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Home tour | A pared-back Swedish apartment in blue, white and black

June 11, 2018

A pared-back Swedish apartment in blue, white and black | These Four Walls blog

Happy Monday everyone! It’s home-tour time again, and today I have a beautiful Swedish apartment decorated in blue, white and black to share with you.

I’m a total colour-phobe when it comes to interiors (read why in this post), but the soft greyish blue used in this Gothenburg pad is one of the few shades I could happily incorporate into my own home – it’s wonderfully soothing and reminds me of lazy days by the sea. It works brilliantly with tan and warmer woods such as oak (see my recent review of Nobis Hotel Copenhagen for an example), but here it’s paired with black and white to create a muted, minimalist vibe. It’s a palette that could feel cold, but the apartment still looks homely and inviting thanks to lots of texture and some very clever furniture and accessory choices.

Most of the apartment is taken up with an open-plan living space, whose white-painted beams and bare wooden floorboards lend a loft-like feel. The kitchen and dining area is airy and bright, with white-fronted units, dark worktops and a dining table flanked by an assortment of black chairs. At the other end is a sitting area, where a blue wall and large rug are used to define the space and create a slightly cosier ambiance. I particularly love the statement painting behind the sofa (IKEA’s ‘SÖDERHAMN with loose linen covers), the HAY ‘Pion’ lamp on the windowsill, and the striking Bolia marble coffee table with its built-in magazine rack.

A pared-back Swedish apartment in blue, white and black | These Four Walls blog

A pared-back Swedish apartment in blue, white and black | These Four Walls blog

A pared-back Swedish apartment in blue, white and black | These Four Walls blog

A pared-back Swedish apartment in blue, white and black | These Four Walls blog

The blue walls continue in the bedroom. This space has no window of its own, but the owners have installed crittall-style doors to let some natural light flow through from the living area. They’ve also chosen to work with the dark, cocooning feel rather than fighting against it, adding piles of comfy-looking linen and a striking ‘Formakami’ pendant light, designed by Jaime Hayon for &tradition and inspired by Asian paper lanterns. The result is a tranquil little sanctuary that’s perfect for rest and relaxation.

A pared-back Swedish apartment in blue, white and black | These Four Walls blog

A pared-back Swedish apartment in blue, white and black | These Four Walls blog

A pared-back Swedish apartment in blue, white and black | These Four Walls blog

A pared-back Swedish apartment in blue, white and black | These Four Walls blog

The apartment also encompasses a spacious home office / second bedroom with a bank of built-in cupboards to hide away clutter. They’re actually made up of IKEA’s standard ‘PAX’ system, but unusual leather handles have been added to personalise the look. The glass ‘Cluster’ lamp on the desk (available via Artilleriet) adds another eye-catching feature, as does the Flos ‘AIM’ light suspended from the ceiling.

A pared-back Swedish apartment in blue, white and black | These Four Walls blog

A pared-back Swedish apartment in blue, white and black | These Four Walls blog

A pared-back Swedish apartment in blue, white and black | These Four Walls blog

A pared-back Swedish apartment in blue, white and black | These Four Walls blog

And last but not least is the hallway – a space that’s an afterthought in so many homes, but not here. A large coat stand and shoe rack means it’s very practical, while monochrome artwork, a rug and an oversized potted plant create a welcoming first impression.

A pared-back Swedish apartment in blue, white and black | These Four Walls blog

How about you? Do you like this pared-back scheme? And what do you think of blue, black and white as a colour combination?

Photography by Jonas Berg for Stadshem; styling by Grey Deco

Related

7 Comments · Interiors

Comments

  1. Vritika | Luxury Villas says

    June 12, 2018 at 8:27 am

    The apartment looks serene and calm with earthy tones of wall paint and decor. Looks really relaxing 🙂

    Reply
    • Abi says

      June 12, 2018 at 9:09 am

      It’s very relaxing isn’t it? A lovely home to unwind in, I think

      Reply
  2. Becka says

    June 14, 2018 at 3:20 pm

    Oh that is so warm and soothing. I’m just about to redecorate a bedroom, so this is very inspirational.

    Reply
    • Abi says

      June 14, 2018 at 3:25 pm

      Glad you like it! That soft, powdery blue is perfect for bedrooms. Good luck with the decorating!

      Reply
  3. Helen Orrock says

    July 11, 2018 at 6:08 pm

    Love the tones and the wooden floor

    Reply
    • Abi says

      July 11, 2018 at 6:18 pm

      It’s gorgeous isn’t it – so many nice ideas to steal.

      Reply
  4. Street Glimpse says

    August 24, 2018 at 8:47 pm

    Wow it looks like that entire room is only made of three colors. Love the minimalism. The lighting really makes it pop as well. Wish I could see it in person, or at least a virtual 360 tour perhaps, haha!

    Reply

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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

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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. 

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