Houzz Tour: Sweetness and Light in a Swedish Family Home

olldbobbi This doesn't look like 1,120 sq ft! Good furniture choices and decor makes it look twice that size. I love all of it, but my favorite is the colors in the small family room. Good job!

Becky Harris What a wonderful home - it brightened up this rainy day we're having here in Atlanta. I especially love that clever use of LEGOs.

nisro Very comfy and warm.. It inspired me alot !

sfnest I love the splashes of bright wallpaper here and there in this house.

sanflan I don't like it at all sorry

Ivanna Yavorenko Ha, what the heck is with people feeling obligated to comment when they dislike the home? It's a home! Do you walk into a friend's house and tell him/her you hate it there as well? Rude.

Ivanna Yavorenko When no one asks for an opinion, and you have different taste from someone who happens to have decorated his/her home and clearly love it, keep your negativity to yourself. There is a difference between critiquing something that needs your approval and telling someone who never asked you that you don't like his/her style. If a stranger walked up to you and told you they don't like your outfit, would you thank them for being honest and think them polite? Ffff no, keep that negativity to yourself.

wohntraum I love this home, it's so nice and a very good place for a family!

Anna Wright It's totally ok to comment if you don't like it. Just have in mind that the person who live there might read your comment. ;) Have a great day! /Anna Wright

Ann Smitt I love all the light and space in the Wright Home. What a novelty to see all the children sharing a room and it looks lovely, colorful and spacious. In the USA too many children have their own rooms, a pity, how will they learn to share or bond with their siblings.

appytrails Regarding "negative" comments.... my impression of what this site is all about is the sharing of different styles, tastes, and takes on what's shared on this site. I believe that what's posted here is meant to be discussed, and if only positive comments are welcomed, readers will get a skewed sense of what others like and dislike.I appreciate hearing from everyone, with different points of view, and would not want anyone to feel censored because they're not bringing "warm fuzzies" to the table.
The very act of posting articles and photos on this site with a venue for comments IS, by design, asking for people's opinions and feedback. This was also created and assembled by a staff writer, not a private person asking for help, which I also feel allows for a more generalized comment such as "I don't like it at all, sorry." without seeming rude... at least IMHO.

ckbluff I'm with sanflan and esmith59 on this one. sanflan was not in fact rude about the property, simply stated that he/she did not like it and even added a 'sorry'. And esmith makes the correct point that this is a decorating site, where the presenters and contributors presumably require feedback as to what their viewers / followers like and do not like to see, otherwise how would they keep the site filled with the styles and trends that keep bringing us back for more? As for the house itself: I liked its fresh, clean lines and lightness, but found the decor rather bland and unexciting. However, what I DID like was that the photography here was mercifully un-photoshopped and very natural, unlike far too many of the photographs of mansions with surreal colours & settings, fake twilights and manicured appearances. These properties just end up looking like fake stage-sets full of perfect props, not desirable HOMEs at all. Anyway, that's my tuppeny-ha'penny's worth added to the debate :)

migcote It is missing focal points with a bit too much "stuff". Got a great foundation if you would remove some of the small things and add a few larger bolder colored items to tie it all in.

Ann Sandler Love it! Love the crisp white and the personality spread though out. The wall paper in the dining is fantastic. Really great that you have added smalls everywhere that you love. You have every right to be proud of this home!

pinarsavas This house is a good example for the people (especially Americans) who lives in places as big as a football stadium! Five people lives in 104 sq meter comfortably and obviously happily. Nice, bright house.
And Saflan, I personally would like to learn why you did not like it? Your comment does no give us any opinion, any idea, does not make us to reflect about anything. OK, now many people knows that you did not like it, and of course you do not have to like it, but I would like to know why? It is not nice to post a negative comment without further explanation. Here, we share our ideas, but what you do is not sharing. For example, I did not like the Seattle house of last week because for my taste it was too big, to sterile, not cozy etc. Why you did not like this house? Can you please share with us?

patricia beharry everybody take a deep breath.

donnawb I think that house is so cute and could live there with no problem. Love the wallpapers. Great job.

luluweezie It's lovely; a real tribute to how well Ikea can actually work in the real world.

lovemykids Great use of space, especially for a family of 5 and two dogs!
I have to laugh at all the banter back and forth. This is the first I have posted in a while do to a rude commenter commenting on my comment. I left a positive and negative feedback for a picture. One of the other commenters that was in love with the picture did not like anyones negative feedback and proceeded to let you know. She even mocked my user name when she felt the need to scold me.
When a picture is posted, people know that it will receive positive and negative reviews. We all like different things. Good thing or this would be a boring world. For those who leave a positive review - Thank You! For those who leave a negative review - Thank you! Just don't be harsh. Remember these are peoples opinions so what does it matter if you like it and someone else doesn't. You can't go through life holding everyone's hand and trying not to offend them. Why don't we stick to commenting on the pictures and not on everyone else's comment. Isn't that what the comment section is for?

crzak I love the Lego container. Your home looks very inviting. Thanks for posting it.

solangeray I have't been to Sweden, but I assume you want to try to get all the light that you can into your house and I believe that's just what they did here, by using a lot of white even for the curtains. I also like the bright colors they used in little artifacts.
If they don't like the feel of being in a showcase, I would change the placing of the one chair and all those different pictures and stuff on that one wall in the living room.
I looove the digital clock on the dining room wall. Where can a buy one?

patricia beharry I also was lectured to by someone a few weeks ago, and called rude when that was not my intention. I am a type A personality, and was going to have a go at them, but somehow decided to wait 24 hours. It helped. Better judgement prevailed, responses to my comment was overwhelmingly favourable, proving I was correct. i turned out to be the bigger person by not going down to a low level.

suedouvan The look is fresh - so different from the "standard." Please let us know where you purchased the white "ladder-stool" at the kitchen. I love it!

suedouvan oops.... sorry, no need to explain about the "ladder" -- thanks for the tag -- it's actually a unique highchair.

foofoo1960 I like this home, and while I might add even a bit more color, I love the room with the orange couch. I've been to Sweden and this is quite typical of their decor.

Regarding comments, I think that anyone who posts their home on this site is likely familiar with process and prepared to take some nays with the yeahs. When I renovated my home I said I wanted to do it in such a way that if 100 people said they hated it, I couldn't care less, because I loved it so much. Let's be fascinated by our differences, rather than offended. It seems lately that posts are becoming more about critiquing the comments, rather than the home.

nanettebramwell It looks like people actually live in this home! Yea, for letting the kids' room be a REAL room

maxmackenzie Love it! (Darn Europeans make it all look so effortless!) My favorite part ... the banners hanging playfully from the ceiling in the kids' room. How cheery! It has inspired me to get out my sewing machine and do a similar thing in garish NFL fabric in my son's room. It won't be as cute, but he will greatly appreciate that!! The Lego thing is also beyond brilliant! Who thinks of stuff like that!?!?!?! That would also work in a kids room to hold some of his/her stuff on his/her desk!! Oooh now I might be building with Lego's after I sew....

Undeniably "comments" are ruining the beauty of Houzz. No value added, is of no value. It is a sad state of affairs, our love affair with negativity for negativity's sake. I turned off all comments on Houzz and now it is an enjoyable site again!!

Your New Home LLC As I look at this home, I have to remind myself that Stockholm boasts real estate prices north of NYC and Tokyo. So the folks that live here are likely well to do (i can assume, but who knows?). However, there is no pretense in their interior design style and I found that to be the case all over Sweden. I think decadence is frowned upon because of the social/political landscape there so home decor there is confusing to us yanks. Can you imagine an investment banker in NY decorating a home like this? It's refreshing! I really enjoy the international homes featured on this site.

olldroo If I were walking down the street and someone told me they didn't like my outfit, I would genuinely be interested in knowing why - what do they see that I missed or has my mirror lied to me.

Similarly, if my home were featured here, I would definitely want opinions good or bad. Maybe some people are so happy with their home and decor that they just want people to tell them how wonderful it all is, but I would bet MOST people would welcome CONSTRUCTIVE criticism, after all, isn't that how we grow and learn. Input gives you something to consider, could you do it better, could it be more practical, is more/less colour needed. Readers are taking ideas here to use in their own homes, many possibly design challenged, so the constructive criticism is also of benefit to them to widen their options and choices.

Quite frankly, writing "I love it" is just as banal as "I don't like it", there is no discussion, no input. I have seen many homes here I just can't take to at all, but I can always find some small detail that I can take from it. Even a negative can be just as useful to someone - if you see something you definitely don't like, then you know it is something you don't want for your home and can look for other options. Discussion on details is what helps others with their designing and decorating, it is just a matter of being polite about it - remember it is not what you say, it is how you say it.

Whitney F Fresh. I get the white and bright color scheme given Stockholm's cloudy days. I love that they were bold enough to break up the large open space with a wall. (I need to do that in my great room). The design is very thoughtful in that it takes into consideration the fact there are three young children living there. Easy clean up surfaces are important. I particularly love the details - especially the little stuffed hearts used as key chains on the Ikea lockers. Very personal spaces that say "a family lives here".

Mackenzie Austin Design I love seeing small spaces work for families...inspiring!

sanflan Pinarsavas you asked why I don't like it so I've had a think about that a basicly I find it too old fashioned for my taste
Didn't like the wallpaper and those dineing room chairs remind me of the chairs in the doctors waiting room back in the 70s
I was trying to look for something that I did like just to be fair but seriously I didn't like anything about it and hated the Lego thing
Im usually blown away by all the lovely images on houzz and this didn't live up to what I'm used to seeing on this website
I wouldn't dream of telling a friend I didn't like there house/clothes
That's just insensitive but this is a interiors sure with comments and I gave my opinion and don't understand why some people take it so personally
I love the houzz website but I don't like this house and that's my personal opinion
Anna I didn't mean too offend you and I must say your home is very clean and spacious but just not my personsl taste so don't let my opinion mean anything too you do long as your happy in your home thats the main thing :)

Design For Less It must be a Scandinavian thing- I'm working with repeat clients who have 3 little girls and they want bunkbeds for them to also share the same room- all 9 x 13 of it! Love the fun punches of color throughout- very cute home

pinarsavas Thank u for your reply. It is really good to hear what u think.

gknee The kitchen is crying out for an island.

kaz2 I'm loving this site, There are so many great ideas. I get so much out of it. Even if I may not like something, there will often be something else in the pictures or in the text that I can learn from. This article is great and I love how they have decorated their home.
I also live in a place that it is common to have smaller homes. At the present we are building one that is 127 sq m, to me that's huge but to many here that's small.
I think I'd be a little scared to show our home here once it's finished as I won't have the money to have the right items of furniture in it. I'll just have to work with what I've got and what is in my budget.

foofoo1960 I love many things about this home. The wall between the kitchen and dining area is brilliant. Since the opening beside the wall is floor to ceiling, and very wide, it doesn't close off the space, and creates a spot for additional furniture or possibly art. The space is well organized, very bright and light. The orange wall paper and the couch are very cheery...the outside door is a bonus. I was in Sweden over 25 years ago and when I renovated my own house last year I was torn between a few styles that I liked. One of them I called 'the clean Swedish look' that I found so refreshing when I visited there.

I love the wide open kitchen, rather than the standard island that everyone puts in today (including me). While I would appreciate the function of an island, there is something visually appealing about this wide open kitchen.

Well done.

venitta4j hi i loved the way this house is done but my space is smaller at 2600 sq ft so please help.

venitta4j hey my earlier comment is inappropriate since i have a 2600 sq ft place but it doen't look as big as this house does .

trasgorshek There are so many sweet elements in this home. A few of my favorites: wallpaper choices, light over dining table and the darling Lego box...too cute (an idea I will be copying for my sons room...thank you). And the children's room is precious!

Caterina Eltze suedouvan: Those Stokke Trip Trap highchairs ( and their knock-offs) are amazing! We had/have them in natural wood and my twins used them from the time they could sit at a table until they were 12! You can adjust the height of the seat and the footrest, so they "grow" with the child.

I like the happy vibe this house emits!

sigic I also love the Lego container. I have already asked my kids to make us one!! : ). I think everyones opinons count - negative or not. I would like to know what people think, that is why I love this site!

bondiskey It is a nice house and large for a big city. It is not in my taste for decorations, but it has a character for you and your family (I would guess). I like your ideas on getting items that have "soul". Me and my husband love to hit a few yardsales here and there to find decor for the house.

davisbj In regard to negative comments, it all depends on how it's said.
Personally, I think the house has lots of great ideas. I might need to rethink shopping at Ikea!

tammis This house is very clean and spacious but for me it's like looking back in time. I don't find anything really appealing other than the kids room, I find them cheery and cute but the rest just seems like I walked into my gramma's house...she's 94 :)

dakhalife Very warm house. I'm sure the 3 kids have a blast in their bed room . it is so fresh and light. bravo to you.

j0dy The legos container in the kitchen made me smile :) What a cleaver idea! Never would have thought of that. Great idea! Thanks for sharing.

olldroo LOL Tammis, my mum would be 95 by now and this style of furniture was what I grew up with.

I have noticed over the years that Scandanavian furniture is its own timeless style and is that really a bad thing?? I would have difficulty going back to what I grew up with, but to buy furniture and to know it will still be in fashion when it is worn out would be reassuring. There would be no keeping up with the Jones' updating all the time, waste would be reduced, husbands would probably be happier and think of the fun things you could do with the money or the extra free time not having to work so hard. I would also find it boring but then accessorising could change the whole appearance of a room and accessorising is far more of a decorating challenge with very "feel good" satisfying results. There are a lot of pros and cons here - just depends on what you can live with.

Your New Home LLC - your point is very valid and one well worth a lot of thought. Do we have our priorities wrong??? Is there really that much happiness to be found in a fancy piece of furniture???

Faranak Peart Its a lovely bright place!
If only they would bulid housesses with windows as big as these in UK!
It looks like the wall that goes round this place is mainley made of Glass.I love it.
I am a great beliver in the fact that you do not have to spend much money to decoreaet a place!
The sittingroom is lacking someting! Sometimes by moving few things around you can make the room even better than it is .
Ikea is a great place to shop from if you don't have much money.Thats where i went to when i needed to get a sitting room toghter in short time with little money and you know what every body loves my sitting room but deep downe i don't.
Thats why i spend more time in my bedroom where i spend little more money and Ikea still came to my rescue when it came to buying a bed.
Why not buy from flea market and things that have souls! But those chairs! They do not refelect any love ,infact i think people were sitting round a big horibal table for some sort of office meeting bord out of thier heads! Sorry that what they say to me.May be a diffrent colour table cloth would give the dining room area more love and the greay rug under the table !!!!Please change it!Agine it reminds me of an office!
I am not a wall paper person and am getting sick of it!Every where now every where.One stayl of wall paper that i like is the USA old country home stayl.
And i would take the photosa of the Ikea cd storge ..........!
The Hallway is my favirot place.Its beautiful it works.
I hope no one would have a go at me now for shareing what i have said!!!!!!
Why haven't you shared the master bedroom?!
All toghter you are lucky to live in such bright (Big windows) Place.
I wish you happy life in this lovely home.
Love
P.S
Love the lego box :)

Anna Wright Wow! Look at all the comments! It's amazing. I'm so impressed that you all are so engaged in my family's home. :) We have lots of stuff from the "granny era" - just because I love both the style and to recycle. I don't want to live in a museum that's why we mix it with Ikea and lego.

@solangeray The clock is from Habitat http://www.habitat.co.uk/flap-large-analogue-wall-clock/clocks//fcp-product/26485

@suedovan The chair is a Stokke Tripp trapp and it's worth every penny. I've had it for 7 years and the kids love it. http://www.stokke.com/en-se/highchair/tripp-trapp-product-concept.aspx

@sanflan No, I'm not offended - I was just a bit surprised how thing's work on American sites. I'm quite new to Houzz and just expected that you could inspire people (or show them what NOT to do ;)). You all seem like honest people and a I like it.

Btw, we sold this flat last week and are moving to a house nearby built in 1953. I hope we can post our new home soon on Houzz. And the style is going to be "colorful granny"!

Take care everyone!

Love from sunny Sweden!

olldroo Groovy granny can't wait to meet Colourful granny.

sanflan Wish you all the best in your new house
Hope you and your family have many happy years there

lzeleny Groovygranny's post was perfect on the topic of negative comments. I also personally did not like the home. I don't have children and it's a bit too perky and Ikea like for me. Even with the bright and white, the spaces felt too closed in. Also just too much clutter for my personal style. I have 900 sq feet to work with so am interested in what people do with smaller spaces. I looked closely at this and saw style and design I was not interested in. Now I know a few more things that I don't want. Thanks to Houzz....that why I spend time here. (oh, and completely agree with the kitchen island comment!)