My Houzz: Treasured Pieces Add Character to a Light, Open-plan Flat
Soft fabrics, warm metallics, leafy plants and treasured objects have brought character to this bright, lofty apartment
The interior of this almost 100-year-old piano factory, just to the south of Stockholm, has been transformed. Behind the listed building’s brick façade are light and airy apartments with ceilings up to 4.5m high. Does this sound like a dream? That’s what Josefin Dahlberg thought when she decided to move here.
“I wanted something a bit bigger than my tiny apartment in Hornstull, but I felt it was important the apartment should have something special. I love these tall, industrial windows – they give it a bit of a New York feel,” she explains.
The light spills in over the wooden floor and, despite the simple white walls, the apartment is filled with personality. “The building itself is old, but was renovated four years ago,” Dahlberg says. “I think some of the original choices are a bit dull, so I’ve tried to put my personal stamp on the apartment by replacing the kitchen handles and installing Moroccan tiles – things like that.”
“I wanted something a bit bigger than my tiny apartment in Hornstull, but I felt it was important the apartment should have something special. I love these tall, industrial windows – they give it a bit of a New York feel,” she explains.
The light spills in over the wooden floor and, despite the simple white walls, the apartment is filled with personality. “The building itself is old, but was renovated four years ago,” Dahlberg says. “I think some of the original choices are a bit dull, so I’ve tried to put my personal stamp on the apartment by replacing the kitchen handles and installing Moroccan tiles – things like that.”
Josefin works as editor-in-chief at the lifestyle site Modette, blogs, and has a podcast together with entrepreneur Vanja Wikström. The podcast deals with subjects such as dreams, entrepreneurship, self-esteem, style and travel, along with other topics, with a great deal of energy, honesty and mindfulness.
“When I started blogging a few years ago, it was purely a fashion blog where I just posted pictures of what I was wearing,” Dahlberg says. “After a while, though, it felt really strange to only post images of me posing in nice clothes. Since then, I’ve shifted towards showing a more human Josefin. I love inspiring others and being inspired. Both blogs and social media provide an opportunity for communication, but the podcast has become a great channel for speaking more openly and personally. It also gives a more nuanced image of myself.”
“When I started blogging a few years ago, it was purely a fashion blog where I just posted pictures of what I was wearing,” Dahlberg says. “After a while, though, it felt really strange to only post images of me posing in nice clothes. Since then, I’ve shifted towards showing a more human Josefin. I love inspiring others and being inspired. Both blogs and social media provide an opportunity for communication, but the podcast has become a great channel for speaking more openly and personally. It also gives a more nuanced image of myself.”
Dahlberg explains how much her “alone” time and apartment mean to her after a busy day of press screenings, web-TV recordings, editorial work, meetings and travel. “I think I’m seen as quite a positive person, filled with energy, but to be able to project energy I also need to re-energise. That’s something I do alone at home. Those moments are incredibly valuable to me. I don’t really do a lot, I barely speak on the phone. I mostly putter around, doing whatever takes my fancy. I put on some music, I take photos, plan fun ideas or paint – basically, I just enjoy my home!”
Dahlberg’s home is important now, but that hasn’t always been the case. “It’s become more important over the past few years as I’ve got to know myself better and become more aware of what I need,” she explains. “I’ve gone through some tougher times where I’ve not been well, and I’ve had a difficult relationship with alcohol.
“During that time, I was quite volatile. I didn’t care where I lived and was in constant motion; one apartment here, another there. Now my home has become the one place I come back to. I need to be able to feel safe and secure where I live.”
“During that time, I was quite volatile. I didn’t care where I lived and was in constant motion; one apartment here, another there. Now my home has become the one place I come back to. I need to be able to feel safe and secure where I live.”
The flat feels very relaxed. “I myself get really stressed when I visit a neat freak’s home and you are almost afraid to sit down. But that could be because I’m not that neat myself,” Dahlberg laughs. “I want people who come over to feel as if they’re in their own home and are free to sit down on the couch.”
She has a few simple tips for creating a home filled with warmth. “Flowers and potted plants, along with finds from flea markets, and it shouldn’t be too perfect. I like fluff, tassels and mirrored things, too. That’s why I adore Moroccan textiles with all their decorations.”
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She has a few simple tips for creating a home filled with warmth. “Flowers and potted plants, along with finds from flea markets, and it shouldn’t be too perfect. I like fluff, tassels and mirrored things, too. That’s why I adore Moroccan textiles with all their decorations.”
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Beautiful dresses and tunics are hung up around the flat, adding colour, pattern and texture to the white backdrop. “Since a big part of my job is blogging about style and wearing different clothes to inspire others, I’ve collected quite a bit…” Dahlberg admits. “I have a large storage space in the basement and I’ve added further storage in the hallway, taking advantage of the high ceiling.
“I try to recycle every once in a while by giving things away or selling things off. Someone else might fall in love with a piece I’m tired of! When it comes to interior design, I usually change things around by swapping cushions and adding flowers. I’ve been doing that since I was little.”
“I try to recycle every once in a while by giving things away or selling things off. Someone else might fall in love with a piece I’m tired of! When it comes to interior design, I usually change things around by swapping cushions and adding flowers. I’ve been doing that since I was little.”
“My dining table was a find from [second-hand site] Myrorna. It was wedged in among a mass of stacked, boring tables – and I loved it, especially since it seats so many.”
Those who follow Dahlberg on social media and read her blog have seen countless wonderful breakfasts set at different places in the apartment: the bed, the kitchen and on the coffee table. While the space is open-plan, furniture has been used to create rooms within the room.
“I love eating breakfast on the weekends, or meeting up with some friends in the city and going out to eat,” she says. “There’s a nice area here with a lot of great cafés and I’m really close to all the greenery at Vinterviken. But I still miss the city. Maybe I wasn’t quite done with it when I moved here. A lot of my life remains there. Sometimes I miss being able to spontaneously do things after work, maybe do some shopping on the way home or just go to the corner restaurant and meet friends.”
Those who follow Dahlberg on social media and read her blog have seen countless wonderful breakfasts set at different places in the apartment: the bed, the kitchen and on the coffee table. While the space is open-plan, furniture has been used to create rooms within the room.
“I love eating breakfast on the weekends, or meeting up with some friends in the city and going out to eat,” she says. “There’s a nice area here with a lot of great cafés and I’m really close to all the greenery at Vinterviken. But I still miss the city. Maybe I wasn’t quite done with it when I moved here. A lot of my life remains there. Sometimes I miss being able to spontaneously do things after work, maybe do some shopping on the way home or just go to the corner restaurant and meet friends.”
Dahlberg inspires her thousands of followers, readers and listeners with her style, but also with her life choices and dreams. One of these dreams came true last autumn.
“I’ve always loved jewellery, both wearing it and having it on display at home,” she says. “I love mixing things up. Last autumn I got the chance to design my own jewellery collection together with CU Jewellery and, of course, I chose to call it Dream Big! My life is really fast-paced and I have a lot of different projects on the go at the same time. I’ve tried to get better at slowing down, not by wanting less, but just by trying to give myself the chance to catch up.”
No one knows which dream will come true next for Dahlberg, but she’s currently working towards several goals. “My next project is finding a new apartment. The way my life is at the moment, I’m longing to return to the city,” she explains. “But ‘home’ will remain my safe place no matter where I end up – just as long as I bring with me all my beloved things.”
“I’ve always loved jewellery, both wearing it and having it on display at home,” she says. “I love mixing things up. Last autumn I got the chance to design my own jewellery collection together with CU Jewellery and, of course, I chose to call it Dream Big! My life is really fast-paced and I have a lot of different projects on the go at the same time. I’ve tried to get better at slowing down, not by wanting less, but just by trying to give myself the chance to catch up.”
No one knows which dream will come true next for Dahlberg, but she’s currently working towards several goals. “My next project is finding a new apartment. The way my life is at the moment, I’m longing to return to the city,” she explains. “But ‘home’ will remain my safe place no matter where I end up – just as long as I bring with me all my beloved things.”
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Who lives here Josefin Dahlberg, editor-in-chief of lifestyle site Modette
Property An old piano factory
Location Between Midsommarkransen and Telefonplan, just outside Stockholm
Size 409 sq ft (38 sq m)
There are soft patterned rugs on the floor, leafy plants along the windowsills and cabinets, as well as mirrors, small picture frames, candle holders, shoes, hats, bags and souvenirs in Josefin Dahlberg’s flat.
“I really like things,” she explains. “But every single object holds a special meaning for me… that’s why I want them out where I can see them. There’s no master plan behind my interior decorating, I’ve just gone with what I felt like, including the objects I like.”