Swantje's Beautiful, Quirky, Colourful and Unique Home
I thought I'd shake things up a little today with a move away from Scandinavian summer cottages to a fabulous house in Münster, North West Germany. Outside of Scandinavia it may be, but a quick search on google maps tells me the city is a mere 4-hour drive from the Danish border - which may explain the hint of Scandinavian design! I caught up with art director, graphic designer and illustrator Swantje Hinrichsen to find out more about her beautiful, quirky, colourful and unique home.
Swantje has painted the Danish design Kristina Dam coffee table in NCS 4050 Y60R. A Hay Danish design sofa can be seen in the background.
From what period is your house?
My boyfriend and I live in an old house built in 1928 in Münster, close to the canal.
The bright yellow shelf by Dutch designer Mickey Philips is an example of the many quirky and unique touches in Swantje's home. Source similar abstract prints from The Poster Club*.
Can you tell us a little more about the layout?
The house is 145 sqm (1560 square feet), laid out over three floors. When you walk through the door you are greeted with a colourful hallway with bikes on the wall. The stairs lead to the first floor which has an open-plan living space with a kitchen, dining room, living room and bathroom. The second floor is under the roof and contains the bedroom, a workspace and closet room (we call it 'the everything room', a second bathroom and a small balcony.
How would you describe your style?
Very graphic, colourful, warm, natural, conceptual and intuitive - with a touch of Scandinavian design.
The freestanding kitchen units are from IKEA and the back wall has been painted in Kolorat K711-17-34-25/T. Ceramics from Studio Hear Hear, Studio Oyama, Mette Duedahl and TYBO Art and Craft line the shelves.
The dining room wall has been painted in Kolorat K/0-0-15-54/T.
There are some beautiful, fun details in your home, what do you look for when acquiring items?
I love craftsmanship, contrasts, materials and artisan ceramics.
I love the road bikes, are you and your boyfriend keen cyclists?
My boyfriend totally is. He is super passionate about it and also restores vintage road bikes from the 70s / 80s and 90s in his spare time using a workshop that he shares with others.
Colourful racers like these are starting to be a big trend among the young and hip in Sweden right now (whether they are just used for peddling around town or into proper racing). I particularly love the ones with an eighty's vibe - they remind of the bikes my sister and I used to ride to school on! Have you ever owned a racer?
Source similar bike wall brackets here*.
Would you say your interior is a reflection of your personality?
My home, work and colours are kind of my way to express myself. They help me stay true to myself, help me change perspectives, charge my batteries and transfer emotions and thoughts. They are my visual language.
Thank you so much for inviting us into your lovely home for a virtual tour today Swantje!
If you'd like to see some more snapshots of Swantje's house, check out her wonderful instagram @swantjeundfrieda or for more info about her work, hop over here: www.swantjehinrichsen.de.
Other German homes to love today: a delightful, colourful farmhouse in Northern Germany, a pared-back, yet warm family home with handcrafted pieces and a serene family home in Berlin.
On a completely separate note: my children are enjoying their fourth day of the Swedish school summer holidays. All I can say is, I have total respect for all parents around the world who have been juggling the children being at home AND home schooling while trying to work over the past few months. How on earth did you do it? It's only 11am, the house is a mess, I've been asked over 100 questions (by each child) and we've completely run out of food. Thank goodness the sun is shining!
On that note, I'd better get to the supermarket! But I'll be back tomorrow with one final post before Midsummer's Eve on Friday (will you the celebrating it?) - see you tomorrow!
Niki
Photography: Swantje Hinrichsen