In an Art Nouveau house built in 1905, located on the historic island of Södermalm in Stockholm, Simon Said and his girlfriend Hedda have created their dream home.
“It’s a never-ending project, but we’ve really put our hearts into restoring the apartment to its former glory,” says Simon.
Having moved in just eighteen months ago, the couple see the renovation as an ongoing journey – a never-ending project, as Simon describes it.
Restoring the Soul of the Apartment
Beautiful wooden floors, spacious rooms, high ceilings and tiled stoves – the apartment is a classical turn-of-the-century home in the Swedish capital.
“Sadly, several of the previous owners had tried to erase the original character of the home: removing tiled stoves, tearing down wall panels and painting the wooden floors white. So the very first thing we did was to buy an antique tiled stove and place it where the old one used to stand.”
Simon describes their wish to give the apartment back its original soul.
“It might sound pretentious, but that’s exactly what we’re aiming for.”
The aim of the renovation is to bring back the apartment’s soul and original character.
Colours, Details and Favourite Rooms
The couple have called this place their home for a year and a half – and they’ve been renovating it for just as long.
“It’s a cliché, but are you ever really done with a renovation? It’s been fun but also exhausting. We can’t wait to finally enjoy everything we’ve created.”
Which room do you love the most?
“I absolutely love the kitchen. It comes from Kulladal, which creates turn-of-the-century style carpentry kitchens. My girlfriend is behind the functional, homely and elegant design. It’s everything we’ve been dreaming of. Hedda has a great eye for detail, so it was a wise decision to step aside and let her take the lead.”
The kitchen, crafted in a timeless style, is by Swedish maker Kulladal.
The couple decided early on that each room should have its own colour palette. The living room has a warm beige tone, while the three bedrooms are painted pink, light green and ice blue.
“The colours make decorating so much more fun. They really give each room its own character.”
Over the years, many of the apartment’s original features had disappeared. To restore its sense of heritage, Simon and Hedda installed a century-old tiled stove in the very spot where one once stood.
Design Dreams and Inspirations
One of Simon’s favourite auction finds is the dining table – a 1940s piece made of teak from NK.
“I love that it’s large and has patina. And the fact that it was cheap makes me even happier, haha!”
But the item Simon most often looks for at auctions is art.
“I’m always surprised by the range of paintings you can find. Besides looking for colourful pieces, I also enjoy discovering artworks with beautiful frames.”
One of Simon’s finest auction finds is the 1940s teak dining table. Foto: Fabian Wester
What’s your dream piece of furniture?
“If I had a lot of money, I’d get Josef Frank’s ‘Tyresöbyrån’. That bureau is a piece of art – true craftsmanship and design perfection. But for now, I’ll just keep dreaming … we’re out of money,” he laughs.
A more modern element in the décor is a green USM sideboard, serving as a TV stand in the living room.
“It gives the room a bit more colour and a sharper expression, in contrast to the otherwise soft and warm atmosphere. I’ll never get rid of it.”
The living room features several design classics, including Arne Jacobsen’s Grand Prix in a desk chair version and Marcel Breuer’s Wassily Lounge Chair.
Which designers inspire you the most?
“Josef Frank – his designs are always playful and he never followed the rules. I also admire Greta Magnusson-Grossman’s creations. She was ahead of her time, a true visionary. Her work will live on forever and always find its place in different kinds of homes.”
Photo: Pierre Björk / Länna Möbler
Discover more of Simon’s home over on his Instagram @simonsaids
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