Beni

Texture, texture, texture. That’s usually my answer when someone asks how our Scandinavian friends manage to create such lovely homes in warm neutral tones. This Gothenburg apartment, for example, has been stripped back a little for sale, yet it still manages to balance simplicity with a cosy feel. Much of that comes down to texture: the exposed brick, the beautifully patinated kitchen wall, and the mix of natural materials throughout the space. Then there’s the contrast. Dark tones sit alongside lighter ones, while rattan and wood furniture add warmth and depth. A variety of shapes, from soft curves to more angular forms, also helps create visual interest. It’s also lovely to notice the mix of eras. Mid-century pieces sit comfortably alongside contemporary elements and the occasional antique, giving the space a layered, collected feel rather than something that has come together all at once. Together, these layers of texture, tone, shape and time bring life and personality to a...

Well, well, well — another week has rolled around, and it’s really starting to feel like spring here (it’s amazing how 7°C can feel positively balmy!). With that comes the arrival of pastel colours in the shops, which is always my sign that the long winter is finally nearing its end. Yay! This 100-square-metre (1000 square foot) turn-of-the-century apartment sits on the top floor of an Art Nouveau building, and while the living spaces are kept fairly calm and neutral, there’s a joyful burst of colour waiting in the bedroom. The 3.4-metre-high ceilings allow light to pour in, but what truly caught my eye was the mix of furniture and lighting – a beautiful blend of designer pieces and vintage finds, some perfectly in tune with the era of the architecture itself. And then there’s the balcony, dressed with a chintzy parasol and hues reminiscent of a glowing sunset. Other details worth lingering over are the wood panelling (something I’m seriously considering for the cottage right now) a...

There’s that famous Patek Philippe line about never really owning a watch, just looking after it for the next generation, and I think the same can be said of houses too. This L-shaped home in the forest outside Grums, Sweden feels like a perfect example. Swedish journalist, author and radio/ TV host Hanna Hellquist inherited it from her father thirteen years ago and has since cared for it slowly and thoughtfully, turning it into a wonderfully cosy second home. When Hanna first took it on, the house needed plenty of love. There was mould on the panelling, no two windows matched, and much of it felt overwhelming. For a long time, it was hard to know where to begin. But years later, encouraged while looking at summer houses with her then-boyfriend, she returned to Grums and started small. New windows came first, then a little more each summer. Finally, the large open plan dining and library area took shape, and during the pandemic she devoted her free time to bringing the house togeth...