I love Swedish surnames. Yes, many are the familiar ‘son of’ names, Svensson, Johansson, Andersson and so on, but so many others are inspired by nature, which I find rather lovely.
Mine, for example, means ‘steep ground’ (perhaps not the most romantic, let's hope it's not a slippery slope...), while I have friends with names like Häggström, ‘bird-cherry stream’. Then there are famous Swedes such as Astrid Lindgren, whose surname combines ‘linden tree’ and ‘branch’, and filmmaker Ingmar Bergman, quite literally ‘mountain man’.
And today I came across another one: Hallonkvist, ‘raspberry twig’. How nice is that?
You might be wondering where on earth I’m going with this. There is a point, I promise, although the link is admittedly rather tenuous!
Sarah Hallonkvist is an interior stylist based in Gothenburg, and in January she moved into a new home in Majorna with her little one, marking the beginning of a wonderful fresh chapter. Since then, Sarah has been slowly putting her stamp on the space and creating a beautiful, relaxed home for the two of them.
And it’s just the kind of home I love: warm, with soft creamy walls and curtains that form a calm backdrop for rich wood, tactile textiles and a wonderful mix of vintage and contemporary pieces. Simple pine shelves create extra storage under the TV, while sculptural lighting, checks, deep berry tones and a few playful details give each room its own character.
Here are a few lovely corners from Sarah’s home to feel inspired by!
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Even from these pictures, though, there’s plenty to take inspiration from. I love the warmth of the yellow tones, which are having a real moment right now. Other on-trend touches include the checks, zebra print, dark brown, burgundy and pale blue, as well as all the wicker details.
Do you have any of these in your home? Perhaps you’ve loved them for years, in which case, you were clearly ahead of the curve!
And finally, is there anything in particular that caught your eye in Sarah’s Gothenburg home?
Here is a mixed bag of Gothenburg homes to appreciate on this bright and sunny day:
A beautiful Gothenburg home with a hint of English style
Inside Anna's coastal home on an island outside Gothenburg
An allotment cottage hideaway in the heart of the city
On another note, did you see the lastest addiiton to our sitting room in last week's post?
Thank you so much for stopping by. Hej då så länge!
Niki
Photography by Sarah Hallonkvist, shared with kind permission
I love a neutral home with texture and pops of color like this one. It is naturally calming. Raspberry twig is a wonderful name! Whimsical!! : > ) One thing that caught my eye was the picture near a bed...not sure if I am seeing the actual picture or a reflection of something across the room, but I like it! Enjoy the day! : > )
ReplyDeleteThank you for pointing this out - I think it is part reflection, part art - either way, I agree, it is lovely!
DeleteCan I just say, once again, that I love buttery yellow walls? I have them in my house, but the colour is not in fashion in Australia. Maybe I should move to Sweden.
ReplyDeleteThey add instant warmth, I'm a big fan too!
DeleteI love all of it and am drawn to the hanging light fixtures. I love the use of texture and some soft color. a beautiful home.
ReplyDeleteThank you for pointing out all these lovely details!
DeleteI'm definitely a fan of creamy, buttery yellow walls. They add a gentle warmth, and yes, my living room walls have been that color for a long time. I don't think it's a popular shade in the US, but it doesn't matter to me. I just like how it warms up my north-facing room. This home is so peaceful!
ReplyDeleteI love that you've found a shade you love - and yellow is a perfect shade for adding instant warmth :)
DeleteButtery yellow walls does stand out beautifully with the cherry wood floors. Striking light fixtures of all shapes, sizes and texture and the throw pillows. A warm inviting lived-in home. Love the smaller windows at the top, really help in summer...if Sweden has a summer☺
ReplyDeleteWe do indeed have a summer, although some years the weather can be a bit questionable!!! Here's to extra windows and sunny yellow tones!
DeleteAll the textiles and accessories accentuate the cozy factor. I especially enjoyed gazing at how she styled shelves throughout her roooms. She has a true and artful eye for just “how much” is enough. I struggle mightily trying to get that right. I like checks and most all animal prints in small doses (such as cushions/throw pillows) and haven’t tried zebra prints, but I think I might need to find a way to incorporate it.
ReplyDeleteI am beginning to introduce pale blue in the primary bedroom with accessories and smitten with the thought of a blue paint for the room by American paint company Benjamin Moore called “Quiet Moments.” Love how she has intermingled her colors in her home.
I am sure you have the balance just right for you! Zebra print could be a really fun extra touch this season too. I love the look of Quiet Moments - beautiful!
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