A Charming Blend of Old and New in a Stockholm Home

It's a school holiday this week in Southern Sweden and I feel like I'm the only one up, tapping away on my laptop in a cafe by the sea. The clocks went back at the weekend which means darker nights - which in turn means the warm glow from lamps, candles and log fires. Further North, snow covers the ground and the birds taken flight to warmer climes. It's a time for cosying up at home by the fire, reading and taking long walks. And I'm all for it! 

This lovely Stockholm apartment is owned by Mina and Carlo, founders of IO Kids Design and is located in 'Söder', a hipster part of town with some of the Swedish capital's best cafes and restaurants. Even so, when the temperatures hit minus, being tucked up under a blanket beside the kakelugn (tiled masonry oven) is the way to go! Keep a look out for personal touches, a blend of antique and designer pieces as well as the beautiful entrance way. 

I hope you find something in this lovely home to inspire you! 

Two tone kitchens are where it's at right now. The apartment owner Carlo Negri - an architect for Sweco, designed this kitchen. I love how the upper cabinets are in wood, adding lots of warmth to the space. 

Carlo also designed the book cases in the sitting room and bedroom. 

Space is limited in the city and many get creative to make space for the entire family. In this aprtment, the children's room is divided into two using a series of closets.

This bunkbed is next level (literally!). I actually haven't seen one like this before. Does anyone have any tips on where it might be from?  UPDATE: it's called the IO Bunk Pod and was designed by Mina and her husband - the owners of this apartment and founders of IO Kids Design!

The other half of the room is small (yet cosy) - with enough space for a charming antique bed! 

I love these grand early 19th century communal entryways you find in Sweden! 

Confused about the layout? Here's the floorplan as shared by Historiska Hem: 

Glossary: sovrum - bedroom, Kakelugn - fireplace, allrum - living room, bad - bathroom, kök - kitchen, Gardrob - wardrobes.

I love the exterior of this property too - classic Stockholm! 

Is there anything that stood out to you about this lovely apartment? 

Why not cosy up for a while and see a few other incredible apartments from the Swedish capital here: 

A charming Stockholm home in wintertime

A lovely Stockholm home where past and present meet

Get the look from the fab Stockholm home of a design hunter

Right folks, the autumn sun is shining and I've got two children (teenagers) here at home waiting to get into action (actually they're still asleep so they don't know that yet, but they will be!). 

Wishing you a great start to the week! 

Niki

Photographs courtesy of Historiska Hem with thanks 

READ MORE...

8

White and Brown tones in a Serene Swedish Attic Apartment

Tjena! Welcome back to the blog on this bright and sunny Monday! Oh, have I got a lovely Swedish apartment to share with you. but first, allow me to set the scene. 

When I was at Edinburgh university in Scotland, my flatmates and I always rented a top floor flat without a lift. It was what we could afford at the time and our young legs could bound up the four flights morning, noon and night without a problem - although it was infuriating to get to the ground floor only to realise you'd forgotten something. 

This beautiful maisonette in Gothenburg is located on what us Brits would refer to as the 'second floor' (Swedes would say third floor) - which in my mind is way more manageable. Plus, your efforts are really well rewarded thanks to stunning decor! Think dark wood beams, white-washed stonework, charming wood floors and a rooftop terrace high above the streets of Sweden's second largest city! Not only that, but it's been impeccably decorated in a sea of milky, natural tones. Be still, beating heart! 

If my university flats had looked anything like this, I'd still be there today! I hope you feel inspired by this beautifully decorated Swedish apartment too. 

It's all about the curves when it comes to the coffee table, Pacha-style armchair, Lato side table, vase and pendant light (the Nelson is similar). 

Can you spot the TV? 

Look at the layers of texture too - the sheepskin, blankets, wall hanging, curtains all help to add warmth, 

A little nook by the window is used as a home office space - perfect for capitalising on natural light. 

A Best lite, antique desk and In-between chair make a great combination. Sadly, my desk does not look like this today. 

Warm brown tones in the kitchen have been paired with white upper cabinets to ensure a light and airy feel. 

A Ferm Living desert lounge chair in the corner of the kitchen is perfect for a morning coffee!

It's common to have a washing machine in the bathroom in Sweden (unless there's a communal laundry in the basement of the flats).  

I was asked the other day about the lack of clothes in Swedish homes. Looking at the above hallway, it's a valid question! Despite the Scandinavian 'less is more' philosophy, owning one coat, one bag and one pair of shoes is a push for even the most dedicated of minimalists. Trust me, the average swede has way more kit than this! Some of the homes I show, like this one, are on the market and have been styled for sale - which means a whole load of stuff has been removed. One of the thoughts behind this is that removing personal items such as photos and clothes makes it easier for potential buyers to imagine themselves in the property. Makes sense, I think! 

Overall, a really lovely apartment - could you imagine living here? I certainly could! 

Have a great start to the week!

Niki

Photography courtesy of Stadshem with thanks.

READ MORE...

7

Karen's Lovely Summer House in the South of Sweden

I started blogging 12 years ago - and one of the things that has surprised me the most, is how many wonderful people I have met! Interior designers, photographers, homeowners, bloggers, brands and most importantly you guys via your comments and mails (even if you're a 'silent' participant, I see you!). It's meant that I have never felt alone - despite tapping away at my laptop solo! Thank you! 

A few weeks ago, I had the pleasure of meeting photographer Karen Hilmersson who reached out via Instagram. Karen is French and lives in Belgium with her Swedish husband Pelle and their teenage children Lilly (15) and Eliott (soon 18).  The family frequently visit Malmö and recently bought a charming summer cottage in nearby Österlen. We discussed the project over a coffee recently and their holiday home is every bit as lovely as Karen described. Read on to discover more! 

Where is your summer cottage located? 

The house is situated near Sandhammaren in Österlen. We love the South and this part of Sweden as we always spend days here before going back to Brussels, and we have friends in Malmö and Lund which are very close. I also like the proximity to Copenhagen. I love Sweden and am so happy to finally have a place here we can call ours. 

Österlen is popular among Swedes especially in summer thanks to the beautiful nature, is this one of the reasons you picked this location? 

Absolutely. Our cottage is close to marshland... we have fields on the one side with the sunset in front of the terrace and woods on the other side. The beach is only a ten minute bike ride. 

I'm excited to see inside! First, let's take a look at the floorplan. 

Glossary: Vardagsrum (sitting room), Kök (kitchen), Sovrum (bedroom).

Can you describe the layout? 

It's a summer house that originally had three separate units from the 50s, and the previous owners turned into a whole house (keeping one unit separate - not featured here as we have yet to renovate it!). The former owners lived here year-round and the house was in good condition, which meant we could focus on more cosmetic updates. 

I love the kitchen! Did it look like this when you moved in?

We kept the kitchen that was already in place and painted the cabinets in French Gray from Farrow & Ball. The vintage dining table is from AB Småland in Malmö. 

What do your days look like when you are at your cottage? 

We enjoy this house in every season. In the summer, we love to make meals and invite friends over on one of our long tables inside or out and watch the sunset from the terrace. We also enjoy the fireplace and watching movies on the big sofa (from Meli Meli) in the autumn and winter. The surroundings are also very important to us, the beach at Sandhammaren and the hills of Kåseberga are amongst our favourite and Kivik is a short 40 minute drive. There are also some nice restaurants nearby and we love Orum117 bakery and pizzeria! 

Decorative bedspreads can really lift a room! I love the ones you have in your bedrooms, where are they from? 

We found them both in AB Småland in Malmö, I think they are from the Danish brand Masala. 

I like simplicity of this bedroom. Can you tell us about the details?

The overhead lamp is from Malmö Möbelfabrik and the Pool Lines art print is from Hotel Magique. The floor is from Norrlands Trä. 

The wall lamp is from French company Silly & Billy and the vintage chair is from AB Småland. The Mirror Mirror print* is by Sofia Lind. 

I understand the bathroom was one of the bigger renovation projects? 

Yes, it was a total renovation. The floor tiles are from Marrakesh Design and the subway oat milk wall tiles are from Dekora (although they looked verrrrrry different in the shop!). The sink is called SVEDBERGS MYRE from Bauhaus and the shower and taps are both from Tapwell. 

What a wonderful getaway you have created! Thank you so much for giving us a tour! 

***

You can see more snapshots from Karen's home as well as her beautiful portrait, lifestyle and travel photography at @karenhilmersson or on her website where she also sells a selection of her prints. 

I hope you enjoyed the tour of her home as much as I did! I am looking forward to meeting Karen next Friday along with the Australian lifestyle and travel photographer Lean Timms here in Malmö. So exciting! My job is to find the best coffee and cinnamon buns in town for our 'fika'! Tough but someone's got to do it! 

Would you like to see a few other beautiful Österlen homes today? Don't miss: 

Marianne's charming country home

A 19th century cottage where the past meets the present

Laura and Nora's dream Swedish country home

Planning to visit Österlen? This house belonging to an architect is available to rent via Airbnb! 

Happy mid-week friends! 

Niki

Photography: Karen Hilmersson, shared with kind permission. 

READ MORE...

7