Visual serenity manifests in myriad ways. It can take shape in a sun-dappled kitchen or emerge in the cocoon of a book-lined library. It can flow from a pattern or texture, or from the view through a window from a favorite chair. It can be boldly fashioned, too, as in the black-and-white apartment of real estate consultant and bespoke tea purveyor Anders Höglund.
Situated in a 1911 building in Stockholm’s lively Norrmalm district known for its many shops and home to the Royal Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra concert hall where the Nobel Prize ceremonies take place, the penthouse unit was in a semifinished state when Höglund and his late husband, Lars Peder Hedberg, came upon it. The two took over where the previous owner had left off, keeping the existing layout but tweaking the interiors to suit their tastes. Most notably, they removed an existing staircase, and Lars designed a new one, a scrumptious spiral of white Stucco Lustro with treads covered in brown leather.
In their previous homes, the couple had leaned toward white interiors, but this time, they opted for lots of black with pops of color coming from an Antonio Citterio sofa, a Konsert Lounge Chair designed by Carl Malmsten in 1926 and an Ambassad chair by Mats Theselius. There are Gio Ponti 699 Superleggera chairs in the dining area and a fiberglass Koishi ottoman, designed by Naoto Fukasawa, at the base of the stairs. Every piece in the home, from a Fornasetti cabinet to the small Saarinen Tulip Table at the bedside, contributes to the masterfully measured environment.
Art plays a key role in generating a relaxed yet focused air in the home, too. “Art has always been incredibly important to us, reflecting our travels and the different continents we’ve lived on,” relates Höglund. “We’ve attended art fairs in Basel, Hong Kong, London, New York and Miami, which have been fantastic opportunities to discover new artists and acquire unique pieces. I have even designed an entire room around a specific artwork – Julian Opie’s video piece, “Monique Walking.”
“EACH PIECE NOT ONLY ADDS TO THE AESTHETIC OF OUR HOME,” SHARES HÖGLUND, “BUT ALSO BRINGS BACK MEMORIES OF THE PLACES WE’VE BEEN AND THE PEOPLE WE’VE MET.”
Judiciously arrayed, the collection includes the work of illustrator and artist Mats Gustafson, black-and-white photos by Rotimi Fani- Kayode and examples of Yayoi Kusama’s Soft Pumpkin sculpture. A series of white marble squares created by Ylva Snöfrid runs above the sofa in the living room. A pale, minimalist mixed-media piece by the American-born, Sweden-based painter Clay Ketter hangs in dialogue with Josef Frank’s Vänskapsknuten (the Knot of Friendship) candelabra and a white glass bowl by Ingegerd Råman for Orrefors. “Each piece not only adds to the aesthetic of our home,” shares Höglund, “but also brings back memories of the places we’ve been and the people we’ve met.” And isn’t this what home is all about?
Photography by Johan Sellen.
Styling by Gill Renlund.
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