Anna and Jonas Lindeberg had long dreamt of finding an old house they could lovingly restore and relocate to a place that had been decided years earlier – Stora Tyttorp, just outside Linköping in Sweden, where Anna grew up.
“But moving a large, historic house turned out to be far more complicated than we imagined. After countless viewings, a seed was planted – could we recreate an old house from the ground up? We became fascinated by the idea of designing our own home, while staying true to traditional building methods as much as possible.”
Six years passed from the architect’s first sketch before the family could finally step across the threshold of their new home.
It took six years from the very first architect’s sketch to moving in. Much remains to be done, and on their Instagram account @storatyttorp you can follow the couple’s ongoing journey towards their dream home. Every detail has been considered – from hand-forged nails to antique locks and original fittings.
“We’ve spent countless hours on the tiniest details, but those are what give the house its authentic feel.”
A beautiful old cast-iron stove has been carefully renovated and now takes pride of place in the family kitchen.
The Kitchen – the Heart of the Home
The kitchen is where the family spends most of their time together, and Anna and Jonas have invested immense care into its design. The hand-planed cabinets are inspired by the 18th-century Swedish gem Svindersvik, the colour palette is a muted antique pink, and here a restored cast-iron stove blends seamlessly with discreetly integrated modern appliances.
The couple have spent countless hours designing the kitchen — now the heart of the home, and the place where the family gathers most.
“Of course, the kitchen is completely new, but our ambition was to make it feel as though it had evolved over generations, with each one leaving its mark. We even imagined that there might once have been an extra cupboard where the gas cooker now stands – a cupboard removed when a modern stove was brought in. Sometimes I almost believe those stories myself.”
Most of the furniture was acquired at auction, with many pieces carefully restored before finally finding their place in the home.
Treasures Unearthed at Auction
Furnishing is a process that takes time. Many walls are still bare, and several pieces are waiting in boxes for their rightful place, but a few have already settled in. In the main room stands a Gustavian dining table with a marbled, paint-flecked top – large enough for more than 20 guests.
“We found it on Auctionet before we even began building the house – a real find!”
Older paintings share the space with flowers from the garden, left hanging to dry.
That Gustavian table is just one of many auction discoveries that have found a home at Stora Tyttorp. In the guest room stands a late Gustavian secrétaire with beautiful patina and countless drawers, while in the kitchen entrance an old archive cabinet has been repaired, sanded, built into the wall and now serves as storage for the children’s hats and shoes. In the entrance hall, a wrought-iron ceiling lamp with hand-blown glass – bought for just 24 pounds – glows again after a polish and some new wiring. Upstairs, an Oscarian chandelier was hung long before the room had its skirting boards and hand-printed wallpaper.
The couple secured the kitchen bench at auction — a piece once said to have belonged to Nils Strinning, the designer behind the iconic String shelving system.
“That’s how it works at our place. When something we love comes up at auction, we grab it – even if it’s not top priority. Because the things you’re actively searching for, you never seem to find.”
At the top of their wish list right now are 18th- and 19th-century benches that Anna and Jonas hope to place in the entrance hall and their music room. But they never search for pieces by a particular designer.
“No, we’ve never been hung up on names when it comes to interiors. Antique furniture is often unsigned, and for us the craft is what matters – pieces shaped by human hands. We love them a little wonky, with quirks and imperfections – just like us.”
Follow @storatyttorp for a glimpse into the couple’s journey towards their dream home.
Get the Style
Explore Anna’s favourite auction finds on Auctionet.
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