For those of you wondering if the week is ever going to end - it's FRIDAY friends - and that aperol spritz is inches away! But before we all reach for the Prosecco, I've got one final home tour to share with you, and it's a real goodie! Welcome to the Swedish home of Karolina Modig - a journalist, editor and author of two art books Värdet av konst (The Value of Art) - 2013 and
Häng konsten lågt (Hang the Art Low) - 2015, her husband Erik and children Elliot and Mio. The family live in a three bedroom turn-of-the-century apartment in Södermalm (affectionately known as 'Söder'), an area of Stockholm known for it's relaxed, creative vibe. The 85 metre square (915 square foot) space is adorned with art, a ton of plants (check-out the greenhouse!), books and interesting artifacts set against a backdrop of pale pink, white and grey. I caught up with Karolina to find out more.
The shelves have been placed higher up to create space for the art underneath. The large portrait is by Jesper Waldersten. A Ferm Living wire basket and top doubles up as a table (note how the pink wall colour has been replicated in cushions and the basket to create balance).
How would you describe your style?
Our interior style is a mixture of my arty/airy taste and Erik’s arty/crazy taste. Erik is fond of experimenting with building projects, rare objects etc, I love rare objects but love a bit of light and air as well.
Your home is beautiful and full of fascinating items! Would you say it differs from the usual Scandinavian style?
Thank you! Yes, I blame Erik for all the stuff haha. And our kids:) I guess it has a bit more ”cosyness" to it than most Scandinavian homes, it’s not very simplistic/minimalistic. We have a lot of books, can’t get rid of a single one. They take up a lot of space:)
A classic Swedish Orust chair by Staland is made a little more comfy with the help of a sheepskin cushion (source similar here). And I spy original Nagel candleholders! Erik has collected them at auction over several years. Originally designed by Werner Stoff for Hans Nagel in the 1960's, the STOFF candleholder has recently been re-launched by Danish firm Just Right and you can buy it piece by piece to create your own sculptural masterpiece! See my guide to indoor climbers here!
The pair also love to paint. A portrait of Elliot by Erik can be seen here.
An antique Sputnik light (this one is similar) adds a glimmer of gold to the dining area. The chairs are from Stalunds (as before).
I noticed you also have a lot of plants, including an indoor greenhouse! Can you tell us more about it?
Erik loves plants, I think he would rather live in some kind of orangery than in an apartment. The greenhouse is his third baby, he fell in love with it just before we moved in to the apartment. It weighs 50000000 kg and everything we plant there dies, but it’s lovely - isn’t it? :)
It sure is! I also appreciate the use of colour - how did you choose the tones?
We actually painted everything white in the beginning, but realised we needed color to keep the rooms together. The bedroom wasn’t really a room before we painted it, just a bunch of stuff placed in a square space. The color made everything "melt together". I believe there was a home in Danish interior design magazine ”Rum” that inspired us to pick the colors for the living room. It changed the room completely, making it the most cosy room in the apartment. The tiles in the kitchen are old English school-tiles (from The Winchester Tile Company).
IKEA units have been fitted with pale blue Superfront doors and brass handles (Norse Interiors sell similar in the US). Art by Alexander Tovborg.
You have so many fantastic works of art! Where did your passion for collecting come from?
Do you have any tips on how to choose art and display it in your home?
Try not to match too much, give the art some room and let it stand out. Don’t put it too high on the walls and select your art with your heart and stomach rather than with your brain.
Where do you buy art?
I’ve bought it at galleries, over the Internet (selected digital art shops) and directly from artists.
Vintage storage has been given a new lease of life using Superfront doors (see previous). There are some beautiful old botanical school posters available here (ships worlwide).
And finally, what do you love most about your home?
That it is very ”livable”. It doesn’t matter if there are nicks in the tables or the floor, or if the furniture has flaws and faults. I think the ambience is welcoming. At least that is what we want it to be.
The children's room is decorated with Coud wallpaper by Ferm Living and a wonderful bespoke playhouse (I wish I had one of these when I was growing up, how about you?!).
Photography: Nadja Endler for Houzz
Karolina's world in 30 seconds:
Not very secret maybe, but Carl Eldh’s ateljémuseum is a little piece of wonder.
Thank you so much for inviting us into your home and telling us a little more about your passion for art Karolina!
You can read more about Karolina's home over on Houzz.
If you'd like to see more arty spaces today I'd totally recommend taking a peek around the lovely home of a Danish artist, a Copenhagen home in a converted artist's studio and a Swedish artist's home in a fomer school house.
Have a fabulous weekend!
Niki
The shelves have been placed higher up to create space for the art underneath. The large portrait is by Jesper Waldersten. A Ferm Living wire basket and top doubles up as a table (note how the pink wall colour has been replicated in cushions and the basket to create balance).
How would you describe your style?
Our interior style is a mixture of my arty/airy taste and Erik’s arty/crazy taste. Erik is fond of experimenting with building projects, rare objects etc, I love rare objects but love a bit of light and air as well.
Your home is beautiful and full of fascinating items! Would you say it differs from the usual Scandinavian style?
Thank you! Yes, I blame Erik for all the stuff haha. And our kids:) I guess it has a bit more ”cosyness" to it than most Scandinavian homes, it’s not very simplistic/minimalistic. We have a lot of books, can’t get rid of a single one. They take up a lot of space:)
A classic Swedish Orust chair by Staland is made a little more comfy with the help of a sheepskin cushion (source similar here). And I spy original Nagel candleholders! Erik has collected them at auction over several years. Originally designed by Werner Stoff for Hans Nagel in the 1960's, the STOFF candleholder has recently been re-launched by Danish firm Just Right and you can buy it piece by piece to create your own sculptural masterpiece! See my guide to indoor climbers here!
The pair also love to paint. A portrait of Elliot by Erik can be seen here.
An antique Sputnik light (this one is similar) adds a glimmer of gold to the dining area. The chairs are from Stalunds (as before).
I noticed you also have a lot of plants, including an indoor greenhouse! Can you tell us more about it?
Erik loves plants, I think he would rather live in some kind of orangery than in an apartment. The greenhouse is his third baby, he fell in love with it just before we moved in to the apartment. It weighs 50000000 kg and everything we plant there dies, but it’s lovely - isn’t it? :)
It sure is! I also appreciate the use of colour - how did you choose the tones?
We actually painted everything white in the beginning, but realised we needed color to keep the rooms together. The bedroom wasn’t really a room before we painted it, just a bunch of stuff placed in a square space. The color made everything "melt together". I believe there was a home in Danish interior design magazine ”Rum” that inspired us to pick the colors for the living room. It changed the room completely, making it the most cosy room in the apartment. The tiles in the kitchen are old English school-tiles (from The Winchester Tile Company).
IKEA units have been fitted with pale blue Superfront doors and brass handles (Norse Interiors sell similar in the US). Art by Alexander Tovborg.
You have so many fantastic works of art! Where did your passion for collecting come from?
I’ve
always been interested in art, but I started buying when I wrote my
second book Häng konsten lågt (Hang the Art Low). I wanted to investigate how much you could buy for a
certain amount of money and where you could buy it, as a guide for
interested people without experience. It is a book on how to ”approach”
the art world in your own conditions.
Do you have any tips on how to choose art and display it in your home?
Try not to match too much, give the art some room and let it stand out. Don’t put it too high on the walls and select your art with your heart and stomach rather than with your brain.
Where do you buy art?
I’ve bought it at galleries, over the Internet (selected digital art shops) and directly from artists.
Vintage storage has been given a new lease of life using Superfront doors (see previous). There are some beautiful old botanical school posters available here (ships worlwide).
And finally, what do you love most about your home?
That it is very ”livable”. It doesn’t matter if there are nicks in the tables or the floor, or if the furniture has flaws and faults. I think the ambience is welcoming. At least that is what we want it to be.
The children's room is decorated with Coud wallpaper by Ferm Living and a wonderful bespoke playhouse (I wish I had one of these when I was growing up, how about you?!).
Photography: Nadja Endler for Houzz
Karolina's world in 30 seconds:
If you could own any artwork, what would it be?
A Rothko or something by Louise Bourgeois.
What music are you listening to right now?
Hanna Järver, James Taylor, Mura Masa and The Secret Sisters.
What is Stockholm's best kept secret?
Thank you so much for inviting us into your home and telling us a little more about your passion for art Karolina!
You can read more about Karolina's home over on Houzz.
If you'd like to see more arty spaces today I'd totally recommend taking a peek around the lovely home of a Danish artist, a Copenhagen home in a converted artist's studio and a Swedish artist's home in a fomer school house.
Have a fabulous weekend!
Niki
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