The Fascinating Home of a Swedish Artist

Have you heard of the program 'Through the keyhole'? It's a TV show I used to watch growing up where they would take you on a tour of someone's home and you'd have to guess who lived there. I often think back to this and wonder - 'is my home personal and unique enough that there would be enough clues to who my family and I are?' I would hope so. 

When I stumbled across this home on Historiska Hem, it swept me up into the world of an artist and book lover - perhaps a thespian, or someone who loves amateur dramatics. I could imagine them pouring over tomes for inspiration, tinkering with a paintbrush while listening to jazz with a fire crackling away - and the distant buzz of Stockholm city life in the background. 

Whoever lives here also has a fine collection of furniture. From centuries old hand painted cabinets to mid-century chairs - the collection spans several hundred years and has been picked up from places all over the world, telling the story of a life well lived. Ready to pour over the details? Welcome inside a Swedish artist's world! 

A fascinating home! So many details to discover, and truly unique in a wonderful way! 

I'd love to hear what you discovered about this home - I'm sure I have missed many clues. 

Curious to see a few more artists homes today? 

A relaxed Danish artist cabin in Copenhagen

The charming creative home of a Polish artist

The home of an artist in Copenhagen

A Swedish artist's home in a former school

A danish artist's beautiful and inspiring home

The lovely Georgian home of a textile artist

A Danish artist's home with angles and oodles of charm

Wow, I got a little carried away there - and there are tons more in the archive if you simply search for 'artist'. I do love the home of a creative, always deeply personal and interesting. 

I hope you have a wonderful few days lined up ahead - we're heading up to our summer cottage for a couple of days to make the most of what is likely to be the final heatwave of the summer (considering setting my alarm at sunrise so I don't miss a second of it - need to have my batteries fully charged before the light starts to fade and autumn sets in! Do you sense my unease?). 

Thank you so much for stopping by and for sharing all your thoughts and observations in the comments, I am so happy to be a part of this positive, likeminded MSH community, it really means the world! 

Niki

Photography Therese Jahnson, Styling Anna Van Keppel for Historiska Hem

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A Creative Swedish Home Filled with Art

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! 

The happy home of artist Katie Schelter

The fab creative home and studio of a Brooklyn creative duo

The relaxed creative home of an Antwerp couple

I hope you enjoyed today's tour! 

Niki

Photography: Boukari

Styling: Copparstad

Featured on Historiska Hem

Found via Nordroom with thanks. 

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Books, Art and a Cool Painting Technique in a Swedish Home

It's Fredag (Friday) people! Woohooo! I am going to hazard a guess and say 50% of swedes are working at home today. Basically, anyone who can! It's a day where homes are prepped between meetings in order to have everything ready for 'fredagsmys' (a cosy Friday evening at home involving tacos and a movie), possibly the most important event of the week! 

This fabulous funkis home in Gröndal, Gothenburg measuring 85 m2 (914 ft sq) is just the place I can imagine enjoying 'fredagsmys'. Books galore, musical instruments and art are just a few of the things that stood out to me right away. But take a closer look and there are other great interior elements at play. 

Flexible Elfa shelving (which I have added to Allie's room and also used in the laundry room and attic) is ideal for a large wall of books!  

I also love the classic vintage drop leaf table (source a similar one here*), which adds plenty of charm to the space. 

The living space is entirely open-plan with the dining area, sitting room and home office all in one - meaning everyone can be together yet doing their own thing. 

One of my favourite lamps - a Gubi semi pendant, hangs over the coffee table. 

I love this gallery wall, full of fascinating original paintings. While at the Formland design fair last week, I noticed that there's a strong movement away from posters and prints in glass frames to original artwork on canvas and other fabrics. A welcomed move! 

Plate racks have also become increasingly popular - as seen in Kristin's French kitchen last week, and here in the open shelving. 

Wall racks are a great idea for cookbooks - as seen here, it ensures they are ready to be perused over a morning coffee! 

In the bedroom, the owners have used old fashioned 'stänkmålning' on the walls - a method of flicking paint on the walls with a paintbrush. This was traditionally used by the Swedish lower classes who couldn't afford wallpaper but still wanted to decorate their walls. You often see it in summer cottages. In this room, the splashes have a wonderful contemporary feel! 

Wood abound in the shared children's room - and so much room to create too. 

What a fabulous home with so many interesting details, don't you think?

Are there any ideas which you could imagine applying to your own home? 

Check out more swedish homes this weekend here. 

I hope you have a fabulous few days, see you right back here on Monday, when I'll be sharing a beautiful French chateau!

Niki

Photography: Utsikten foto

Styling: Utsikten home

For sale via Historiska Hem

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Marianne's Art-filled Apartment in SOFO, Stockholm

Sweden might be a big country geographically, but the population is small:10 million (the same size of London), which means never more than a few degrees separation from anyone. Interior and graphic designer Marianne Wikner and I first connected when I reached out to feature her beautiful home in Mariefred (which she has since sold). I instantly fell in love with her love of art, sculpture and antique pieces - and a home tour of her and her husband's charming country escape in Österlen, southeast Sweden quickly followed. 

So, you can imagine my excitement when I discovered Marianne has a flat in Stockholm! Located in SOFO (the quarter south of Folkungagatan in the hip neighbourhood of Södermalm), the apartment has all the hallmarks of Marianne's signature style including plenty of antique and vintage finds as well as paintings, busts and figurines, but it also has an air of calm, ensuring it's the perfect oasis to return too after a day in the city. Welcome to Marianne's Stockholm home!

You'll recognise this table from her Mariefred home. This time, Marianne has opted for a soothing beige backdrop as opposed to the striking deep tone seen in her previous dining room area. 

The trick to creating a gallery wall like this is to include a variety of different styles of art (oil painting, illustrations etc), as well as mix and match frames (some without too!). I also like the way Marianne has included objects. 

The entrance hall is wonderfully clutter free - a calm welcome after shutting the door on the buzz and whir of Sweden's capital city! 

The sitting room is made up of a selection of times collected over time including a leather Chesterfield, cane chairs and poufs. 

A collection of well loved coffee table books, sculptures and treasures have been displayed on the table in the corner. 

What a perfect oasis! 

Marianne's interiors have got me so excited about 'Konstrunda' next week. Every easter, it's time for the big art exhibition across Skåne, south Sweden. There are five different tours to choose from, and we usually pick one each year, travelling around the countryside dropping in at the ateliers and galleries of painters, potters and sculptures. It's one of my favourite events of the year. 

Do you have something similar in your area? 

I'm particularly excited about heading to Norrviken to see Sara Bergman's exhibition - I featured her lovely home in Höganäs last year, and her art is wonderful! 

In case you'd like to see more of Marianne's home - check out her instagram here, and take the tour of her Österlen home and former house in Mariefred. 

On another note, I know I usually write posts on Monday, Wednesday and Friday but this afternoon the crazies and I are heading off on a long weekend to Berlin (very exciting!) with my Mother so this post is a little earlier than usual! I hope you have a wonderful weekend, see you Monday! 

Niki

Photography courtesy of Marianne Wikner, shared with kind permission. 

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