Someone willing to purchase and renovate a 137-year-old apartment with dilapidated flooring and six layers of wallpaper peeling from the walls is quite rare indeed, but it seems Swedish interior designer Louise Liljencrantz has a knack for seeing past terrifying first impressions. “We already lived in the same building, but in a smaller apartment,” Louise says of her family home in the heart of Stockholm. “When the opportunity for more space in a familiar setting presented itself, we seized it.”
While the property was structurally sound and the original architectural features were intact, the apartment required a face lift and significant renovations to become what it is today: a soothing study in visual serenity, capable of catering to a growing family while being blissfully clutter-free.
A white marble bull head by sculptor Andrzej Danielski takes pride of place in the dining room behind a limestone-topped table Louise found at an auction, and vintage Point chairs by Jonas Bohlin. On the wall is an artwork by Polish artist Luciana Ame.
Her home now has a living room, dining room, three bedrooms, two bathrooms, kitchen and office, all in tranquil shades of white and grey, with grounding accents in black and dark brown, a tonal display that champions texture and contrast over colour. Pale timber parquetry appears throughout the home, while a selection of wood, fur, stone, flax, glass and wool ensures the interior scheme is anything but boring.
Louise has balanced both light and dark elements in the dining room. The dark dining table and black chairs ground the space while the tall twin windows draw the eye upwards, with help from the pendant light. It makes the small space feel lightweight, spacious and functional, rather than cramped and heavy.
Soothing but bold, the restrained palette makes an impact thanks to the clever arrangement of light and dark elements – an effect that very much reflects Louise’s previous experience working in fashion and graphic design; it’s edgy, fresh and contemporary. “The light and the shadows that change throughout the day are what bring the rooms to life,” Louise says. “The most challenging part of the renovation was working within the tonal colour palette – the colours in the textiles, the paint and wallpaper need to work together in all kinds of light,” Louise says.
The living room is a study in white-on-white styling and is warmed up with plenty of texture, including the long-haired Botolo chair from Arflex and the comfy linen sofa. The white abstract artwork on the wall is by French artist Julian Arnaud and the glass coffee table is by Paolo Piva for B&B Italia. Sheer curtains soften the monochrome scheme. Still life Artworks and sculptural objects fill Louise Liljencrantz’s home.
Sophisticated, minimal and warm, the house offers a gallery-like experience to its occupants. Stark white sculptures sit upon sleek surfaces, while lamps, vessels and vases with striking silhouettes fill the negative spaces in-between. The visual harmony of the home is never uninterrupted, each room flowing effortlessly into the next. “Art helps create the magic of a home,” Louise says. “Without art, home wouldn’t feel like home at all.”
A Sputnik pendant with gold detailing hangs from the ceiling in the master bedroom and ties neatly into the gold curtain rods. A vintage artwork Louise found at a French flea market serendipitously reflects its monochrome surrounds.
how to make monochrome magic at home
Ensure an even spread of both light and dark elements throughout every space, using heavy pieces to ground large, bright rooms.
Create contrast with texture rather than colour by selecting furniture made from different materials like leather, stone, timber and glass.
Use artworks and sculptural objects to make all-white interiors feel less clinical and more like a curated home gallery experience.
Avoid a room that feels stark or bare by layering your soft furnishing to create a warm and comforting space that welcomes you.
A plush rug sourced from Knut Matter anchors the living room and provides the perfect blank canvas to showcase the classic wooden stools by Charlotte Perriand for Cassina and the side table Louise designed herself, in collaboration with KFK Master Cabinet Makers. The large black vase is by Tore Landin.
