Get The Look From A Fab Stockholm Home of A Design Hunter

A new day, a new dawn AND a new studio in town! I'm so excited as I've been cycling passed this little place for years and always dreamed. about working here (a little like the owners of this cabin in Great Mackerel Beach - which they'd be eyeing up for over 20 years!). Further North, Swedish vintage furniture dealer and interior designer Fredrik Karlsson is also enjoying a turn of the century building. His apartment in Stockholm features achingly high ceilings, beautiful period woodwork and a pristine parquet floor dating back to the time it was built in 1902. Light pours in through French doors, casting a natural spotlight on iconic design pieces, new Nordic items and original artwork. I chatted with Fredrik to find out more about his style, love for design classics and best Stockholm tips!




How would you describe your style?
Scandinavian minimalism meets French industrialism. I like the more minimalistic lines and high quality materials of Scandinavian design but always try to mix it up with some favourite French mid-century design pieces by designers such as Pierre Jeannette, Jean Prouvé and Charlotte Perriand.

Above: Floor lamp by Julius Theodor, coffee table by Axel Einar Hjorth, painting by Emma Bernhard




Do you often blend different looks and styles in your work?
In my job as an interior designer I find it very motivating to blend different styles and work with contrast. In my opinion, contrasts are what make a result more personal and interesting to look at - I follow this in every area of my life including the way I dress, my personality and how I decorate my home!



What inspired your home decorating style?
My inspiration from the beginning was to keep the traditional Swedish style - high ceilings, handmade details, stucco ceiling, parquet flooring etc but add other factors such as French design and marble. My home feels like a little Parisian oasis in the heart of Stockholm - which was my goal!

Chandiogarh project table and chair by Pierre Jeanneret




Where do you find items for your home?
I find most of my furniture in Swedish / Scandinavian auctions as well as international galleries and antique shops. I love looking for a combination of unusual objects and better known iconic pieces in order to achieve a nice balance.

Table by Axel Einar Hjorth, Art by Wolfgang Voegele



I like how your instagram is also dotted with self portraits / fashion. Can you tell us a little more about your personal style? Do you have a favourite Swedish clothing brand?
Our Legacy has been my favourite for many years now and if I buy new, I mostly buy from them. However, I mostly purchase vintage clothes these days (mainly to create a more personal and interesting style). If trends get too popular, I usually go the other way and I think that's where I differ from many Swedes. I enjoy taking a different path.



And finally, do you have any insider restaurant tips for anyone visiting Stockholm?
My favourite places to dine and wine are Riche (a true classic!), Ciccio's and Coquetel Social (a fairly new bar that serves great drinks with phenomenal service!).



Thank you so much for inviting us into your home Fredrik! What a treasure trove! Loved the Stockholm restaurant and bar tips too. I'm looking forward to trying them out next time I'm in town!

In case you're feeling inspired to achieve a similar look to Fredrik's apartment, here's the low down:

GET THE LOOK

1. Gubi Multi-Lite Pendant Lamp*
2. Fredericia J39 chair
3. Ellos Consua Carpet
4. Galerie Patrick Seguin A Passion For Jean Prove
5. Paustian Arctander Chair
6. Zara Home Teak and Rattan Chair
7. Hay Longue sofa 321

Did you spot the cosy, fluffy chair?! Ever since creating this round-up last week, I've been wanting something like this in my own home. I've got a feeling I'd never get near it though, the kids would totally OWN IT!

Is there anything that stood out to you about Fredrik's home?

You can see more pictures and enquire about Fredrik's vintage furniture and interior design services over at @Fredrikkarlssoninteriors.

The week is young, I think we need a little more inspiration today, don't you? Here are a few other fabulous Stockholm homes I think you'll love!

The beautiful Stockholm home of Amelia Widdell
A Stockholm home in pretty colours
The cosy urban home of a macrame artist

Vi ses imorgon!

Niki

Photography courtesy of Fredrik Karlsson, shared with kind permission. Portrait image by Milad Abedi. 

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A White Swedish Apartment in Stockholm In Winter Time

Not many cities are as beautiful as Stockholm in winter. And there to enjoy it is Marta Vargas, her fiancé Graeme and their English springer spaniel Summer. Located in Midsommarkransen (I love this name - it means 'Midsummer wreath'), the family of three (soon to be four!), live in a little apartment overlooking "a tiny forest, with deer, beautiful sunsets and many types of birds." Originally from Barcelona, Marta is a graphic designer, photographer and art director and combines her position in the design team at Spotify with other freelance endeavours. The one bedroom flat offers a pared-back yet warm and inviting base from which to explore the city and its surroundings. Here are some snapshots from Marta's wonderful snowy world in the Swedish capital! 

Marta and Graeme used their time during the pandemic to renovate their kitchen - investing in cabinets from Skandinaviska Shakerkök.  

Source a similar wooden clothes dryer* from River Bend Roes. 

A 'snöblomma' advent star* lights up the window, and you can catch a glimpse of the small forest beyond. 

A small space between the open-plan kitchen, dining and sitting room area provides the perfect spot for a Christmas tree, simply decorated in tones of off-white, gold and brown.

A cot from Baby Bay has been set up beside a Jotex headboard for the imminent arrival. 

How lovely! 

It makes me want to relocate to Stockholm, how about you? 

FYI the last picture is actually in Undersåker, 7 hours North of Stockholm. It was taken during a stay at a cottage overlooking a frozen lake for Marta's 30th birthday. Imagine! 

Feel inspired by more photos over at @imartavargas and www.martavargas.com today. 

And here are a few other lovely Stockholm homes: 

The fab Stockholm home of a designer hunter

A charming apartment in Stockholm where the past and present meet

A beautiful Stockholm pad in earthy green and grey tones

On another note, I mentioned that things have sort of piled up my end. I hope you don't mind that I skip tomorrow's post in order to catch up (and breath again!). I figured that Marta's lovely home and the landscape surrounding it offers enough dreamy Scandinavian inspiration to carry us through to Monday, what do you think?

If you're doing some final touches to your Christmas decorating (or just getting started), take a peek at the My Scandinavian Home Christmas archive - there are thousand of Scandi 'Jul' ideas in there! 

Wishing you a wonderful weekend! 

Niki

Photography: Marta Vargas, shared with kind permission.  

*This post contains affiliate links

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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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A Harmonious Stockholm Apartment Furnished with Vintage Finds

This lovely Swedish apartment caught my eye this morning. There was something about it that felt familiar and yet at the same time unique. Nestled on the second floor of an early 1920's building in Stockholm, the one bedroom flat has been decorated in soothing tones of white, beige, and a hint of green. The furniture is a perfect blend of vintage and mid-century finds - with every piece unique - and a nod to some of the biggest Scandinavian trends of the moment: conical shapes, fluffy rugs and plenty of linen. let's take a look around! 

What a lovely, harmonious apartment. 

It's on the market - a hard space to leave but from looking at the shared bedroom, I can only guess the family have out grown it. Might you be the next owner? 

Fancy taking a look around a few other Stockholm homes today? Here are a few of my favourites:

A charming Stockholm apartment where past and present meet

A Beautiful Stockholm home in coming tones of green and grey

The Stockholm archipelago house belonging to an interior stylist 

Niki 

Photography: Historiska Hem

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