A Small Mid-Century Swedish Apartment Packed with Personality

'Life is like a box of chocolates, you never know what you're going to get' goes the famed line from Forest Gump. And I like to make sure that this blog offers some surprises. While this might not be 'out there' in terms of the building itself (after all, in the past I've shown everything from a tiny house on wheels to a home in a converted fire station), stylistically thinking, this mid-century home is a little different from the other properties I've shown lately. 

It may be small (269 f2 / 25 m2) but this studio apartment in the heart of Stockholm has everything you need to feel comfortable: a cosy bed, sitting room area, dining table, kitchenette and balcony. The 1930s apartment is also packed with personality (I'm looking at the blend of mid-century modern and vintage furniture (note the red chairs - a running theme in Swedish homes right now, as seen in Monday's home tour too), and retro touches. 

Let's delve in further to see what's at play! 

A large rug helps to add a cosy touch to the bedroom / living room / dining area - with the choice of dark green adding to the mid-century vibe. 

Under-bed storage provides space for clothes and other items. 

The traditional gate-leg table can be folded out to cater for more people. 

Elfa storage (of which I am a huge fan), is adaptable over time and comes with the option of lots of different accessories including book ends, hooks and even a mirror (although, this one is retro of course!). 

The original retro kitchen adds to the overall feel of the apartment. 

Love this personal and unique home. It's a great example of how to ensure lots of storage in a small space - especially for book lovers! 

Is there anything that stood out to you? 

You can see more mid-century-themed homes here: 

A Finnish collector's home full of vintage treasures

A colourful, retro 'funkis' home in Norway

The relaxed Antwerp home of a creative duo

Have a lovely mid-week - stor kram! 

Niki

Photography courtesy of Historiska Hem (styling - Rydman / photography Janson), found via Nordroom with thanks. 

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A Mid-century Swedish Apartment with Warm Tones

Tucked away in a quiet corner of Stockholm, this Swedish apartment bears many of the hallmarks of its 1944-45 origin. The kitchen for example, still has the original cabinetry and pantry - and it warms my heart to see these remnants still intact!  

As an 'end' apartment, it's also blessed with light from three different directions. In our first apartment  many moons ago, Per and I lived in a flat just like this and I absolutely loved how the light changed throughout the day. 

The owners of this space have included quite a few mid-century pieces to stay true to the architecture - while not being afraid to add some cool, contemporary touches. Look closely, and you'll also witness sculptural pieces, unique treasures, a rich blend of textures and warm earthy tones. 

Finally, keep an eye out for the shelving in the sitting room - a perfect solution when wall space is limited. 

I hope you feel inspired by the tour! 

Feeling confused about the layout? Here's the floor plan for the 46 m2 (495 ft.sq) apartment: 

Glossary: matrum - dining room, kök - kitchen, vardagsrum - sitting room, sovrum - bedroom

I love how warm this apartment looks; I can imagine feeling instantly at ease here, how about you? 

The earthy kilim rug and cushions reminded me of the tour I once featured of the Swedish home of interior designer Saša Antic. I have been working with Saša this week and he is such a talented guy! 

Also, note the cushion to the right of the sofa. The tone is similar to the Pantone 2024 colour of the year - Peach fuzz, which goes beautifully with dark green. Can you imagine adding this accent to your home this year? 

I'd love to hear your thoughts, as always! 

Happy Lillördag! 

Niki

Photography @jockeono, styling Clindholm design, for Historiska Hem. 

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A Small Swedish Apartment, Packed With Charm (And Sunlight)

Tjena! Hur är läget? We've woken up to a beautiful sunny day here in Sweden and our homes are pooled with golden light. This small 25 sq.m (269 ft.sq) apartment in Stockholm (in an area called Midsommarkransen meaning 'Midsummer crown' - how lovely is that?) is blessed with windows from two directions, capturing the beams as the sun moves through the sky and casting an ever changing array of shadows.

The owner has artfully worked with the one-room living space to incorporate a kitchenette, dining space, and a bed that doubles up as a sofa. High shelves help to make the most of the full height of the room - while plants, flowers and mid-century teak furniture add to the charm of the home. 

In the midst of a conundrum about how to arrange your small apartment - or trying to get your head around awkward angles? This lovely Swedish home is for you! 

Glossary: Rum - 'room', kök - kitchen, Badrum - bathroom. 

I poured over the pictures to suss out clothes storage. I think the best place for a wardrobe would be the hall (it looks like there are two rails as well as quite a few shelves there which could well be used for clothes). Under-bed storage is also optimal in small spaces. 

All-in-all a charming small space, with such a lovely feel. I'd be perfectly happy to come home to this apartment each day, how about you? 

More small space inspiration can be found in this archive.

On another note, something very exciting happened this week. I was at my daughters swimming gala (these things take up the entire weekend and the highs and lows are unbelievable - there were smiles, tears and everything in between from Liv! - Are there any other swimming parents out there?), and scrolling through instagram during the very long poolside hours, and lo and behold, I spotted Kelly Clarkson reading my book Relaxed Rustic. What a crazy moment! It certainly put a shine on my weekend, along with my daughters smiles! 

I hope you have a great start to the week! 

Niki 

Photogrtaphy courtesy of Historiska Hem, with thanks. 

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A Warm Apartment in Berlin with Mid-century Touches

It's Friday, the sun is shining in Malmö (for what feels like first time in months!) and we're pedalling a little extra fast as we move into the weekend. Woohooo! I hope you've got some relaxing / fun plans! Before we all hit the pause button, here's one final home tour for the week. 

Eagle eye readers might recognise the living space, as I featured Tim Labenda's home a few years ago as part of a feature about my friend Igor Josif's book Plant Tribe. So much has changed in terms of the furniture arrangement and style that I felt a new tour was definitely in order. Captured by Laura and Nora (of Our Food Stories fame), Tim and his boyfriend Hannes Kraus' Berlin home is full of contrast, mid-century furniture, danish design (including my favourite Hans J. Wegner Flag Halyard Chair) plants and quirky touches (look out for the fabulous art behind the bed - more details at the bottom!). Buckle up friends, you're in for a treat! 

I have to say, I especially love the main living room with a dining area, work space and sitting room combined. It looks so warm and inviting! 

We've been seeing dark wood in the kitchen a lot lately, and I'm a big fan. Do you like them too? 

And of course, there's the art behind the bed. It took me a while to figure out what it was - a mural? A rug?  A painting? Nope, actually it's a strip of Heron wallpaper by Gucci. Smart idea! The side lamps (I couldn't resist finding out more about those too!) are Satellite pendants by Gubi. 

Read a full interview with Tim and see more pictures of his home here. 

Got a little more time today? Why not look back at the other home tours I've shown this week including a wonderfully charming rural cottage in Norway and a dream holiday cabin in Latvia. You might also like to check out the archive full of Swedish homes and small spaces. 

Right friends, that's it from me this week. Have a fabulous weekend, see you Monday!

Niki

Photography: Our Food Stories - shared with kind permission. 

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