My Houzz: A Touch of the Countryside in Stockholm
This condo’s outdoor spaces and vintage country style bring rural living to Sweden’s capital
Wanting to surround the children with nature while still staying in the city, Emma Johansson and her partner moved into an almost 100-year-old shop, now converted into a condominium, in southern Stockholm. It boasts a beautiful glassed-in porch that brings a bit of country living into the Swedish capital.
The 1920 building is split into four units, including an attefall cottage, a small secondary dwelling capped at 270 square feet that can be built without a permit.
Johansson and her family live in the main unit. “We’re like a small housing association. It works well for a house that used to be a store,” Johansson says.
Johansson and her family live in the main unit. “We’re like a small housing association. It works well for a house that used to be a store,” Johansson says.
The condo comes with plenty of open-air spaces, such as a large porch at the back of the house and a shared garden. “We are so lucky to have outdoor spaces in all … directions, including two balconies. That’s why we moved from Vasastan [another district in Stockholm], to be closer to nature for the children.”
The ground floor houses an open kitchen-living room, a porch, an office and a guest room with a small bathroom. The enclosed porch with its blue stained-glass windows was the biggest draw when the couple bought the home in November 2016.
“We hang out here a lot,” Johansson says. “There is floor heating and light from morning to night, so it’s a real family room.”
The porch is not as old as the rest of the house. It was built in the 1960s or ’70s, but the windows and the built-in cabinet make it a good match for the rest of the house.
The wallpaper was already there, and Johansson and her partner had a carpenter build the dining table out of recycled wood from an old barn. “It would have felt so wrong to put a newly purchased modern table here.”
Find a carpenter in the Houzz pro directory
The porch is not as old as the rest of the house. It was built in the 1960s or ’70s, but the windows and the built-in cabinet make it a good match for the rest of the house.
The wallpaper was already there, and Johansson and her partner had a carpenter build the dining table out of recycled wood from an old barn. “It would have felt so wrong to put a newly purchased modern table here.”
Find a carpenter in the Houzz pro directory
Johansson replaced the cabinet’s glass shelves with wooden ones, and painted the inside to give it a rustic feel.
The couple bought the big Royal Copenhagen china and dinnerware set at an auction. “It was actually an accident,” Johansson says. “We never thought we’d get it. And it came with all these different pieces. We use it a lot, though — on a daily basis, in fact.”
The couple bought the big Royal Copenhagen china and dinnerware set at an auction. “It was actually an accident,” Johansson says. “We never thought we’d get it. And it came with all these different pieces. We use it a lot, though — on a daily basis, in fact.”
Johansson thinks the romantic, country-leaning style is a good starting point, but she likes to break it up with more modern pieces, such as a marble counter in the kitchen, a stainless steel range hood and a lamp by Muller van Severen for Artilleriet.
She likes the sink area the most. “I tell all my friends who are about to buy a house that there is nothing I would recommend more than being able to look outside from the sink area.”
She likes the sink area the most. “I tell all my friends who are about to buy a house that there is nothing I would recommend more than being able to look outside from the sink area.”
Many visitors are surprised by the big white sofa in the living room since Johansson has two young children.
“I fell completely in love with an Instagram photo of a French actor’s huge white couch, so I decided to get one. It has removable covers … so we can wash them. It’s worth it!”
Browse slipcovered sofas by color in the Houzz Shop
Browse slipcovered sofas by color in the Houzz Shop
Three tiled stoves spread heat nicely around the home. Johansson installed a picture ledge on top of the wainscoting.
The walls are painted in Elephant’s Breath by Farrow & Ball. “This color is absolutely amazing. It changes throughout the day from gray to beige to magenta.”
The walls are painted in Elephant’s Breath by Farrow & Ball. “This color is absolutely amazing. It changes throughout the day from gray to beige to magenta.”
Next to the living room is Johansson’s work corner. This is also where the baby sleeps so that he isn’t disturbed by the rest of the family.
The desk is from Johansson’s childhood home. “My mom went to flea markets and auctions a lot, and I have followed in her footsteps. I like the idea of recycling and furniture that has passed through many hands.”
The desk is from Johansson’s childhood home. “My mom went to flea markets and auctions a lot, and I have followed in her footsteps. I like the idea of recycling and furniture that has passed through many hands.”
In the guest room, dark gray walls contrast with a gold mirror.
“When I was in the third trimester of my pregnancy, I realized that we had to have a bedroom that was really dark where I could nest. So I called my partner and demanded that he bring a really dark gray paint home — I had no idea where it came from. I just went for it and painted the room the next day,” Johansson says.
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“When I was in the third trimester of my pregnancy, I realized that we had to have a bedroom that was really dark where I could nest. So I called my partner and demanded that he bring a really dark gray paint home — I had no idea where it came from. I just went for it and painted the room the next day,” Johansson says.
7 Inky Colors to Use Instead of Black
The bedrooms are upstairs, and there is a large family room with a sleeping alcove for Johansson and her partner.
“Everyone is still kind of sleeping everywhere. That often happens when you have young children,” she says.
“Everyone is still kind of sleeping everywhere. That often happens when you have young children,” she says.
The two boys eventually will share the large children’s room, which features many colors and toys. “They have both dollhouses and cars, pink and blue,” Johansson says. “I don’t want them to live in an environment that imposes a certain gender-based stereotype.”
The pink curtains have hung in several of their former homes and are about 10 feet long.
The shelves are a bit chaotic. “It doesn’t matter if it’s messy — that’s the reality.”
See photos of children’s rooms for inspiration
See photos of children’s rooms for inspiration
Under the ceiling in the big room, Johansson has an inspirational spot with a shelf full of things she likes.
“I sit to relax and gather energy and inspiration. The things on the shelf stayed packed for a long time because they don’t fit properly [into any other space in the home], but here I can enjoy them.”
“I sit to relax and gather energy and inspiration. The things on the shelf stayed packed for a long time because they don’t fit properly [into any other space in the home], but here I can enjoy them.”
On the open porch at the back is an outdoor kitchen from Hillerstorp. Its skirting is easy to remove and clean.
Browse products for outdoor cooking
Browse products for outdoor cooking
The family uses this space as much as it can. “We’ve connected the water, and we hang out here when the weather permits. I love gardening and would like to spend more time doing it — maybe in the future,” Johansson says.
More on Houzz
Read about other homes around the world
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More on Houzz
Read about other homes around the world
Find an interior designer
Condo at a Glance
Who lives here: Emma Johansson, a freelance writer and photographer who runs the What Decorates My Day blog; her partner; and their two sons, ages 4 and 1½
Location: Stockholm
Size: About 1,615 square feet (150 square meters); three bedrooms, two bathrooms