my scandinavian home: swedish apartment

Carolina's Serene Stockholm Apartment in Creams and Browns

A while ago Swedish photographer Kristofer Johnsson and stylist Pella Hedeby paid a visit to this beautiful 19th century apartment in Sturegatan, Stockholm. The home belonged to Mattias and Carolina Storm. The couple have since moved (a little birdie tells this was their third apartment in four years!).

Perhaps this information makes me even more intrigued, since the space looks so nicely 'complete' - which is impressive in a short amount of time. I mean, we've lived in our home for 16 years, and I'm still trying to figure out what to put on some of the walls. Are you the same?

Not only that, but it's beautiful too, with every room in perfect harmony. The colour scheme is similar to Leanne's cottage which I showed on Wednesday - but the look is very different in terms of architecture ad furniture. Here, we witness round organic shapes juxtaposed with triangular forms, fluffy rugs layered with texture and furniture from different eras. Art and mirrors also play an important role - with their 'barely there feel', yet at the same time adding interest at every turn.

I hope you enjoy the tour!

Such a serene space!

I hope I can feature their latest home soon since that is filled with the same timeless pieces but curated in an entirely different way!

Did anything stand out to you?

And I'm curious to know - is the decor in your home 'finished' or very much a work in progress like mine?

Since it's Friday, I couldn't resist sharing a few other homes with you - some of which have the same neutral scheme but with a pop of colour, all of them beautiful!

A vibrant and modern Danish home with art and vintage pieces

Learn 12 simple ways to colour to your home, Danish style

Step inside a calm neutral Swedish home with lovely bones

Have a fabulous weekend friends!

Niki

Photography: Kristofer Johnsson

Styling: Pella Hedeby

Shared with kind permission

A Light and Airy Open-Plan Swedish Loft with Angled Ceilings

Hej there! I hope you had an 'underbar' weekend! It dawned on me that I've shown quite a few bigger homes recently, yet homes come in all shapes and sizes. And in this case, angles! So if you've come here looking for loft spaces with low ceilings or compact open-space living ideas, this one's for you!

In this top floor apartment in Gothenburg, the designer has decided to create one large open space rather than a series of smaller rooms to ensure the light gets into every last corner. Mirrors also help to accentuate the light, while an earthy, neutral colour scheme ensures a serene, cohesive look that's looks as cosy as it is comfortable!

When you live on the top floor of an apartment block, nature can feel very far away. So, I also love how an array of simple branches have been brought in to connect the space with the great outdoors. Loft living at it's finest! Enjoy the tour!

So lovely! The entire home looks so effortlessly decorated, don't you think?

I guess if I have one bug bear, it's the bed in the middle of the room without a headboard. I'd definitely need something to prevent my pillows falling off in the night! How about you? An easy fix though! Otherwise I think I could move right away and not change a single thing, how about you?

Would you like to kick off the week with a few other loft / attic spaces with angled ceilings? Check out:

A small-ish Danish apartment with a vibrant, sunny feel

A warm and inviting Swedish home with low angled ceilings

A swedish apartment fit for a princess (or prince!)

Before and after: an attic storage space becomes a light and airy bedroom

For storage, I recently kitted out my wardrobe and attic space, both of which had angled ceilings.

Or perhaps you're after small one-room apartments? If so, look no further than this archive!

Happy Monday friends!

Niki

Photography courtesy of Alvhem - found via Nordroom with thanks.

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.

FILED UNDER: earthy home Mid century mid century modern swedish apartment

A Swedish Apartment with a Mid-Century Vibe

It's so important to decorate your home in a way that feels just right for you (and your family). However, if you get stuck on something - like which dining chairs or overhead light to choose, it's helpful to look at the architecture and the period in which your dwelling was built. Case in point: my Mother lives in a house that was built in the 1960s and designed by a well-known architect and struggled to find a light to hang over the dining table. So I suggested the Gubi semi-pendant which was also designed in the 60s. And we were thrilled to find it worked perfectly!

This Stockholm apartment is situated on the 3rd floor of a block that was originally built in the late 19th century. However, it went through a major renovation in 1939 - during the posgt first world war I 'funkis' period. A Swedish abbreviation for 'functionalism', 'funkis' architecture is designed purely for purpose and function. The owners have stayed loyal to the funkis style and given the interior a mid-century vibe. The kitchen is also in the origional 'funkis' style (save for the range oven of course!).

I love that this home is a little different from the ones I've been showing lately, I hope it fills you with inspiration!

It's nice to see a children's desk with a monitor (usually this angle is skipped out!). It looks as though the entire desk set-up (tabletop, drawers and trolley) are all from IKEA. I love the box at the end of the bid which is used to store games.

When was your home built and have you decorated it according to this period? Our house was built in 2001 so there wasn't so much to go on!

See other funkis style homes here.

Have a happy Friday and great weekend!

Niki

PS written slightly in haste since I got almost zero hours sleep in the night, do you ever have nights like that? You feel like you're the only one in the world awake! Gaaaah!

Photography courtesy of Historiska Hem with thanks.

FILED UNDER: funkis swedish apartment swedish home

Timeless Charm and Dark Blue Walls in a Small Swedish Apartment

While colours in the fashion and interior design world come and go, there is always one that remains: dark blue. It's timeless. And I'm a huge fan.

Softer than black but still striking, dark blue is a stalwart in the world of interiors and adds a cosy, cocoon like feel to a room. Combine it with fresh whites and warm earthy tones for a soft, elegant look, and throw in lots of natural materials in the form of wood, rattan, cane, linen and wool for a look that's bang up to date!

This beautiful apartment in Gothenburg is a fine example of dark blue done right! Oh, and it's also great inspiration for anyone who has their bedroom in the living room too! Välkommen in!

The Flos Sarfatti ceiling light is a design classic which you'll find in many Swedish homes.

I don't think I'll ever tire of linen bedding - it's practical, catches the light in a beautiful way, and the more you wash it the softer it gets. Try Wonder Linen on Etsy* for similar!

*affiliate link

Wooden hooks from Norrgavel are a Swedish bedroom essential!

Contrast is continued in the kitchen with black units and off-white walls. Notice the copper piping, cabinet and painting too!

Swedes are going crazy for range ovens right now! They're more widely available these days as you can get them in both gas and electric induction versions.

Rule break alert: the rug version of 'messy hair, don't care'! I kind of like how this one extends onto the wood floor. It's a little like rolling out the red carpet - everyday!

A jute rug adds a softness to the black and white bathroom. We've also added one to our downstairs loo and it makes the world of difference!

Such a lovely home full of contrast! Interestingly, the estate agent have presented two versions of how to divide up the sitting room / bedroom area - one open-plan, and one divided into two separate rooms (vardagsrum - living room, kök - kitchen, sovrum - bedroom):

Which do you prefer?

Also, would you consider going for a dark colour in your home? In Albin's room we've painted two of the walls in dark blue, but I've always regretted not going for the entire room. Next project?

Not quite convinced with the dark blue? See other homes with this feature here:

A striking small Stockholm space in dark blue

5 ways to rock the dark blue and beige look

A stunning Norwegian home in many shades of blue

And for those of you planning a small space, here are some great examples of Scandinavian style studio apartments:

An elegant Swedish 'ettan'

A small Swedish apartment packed with charm - and sunshine!

8 essential items for a Swedish studio apartment

Happy Monday friends!

Niki

Styling: Emma Fischer & Annica Clarmell

Photography: Walti Hösli