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Home tour | A sophisticated blend of old and new in Sweden

June 3, 2019

Home tour - a sophisticated blend of old and new in Sweden | These Four Walls blog

Happy Monday everyone! And apologies for the lack of posts over the last week or so – I’ve been in Copenhagen for its annual 3 Days of Design festival, before travelling straight on to Sweden for a press trip. More on all that to follow soon, but in the meantime I have another inspiring home to share with you. Located in Gothenburg, this wonderful apartment caught my eye because of the way it mixes stunning period features with contemporary furniture. And oh my, are the results beautiful!

First of all, the colour scheme works perfectly. The whole place is painted in pale grey and cream, with striking black, charcoal and chocolate-brown accents in the furniture and accessories. It’s a very soothing and sophisticated combination, and it contrasts wonderfully with the dark-stained floorboards. There are also lots of luxurious fabrics – heavy curtains, soft-pile rugs, velvet cushions and upholstery – which add texture to the apartment without detracting from the airy feel.

The living room is my favourite space, as it looks so understated and inviting. The sense of elegance is reinforced by lightweight, slimline furniture including a String shelving system (affiliate link) and a pair of Menu’s ‘No No’ coffee tables (affiliate link), and I love the way their clean lines offset the ornate glass chandelier. A sculptural mesh-covered wall light and a ‘Fly’ armchair (affiliate link) by Space Copenhagen for &Tradition add a few statement curves. There’s also an ingenious hidden cupboard built into the doorframe, now used as a bar corner.

Home tour - a sophisticated blend of old and new in Sweden | These Four Walls blog

Home tour - a sophisticated blend of old and new in Sweden | These Four Walls blog

Home tour - a sophisticated blend of old and new in Sweden | These Four Walls blog

Home tour - a sophisticated blend of old and new in Sweden | These Four Walls blog

Home tour - a sophisticated blend of old and new in Sweden | These Four Walls blog

The monochrome palette continues in the home office (which also doubles as a guest bedroom), but here it’s paired with russet in the form of bed linen, chair upholstery and wall art. Yet again the lighting grabbed my attention, especially the marble and enamel ‘Snoopy’ table lamp – an iconic piece designed in 1967 by Achille and Pier Giacomo Castiglioni and now produced by Flos. I also spied marble desk accessories from Ferm Living (affiliate link) and a head sculpture by Stockholm-based artist Kristiina Haataja, whom I was lucky enough to meet in person in Copenhagen last week.

Home tour - a sophisticated blend of old and new in Sweden | These Four Walls blog

Home tour - a sophisticated blend of old and new in Sweden | These Four Walls blog

Home tour - a sophisticated blend of old and new in Sweden | These Four Walls blog

Home tour - a sophisticated blend of old and new in Sweden | These Four Walls blog

There’s another accent colour in the master bedroom: ochre. It offsets the black lighting, bedside tables and wall art perfectly, and creates a note of cosiness in the light-filled space. Other interesting features in this room include open storage for hanging clothes, formed from two rails (you can buy similar from IKEA) fixed to the wall above one another.

Home tour - a sophisticated blend of old and new in Sweden | These Four Walls blog

Home tour - a sophisticated blend of old and new in Sweden | These Four Walls blog

Home tour - a sophisticated blend of old and new in Sweden | These Four Walls blog

The other areas of the apartment are much simpler in terms of decor, but they’re no less appealing. All-white units and tiles make the compact kitchen look much bigger than it is, and the balcony has been turned into a small but comfortable outdoor lounge that’s ideal for curling up with a cup of coffee or glass of wine.

Home tour - a sophisticated blend of old and new in Sweden | These Four Walls blog

Home tour - a sophisticated blend of old and new in Sweden | These Four Walls blog

Home tour - a sophisticated blend of old and new in Sweden | These Four Walls blog

All in all, it’s a very inviting and sophisticated home, don’t you think?

All photography via Bjurfors

This post contains affiliate links (all clearly marked), which means I might receive a small commission from any resulting sales. Please be assured that you will never pay more by clicking on these links than you would by visiting the websites concerned directly.

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HELLO

Abi Dare | These Four Walls blog

I’m Abi Dare – a stylist, photographer and writer based in Bristol (UK). I set up this blog to share interior design, travel and lifestyle inspiration for simple, relaxed living at home and beyond. You’ll find home tours, advice and tips, interviews, reviews, postcards from places I love and more – always with a focus on soft minimalism, muted colours and timeless, considered design.

‘Top 10 UK interior design blogs’ 2025, 2024, 2023 & 2022, Vuelio

‘Best Interior Design Blog’, uFurnish Home Awards 2024

Winner of the ‘Blogger’ category in the Sweetpea & Willow Home Influencer Awards 2023

‘Best Design & Architecture Blog’, UK Blog Awards 2019

MY BOOKS

Pre-order my latest book, Bring The Outside In – Biophilic Design for a Naturally Beautiful Home, to be published by Ryland Peters & Small on 14th October 2025.
Buy my first book, The Soft Minimalist Home – Calm, Cozy Decor for Real Lives and Spaces, also published by Ryland Peters & Small and available now.

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I'm so excited to reveal what @tiffanygrantriley a I'm so excited to reveal what @tiffanygrantriley and I have been working on for the past few months: a new book! 

Called Bring The Outside In, it explores how to harness the wellbeing-enhancing power of biophilic design (design that reconnects you with nature) in your own home. It's packed with clear, practical advice, plus peeks inside 12 beautiful real-life homes that demonstrate biophilic design in action in a wide range of settings, from city apartments to rural farmhouses. 

I feel incredibly proud to have written one book, let alone two, and this one was extra-special for two reasons. Firstly, it's a topic that I've long been fascinated by and one that combines two of my passions, interior design and nature. And secondly, I was lucky enough to work on it with a friend. We had so much fun travelling around Europe capturing the homes featured (some very brief glimpses to whet your appetite here!) and we'll share some behind-the-scenes snippets soon.

Bring The Outside In will be published by @rylandpetersandsmall on 14th October and is available to pre-order now - just follow the link in my bio. 

(The book cover image is the beautiful home of @balanceinteriordesign.)

#interiordesigninspiration #interiordesignbooks #biophilicdesign #interiorsinspo #interiorsinspiration #biophilichomes #biophilichomeinteriordesign
Snaps from a lovely long weekend in leafy Richmond Snaps from a lovely long weekend in leafy Richmond, West London. I've spent many happy times there over the years as one of my closest friends lives there, but she's about to move house. So, Chris and I made the most of our last visit before she relocates - and the weather was certainly kind to us! 

1 & 2.  Richmond riverside and bridge
3 & 4.  Old Palace Yard
5-7.  A boat trip down the Thames with @thamesriverboats 
8-14.  Plants, flowers and the most amazing afternoon tea at @petershamnurseries (an early birthday celebration for @small_round_things)
15.  Petersham Meadows
16 & 17. The view from Richmond Hill
18.  Plane-spotting
19.  How the other half live / fantasy house-shopping

#visitlondon #richmondlondon #visitengland #postcardplaces #londonsummer #letsgosomewhere #darlingescape #theprettycities #bitsofbuildings #littlestoriesofmylife #thisprettyengland #simplemoments
Some photos of the gorgeous @a.__gallery, which I Some photos of the gorgeous @a.__gallery, which I visited on a recent trip to the Netherlands. Isn't it beautiful? Calm, textural and layered, with handmade pieces by an array of independent artists and artisans. 

I've also interviewed Holly, founder of the gallery and interior design studio @avenue.design.studio, on my blog. I've always admired the elegant, timeless spaces she creates, and the way she reflects the architectural context of each setting. I first met her in person last year, when I featured her own home in my book, and I've since worked with her on another exciting project that I can't wait to share soon...

#minimalistinterior #softminimalisminterior #softminimalstyle #neutraldecor #neutralinterior #interiorinspirations #dutchinteriors #simpleinterior #texturalinteriors
A few snaps from the gorgeous @gubiofficial showro A few snaps from the gorgeous @gubiofficial showroom in London, which I visited during @clerkenwelldesignweek earlier this week. I missed the opening event for this last year, so it was great to finally have a look around in person. The light is stunning, as is GUBI's selection of contemporary and classic designs - including the sculptural and futuristic F300 lounge  chair, first designed by Pierre Paulin in the 1960s and recently relaunched. 

Which room or corner is your favourite...?

#minimalistinterior #danishdesign #scandiinterior #scandiinspo #nordicminimalism #scandinaviandecor #softminimalism #interiorsinspo #interiorsinspiration

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