The real
SWEDISH HOME
LIVING SPACE / December
Words by Ilze Vītola
Photos courtesy of Sara Kjellemo
A stunning interior made by a renowned
designer is one thing, but nothing feels
more like a genuine home than a place
designed by the residents themselves.
Housed in a newly built residential project,
this two-bedroom apartment is exactly what
first comes to mind when hearing the words
‘Scandinavian home’. The home is located
an hour and a half ’s drive from Gothenburg,
in the town of Smögen, the go-to destination
for Swedes during the summer. In winter,
however, the coastal town is calm and quiet.
The residents of the apartment are 25-year-
old seafood factory worker Sara Kjellemo
and her three-year-old son. Kjellemo has a
passion for interior design, and she put a lot
of effort into getting rid of the stiffness that
characterises new buildings. She has given
her place a cosier, worn-in feeling by playfully
mixing old furniture with new items.
The interior devotee can’t wait for the
festive season to start: ‘This year I prefer
natural Christmas decorations, candles, stars
in the windows, and some amaryllis flowers.
In Sweden, “less is more” is also true when it
comes to Christmas trinkets. However, a real
Christmas tree is still a must!’
• Loads of daylight, subdued
colours, and natural materials –
this home has all the right
ingredients of a typical Swedish
home. Kjellemo also has a nose
for authentic interior items. For
example, she found the pinewood
bedside table at her parents’
summer house, where it had
been left by the previous owners.
‘I believe that by combining old
and new items you get a unique
atmosphere. And giving things
a second life is better for the
environment, too.’
NATURAL
• Scandinavian living rooms, like the
rest of their interiors, usually have
minimal amounts of colour. They’re kept
natural and typically come in one of two
colour schemes. Squishy pillows, soft
rugs, light curtains – soft textiles can
make every space feel cosy. The black
marble coffee table sits gracefully on the
Beni Ourain woollen rug. As for sitting
down, there are two options: a classic
IKEA sofa (a quintessential element
of every Swedish house) or modernist
lounge chairs bought at auction.
DAYLIGHT
108
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