This Designer’s Soft Pink Stockholm House Turns Traditional Nordic Design On Its Head

By Eva Morell

Photography by Max Rommel

Swedish design is often seen as synonymous with elegance, minimalism, and muted colors. The esprit of the Nordic countries, which have brought us hygge, IKEA, and lagom, is often expressed in materials like walnut and naturally dyed fabrics. Yet, there is still room for color, extravagance, and contrast in this world of natural colors, and this villa on the outskirts of Stockholm explores that full range of possibility. When the multidisciplinary designer Luca Nichetto asked himself if he could really live in a pink house outside Stockholm, he didn't hesitate for long. He seized the chance to call the Pink Villa, a classic Swedish wooden house, his home. Ringed by a garden and topped by a gable roof, it reflects the typical architecture of Nordic buildings of its period.

A large blue couch separates the living area from the dining space.

Once Luca took ownership, his aim was to preserve the 1945-built pink house as fully as possible in both its structure and form, while breaking away from any predictable Swedish design choices in the interior. He completely redesigned the inside by moving the bedrooms and reinterpreting the use of each room, while connecting spaces through color and furnishings. The house also serves as a studio for Luca, with select living areas converted into an office, a meeting room, and work area.

On the ground floor, connected to the kitchen, a large lounge has views of the garden and the neighborhood. The stairway's unexpected color adds another element of intrigue to the open living space. To offer a separate guest space, Luca converted the garage with a palette of pale woods and an abundance of natural light, leaving it with an energy that evokes the feeling of a Nordic cabin.

The home has a more formal dining space along with a breakfast nook area in the kitchen.

The real surprise comes in the use of color and the contrast of design styles. As you ascend from the ground floor to the second floor, you move from a bright and colorful world to a more purely Nordic style, with wood and light colors in the bedrooms and studio, much like the guest suite. Mid-1950s design is ever-present as an inspiration, as seen in the Banah sofa, one of Luca's own designs, in an intense cobalt blue. In fact, a good majority of the furniture, decorative elements, and lamps in the villa were designed by Luca himself. That aforementioned sofa was created for Arflex and he did the yellow coffee table for La Chance, while the armchair in the corner of the living space and its accompanying floor lamp were made with Hem.

The office space is decorated with just as much creativity.

This story was first published by AD Spain.

An exterior shot of the soft pink home.

The house draws on a wide palette of colors and tones.

The colorful stairway is a break from the muted style typically characteristic of Swedish interiors.

Luca went for a 1950s-inspired color palette in the kitchen.

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The house also serves as the homeowner's studio.

Most of the furnishings were designed by Luca.

The more restrained studio is found on the upper floor.

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Spaces are connected through the use of light and furniture.

Contrast unites every space in this Stockholm house.

The living area is adjoined by a spacious deck.

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The dwelling is just a mile from the sea.

When it was time to convert the garage into a guest space, the inspiration came from Nordic cabins.

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