Houzz Tour: A Beautiful Nordic Dream in Sweden
These homeowners blend 2 Scandinavian styles — Swedish and Danish — in their light-filled 1902 apartment
Martina Strand
1 July 2017
Swede Ann Bülow and Dane Jens Erlandsen were living apart when they decided to get an apartment together in Malmö, in southern Sweden, in 2007. Erlandsen had previously had a place in Copenhagen, Denmark, and Bülow a townhouse in Lund, not far from Malmö. They wanted to get a big apartment where their children and grandchildren could visit them and where they could host big parties for their friends.
“We searched for a roomy apartment with soul,” Bülow says. “A balcony was a must, a fireplace was a wish, and we also wanted high ceilings. We immediately fell in love with this gem at the top of a fantastic turn-of-the-century building. It’s nice to be at the top! There is good light here, and we were told that the people living at the top would even have the opportunity to buy the attic and turn it into a rooftop terrace.” They fell in love with the design of the three bedrooms, which face the yard, and the living area, which can be used to host parties with up to 70 guests — a number the couple’s shindigs have indeed reached.
“We searched for a roomy apartment with soul,” Bülow says. “A balcony was a must, a fireplace was a wish, and we also wanted high ceilings. We immediately fell in love with this gem at the top of a fantastic turn-of-the-century building. It’s nice to be at the top! There is good light here, and we were told that the people living at the top would even have the opportunity to buy the attic and turn it into a rooftop terrace.” They fell in love with the design of the three bedrooms, which face the yard, and the living area, which can be used to host parties with up to 70 guests — a number the couple’s shindigs have indeed reached.
Photos by Agnes Orre
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: Jens Erlandsen and Ann Bülow. Bülow is an economist, while Erlandsen has studied furniture making and today works in furniture design
Location: Rörsjöstaden neighborhood of Malmö, Sweden
Size: About 2,070 square feet (about 192 square meters); three bedrooms, two bathrooms
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: Jens Erlandsen and Ann Bülow. Bülow is an economist, while Erlandsen has studied furniture making and today works in furniture design
Location: Rörsjöstaden neighborhood of Malmö, Sweden
Size: About 2,070 square feet (about 192 square meters); three bedrooms, two bathrooms
The apartment overlooks the beautiful St. Paul’s Church, and during the summer months the tree-lined avenue looks like a gorgeous garden that seems to belong to the apartment.
Georg Gustafsson designed the neighborhood, called Rörsjöstaden, in the 1870s, taking as inspiration the work of the Parisian city planner Georges-Eugène Haussmann. This particular house was built in 1902 and designed by Swedish Art Nouveau architect Harald Boklund. He also designed other buildings in Malmö, such as the Lejonet pharmacy, the Trelleborg railway station (both in collaboration with August Lindvall) and the water tower in Pildammsparken (Willowpond Park).
Georg Gustafsson designed the neighborhood, called Rörsjöstaden, in the 1870s, taking as inspiration the work of the Parisian city planner Georges-Eugène Haussmann. This particular house was built in 1902 and designed by Swedish Art Nouveau architect Harald Boklund. He also designed other buildings in Malmö, such as the Lejonet pharmacy, the Trelleborg railway station (both in collaboration with August Lindvall) and the water tower in Pildammsparken (Willowpond Park).
Erlandsen and Bülow combined their styles in the home. “The materials are inspired by Denmark, clearly,” Erlandsen says. “They’re solid materials, not painted but soaped or oiled. Even though we both have Scandinavian taste, we discovered that there are a lot of differences between Danish and Swedish design.”
Adds Bülow: “It can be anything from material to surface treatments, and sometimes we have interesting discussions.” Urban Danes tend to embrace a fully white, minimal and clean-lined design, while Swedes often mix in more rustic, country-style influences, as in the popular Gustavian style.
The dining room, which has a balcony facing the park, contains plenty of examples of Danish taste, such as a dining table from Andersen and the classic CH24 Wishbone chairs by renowned Danish designer Hans J. Wegner, from Carl Hansen & Søn.
The couple are interested in design and have taken courses together in furniture making and upholstery, and they collect items they’ve made or modified themselves. “We have Carl Malmsten furniture that we plan to upholster,” Bülow says. “We learned the traditional and more durable upholstery technique which uses vegetable fiber, horsehair and linen weaves.”
Adds Bülow: “It can be anything from material to surface treatments, and sometimes we have interesting discussions.” Urban Danes tend to embrace a fully white, minimal and clean-lined design, while Swedes often mix in more rustic, country-style influences, as in the popular Gustavian style.
The dining room, which has a balcony facing the park, contains plenty of examples of Danish taste, such as a dining table from Andersen and the classic CH24 Wishbone chairs by renowned Danish designer Hans J. Wegner, from Carl Hansen & Søn.
The couple are interested in design and have taken courses together in furniture making and upholstery, and they collect items they’ve made or modified themselves. “We have Carl Malmsten furniture that we plan to upholster,” Bülow says. “We learned the traditional and more durable upholstery technique which uses vegetable fiber, horsehair and linen weaves.”
All the walls and ceilings of the apartment have been painted with diffusion-open paints ("breathable” paints that let water vapor pass through, preventing moisture damage). “We uncovered the stucco in the ceiling,” Bülow says. “It is an old house that breathes through the walls, so we tried to keep far away from newer, plastic-based paints.” The couple found the paints at Ottosson Färgmakeri in Genarp, outside Lund, where the company mixes its own paints on site, and at Auro.
The dining room features a reading area with two Norrgavel chairs and a coffee table by Malmsten from Tre Sekel. The secretary desk and the curved cabinet are heirlooms from Denmark.
The dining room features a reading area with two Norrgavel chairs and a coffee table by Malmsten from Tre Sekel. The secretary desk and the curved cabinet are heirlooms from Denmark.
“Transparent, cheeky and comfortable” is how Erlandsen describes his favorite piece of furniture, the Circle Chair in bleached ash, also by Wegner. It was purchased from PP Møbler.
The 19th-century sideboard behind the chair is a Swedish heirloom. The dish on the table is the work of Hannah Paradis of Paradisverkstaden.
The 19th-century sideboard behind the chair is a Swedish heirloom. The dish on the table is the work of Hannah Paradis of Paradisverkstaden.
“The couch from the Swedish Norrgavel was probably the first piece of furniture we both fell in love with. It is durable and completely natural,” Erlandsen says. The armchair on the left is a Madsen & Schubel from the 1950s. Erlandsen refinished it and Bülow reupholstered it. Most of the household items, pots and textiles are of Swedish design. The carpets were a compromise: Erlandsen didn’t want any at all, while Bülow can still imagine having many more.
Ceiling lamp: Victo, from Secto; floor lamp: AJ, by Louis Poulsen
Ceiling lamp: Victo, from Secto; floor lamp: AJ, by Louis Poulsen
The living room fireplace provides light and warmth.
The grandfather clock next to the window tagged along to the new apartment because the couple like the color and feel of it. It’s an heirloom that belonged to Bülow’s grandfather, who lived in a great turn-of-the century apartment in Karlshamn, Sweden. The 1950s coffee table was also inherited.
Black armchair: Chieftain, by Finn Juhl; leather chaise lounge: Superspider, by Dux; other chaise lounge: The Deck Chair, PP524, by Hans J. Wegner, from PP Møbler; floor lamp on the right and table lamp on the left window: Le Klint
Black armchair: Chieftain, by Finn Juhl; leather chaise lounge: Superspider, by Dux; other chaise lounge: The Deck Chair, PP524, by Hans J. Wegner, from PP Møbler; floor lamp on the right and table lamp on the left window: Le Klint
Before: The parquet in the living and dining room is original and was still in good condition. However, the floors in the two corridors (the second, internal hallway is pictured here; see floor plan below) were completely ruined. “When we tore them out, we discovered that we had to replace the floor beams, which were ruined and had made the floorboards so uneven,” Bülow says. “So we had to tear out the stone and sand that lay between the beams, and then we had help settling them in place again.”
After: The solid ash floorboards were purchased from PA Savværk in Denmark. They are 1¼ inches thick and about 10 inches wide. The flooring that continues into the kitchen is treated with white oil, which makes for an extra durable surface.
In the entrance hallway, a Gustavian mirror is combined with a clothes rack and chairs from Norrgavel.
An old sewing table has been reduced in size and given new life.
In the entrance hallway, a Gustavian mirror is combined with a clothes rack and chairs from Norrgavel.
An old sewing table has been reduced in size and given new life.
Several doors have been replaced with glass versions, allowing light to pass between the rooms and hallways. Erlandsen and Bülow stored the originals in the attic.
Shelf: Montana; red glass-door cabinet: Norrgavel; painting (facing camera): signed by Beinta av Reyni, a Danish-Faroese artist
Shelf: Montana; red glass-door cabinet: Norrgavel; painting (facing camera): signed by Beinta av Reyni, a Danish-Faroese artist
The second corridor is a serving hall leading to the kitchen. Seven wall-mounted bookshelves adorn it. “I took the floorboards from the kitchen, planed them and glued them together,” Erlandsen says. “We joined the corners with dovetail joints and fastened them to a wall rail so that you can push each bookcase across the wall.”
Flower pot: Trio, Klong
Flower pot: Trio, Klong
Here’s a closer look at the shelf system. The books are sorted by color.
“When we have big parties, we often let the guests walk through the serving hall to get food, which is usually set on the wide kitchen island. Everybody is overjoyed when they arrive at a fantastic buffet and then walk back to the dining room with a filled plate,” Bülow says.
Chair: Camilla, John Kandell for Källemo, Svenssons i Lammhult
“When we have big parties, we often let the guests walk through the serving hall to get food, which is usually set on the wide kitchen island. Everybody is overjoyed when they arrive at a fantastic buffet and then walk back to the dining room with a filled plate,” Bülow says.
Chair: Camilla, John Kandell for Källemo, Svenssons i Lammhult
Before: “The old kitchen was really not a fun place at all. We used to dislike spending any more time than necessary in that room, but now it’s the heart of the home,” Bülow says.
After: The whole kitchen is kind of a personal triumph for the couple. It’s perfect for cooking together and has a real sense of Danish hygge. The couple sketched designs for the kitchen and bathrooms wherever they were when inspiration came, including on napkins at restaurants and in the old kitchen at home. Since they had so many ideas, it took almost eight years from the moment they started until they finally completed the renovation in 2015.
Most of the kitchen cabinetry is from Ikea. “We wanted a white and shiny kitchen, and an Ikea kitchen serves that purpose well. We simply bought their most expensive assortment, and we think it is just right,” Bülow says. Wires and plumbing are hidden behind wooden panels, which also hold light sources that shine onto the walls and floors. Nuanced lighting is also located in niches, shelves, drawers and even in the floor.
Lamp: Unfold, by Form Us With Love for Muuto
Most of the kitchen cabinetry is from Ikea. “We wanted a white and shiny kitchen, and an Ikea kitchen serves that purpose well. We simply bought their most expensive assortment, and we think it is just right,” Bülow says. Wires and plumbing are hidden behind wooden panels, which also hold light sources that shine onto the walls and floors. Nuanced lighting is also located in niches, shelves, drawers and even in the floor.
Lamp: Unfold, by Form Us With Love for Muuto
The pendants in the window are a design by Thomas Sandell.
In the kitchen, a gas stove was replaced with an induction model. That also gave the couple the opportunity to install lighting in the drawers. They focused on creating large work surfaces in the kitchen, as they like to cook together. The countertops, of thermo-treated ash, are from Københavns Listefabrik. The hood, from Cylinda, is flat and doesn’t take up too much space.
Before: The couple knocked the outer layer off a couple of walls in the kitchen to get to the original brick — but it needed some work. “It looked pretty scary at first, with big holes in the brick and bumpy broken bricks,” Bülow says. “So Jens whitewashed the bricks and then brushed them with an abrasive brush so that the pattern would emerge again. To make the walls dirt-repellent, we then washed them with såpa [a Swedish cleaning agent made from pine tree oil] about a dozen times.”
After: A combination of natural and artificial light — reflected beautifully by the finished brick wall — creates bright spaces. Both the wall and the floor are illuminated thanks to wires hidden in the wooden beam overhead. Over the dining table hangs the classic PH5 ceiling lamp by Poul Henningsen for Louis Poulsen.
Table: Nyt i bo; chairs: Lilla Åland’s anniversary edition in oiled oak
Table: Nyt i bo; chairs: Lilla Åland’s anniversary edition in oiled oak
The lighting draws inspiration from Denmark. “There, you seek indirect, warmer light with more emphasis on many low spotlights instead of a sharp ceiling light. Swedes are practical and want to see; Danes look for more of a cozy feeling. This is probably also true for furniture design [in general],” Bülow says.
Here in the kitchen, a Finn Juhl Poet couch is lit by a Grasshopper floor lamp by Greta Grossman for Gubi.
Here in the kitchen, a Finn Juhl Poet couch is lit by a Grasshopper floor lamp by Greta Grossman for Gubi.
The second-floor balcony off the study-guest room faces the courtyard and is protected from the strongest winds by the surrounding buildings.
Desk with limestone top: G.A.D; armchair: Pelican, Finn Juhl;
desk chair: Oxford, Arne Jacobsen (the couple plan to reupholster it)
Desk with limestone top: G.A.D; armchair: Pelican, Finn Juhl;
desk chair: Oxford, Arne Jacobsen (the couple plan to reupholster it)
“We sanded and bleached the floors in the three bedrooms and covered them in white såpa,” Bülow says. “It is easy to keep them beautiful, and they are nice for walking barefoot. Also, they smell so good after we use the såpa.”
Bench with sheepskin: Norrgavel
Bench with sheepskin: Norrgavel
The couple designed the apartment’s two renovated bathrooms themselves. The old bathrooms were last renovated in the 1980s, when the plasterboard on the walls was covered with tiles. This made the spaces a bit more narrow. “We instead tiled directly on the brick and won at least [8 inches] back, while also revealing interesting niches in the walls. This also counteracts moisture damage,” Erlandsen says.
Bathroom cabinetry: Spekva, for Skagerak; wall mirror: Norrgavel
Bathroom cabinetry: Spekva, for Skagerak; wall mirror: Norrgavel
Before the renovation, the small guest bathroom had a plastic floor covering. It was rebuilt into a square bathroom with a spa tub. Lighting was also seen as important in the bathrooms, and there are several sources: spotlights in the ceiling, lighting behind the bathtub and lights on a dimmer in the niches.
This pentagon-shaped bedroom features a restored chair by Wegner. In the attic are more vintage pieces, just waiting for Erlandsen and Bülow to embark on new adventures in furniture design and craft.
Floor plan: From the entrance to the second hallway: entrance hall, bedroom (to the right), living room (left), dining room (left), bathroom (right), entrance to second hallway. On the right of the second hallway: bedroom, bathroom, study-guest room. At end of second hallway: kitchen and open-plan breakfast room.
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So many great ideas. I particularly love the glass doors, what a great concept!
What a beautiful home and collaboration! I see great parties happening here and when home alone so much space and warmth. It's so open yet cozy at the same time. I agree more rugs!