A Charming Swedish Townhouse Where Old Meets New

There was something that immediately resonated with me when i first spotted this townhouse in the Gamle Enskede area of Stockholm. And then I read the blurb: 'an English townhouse' built in 1909 and designed by Victor Bodin.  

Needless to say, I've seen quite a few two-up, two-down formats like this in my childhood in London. But this is different. It has a distinct Scandinavian twist! Firstly, the wall between the kitchen and sitting room has been removed creating an airy open-space and secondly the decor is undeniably Swedish. It's also very unique. 

Think botanical wallpapers, scalloped edged rugs (I want one!), a vibrant gallery wall, candy stripes, pops of cherry red and a mix of antiques and modern day finds. Let's take a peek inside. 

I love this. It feels so familiar yet so unfamiliar at the same time. Sort of English cottage meets Swedish traditional meets Scandinavian contemporary - making the space truly unique. 

Is there anything that caught your eye about this wonderful house? 

While I couldn't find more homes like this to share, I did uncover a few lovely houses in the archive that I had forgotten about. If you have time this morning, dig into these: 

A Swedish cottage in the forest 

Scandinavia meets the med in a Mallorcan finca

Johanne and Lukas' Copenhagen townhouse from 1927

Have a fabulous start to the week! 

Niki

Photography courtesy of Skandia Mäklarna with thanks 

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Interior Designer Saša Antic's Inspiring Stockholm Home

With a population of ten million, Sweden is a relatively small country. And if you move in the design circle, it's only matter of time before you meet - even if you live in an entirely different city! 

Eleven years ago, I featured interior designer Saša Antic's mini yet impeccably designed apartment in Stockholm. It was one of those memorable spaces which I've find myself returning to time after time for inspiration. 

A few weeks ago, I was at the IKEA mothership (i.e. the IKEA headquarters in Älmhult) where I've been working on a project and I came across Saša! A lovely and interesting guy, we got chatting about home decorating and how he loves to constantly rearrange his living space - even making his own furniture and storage to go with it. And then he dropped the bomb shell - after 20 years, he'd moved to a new apartment.

Naturally, I was straight on the case, and this morning these beautiful images shot of Saša's home by Stellan Herner fell into my inbox. So here it is in all it's glory. Välkommen! 

Located in the Vitabergsparken quarter of Södermalm - a central area of Stockholm known for it's hip, boho vibe, Saša's apartment measures a more sizeable 60 sqm (645 ft.sq) - allowing for a seperate kitchen, sitting room and bedroom. 

Saša's a big fan of colour and the tones he's picked out for his pad are inspired by the English countryside (could this be why I was immediately drawn to the space?): Look closely, and you'll notice that the walls are only painted a third of the way up - helping to add contrast to the rooms yet also ensuring a cosy feel to a space with incredibly high ceilings. He's also been careful to apply the same colour to skirting boards and architraves - for a complete look that's very 'now'. 

Art features heavily in the space - with large, bold work creating a focal point in the sitting room, hallway and bedroom. 

Never one to follow the crowd, Saša has been careful to pick out quirky and unique pieces of furniture - like this red bar cart! 

Each room keeps you guessing in terms of tone, furniture and texture. In the bathroom, lace curtains add a soft touch as well as privacy from the busy Stockholm streets - while allowing a glimpse of the trees.

Absolutely wonderful space, don't you think? 

I'm so happy I bumped into Saša, or I'd have never discovered his pad! Funny how life works isn't it? 

You can follow Saša's latest interior design and concept work over on his homepage and instagram feed. 

Take a peek inside a few other Stockholm homes this weekend: 

The Stockholm home of a design hunter

A charming Swedish apartment in wintertime

A blend of old and new in a Stockholm home

Happy Friday friends! I hope you have a fantastic weekend! 

Niki

Photography: Stellan Herner

Styling: Saša Antic

Shared with kind permission

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An elegant Malmö home with Shades of Green, Ochre and Red

I'm all settled in my studio today and it's one of those bitterly cold February days - so I'm not planning on going anywhere! It makes sense therefore, to feature a home right here in the heart of Malmö! 

I have driven past this apartment a thousand times, unbeknown to me that there was an elegant space filled with art, concealed just behind the facade! 

Despite the large spacious rooms and beautiful bones it was actually the choice of furniture that stood out to me - a blend of contemporary finds and the occasional vintage piece as well as the deep earthy tones including forest green, red, ochre and slate - adding. contrast and cosiness. 

All it needs now is for someone to take over the reigns and make it their new home. Could that be you? 

Did you spot the projector on the wall in the first picture? I can't tell if the owners have made a box to conceal it themselves, or it was bought like this (I'm thinking the former), either way it's so subtle - way better than a big TV screen, don't you think? 

Is there anything that popped out at you? 

See more Malmö apartments here today: 

The wood and white home of a creative

The earthy home of a Swedish florist

An artists home in a former atelier

Have a lovely day folks - stay warm! 

Niki

Photographs courtesy of Bo-laget with thanks. 

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A Sprinkle of Colour in an Elegant Stockholm Home

February calls for a little brightness, don't you think? And that's exactly why this Swedish apartment caught my eye! It's sprinkled with colour in the form of art, patterns, furniture and books - yet still feels calm and elegant. Just what I needed to see on a Monday. I hope this lovely home brightens up the start of you week too! 

The Ligne Roset Togo Fireside chair is one to sink into!

Especially when you have a Swedish fireplace like this to sit beside. It's like a work of art! 

A big hallway lends itself to bookshelves and an antique bench! 

Faded kilims are the new favourite here in Scandinavia. But there's no need to do away with your monochrome Beni ourain - they make a cosy wall hanging or headboard! 

The wide windowsills also provide a perfect perch for books! 

To the left and right of the door you can see some wall pockets. Sourced from Norrgavel, these Påshyllor are hugely popular in Sweden as they are great for smaller accessories such as gloves, hats, scarves etc. 

Such a lovely apartment - fantastic bones too! 

It's going on the market this week via Historiska Hem - so keep an eye out for it if you're interested! 

Would you like to see a few other homes with touches of colour today? Check out: 

A fabulous Danish home in a plethora of colours

Lessons to learn from a colourful yet stylish Norwegian home

Home tour: how to add colour the danish way

Have a fabulous start to the week! 

Niki

Photography: Mia Borgelin

Styling: Thomas Lingsell

For: Historiska Hem

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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. 

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