No.8
Simple, pared-back Scandi chic and lots of glazing delivered a gorgeous bright and breezy look to designer Valerie Aflalo’s home
DINING AREA
‘We have a very large dining table so that we can enjoy the view with friends over lunch,’ says Valerie. ‘The beams were painted white to maximise the light.’
Bermuda table and Pia Wallen rug, Asplund. Light, Roll &Hill. Wishbone chairs, Hans J. Wegner
KITCHEN
‘We extended this area of the house by 15 square metres because we love to cook and entertain,’ says Valerie.
Framed print by Dan Isaac Wallin. Bar stools; pendant lights, Länna Möbler. Wooden floor, Tarkett
Bright and breezy and nestling in a garden of fruit trees, an earthly paradise of a family home has been created by designer Valerie Aflalo and her husband Johan just south of Stockholm. ‘We had three kids and decided it was time to move out of the city,’ says Valerie, who is mother to Nicoletta, 16, Bianca, 10 and Leonie, seven. The former Miss Sweden runs fashion brand Valerie – a favourite with Crown Princess Victoria and her sister Princess Sofia – from her studio and store in Stockholm. She also has an Instagram site (@valerie_aflalo). ‘I was longing for a garden with flowers and apple trees and wanted to find a peaceful place, where our children could play outside and I could recharge at the end of a busy day.’
The light and airy Scandi-chic interiors are a world away from the tired property the couple purchased. ‘We bought a house that nobody wanted,’ says Valerie. ‘It was yellow and brown with tiny rooms and windows, so we tore it down pretty much and started again.’ The couple were very clear about the kind of house they wanted to create. ‘I desired a stylish oasis, where I could find tranquillity in natural surroundings,’ says Valerie. ‘Something modern and minimalistic, but still warm and homely.’ Central to the vision were the expansive metal-framed doors and windows, which open up the space and flood every corner with light. ‘We built the house around the windows,’ explains Valerie, who says the total renovation took a year-and-a-half. ‘Light was the most important thing to me so the windows were intrinsic to the whole design. It can get very dark and depressing in Sweden in the winter months and you need all the light you can get.’
KITCHEN
‘We built lots of storage so that we could hide all the ugly kitchen stuff away. We all have our own drawers too so that it is always clean and tidy,’ says Valerie.
Cabinets, Ballingslöv. Dekton Kelya worktop, Länna Möbler
