A lot of the homes I’m drawn towards at the moment seem to feature soft green interiors – maybe it’s because of some deep-seated desire to retain a connection with the natural world as the cold weather and dark autumn nights set in! The subject of today’s tour is no exception: located in the Swedish city of Gothenburg, it’s decorated in a muted palette of sage green and white, offset by beige, brown and forest-green accents. The result is a wonderfully tranquil, light-filled space which must be a joy to live in.
The apartment is actually fairly compact, but it certainly doesn’t feel that way thanks to the clever use of colour. I particularly love the contrast between the crisp white walls in the living room and kitchen, and the slightly darker shade used in the hallway and bedroom. It changes the mood from bright and airy to cosy and cocooning as you move between different areas, without disrupting the harmony of the overall look.
The apartment is furnished with plenty of iconic Scandinavian pieces, including the CH07 ‘Shell’ chair (designed by Hans J Wegner back in 1963) in the living room, and the Louis Poulsen ‘AJ’ floor lamps by the bed. I always think it’s worth investing in good-quality, timeless designs when you can, as they provide much better value in the long run than throwaway, trend-driven pieces. What’s more, it’s easy to mix them up with cheaper buys, as the IKEA sofa and lighting (I spotted the ’STORUMAN’ paper lamp and opal-glass ‘FADO’ lamp) used here prove.
There are also lots of lovely natural textures: linen cushions and throws, wooden furniture, woollen rugs and blankets. They not only form a continuous thread to connect the various spaces, they also help create a happier, healthier environment. It might sound a bit far-fetched, but I went to a talk on interiors for wellbeing by designer Oliver Heath a couple of years ago, and he quoted all sorts of studies that have found a link between natural materials and lower levels of stress and anxiety. Some research has even suggested that people sleep better in timber-framed beds than metal ones!
Speaking of timber, the dark wooden panelling and formica fronts on the kitchen cabinets in this apartment are bit ‘Marmite’, and you probably either love them or hate them. Personally, I like them – they fit into the overall scheme nicely, and they add a bit of a retro edge to the space. My favourite corner of the room is the dining area, though – the white table, oak ‘J39’ chairs from Fredericia and ‘Semi’ pendant light by Gubi are a brilliant combination, and it must be a lovely spot to enjoy breakfast or coffee with the balcony doors flung open.
Other features that caught my eye include the dark stain on the floorboards, which works equally well with all the various shades on the walls, and the gorgeous double doors, which seem to be a feature of so many of my favourite Swedish apartments. And there are houseplants and fresh flowers galore – another factor that’s been proven to enhance mental and physical wellbeing.
All in all, this is the kind of minimalist yet cosy home I would love to live in myself, and it looks like the perfect place to hunker down over the winter months. How about you? Are you a fan of green interiors?
Styling by Grey Deco; photography by Fredrik Karlsson for Alvhem
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I love how everything looks so clean and open since the walls are white and so as the decor.