Yesterday, I mentioned that I'd feature a Danish home today, but you know how it is, plans change! I promise the feature is still in the pipeline (watch this space). But the good news is, I have another inspiring home to share with you, in the form of this creative Swedish apartment!
The 44 sqm (473 square foot) apartment caught my eye thanks to its unique style - it's like none other I've seen before! Think walls filled with original art, vibrant cushions, interesting colour combinations, mix and match vintage furniture and plenty of plants!
Keep your eyes peeled during the tour as there are plenty of small touches to feel inspired by - and also two very clever colour styling tricks.
Allow me to explain the first. When adding a strong colour to a space it can create a nice element of surprise. However, a random colour on its own can be quite jarring to the eye and ruin the harmony - or even completely take over a space. So, experts often use a rule of three, which simply means, that if you add an accent colour to a space, try to repeat it three times to balance the look.
The second trick is referred to as the 'rödtråd' in Swedish - which translates to 'the red thread'. The idea is to repeat an accent colour throughout your home to create a flow. In this home for example, you can see the table legs in the kitchen match the pendant lamp in the bedroom.
Such an interesting home! I love the unique touches and homely feel.
Is there anything that caught your eye? Perhaps you use some design tricks in your home? If so, please do share in the comments below if you'd like!
Would you like to see a few other creative homes today? How about:
I also stumbled on this lovely post featuring pictures from creative workspaces!
I hope you enjoyed today's tour!
Niki
Photography: Boukari
Styling: Copparstad
Featured on Historiska Hem
Found via Nordroom with thanks.
The youthful energy of this space is great! You are right, the repeated colors bring it together, and there is just enough use of color to make it interesting without overdoing it. How did they get the angled pictures over the doorway to stay in place? I don't see supporting hardware and am guessing that they somehow have used fishing line to make it unobtrusive.
ReplyDeleteNow that is a good question. I tried zooming in but couldn't see any attachments which makes me think they must have used fishing wire of some kind like you suggest - a clever idea!
DeleteWhat a charming and colorful home! I love butter yellow kitchen, especially the slanted shelves by the fridge. I wonder if that’s original to the apartment?
ReplyDeleteMy guess is that they are the original units - and I love that they ahve stood the test of time and still loved today :)
DeleteI learnt from the Nordics that 'what you have is what you've got, and it is valuable, and to be made use of'. Home is what you make it. If a home is to speak about you, this home makes it:-).. as you put it nicely, ' a creative work space'.
ReplyDeleteCouldn't help noticing the art in the living room, 'USA måste lämna Vietnam':-)
Thank you for 'Röd tråd'. Always wondered why it jarrs when I introduce something bright or färgstark, and would just remove it. If I only had kept half of the what seems now, creative, instead of giving them away.
Love the open plumbing, would be so easy to locate a leak.
Thank you for sharing all these thoughts. I love how you've captured the essence of the Scandinavian approach in words.
DeletePlease do give the splashes of colour another go with the rule of three in the back of your mind. Now that I've mentioned it, you might just spot it all the time in the homes I show and it really does make a difference to the balance of a room. Most importantly of all, it allows you to simply go for it and follow your hearts desire!
At last! Some colour and a loosening up into much-needed, and jolly cosiness. Yessssssssssssss
ReplyDeleteHappy you enjoyed this more colourful tour :)
DeleteAssuming the photos are current, it it interesting to see that somebody still has an older style of TV. I thought I must have been the last person in Canada who had a the old clunky big box TV (this was years ago, I simply waited until it died on me and only then I purchased a flat screen TV and I still have the one that I purchased then, I have need to have a 55" or bigger).
ReplyDeleteThe apartment seems bigger than 473 sq ft and it has a very nice lived-in feel. What jumped at me right away is the artwork with the blue greyhound (whippet/italian greyhound) in the living room, it goes nicely with the light fixture in the bedroom.
And the angled cabinet with the sliding door in the kitchen - very practical.
So well spotted with the TV! Love the approach that 'if it ain't broke, why fix it'? We can all live so much more sustainably with this in the back of our minds!
DeleteI agree that the apartment feels bigger, and also loved the blue greyhound art, he really stands out!
There’s a playfulness to the space and it looks comfortable. Love the tip on using a color three times. It is well played here and while seeming joyful, it also has a sophistication. They have some lovely furniture pieces, too.
ReplyDeleteI love your observation that the space feels both joyful and sophisticated - completely agree!
DeleteThe angled cabinet in the kitchen is something I need to look up. I'm quite tall and live in a house with lover than standard ceiling so this is great combination to keep the counter space and storage in the kitchen. Thanks for the inspiration! /Iza
ReplyDeleteThis is an original kitchen from the time that the apartment building was constructed, however, you can still buy replicas of this retro style kitchen cabinet today - it does indeed look very practical for someone of height (myself included) especially when ceilings are low.
DeleteIt is art in itself, to be able to make a small apartment so beautiful!
ReplyDeleteLove this comment Irma :)
DeleteDoesn't float my boat. I prefer your calmer interiors with more neutral colours. Mind you, my own place has lots of pictures, textile hangings, pottery, African masks etc. I lived and worked in Kalmar for 1 year in 1979. Best wishes, Cherry 🍒
ReplyDeleteI hear you, this look is highly personal and not for everyone! I love the sound of your home Cherry.
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