A Relaxed Gothenburg Home with Checks, Burgundy and Beautiful Details

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!

It would be lovely to see more of the kitchen, as well as a few glimpses of the bathroom and hallway, but I’m sure Sarah will get around to sharing these spaces when she’s ready – so do keep an eye on her Instagram for updates!

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

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A Home Filled with Art, Vintage Finds and Heart

I was quietly tapping away on my laptop a couple of days ago when a lovely message from Swedish artist and interior stylist Michaela Grut landed in my inbox, along with some beautiful new images of her home. A lot has happened since I last featured it seven years ago, so it definitely felt time for a revisit! 

If there are a few things that have remained the same about the home Michaela shares with her two daughters and two cats (she jokes that she's become a bit of a 'crazy cat lady' – and I'm here for it!), it's that it's deeply personal and filled with art (some of it her own), ceramics and carefully collected vintage finds. Michaela describes her interior style as 'curated Scandinavian eclecticism', and it's easy to see why. Every room feels thoughtfully layered, balancing clean Scandinavian lines with an eclectic mix of colour, texture, art and meaningful objects. Take a look at the kitchen shelves and you'll spot an array of one-of-a-kind serving ware, vessels, ceramics and other little treasures, each with its own story to tell.

She's also embraced a beautiful palette of muted yet confident tones throughout the apartment, giving each room its own distinct character. And, as with so many Scandinavian homes, designer lamps act like sculptures by day before casting a wonderfully warm, inviting glow in the evening (I noticed a discussion about this in the comments a few days ago, and it's true that many people here are happy to invest in good lighting, perhaps because of the winter darkness!). Finally, keep an eye out for the rugs – each one adds plenty of texture and softness underfoot.

Ready to take a look around?

The little guy perched on the sunny yellow (Velvet by Jotun - 10246) shelf to the left is one of Michaela's sculptures.

I love the sense that Michaela's home has been created over time, a brass bowl added here, a vintage chopping board there. As a result, it's truly personal and tells the story of who she is. 

The artwork in the top right of the gallery wall in the sitting room is by Michaela. Look closely at this shot and you'll see all the furniture, lighting and accessories are from different styles and eras, yet all come together so nicely. An art form in itself! 

The sitting room is painted in Soft Skin from Jotun.

The green snoopy lamp is one of my favourites! 

The combination of tones and materials in the bedroom is timeless yet with a contemporary touch.  The shell lamp is beautiful - especially against the blue wall (painted in Linblå from Jotun). 

Jewellery wearers, take note: a little tray on your bedside table is the perfect spot for the pieces you reach for every day.

Pom pom slippers. Why not?

Another bedroom – also painted in Linblå from Jotun – more beautiful art, lamps and objects.

Michaela has turned a plain box used to cover electricals into a work of art, while a bold rug adds a cool touch to the hallway. 

Michaela works from a studio in the same building. I actually have one of her pieces in my home - a white figurine, which I really treasure! 

Thank you so much to Michaela for inviting us into her home, such a treat! 

I hope you all enjoyed looking at all the details!  

You can find out more information about her art and see more pictures of her lovely home over at @michaelagrut. All of Michaela's currently available art and sculptures are for sale here. 

Fancy seeing more pictures from artists' homes today? Take a look at: 

A Danish artist's inspiring home in Copenhagen

The fascinating home of a Swedish artist

An artist's Swedish home in soft coral tones

A relaxed Danish artist's cabin in Copenhagen

I hope you are all full of inspiration for the weekend, have a great one! 

Niki

Photography – Björn Nordström

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An Art-Filled Industrial Apartment in Gothenburg

Finally Friday. The sun is shining and Malmö is a cacophony of horns, whistles, pumping music and students cheering as they graduate from high school, sailor hats perched proudly on their heads with their names emblazoned across the front. Do you have a similar tradition in your country?

Meanwhile, inside this wonderful apartment in one of Linnéstaden's oldest buildings in Gothenburg, a rather different atmosphere prevails. Once an industrial premises, the space is a beautiful blend of raw character and relaxed style. Exposed brickwork, hefty timber beams, original doors and soaring three-metre ceilings provide the backdrop, while a curated gallery wall, vintage furniture and splashes of cobalt blue add warmth and personality.

I love how the owners have embraced the building's history rather than trying to hide it. The result is a home with soul and full of character, creativity and charm. Welcome inside!

Such an inspiring home, don't you think?

Personally, I loved the play with scale, from the low shelving topped with oversized, bold artwork to the floor-to-ceiling gallery wall, as well as all the remnants of the property's industrial past. Wonderful!

Was there anything that caught your eye?

I feel this is the perfect excuse to share a few more fabulous homes with an industrial touch (it's been a while!):

Industrial meets cosy rustic in a Swedish home
The fabulous industrial style atelier of a creative
An artist's home in a former factory

And in case you missed it, I also shared a local guide to Malmö by the sea earlier this week, ideal if you're looking for vacation inspiration!

Wishing you all an underbar weekend!

Niki

Photography by Anders Bergstedt for Alvhem, with thanks.

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Breathing Room: A Beautiful Swedish Home

I was so happy to hear that so many of you loved the Norwegian home tour earlier this week - it certainly helped that we had such a handsome guide!

Today, I thought we’d go for something a little different. One of the things I’ve always loved about Scandinavian design is the calmness that comes with the “less is more” philosophy. Walking into a decluttered home, like the one you’re about to witness, makes me instantly take a deep exhale in and out. It’s instantly calming!

I also love how, when a home is pared back, you can see each carefully selected item in its entirety - the colour, the form, the material, the texture - everything.

So, this Swedish home is dedicated to anyone who needs a little calm, or some breathing room, to take with you into the weekend!

Granted, this is even more decluttered than usual since it’s for sale, but I still love the light and airy feel, along with the lovely choice of furniture and colour. Plus, I’ll always be a big fan of a wall rack for wine glasses - especially on a Friday!

Are you also a fan of the pared-back look?

I hope you’ve enjoyed the tours on the blog this week as much as I have. As always, thank you so much for stopping by and for all your comments, emails, and messages. I love this positive community! 

Have a fantastic weekend!

Niki

Photography courtesy of Stadshem, with thanks. 

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