From the outside, the building housing this apartment doesn’t stand out much. It’s the kind of place you might walk by without giving it a second glance.
A beige façade, five floors, one of which is entirely occupied by offices and cafes. There’s no striking architecture, no ornate stucco, and no elegant balconies. You look at this nondescript building and might assume the lives inside are just as dull. But as is often the case, true beauty lies within.
Today, we’re stepping into a 3-room apartment filled with fascinating details. There’s a spacious terrace with cozy seating, an antique stove, a separate library with a home bar, and a vintage bathtub with clawfoot legs.
The apartment is home to a couple in their 40s, both working in advertising, with no children. They inherited the apartment from the wife’s grandmother (who had inherited it from her parents).
The current owner isn’t planning to sell the inherited apartment anytime soon. And it’s easy to see why: a home in the historic center of Stockholm is a solid investment, likely to appreciate over time.
Here’s what the building looks like from the street / screenshot from Google Maps.
And here’s the view from the courtyard. You can only access it from inside the building.
The apartment spans 1,022 square feet. It has three rooms (a living room, a study-library, and a bedroom) plus a large kitchen-dining area.
The living room walls are painted a pleasant olive green. What’s interesting is the white stripes left at the top and bottom, which visually expand the room and make it feel fresh (the white nicely complements the doors and window frames).
A century-old stove is still in working condition. It’s been slightly modernized with a glass front, so on winter evenings, you can sit in the living room and watch the fire.
From the living room, you can step straight into the kitchen through the original double doors (which are almost always open).
To me, this kitchen is perfect. It’s a fully functional room where you can cook meals, sit with family at a large table, and even work.
The kitchen cabinets resemble the beloved IKEA style, but on closer inspection, there are unique details—lots of small drawers, round handles, a glass-front cabinet matching the set, and a marble countertop. This style is typical of the Swedish company Tibrokök, known for premium furniture, unlike IKEA’s more affordable offerings.
The kitchen set is substantial, isn’t it? These cabinets house appliances—a fridge, an oven, and even a separate wine cooler. Everything (including the kitchen set) is new, as the kitchen was renovated in 2022. Though the flooring wasn’t updated…
I really like the kitchen. On one hand, it’s classic Scandi-style, but on the other hand, it’s full of interesting details (like the leaf-patterned wallpaper, open shelves, paintings, and flowers).
This is what the home office (or, judging by the artifacts, the relaxation room) looks like.
The library, a chess table, a home bar (which I had to slightly edit in Photoshop to comply with local laws)… It seems like the perfect man cave.
The home office has access to the terrace (the apartment is on the top floor). It’s spacious enough to accommodate a sofa and table comfortably.
While the neighbors’ balconies are mostly open, the owners of this apartment opted for privacy. The fabric used isn’t intrusive but still creates a private space.
Next up is the bedroom.
Notice how the apartment’s owners selected wallpaper for each room. The wallpaper sets the mood and serves as the foundation upon which all other items are layered.
In the study, the William Morris wallpaper created a somewhat rugged, masculine, dark atmosphere, while the bedroom feels gentle, cozy, and sleepy.
A wall-mounted rack for house clothes is common in Swedish homes. You’ll find similar ones in both tiny studios and luxurious homes.
Interestingly, the TV is only in the bedroom. So what do they do in the living room? Just talk and watch the fire? Lucky people!
The bathroom, like the kitchen, is perfect. It’s not just a nook with a tub or shower stall, but a full-fledged room. It’s spacious, with a clawfoot bathtub, a separate shower, a roomy old chest of drawers for robes and towels, and even a window!
All the bathroom fixtures date back to the time when the current owner’s grandmother lived there.
That wraps up our tour. Thanks for sticking around until the end!
Photos: Therese Jahnson
