When Caroline Klinker fell in love with the house on the hill, she never imagined how good it would look renovated, turned back into a family home, and it inspired her to follow a new path
Following a tip-off from a colleague who had seen the ‘for sale’ sign, Caroline Klinker couldn’t stop thinking about the old house on the hill. It was a bit weather-beaten and had been wellloved and well-used by the people who had come and gone over the years, but Caroline and her partner, Gunnar Lundmark, saw potential in what was soon to become the family’s new home.
‘I love period properties and I was really drawn to this house with its characterful curved roof,’ says Caroline. ‘Although it’s on a long and narrow plot, there is a garage and another smaller building, which has given us some extra space.’
The house in Holmsund, outside Umeå in the north of Sweden, had previously been divided into three flats, one on each floor, so lots of work was needed to ensure it flowed as a complete home again. There were positives in the tricky three-storey layout, though, as the house’s vantage point at the top of a hill meant that the third-floor windows boasted a stunning sea view.
The family moved into the home in August 2020, and since then, Gunnar and Caroline have been hard at work. They have fitted a new kitchen, installed new windows, and added a smart, weatherboarded façade, painting it in a soft grey hue. The couple worked their magic on the interiors, too, updating each room with fresh paint and wallpaper in places.
For Caroline, the house renovation has also spurred her on with her personal journey. She was a nurse, but has now changed direction to open an interiors store. For many years, she had been managing an online store selling furniture and interior design accessories alongside her day job as a nurse, but when the family moved to Holmsund she decided to open her shop in an old brick building nearby. From there she sells beautiful cupboards and cabinets sourced from all over Europe, alongside lamps and pretty accessories.
Running the store has also had a positive impact on the house. While searching for pieces for her business, Caroline has found cupboards and other items of furniture to suit most rooms in the house. From time to time, she rings the changes, slotting in different pieces of furniture here and there, and selling on the previous items in her shop. ‘That way I can keep the house looking fresh,’ says Caroline. ‘I never get bored with how it looks.’
Like all shopkeepers, Caroline is kept busy throughout the festive season, so she s
