oftheexistingfeaturesaspossibleandnot
spoilanyofthebuilding’sendearingcharm.
‘Theonlybigchangewastodividethe
hallwayinhalfandbuilda bathroomwhere
thereoncewasa corridorwherethechildren
wouldhangtheircoatsandeatlunch,but
everythingelseis original,’saysGunnel.
‘InSweden,we’reeagertorenovatebut
I’malwayskeentotryandpreservethepast,
whichstemsfromvisitingLondonwhenI
was 16 yearsold,whereI enjoyedlooking
atlotsofbeautifuloldbuildings,’recalls
Gunnel.‘I alsoappreciatecontemporary
architecture,butI thinkit’simportantto
sensitivelyrestoreandrespecttheoldand
notbetemptedtoripeverythingout.For
instance,I lovehowthefloorboardsinour
housearesowornthattherearelittlebumps
inthefloor– it’sthesmallestdetailbutit’s
what I really enjoy. And being faithful to
thesoulofthehouseis whatcreates such
aharmoniousatmosphere.’
Duringtherenovations,Gunnel
discoverednolessthan 12 layersofwallpaper,
andunderthata layerofplasteronthesolid
timberwalls.‘Itwassucha revelationto
seethedifferentlayersofoldpaperpeeling
offthewallandit inspiredmetotakemy
timeandallowthehousetogentlyevolve,’
shesays.‘I felttherewasnorushandit’sstill
aworkinprogressafteralltheseyears.’
Surroundingthehouseis thebeautiful
garden,whichGunnelcraftedfromwhatused
tobethechildren’splayground.‘I’mnotkeen
onhousemaintenanceasit isn’tasmuchfun
asdesignandrenovating,somyfocushas
movedtotheoutdoors,’shelaughs.‘Welove
spendingsummeroutsideenjoyingtheviews
ofthecountryside,whilestillonlybeing a
short distance from the city.’^design advice‘Befaithfultothesoulof yourhouseandcreateharmony
throughout – it’s important not to work against what is naturally already there’master
BeDrOOm
eachcarefully
chosenpieceis
steepedinhistory.
tryebayfora vintage
dentistchairlikethis
one, around £25bhaugust 2019| 13