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The Househunter

Right there’s no beating around the bush this week, get your coat we’re off to Sweden. And we may be there for some time because this is a house we need to visit in detail.

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It’s a masterclass of muted colours but with a twist. Look up at the ceilings. They have often been painted in a strong colour while the walls are left pale and neutral. Bold move. Brave move.

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I’m not sure I would have the courage but it looks great doesn’t it. And it doesn’t bring the ceilings down at all – although they are incredibly high to start with so it wouldn’t hurt if they did come in a bit.

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And even if I was brave enough to paint my ceilings blue and grey I’m not sure I’d have the courage to do a pink one. At least I wouldn’t have done before I saw this.

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And look at these coffee tables. One appears to be full of moss, which is an interesting idea but it looks great next to the brass one.

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It’s on the market for around 15m SEK which is just over £1.1m (via Wrede) and is just full of ideas to steal. There are two bedrooms, a living room, dining room and eat-in kitchen.

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And now, as they say, for something completely different. This house, Silverlight, is described (by the agent) as an incredible feat of engineering in contemporary architecture. To which I say, so I should think for £5.5m. Designed by David Adjaye of Adjaye Associates, it’s on the market with Domus Nova and it is rather fabulous.

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It’s arranged over three levels above ground with a large basement that meets the waters edge. From the front the house is anonymous, yet from the back when the sun catches it, it shins completely silver.

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Inside there are no painted surfaces. Instead there is a range of different finishes from recycled plastic in the basement, crushed glass in the dressing room doors, a bamboo wall in the bedroom, mirrored ceilings in the guest bedrooms and polished concrete and polycrete in the sitting room.

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There is also a cast concrete sofa in the sitting room and a bespoke concrete kitchen and a complete flight of stairs made from Zebrano wood.

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It’s amazing to think you can create that much colour without paint isn’t it? There are masses more images on the site if you’re interested. I’m off to see if I can find an exciting salvage door for the loft.

Have a happy day.

Kate Watson-Smyth

The author Kate Watson-Smyth

I’m a journalist who writes about interiors mainly for The Financial Times but I have also written regularly for The Independent and The Daily Mail. My house has been in Living Etc, HeartHome and featured in The Wall Street Journal & Corriere della Sera. I also run an interior styling consultancy Mad About Your House. Welcome to my Mad House.

3 Comments

  1. Hello Kate,

    I have recently discovered your blog and find myself logging into it everyday.

    Congratulations on the loft – it looks like a perfect nook for work and such clever use of the sofa / bed, shelving and bathroom – love it all !

    I was seeing the above post and my heart skipped a beat when I saw the dining table and chairs. Any idea where they are from at all ?

    Just been on the look out for a new dining table and chairs….thanks

    Molly

  2. Love the painted ceilings in the Swedish house , not to mention the doors and windows. Such yearnings for ceilings of that height . I could definitely find a place for that brass coffee table.

    1. I certainly admire your eye for detail! The house in Sweden really is choc full of superb ideas, not sure about the moss though 🙂

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