Houzz Tours
My Swedish Houzz: Where Art and Family Live Side by Side
An impressive art collection, elegant style and a cactus greenhouse leave room for warmth in this Swedish home
A passionate interest in art informs the decor of Karolina and Erik Modig’s stunning turn-of-the-century apartment in the quaint central Södermalm district of Stockholm, Sweden. The apartment extends across an entire floor of the building, and its decor has gradually developed through playful experimentation with shapes and colours.
Artwork is a thread that runs throughout the apartment, and parts of the living room were specially built to accommodate the family’s favourite paintings. The bookshelf is higher on the wall than usual to give the paintings pride of place, and a niche was created to frame the large piece by Jesper Waldersten.
Despite a consistently elegant style and the many precious works of art, the most striking thing about the bright, polished rooms is their cosiness and warmth. That is precisely how Karolina wants it. “I like it bright, fresh and a little artsy, but with a lived-in and warm feeling,” she says.
The couple initially painted the apartment white, but today many of the rooms sport muted shades of pink and grey. “My husband, Erik, and I do not really have the same taste. He comes at things from more of a ‘nutty professor’ angle and likes a dark and sullen look, with lots of stuff. But we usually agree in the end.”
The couple initially painted the apartment white, but today many of the rooms sport muted shades of pink and grey. “My husband, Erik, and I do not really have the same taste. He comes at things from more of a ‘nutty professor’ angle and likes a dark and sullen look, with lots of stuff. But we usually agree in the end.”
The stuffed Chesterfield was found on Blocket, the Swedish equivalent to Gumtree, and breaks up the expanse of the powder-pink walls nicely. “It’s important not to take interior decorating too seriously. Above all, a home is for living in,” Karolina says.
With two young children, it is important to not get too hung up on the small stuff and to choose features that can withstand a bit of rough-and-tumble. “Decoration should be fun. We like to experiment and build things ourselves. It does not have to be perfect.”
With two young children, it is important to not get too hung up on the small stuff and to choose features that can withstand a bit of rough-and-tumble. “Decoration should be fun. We like to experiment and build things ourselves. It does not have to be perfect.”
Karolina and her husband are not only interested in collecting and writing about art, they also like to paint themselves. One of Erik’s own works, a portrait of the couple’s eldest son, Eliott, hangs in the living room.
“We have a studio in Brunnsplan [in Stockholm’s Old Town], where we have done a lot of painting in the past, but as new parents of two young children, our spare time is a little limited right now,” she says, laughing.
“We have a studio in Brunnsplan [in Stockholm’s Old Town], where we have done a lot of painting in the past, but as new parents of two young children, our spare time is a little limited right now,” she says, laughing.
Karolina also likes to decorate with green plants, such as in here, where the climbing green tendrils almost act like living curtains.
“I like the lived-in and homey feeling that living plants give,” says Karolina.
“I like the lived-in and homey feeling that living plants give,” says Karolina.
The family’s love of plants is also evident in the kitchen, where a greenhouse contains a collection of cacti. “Erik found the greenhouse at the fire station and instantly fell in love,” says Karolina. It is so heavy that the floor underneath needed to be reinforced.
The light fixture is a Sputnik lamp from Domino Antik, and the chairs are from Stalands.
The light fixture is a Sputnik lamp from Domino Antik, and the chairs are from Stalands.
A fridge-freezer from Smeg sits between the big 19th-century windows. “A large fridge-freezer is really an everyday luxury, and it was important for us to have plenty of room to freeze food, because with two young children that’s a priority,” says Karolina.
In the kitchen, only the splashback has been updated. It now features green tiles that extend to the ceiling. “This is a classic British tile from The Winchester Tile Company,” says Karolina.
The kitchen cabinets are from Ikea, but the hardware has been replaced by more modern alternatives from Swedish store Superfront.
The kitchen cabinets are from Ikea, but the hardware has been replaced by more modern alternatives from Swedish store Superfront.
Erik, who likes DIY, built this asymmetrical cabinet to add storage in the hallway. It is painted in a dusky light-blue shade. “Here we really have space for everything from outerwear and shoes to children’s toys,” says Karolina.
It’s all part of the family’s chill approach to decor. “We simply try things out as we go along. If we have an idea, we just go for it – the end result doesn’t have to be perfect,” says Karolina. Next to the closet hangs a painting by one of Karolina’s favourite artists, Alexander Tovborg.
It’s all part of the family’s chill approach to decor. “We simply try things out as we go along. If we have an idea, we just go for it – the end result doesn’t have to be perfect,” says Karolina. Next to the closet hangs a painting by one of Karolina’s favourite artists, Alexander Tovborg.
Karolina explains that the bedroom, like many of the other rooms in the apartment, originally had white walls. But it never really felt right. “It was only really when we first painted the walls in this soft grey shade that the room started to come together,” she says.
Pastel bed linen from Midnatt contrasts the grey walls beautifully, and an array of patterned pillows adds life and energy. “I like having a lot of pillows, it makes the room feel snug and warm,” says Karolina.
Like the kitchen cabinets, the vintage sideboard in the bedroom has been freshened up with new hardware from Superfront. This is a smart way to transform worn out or boring furniture.
In the fabulous fairytale children’s room, the walls are covered in a dreamy cloud wallpaper from Ferm Living.
In the corner sits another of Erik’s carpentry projects – a combined cubby hole and stage, a space where the kids can have either peace and quiet behind the drawn curtain, or be the centre of attention when performing. Pennants and pompoms complement the fairytale atmosphere and set a festive tone for the room.
“Elliot loves to perform, and he has already treated us to many memorable performances here,” says Karolina. This is just another example of the way art and life intertwine in this cosy, family-focused home.
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“Elliot loves to perform, and he has already treated us to many memorable performances here,” says Karolina. This is just another example of the way art and life intertwine in this cosy, family-focused home.
Tell us
What do you love about this home? Tell us in the Comments below. And don’t forget to like the story, save your favourite images and join in the conversation.
More
Find an interior designer or decorator for your own project
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: Journalist and writer Karolina Modig, her husband Erik and their children, Elliot and Mio
Location: Södermalm in Stockholm, Sweden
As a freelance journalist and editor, Karolina’s home and professional life are both strongly influenced by her interest in aesthetics.
Art as a part of the home, part of the everyday and part of life is a concept that is very close to Karolina’s heart. She even wrote the book Häng Konsten Lågt (Hang the Art Low), which came out in 2015. “In my book I describe how I started my own art collection on a limited budget. I want to encourage readers to dare to find their own style and taste,” she says.