Books, Art and a Cool Painting Technique in a Swedish Home

It’s Fredag (Friday) people! Woohooo! I am going to hazard a guess and say 50% of swedes are working at home today. Basically, anyone who can! It’s a day where homes are prepped between meetings in order to have everything ready for ‘fredagsmys‘ (a cosy Friday evening at home involving tacos and a movie), possibly the most important event of the week!

This fabulous funkis home in Gröndal, Gothenburg measuring 85 m2 (914 ft sq) is just the place I can imagine enjoying ‘fredagsmys‘. Books galore, musical instruments and art are just a few of the things that stood out to me right away. But take a closer look and there are other great interior elements at play.

Flexible Elfa shelving (which I have added to Allie’s room and also used in the laundry room and attic) is ideal for a large wall of books!

I also love the classic vintage drop leaf table (source a similar one here*), which adds plenty of charm to the space.

The living space is entirely open-plan with the dining area, sitting room and home office all in one – meaning everyone can be together yet doing their own thing.

One of my favourite lamps – a Gubi semi pendant, hangs over the coffee table.

I love this gallery wall, full of fascinating original paintings. While at the Formland design fair last week, I noticed that there’s a strong movement away from posters and prints in glass frames to original artwork on canvas and other fabrics. A welcomed move!

Plate racks have also become increasingly popular – as seen in Kristin’s French kitchen last week, and here in the open shelving.

Wall racks are a great idea for cookbooks – as seen here, it ensures they are ready to be perused over a morning coffee!

In the bedroom, the owners have used old fashioned ‘stänkmålning‘ on the walls – a method of flicking paint on the walls with a paintbrush. This was traditionally used by the Swedish lower classes who couldn’t afford wallpaper but still wanted to decorate their walls. You often see it in summer cottages. In this room, the splashes have a wonderful contemporary feel!