A Serene Retreat

German couple Dagmar and Dieter Stausberg-Neumann have traveled widely in Asia since the 1970s, but it's Bali that has become their favorite place in the world. After becoming close friends with a Balinese family, they decided to build their own home on the island, where they could spend their holidays and eventually live full time, too. And though their villa is fitted out with modern conveniences, they took care to preserve the look of traditional Balinese architecture, too. The result is a strikingly serene and comfortable home to live in — a true little paradise. More photos and info here on mixr.


(photography by Johanna Hopkins)

Seaside Haven

This old 1920s beach guesthouse in Nyhamnsläge, a quiet fishing village, once belonged to the artist Stig Carlsson, who used it as a studio away from the main house where he lived — the striking wall of ceramic art tiles is his work. The house went up for sale in 2008, but Ylva, a nurse, and Lars, an antique dealer, had spotted it before then — they loved the location but hesitated about buying as it was badly run down. But after discovering that others looking at the property just wanted the land, planning on tearing down the house and building apartments, they made their decision. One year later the family moved in. Now they're enjoying watching their home slowly evolve, adding a piece of vintage furniture here, a work by a local artist there. They're also relishing living by the water — most mornings start with a swim in the sea, and they've recently purchased a boat, stored at a local marina. It's an idyllic home — and well worth the leap of faith they took two years ago. More photos and details (in Swedish) here on mixr.se.


(photography by Anna Kern)

A Happy Blend

Victoria and Jonathan were at first a bit apprehensive about moving into their present home as it previously housed two generations of the Beckmans, the famous Swedish design family (and founders of the Beckman Design College). They were not only aware of its history (Victoria actually attended the College for a while), but the bold use of colour they found there was outside their comfort zone — Victoria describes it as a real "hippy house" before they moved in. Interestingly, when they began to renovate they discovered that the earlier Beckman generation shared a similar aesthetic to their own — Victoria loves black and white, and they found black stained wood floors under the beige parquet flooring installed in the 1970s. Now their home is a serene blend of old and new — but above all a comfortable family home. More here from mixr.

(photography by Patrick Miller)

A Work of Art

As a child, the painter Tove Mauritzson lived in the Swedish countryside outside Malmö before her family moved to a village on the coast. As an adult, she lived in big cities like Stockholm and Edinburgh, but when her art studies were completed it was to southern Sweden, with its memories of an idyllic and free childhood, that she returned. Eventually she settled into a large apartment in Svarta with the light and space she sought as an artist. The building is one of a series of austere and minimalist two-storey townhouses designed by the Danish architectural firm Vandkunsten, but inside Tove's home the mood is anything but severe, with its cheerful flea market finds, family heirlooms (including a stuffed owl that appears in a painting by Tove Mauritz's grandmother) and of course her brilliantly coloured art. Filling each room with colour and personality, her paintings also reflect her surroundings — the china dogs in the bedrooms appear in several of Tove's works, while a woven fabric with British equestrian motifs used on chairs around her home decorates lamp shades and furniture in painted form too. Animals also play a big part in her life — Tove's dogs Lulu and Signe keep her company when she paints (and serve as models, too). Now, as she awaits the birth of her first child, she continues to paint these themes but says that she now plans to paint people, too — Tove wants to do a family portrait when the baby is born. More here on mixr.se.


(photography by Sara Svenningsrud)

Simple Pleasures

Hand written letters — so lovely to receive in the mailbox instead of the usual bills.


(lovely photo by Justin Patrick for mixr.se)

Swedish Beauty

When I first saw the stunning home of Marie Olsson Nylander and her husband Bill, I was overwhelmed with just how lovely it all is — it's such a mix of pieces from all kinds of different countries and eras, and yet it comes together in a beautiful and harmonious whole. So inspiring. You can read a great indepth article (in Swedish) and see more gorgeous photos here, too. Via mixr.se.


(photography by Sara Svenningrud)