never regretted making the bold move, as this island is my home, with my dearest family and friends near me.

How would you describe the feeling of your home? What aesthetic or atmosphere inspires the space you’ve created?

My home gives the serenity of nature, I have tried to keep this traditional fisherman’s house minimal, by giving its simplicity back: throughout the years it was upgraded with a marble staircase, system ceilings, etc., which weren’t originally there. So when we bought the house, we stripped it back to its base, and luckily, we found some hidden treasures along the way, like the original cypress beams that are holding the first floor.

I guess Greece is my inspiration. The Mediterranean type of living, where you are surrounded by the sea. It gives you a calm and slow pace. So the house is breathing a balanced feeling of the way we live, with softness and kindness.

If you had to name three core values that guide the way you live, what would they be?  Why do those values matter to you?

My first core value is my family. If you are as lucky as I to find a person who makes you feel you belong, and together you can create a family, and you invest in them,  in return, you are getting all this love and laughter, even through the hardest of times… I feel enormously blessed by my family and the core base we created. 

My second core value will be respect. With respect, you create long-lasting friendships, and it gives you opportunities to understand other communities, cultures, and their values. when we can respect each other, we can learn from each other, and we will get inspired by new ways of looking at things. And by respect, I don’t only mean from human to human, but to be respectful of our planet,  nature, and all its creatures, it will give you so much fulfillment and appreciation.

If I had to choose another core value, it would be gratitude. We are fortunate to be raised in a safe environment, where we have more than we could possibly desire. Knowing that this isn’t the case for everyone on this earth makes me feel privileged and fills me with tremendous gratitude. I wish everyone could experience the same safety and balance that I feel on a daily basis.

How do those values show up in your home? Are there small decisions, habits, or rituals that help bring them to life in your space?

It was clear that our kitchen would be an open space, along with our living area. We love cooking together, and we love eating together as a family. So having a large kitchen island, where my husband is preparing the dough for his bread, while we are playing a game of Rummikub (yes, believe it or not, our latest obsession) is all I could wish for. And although we all love movies and series on TV, I made sure to create a separate room with a large double daybed in it, so it wouldn’t interfere with our other rituals (a TV can be a very big distraction in a living room and by having it out of sight, it becomes a more conscious thought, before deciding to watch a movie, then just having it on with nothing in particular to watch). So we would rather cook and listen to music or read a book near the fireplace (in winter, that is) 

In summer, we have our garden, which becomes our second living area. With an old big orange tree right in the middle, where a big sofa and dining table are under it. This is where we spend evenings with our friends… as it is all about being together and sharing memories, and most of all, we love laughing and eating….

Is there a daily ritual or moment in your home that brings you peace, inspiration, or a sense of rhythm?

Every morning, I wake up in this calm white bedroom, and when I open the windows and look outside over our garden, it gives me that gratitude of being so lucky. Most of the mornings in wintertime, I hop back in bed and read a few pages of a book (and it has become a bit of a ritual, where my husband serves me coffee in bed) This way, I can start my day calmly and full of energy

What does “home” mean to you, beyond four walls? Why is it such a meaningful part of your life?

Family and friends is home, it gives me purpose and belonging.

When it comes to caring for your home, what practices feel most nourishing to you?
(Think cooking, cleaning, organizing, gardening, repairing, or anything else that feels like devotion.)

I kinda love everything that has to do with caring for our home. I love cooking meals and getting creative with all leftover ingredients, making salads and hummus as we dip our sourdough bread (made by my husband) in it. But also, Gardening gives me a lot of calmness. Being in nature and nourishing plants is a type of meditation for me. Cleaning and organising is another way of giving my busy mind some space, knowing where to find everything, and being in a clean space, clears my head.  And then we have our little projects of repairing and upgrading spaces around and in our house. At the moment, we are working on our balcony, and it is so satisfying to get to the end result.

What are some of the most meaningful objects in your home?
What stories do they carry, and how do they add soul to your space?

This is a difficult question, as I don't really hang on to objects, I prefer the memories that go with an object, and if an object gets broken or lost, the memory stays..  But I must say, I have a total chair fetich, especially second-hand ones. Whenever I see a broken chair, I see the potential and love to give it new life (and I need to be completely fair, that it is my husband who can re-create these potentials I have in my head)

When you bring something new into your home, how do you decide it belongs?
What values shape your choices when it comes to acquiring or keeping things?

Because our house is still newly renovated (though, thinking back, 7 years have passed) there aren't a lot of new things we bring into our house. We just used all our previous belongings and gave them a new home, which made them look special again. I guess when I see something I immediately love, I just buy it and will instinctively know it belongs in our house (and if not yet, then I keep it for a later occasion). Vintage pieces and upcycled treasures hold much value, not just for how they look, but for the stories they carry.

How has your relationship with home changed over time? Is there a lesson your home has taught you?

Ever since being a child and having my own room, I spent hours styling it with odd objects from the garage: I used to redecorate my room every 3 months, just so it would look different and give me new inspiration. Today I still change things around, store them away, or give them another purpose. It is a creativity and freshness I like to surround myself with, and I am glad the rest of my family just lets me be, when I get into “changing mood.”

What book, poem, or piece of writing has shaped the way you think about home or slow living? Why does it resonate with you?

I love reading, but I guess when it comes to expressing my feelings, it will be with music. There is this one song which describes home for me and I adore the melody: “Our House” from Crosby, Stills, and Nash. It brings back memories of my father playing the guitar and my mom being there with a cup of tea after school. It is the song that I share with my husband, my two beautiful daughters, and instead of the “2 cats in the yard,” we have a dog called Billie, and it makes me happy.

If your home could whisper one word to describe how it holds you… what would it say?

Philoxenia, a Greek word that literally translates as friend for the foreigner. It has a double meaning for me, as I am a foreigner in another country, and Greece has made me feel at home. Philoxenia also means hospitality, which my home offers, welcoming everybody and offering a warm and carefree way of being.

To find more inspiration about Greek Island Living, please follow Anouck at ABsee.gr and on Instagram at Absee.interiors