Eclectic Global Style in a Swedish Village
Patterned walls, exotic furniture and vintage touches gave this
midcentury Swedish home a new life for a family of six. Cat and James
Brewis moved from London to Sweden more than 10 years ago and
immediately started searching for a house outside of Uppsala, Sweden.
The couple, who had previously lived in France and Indonesia, wanted a
blank slate to fill with their eclectic furniture and infuse with their
playful style. "We found this scruffy little house with beautiful
surroundings," says Cat. "It had no competition on bidding! I hated the
ugly house, but James saw great potential. Today we love it."
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: Cat Brewis and 4 sons; husband James currently lives and works in Indonesia
Location: Marielund, Sweden
Size: 2,260 square feet
That's interesting: A dining room cabinet is made of wood from a sunken battleship.
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: Cat Brewis and 4 sons; husband James currently lives and works in Indonesia
Location: Marielund, Sweden
Size: 2,260 square feet
That's interesting: A dining room cabinet is made of wood from a sunken battleship.
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The Brewis' home is set in the
small, idyllic village of Marielund. This lakeside locale has only about
70 other houses and was originally a summer vacation spot for shop
owners in Uppsala. Most of the homes were built in the beginning of the
20th century, and Cat wanted to make sure that her home's architecture
reflected that style. "The goal was to make it fit in with the existing
houses in the beginning of the 20th century, but in an original way,"
she says.
Wallpaper, curtains: Designers Guild |
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James left much of the decorating
up to Cat, so she chose the majority of the fabrics and wall coverings
for their home. They already had most of their furniture from previous
homes, and Cat incorporated a mix of French, Indonesian, Swedish and
British pieces.
Couch: Mio; rug: Ikea; coffee table, bench: teak from Bali |
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The unique fireplace is an old-fashioned tile stove — kakelugn
in Swedish — that Cat and James nabbed from a neighbor's house and had
refinished. Brick stones inside the stove are heated by the fire and
retain heat long enough to keep the house warm for the day. The house
originally had one (they found the ruins in their garden), but it had
been removed years before and replaced with more modern heaters.
Wallpaper: Designers Guild |
Cat and James' first real home
together was in Jakarta, Indonesia, so much of their furniture is
Indonesian. This beautiful sideboard was made by one of the couple's
friends in Bali.
Sideboard: Papipoto
Sideboard: Papipoto
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The bright and open dining room
has a mix of textures and treatments for a warm effect. The cabinet in
the corner is made out of old oak pieces from an 18th-century Swedish
battleship. The ship sank just outside of Cat's hometown, and many of
these oak pieces — blackened by salt water — were bought by a local
carpenter.
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The dining chairs are all old Dutch antiques that the couple found in Jakarta. Cat had them painted and distressed.
Rug: The Conran Store; chairs, table: Indonesia
Rug: The Conran Store; chairs, table: Indonesia
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The kitchen is Cat's favorite
space in the house — the room's access to the dining room, living room
and garden means she can cook and keep an eye on the children while they
play or do homework.
Bench: Indonesia; wallpaper: Designers Guild |
Cat outfitted her kitchen all with
pieces from Ikea. She was able to customize the oak countertops and
simple white cabinetry in the exact style and layout that she wanted.
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With four young boys, durability
and storage were the most important priorities, but Cat also wanted a
clean and simple design that would work with the home's architecture.
Countertops, cabinetry, shelving, bar stools: Ikea; range and hood: Miele |
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When the family moved in, the home
was still outfitted with its original, terribly outdated kitchen. After
a year of living with broken-down appliances, Cat completely renovated
the bottom floor of the house. Five years and two more children later,
the family ran out of room and did another renovation to extend the
living space.
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