Meow Meow

Ever walked into a small apartment and felt like you had to choose between style and sanity? Well, prepare to have your notions of tiny living beautifully shattered! Christina, the brilliant Art Director for Swedish furniture brand Hem, and her partner Anon, have turned their 53-square-meter (570 sq ft) Stockholm apartment into a vibrant, ingenious, and deeply personal sanctuary. Forget bland minimalism; this home is a masterclass in infusing every inch with personality, comfort, and a surprising amount of color.

Nestled in the lively, creative Södermalm island, Christina’s home is more than just a place to sleep; it’s a living testament to her lifelong passion for design. Growing up with designer parents, her childhood was steeped in classic pieces and art books, fostering a “red thread of honoring art pieces and old design pieces” that continues to inspire her own space today. It’s this rich background that truly sets her approach apart.

Where History Meets Modern Charm
Their 1880s building, a pioneering structure in its central neighborhood, offered the perfect canvas: an original two-room and kitchen layout that required “no significant structural changes”. The immediate appeal? A seamless flow between the living room and kitchen, creating an expansive vista of windows that flood the apartment with light.

Key Design Philosophies from Christina’s Home:

Light is Life: With all windows facing west, the living room is drenched in natural light. Christina adheres to a core Scandinavian design theory: “five light sources in each room”. This isn’t just a stylistic choice; it’s a vital strategy in Sweden, where extreme seasonal light changes necessitate diverse illumination to combat long, dark winters.
Color as a Statement: Christina’s “obsession by the thought of having a bright blue couch” led to a custom upholstery job by Hem, creating a striking focal point that literally anchors the living room. This sofa isn’t just pretty; it’s fully modular, offering flexible seating and a comfortable sleeping spot for guests on its longer chaise section.
“Jewelry of the Home”: Christina firmly believes that adding metal elements is “very essential” to a space, elevating the aesthetic much like “the jewelry of the home”.
Genius Solutions for Ultra-Specific Needs
Christina’s home is a treasure trove of ultra-specific, actionable ideas for maximizing every square foot:

Discreet & Dynamic Storage:In the entrance, a small green storage unit from Hem perfectly corrals everyday items like sunglasses, keys, and gloves. The best part? It easily turns around to instantly hide clutter when you want a tidy look.
This same clever turnable design is repeated in the bedroom, where similar units serve as bedside tables, keeping personal items discreetly out of sight.
Reimagining Objects: A vintage magazine rack, originally designed for an office desk, is ingeniously hung by the door to store apartment magazines – a smart reinterpretation of its purpose.
Dedicated “Nooks” for Life:A special corner is dedicated to musical instruments, chosen because there’s “something soothing about the presence of instruments in a home”.
The small office desk in the bedroom pulls double duty: Christina uses it for makeup, and it’s the apartment’s “only little Nook” for taking private work calls without disturbing Anon.
The Power of Concealment: A “small room going from the bedroom” is currently used as a walk-in closet. This space cleverly hides clothes and household necessities like the vacuum cleaner and ironing board. Christina calls being able to close the door and keep everything out of sight a “real blessing,” supporting her love for living tidily.
Art in Unexpected Places: Defying convention, Christina champions displaying art in the kitchen, reasoning that “you spend so much time in there”. Her kitchen proudly features Enzar Lamela’s “big red apple” art, perfectly sized for the space above the counter.
The Heart of the Home: A Kitchen with Character
Christina spent considerable time conceptualizing and designing her kitchen. It boasts a gorgeous custom green color and ultra-durable, practical, and hygienic stainless steel countertops that age beautifully. Even the smallest details count, like replacing original knobs with “small shiny ones” from her favorite local hardware store, Big Faison, which add “extra Glitz to the room”. While a large custom-built storage unit by the previous owner is practical for the fridge, utensils, and pantry, Christina is already envisioning a “more modern looking” replacement in the future, showcasing her evolving design vision.

Scandinavia’s True Comfort
Christina’s apartment is a vibrant rebuttal to the common misconception of stark Scandinavian minimalism. She posits that classic Scandinavian design was born from available materials and, crucially, the extreme seasons. The long, dark Swedish winters underscore the immense importance of “coziness and surrounding oneself with beautiful things”. This philosophy is beautifully woven into her home, from the large rice paper lamp in the bedroom that provides a “nice even glow”, to the vintage Ikea bed found affordably on eBay. Even the “very small” bathroom, a rarity with a washing machine in smaller Stockholm apartments, is fully functional and stylish, complete with top storage and a vintage mirror.

Christina’s ultimate wisdom for small spaces is both simple and empowering: “keep only what you really need”. She encourages evaluating items for their “most just spot” and, vitally, “making space for nonfunctional items that just give you the good feeling and add personality to your home”. Her apartment isn’t just a home; it’s an inspiring blueprint for living large, colorfully, and authentically within any footprint.