Stockholm-based interior designer and HR specialist Nathalie Berthelius reimagines a turn-of-the-century home in Ostermalm, Sweden, channelling understated elegance through form, colour and function.
Multidisciplinary creative Nathalie Berthelius’ latest home brings Parisian charm to one of Ostermalm’s oldest streets in inner-Stockholm. Nathalie completely rearranged the late 1900s home to better suit family living, imbuing it with a soft interior palette that highlights the home’s heritage.
Speaking to Nathalie, we learnt more about how she harnessed natural light, her choice of cohesive colours and materials and how she balanced classic and contemporary at every turn.
Produced in partnership with La Cornue
Traditional cabinetry, brass details and a sink carved out of stone accentuate the classic aesthetic of the home.
Nathalie specified the La Cornue Le Château 150 cooker in a custom truffle colour, designing the entire kitchen around the premium French cooker.
Previously a cramped and dark space, the first step in the transformation was to reposition the kitchen towards the street, opening up to the new dining area with direct access to the traditional balcony. Nathalie maximised natural light in the reshuffle, enhancing the overall layout of the home. To reflect light and create the illusion of larger space, Nathalie kept to a minimal colour palette of soft green-greys and white.
Parquetry flooring with a star intarsia pattern, paired with new decorative wall panelling and mouldings, subtly references the building’s history. Off-white linen drapes and a combination of statement and ambient brass lighting fixtures further emphasise the notion of regal warmth. “Lighting is crucial in the home, especially in Sweden where we aren’t spoiled with hours of sun,” Nathalie says. “I never use cool led-lights; rather, I love to mix different lighting sources and play with the ambience to create a soothing atmosphere and highlight focal elements within the home.”
Nathalie Berthelius says the brief for the kitchen was simple: a sophisticated yet inviting space that seamlessly integrates with the dining and living area. Collaborating with Swedish kitchen manufacturers Himlekok, classic green-grey shaker-profiled cabinetry contrasts the clean lines of the island bench. Joinery knobs and pulls are kept to a minimum, directing eyes to the standout La Cornue Le Château 150 range cooker in a bespoke truffle hue.
A miscalculation in the depth of the cooker informed the convenient custom marble shelf framing the cooktop, used for housing everyday cooking essentials and recipe books.
“Technology and function are naturally important in the kitchen, but so is finding an appliance that aligns with the aesthetic of the space. The devil is in the details, and all visible appliances need to work in harmony with your design.”
– Nathalie Berthelius
The dining room features the Poliform Grace Dining Chair, a custom-designed dining table and the Apparatus Cloud Chandelier.
Inscribed with the words ‘Rue des Marins’ (translating to Skippers Street), the cooker pays homage to the nautical history of the street the home inhabits, Skeppargatan. Nathalie says the La Cornue cooker is ‘the queen of the house’, revealing it inspired the kitchen’s overall design. “The La Cornue Le Château 150 cooker was the first item in the home I chose, and myself and the team at Himlekok designed the entire kitchen design around this standout piece,” Nathalie says.
Handmade by expert craftsmen in Paris, the La Cornue Le Château 150 features two gas-electric ovens, two large storage drawers and a customisable range of hob options. “We opted for an induction cooktop instead of gas, giving the La Cornue cooker a modern sensibility to suit the sober design scheme of this residential project,” Nathalie explains.
A miscalculation in the depth of the cooker informed the convenient custom marble shelf framing the cooktop. “It actually turned out to be a great mistake; we instead tailormade a marble shelf, perfect for displaying books, olive oil and utensils,” Nathalie adds.
Nathalie drew inspiration from French interior designer Joseph Dirand’s signature walk-in robe style in the master suite, with ornate profiled drawers and doors.
Nathalie lifted cues from French designer Joseph Dirand’s signature walk-in robe style in the master suite, complete with ornate profiled drawers and doors and smoked mirrors for a softer impression in the home’s most private area. A Serge Mouille pendant light affirms Nathalie’s Parisian affinity in the bedroom.
Working with the stately bones of the home, Nathalie Berthelius has injected a sense of sophistication, functionality and warmth into her latest project. “I’m always in awe of the authenticity of turn-of-the-century architecture, with its impressive ceiling heights and large windows,” Nathalie says. “I felt indebted to do this home justice, highlighting the original architectural features by finding the perfect balance in both interior design and layout.”
Explore the La Cornue range of premium French cookers in the est product library here.
