Perfect Harmony in a Serene Swedish Home

While the Danish home I featured on Monday was full of playful touches and bold choices (those pink stairs!), today's home is the epitome of calm. In fact, the very reason I chose to share this early 20th century Gothenburg apartment is because I'm tired of the white walls in my home and looking for a new colour scheme - something soothing and light yet with a subtle warmth. For me, it's the combination of light nuances of grey / beige (AKA greige) in combination with the natural wood which creates such a beautiful, timeless style and sense of harmony - something the Swedes do so well! I'll be pinning many of these shots to my Pinterest today. I hope you find this lovely apartment inspiring too! 

If only I had space to store all my shoes like this at home - loving the floor to ceiling shelves by Elfa (I'm still thrilled with my wardrobe and children's storage which I installed this spring!). 

If you'd like to see more pictures of this serene Swedish home, hop on over to Alvhem. 

And for other lovely tours today, why not delve into the Swedish home archive - where you can find everything from country houses and cabins to city apartments and tiny handmade mobile homes (if this apartment pops up first, simply scroll on past). 

Stor kram! 

Niki

Photography: Anders Bergstedt for Alvhem. 

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A White Swedish Home with an Angled Kitchen

Such is my work as a writer, that I'm sitting at my desk on a warm, summer's day - without a cloud in the sky - in Malmö writing an article about Christmas for a UK magazine. Needless to say, I don't think I've quite got into the festive spirit yet! Lost for yuletide words, I thought I'd take a break and share this bright and airy apartment in Södermalm, Stockholm with you instead. It's just the breather I needed! The 51 m2 / 548 f2 space is perfect inspiration for anyone dealing with awkward angles, an IKEA kitchen that needs a design facelift or a cramped bathroom. Read on to discover why! 

In the kitchen, an Ikea kitchen carcass hugs the angled wall, while Superfront cabinet doors add a design touch. 

Some of the lost upper cabinet space is replaced by metal shelving beneath the window (also from Ikea). 

Right now, it's all about combining different style and eras. I love how contemporary kitchen cabinets stand beside an early 20th century cabinet - part of the original kitchen. 

A second room doubles up as an open-plan dining room and sitting room, with an eclectic blend of furniture. 

Glass doors ensure a flow of light between the rooms - a vital factor come winter! 

A slim vintage filing cabinet doubles up as a cute bedside table in the bedroom. 

Some old Stockholm apartments were built without private bathrooms - with residents sharing communal ones instead. These days, residents have carved out whatever space they can to create a bathroom, often using a wardrobe. I am not sure if that is the case with this small, L-shaped room. Even so, a narrow basin and loo in the shower area have solved the issue here. The white tiles and patterned tiles ensure it feels light and airy and also stylish! 

I thought it might also be useful to share the floorplan: 

Sovrum - bedroom, Vardagsrum - sitting room, Kök - kitchen

Such a lovely apartment with some great solutions (it's available to buy here).  

I particularly like the kitchen and dining area! And of course, the floor! Is there anything that caught your eye?

I am expecting a flurry of thoughts about the loo / shower combination! For example - won't the loo roll get wet? It reminds me very much of our boat loo / shower (we need to remove pretty much everything in the bathroom before we use the shower!). I think I'd try to fit a circular shower curtain or fold in semi-circular shower wall here (if there's room for it!). Do you have any ideas on how to solve this? 

Discover more beautiful Stockholm home tours here. 

Trevlig helg!  Have a great weekend! See you Monday! 

Niki

Photography Elin Sylwan, Styling: Petra Yngfalk for Historiska Hem. 

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The Scandinavian-Inspired Home of a Florist in Kyiv, Ukraine

This beautiful, harmonious family home in Kyiv, Ukraine popped into my mailbox recently. It was designed by Elena Petresku, who tells me she is safe and well and working as a volunteer while she awaits the opportunity to return home. The apartment belongs to florist Oksana Oliynyk and her family who turned to Elena for help to transform their early 20th century building a few steps from the magnificent Kyiv Pechersk Lavra monastery into a calm, Scandinavian-inspired oasis. The aim was to create a space where 'the people and their relationships come to the fore... (and) the interior does not distract from what is important'. After a year long project and tremendous amount of work, the lovely apartment was completed in 2021 - and in my eyes, has achieved everything they set out do - and more! 

For the client, a professional florist, it was important to have a large dining table where she can create bouquets. Over head, two Flowerpot pendants provide light after dark. 

Vintage table from France, Bentwood chair by Thonet, Flowerpot lamps by Verner Panton

The project included a restructure to make the space more functional. This included uniting the kitchen and living room which then flows through to the master bedroom. A small balcony off the kitchen provides a spot to enjoy a morning coffee.

The interior taps is inspired by the minimalist Nordic expression with natural materials, white and grey colour palette, combined with shades of timber and pared back furnishings. 

Coffee table by Ivan Chudov, Cobra floor lamp by Greta M. Grossman (Gubi). 

A built-in wall-to-wall closet creates a ton of storage in the master bedroom (this type of storage is a game-changer, I have firsthand experience after installing my own wardrobe recently!).

The storage unit in the children's bedroom was custom-made to maximise space.

Sofa by Hay, Poster by Olga Fradina

Sink and loo by NicDesign, sink faucet by Giulini G. Rubinetteria, Wall lamp by Flos. 

Thank you so much for submitting this beautiful apartment Elena!

You can see more of Elena's work and follow future projects, as well enquire about her interior design service over at @l.petresku. 

You might also like: 

A serene interior with a wonderful air of mystique

One-off pieces in the LA Home of Ukrainian artist Kirill Bergart

Vi ses imorgon! 

Niki

Photography: Katia Zolotukhina Styling: Tatyana Korzun

*Note: Elena tells me she is safe and well and currently working as a volunteer in Italy as she awaits the opportunity to return home. I am also told Oksana and her family are safe, although Oksana and her daughter miss their apartment very much and were sad they didn't have more time to enjoy it. They too, hope to return home soon and be reunited as a family. 

For those of you wishing to show your support, the Ukraine Red Cross have opened an emergency donation appeal to help those in need of vital aid. 

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A Serene White Swedish Home with Warm Touches of Wood

Come here for a breather today? You're in the right place! Decorated by Grey Deco in nuances of white and furnished with pieces in an array of natural material like wood, cane and linen, the living space is a total breath of fresh air and a wonderful oasis in the heart of Gothenburg. Although styled for sale, I can totally imagine stepping inside and filling it with my own personal touches, how about you? 

Note how the washing machine is in the bathroom. In Sweden this is very common in apartments. It's either that or a communal 'tvättstuga' (laundry room), where you book a time slot (the subject of numerous exasperated conversations - everyone has a 'tvättstuga' story - usually a note that has been left by another irate user! 

In the UK, washing machines tend to be in the kitchen (if you don't have a separate laundry room or mudroom). 

Where does the laundry tend to happen in your country? 

On a separate note, the subtle nuances in this apartment are so lovely. My guess is that they've used something like 'Classic white' on the ceiling (NCS S0500-N) and then Jotun Tidlös on the sitting room and bedroom wall.

Wishing you all a serene day!

Niki

PS I am so excited about the before and after home tour I have lined up for tomorrow - it's full of vintage finds! See you then! 

Greydeco for Alvhem

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