My Houzz: An Airy Period Flat Brimming With Books and Art
Subtle colour, lush houseplants and an eclectic selection of artworks add warmth to this Scandi family home
Nina Quist
23 May 2018
A passionate interest in art informs the décor in Karolina and Erik Modig’s stunning turn-of-the-century home in the quaint central Södermalm district of Stockholm, Sweden. The apartment extends across an entire floor of the building, and its style has gradually developed through playful experimentation with shapes and colours.
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here Journalist and writer Karolina Modig, her husband Erik Modig and their children, Elliot and Mio
Property An apartment in a 19th century building
Location Södermalm in Stockholm, Sweden
Photos by Nadja Endler
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’s very close to her 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.
Who lives here Journalist and writer Karolina Modig, her husband Erik Modig and their children, Elliot and Mio
Property An apartment in a 19th century building
Location Södermalm in Stockholm, Sweden
Photos by Nadja Endler
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’s very close to her 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.
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.
Browse a range of bookshelf styles in the Houzz Shop
Browse a range of bookshelf styles in the Houzz Shop
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. And that’s 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 are in muted shades of pink and grey. “My husband, Erik, and I don’t really have the same taste,” Karolina says. “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 are in muted shades of pink and grey. “My husband, Erik, and I don’t really have the same taste,” Karolina says. “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 chesterfield sofa was found on Blocket (a classified ads site) and breaks up the expanse of powder pink wall 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’s 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 doesn’t have to be perfect.”
With two young children, it’s 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 doesn’t have to be perfect.”
The couple aren’t 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, Elliot, hangs in the living room.
“We have a studio in Brunnsplan [in Stockholm’s Old Town], where we’ve 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 laughs.
“We have a studio in Brunnsplan [in Stockholm’s Old Town], where we’ve 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 laughs.
Karolina also likes to decorate with leafy plants, such as in here, where the climbing green tendrils almost act like living curtains.
“I like the lived-in and homely feeling that plants give,” she says.
“I like the lived-in and homely feeling that plants give,” she says.
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,” Karolina says. It’s so heavy that the floor underneath needed to be reinforced.
Sputnik light, Domino Antik. Chairs, Stalands.
Sputnik light, Domino Antik. Chairs, Stalands.
An American-style fridge-freezer sits between the 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,” Karolina says.
Fridge-freezer, Smeg.
Fridge-freezer, Smeg.
In the kitchen, only the splashback has been updated. It now features green tiles that extend to the ceiling.
Tiles, The Winchester Tile Company. Kitchen cabinets, Ikea; with hardware from Superfront.
Tiles, The Winchester Tile Company. Kitchen cabinets, Ikea; with hardware from Superfront.
Erik, who likes DIY, built this asymmetrical cupboard to add storage in the hallway. It’s painted in a dusky light blue. “Here, we really have space for everything from outerwear and shoes to children’s toys,” Karolina says.
It’s all part of the family’s chilled approach to décor. “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,” Karolina says. Next to the cupboard hangs a painting by one of Karolina’s favourite artists, Alexander Tovborg.
Not feeling quite so handy? Track down carpenters and joiners in your area
It’s all part of the family’s chilled approach to décor. “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,” Karolina says. Next to the cupboard hangs a painting by one of Karolina’s favourite artists, Alexander Tovborg.
Not feeling quite so handy? Track down carpenters and joiners in your area
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 when we first painted the walls in this soft grey shade that the room started to come together,” she says.
Palest pink bed linen contrasts with the grey walls beautifully, while an array of patterned cushions adds energy. “I like having a lot of cushions, it makes the room feel snug and warm,” Karolina says.
Bed linen, Midnatt.
Bed linen, Midnatt.
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 this fabulous fairytale child’s room, the walls are covered in a dreamy cloud wallpaper.
Wallpaper, Ferm Living.
Wallpaper, Ferm Living.
In the corner sits another of Erik’s carpentry projects – a combined cubbyhole and stage. It’s a space where the kids can either have peace and quiet behind the drawn curtain, or be the centre of attention when performing. Bunting and pompoms complement the fairytale atmosphere and set a festive tone for the room.
“Elliot loves to perform, and he’s already treated us to many memorable performances here,” Karolina says. It’s just another example of the way art and life intertwine in this cosy, family-focused home.
Tell us…
What do you think of this flat? Share your thoughts in the Comments section.
“Elliot loves to perform, and he’s already treated us to many memorable performances here,” Karolina says. It’s just another example of the way art and life intertwine in this cosy, family-focused home.
Tell us…
What do you think of this flat? Share your thoughts in the Comments section.
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LOVE this home!!! And love that the art is not hung too high. Very cosy and attractive.
The most important innovation here is hanging the book shelves very high, under the ceiling. The problem behind it is also typically Russian: we love books but Soviet-era appartments are so small.
I have had this idea in my head for 35 years, that bookshelves should be hung high, in order to get them out of the people's way and use up vertical space.
The children's room is so adorable.