No Homework Here: This School Conversion Is Pure Joy

With exam season in full swing, this Swedish home in Södermalm, Stockholm felt especially fitting — calm, creative, and full of light. And, as it turns out, it has a bit of a scholarly past.

At first glance, I was struck by the large open room and all those generous windows (always a win!). There’s something a little unexpected about the layout too — a kind of spaciousness and structure you don’t usually find in a typical home. And sure enough, it turns out this building used to be… a school.

But not the usual countryside kind where ivy-covered walls and creaky floors give way to cosy corners. No — this was a 1990s school, and it’s now been cleverly converted into an apartment block. The result? A modern, light-soaked home with a distinctly creative edge.

The living space is airy and welcoming, with internal windows helping the light travel beautifully through every corner. The décor blends old and new with ease, and there’s art everywhere — a home clearly loved by someone with an eye for detail. And the best part? Not a single maths lesson in sight.

And then there’s the kitchen. With its bright yellow tiles and industrial vibe, it’s unusual — but wonderful. It’s the kind of space where you really do look on the bright side each morning, bathed in sunshine and sipping your coffee under those golden walls.

Enjoy the tour!

Wow! I’m not sure I’ve seen a school conversion quite like this before — have you?

The interior is full of surprises and lovely details too. Like the pink bathroom!

Were you surprised by the exterior? Can you imagine coming home here each day — or would it bring back too many memories of those science exams?

I’d love to hear if anything caught your eye.

You can see the full listing and read more about this unique property here.

Fancy seeing a few more school conversions today? Check out this converted school archive (this home might come up first, if so just scroll on past). 

Also, if you have a garage that needs sorting, I wrote a feature for IKEA that has gone live on their global website about how to maximise your garage space - in case you're interested in a read! 

Have a happy mid-week!

Niki

Photos: @danaozollapa
Styling: Thomas Lingsell
For Historika Hem

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A Home Filled with Sunshine: Inside Ebba’s Vintage-Inspired Haven

It’s Friday… and I’m in love. In love with the tiny shoots sprouting on the rose bushes outside. In love with the fact that March arrives tomorrow, bringing us one step closer to spring and summer. And in love with the idea of a weekend stretched out before us—not because anything special is planned, but simply for the slow mornings, the little household projects, the chats with my family, and the joy of popping out for errands. Are you feeling the weekend vibes too?

I’m also in love with Ebba Barkenbom’s house. Ebba—a certified doula and photographer who specialises in capturing the first moments of a baby's life—shares her home with her photographer husband Oscar and their three children, Ingrid, Maj-Britt, and Bertil. Every room in their beautiful family home is sprinkled with yellow, filling it with sunshine even on the cloudiest of days. It’s brimming with charming vintage touches, and there's the sweetest DIY idea in the children's bedroom—how I would have adored a nook like that as a child!

Ready to take a peek inside and soak up the sunshine-filled charm? Let’s dive in!

Ebba has painted the wood panelling in Claro from Jotun and the cabinets in NCS 1015-Y20R. 

The table is a DIY project - combining a worktop with the base from another table. 

The sofa is from IKEA and has been transformed with a linen cover and cushions from Bemz. 

The very cool hand-built bed nook has been made using wood panelling painted in linseed poil paint in tone burnt terra 15% and Green earth 7% from Gysinge Byggnadsvård. 

I love the sky blue on the floor and yellow touches around the window in the little bathroom, it may be a small space, but it sure is pretty! 

A charming family home, full of unique finds. Just lovely! 

Did you appreciate the touches of yellow too? 

It's time to wrap up here on the blog for the week, so I'll leave you with some Danish homes to dream about in case you find a quiet moment to browse with a coffee this weekend: 

A small-ish Danish apartment with a vibrant sunny feel

Spring has sprung in a Copenhagen home full of pastels

Warm, earthy tones in an international family home in Denmark

Happy weekend friends, thank you so much for stopping by! 

Niki

Photography courtesy of @ebbabarkenbom, shared with kind permission. 

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Ylva's Lovely Swedish Family Apartment with Blue and Yellow Accents

Final stop for the week: this beautiful family apartment by the harbour in Gröndal, Stockholm - a perfect oasis for Ylva, her husband and their two children Maj and August. 

The pad itself is quite the find. Not only does it occupy a corner in a building dating back to 1913 - meaning light from two sides, it also boasts not one, not two, but three beautiful kakelugn (tiles masonry ovens). While bones are important, what you do with it and how it works for you as a family is crucial, and Ylva's home is full of lovely corners and inspiring details. Let's delve a little deeper. 

The dining area in the kitchen might not be big, but it certainly looks cosy thanks to built in seating and plenty of natural light. 

The cosy sitting room is arranged in a sociable way, with two sofas facing one another and cushions, blankets and a fluffy rug for maximum comfort! Notice the pale yellow and light blue tones which act as a the red thread (refer to my previous post for more info!) throughout the apartment. 

A simple wooden IKEA stool can be painted in whatever colour you like and is a great way to add in an extra touch of your chosen accent colour. 

The rug from Nordic knots is a nice twist on the usual Jute mat. I have this exact blue Flowerpot lamp by &Tradition in my home too! The bench table is from IKEA. 

Baskets are a popular storage choice in Ylva's home - used above to store firewood. I love the addition of the little children's chairs in the sitting room - a sign that are all are welcome and catered for. Keep an eye out for my post soon featuring a wonderful danish design classic which is now available in a children's size. Can you guess which one it is? 

A classic Swedish bumling light in brass can be seen over the dining table and mix and matched chairs create an informal, relaxed touch to the space. 

Bedding is a fantastic way to quickly update a room (look closely and you'll notice two single duvets instead of one double as is customary in a Swedish home - and something I've expanded on in my book: Lagom*). Here, a yellow duvet cover matches the art work over the bed - and ties the room in with the rest of the flat. 

The children's bedrooms are the exact mirror reflection of each other. 

Yellow curtains offer a cheerful, sunny feel even when the sky is grey, and an array of baskets make the ideal storage for bears and other bits and bobs (this type of storage is particularly good as children can just chuck things in - which makes tidying up quick and easy). 

The yellow and blue theme is carried through to the bathroom in the form of paint work and art, while the maroon chequered floor is a wonderful nod to the age of the building. If you look back through the pictures, you'll notice this hue in other rooms too, albeit in very subtle ways. 

All in all, a truly lovely, well thought out home, do you agree? I'd love to hear your thoughts and what you have observed, always so interesting! 

If you'd like to see more of Ylva's home, hop on over to @doneriet on instagram where you'll find a ton more images. 

Right folks, that's it from me! Lot's to do today with work to finish off, a daughter's birthday to plan (Liv turns sweet 16 tomorrow!) and packing for my trip to Denmark for Formland on Sunday. All fun things, but I'll really appreciate that Friday glass of wine (or two) this evening!

Skål to the weekend! 

Niki

Photography: @doneriet, shared with kind permission.

PS Just a heads up that there is only two weeks left to make the most of the Skandinavisk 20% discount (myscandinavianhome20). You can read more about my two of my favourite fragrances for hand soaps, body washes, candles etc and see pics of them in my cabin from this sponsored post here. 

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