We recently took note of the character-filled, neo-retro kitchen of Swedish blogger Catarina Skoglund via her site, Another Side of Life. Cattie and her husband, Robert, and their daughter, Stella, live in a two-story apartment in a 1927 building outside Gothenburg. A fan of Anglo-eccentric decorating, Cattie drew inspiration from English magazines and movies in her and her husband's renovation of the family kitchen. The results—a Brit meets Scandi space with a casual, lived-in attitude—are a welcome change from the hyper-styled black-and-white interiors of so many of her fellow Scandi bloggers.
Above: Green-painted French doors lead from the backyard into the eat-in kitchen, where a geometric patterned floor tiles give way to a light-gray painted wood floor. The impressive 15-foot tall ceiling makes the narrow room feel spacious and airy. Photographs via Lovely Life.
Above: The room features original divided glass windows in and around the French doors. Eames and Thonet chairs surround a simple black-topped table. The coloful Eames Hang-It-All Coat Hanger comes in handy for jackets and bags.
Above: A white porcelain farm sink with a mint-green tiled backsplash gives the kitchen a fresh vintage look.
Above: Sleek black counters are paired with simple white cabinets fitted with small brass knobs. The couple opted for a white vintage-style refrigerator.
Above: An exposed brick wall was left in its original state, lending the space a rustic industrial feel.
Here's how to recreate the room's look:
Above: Ikea's Domsjö Sink Bowl is made from ceramic and comes with a 25-year warranty; $185.99.
Above: The Ikea Edsvik dual-handled faucet is made of chrome-plated brass and has a built-in energy-saving water flow regulator . It comes with a 10-year warranty; $49.99.
Above: The Smeg FAB50B is a fifties-style refrigerator-freezer in design and proportions; it comes in many colors. Contact Smeg for your local US dealer.
Above: Clay Squared offers a minty green tile called Green 40 W Mid-Century. Measuring 4.25 inches by 4.25 inches, the tiles are $12 per square foot, and are also available in other sizes.
Above: The Lauréy 443 Solid Brass Knob with a satin finish is $6.99 from Knobs and Hardware.
Above: Granada Tiles' Burgos geometric tiles can be customized according to color preference—there are 32 color combinations to choose from. The tiles are made in two sizes: 8 by 8 inches and 10 by 10 inches. Contact Granada Tiles in LA directly for pricing. Another option: the Little Diamond - Mix from Heath Ceramics' Dwell Patterns, which also comes in several colorways; $48 for a set of three tiles.
Above: The Nud Classic Pendant by Swedish Company Nud Collection is available in eight cord color combinations; $45 from LBC Lighting. Photo via Merci Merci.
Above: Create a pendant light with the Nud cord and Lee Broom's Crystal Bulb. hand-blown by Cumbria Crystal, the last UK-based full lead crystal producer; $175 from the A+R Store.
Above: The Etch Brass Pendant by Tom Dixon is made from digitally etched brass sheets that cast multiple shadows when lit; $460 from Horne.
Above: The Raft Table N2 is designed by Norm Architects for Danish Traditions. It's available in a black, black/brown, or white top; $1857.57 via Ambient Direct.
Above: The Eames Molded Plastic Side Chair with a Wood Dowel Base is currently reduced from $399 at Design Within Reach. In addition to white, it comes in black, light blue, lime yellow, and red orange.
Above: The Era Chair with Cane by Thonet comes in classic black as well as five colors; $200 from Design Within Reach.
Above: The Eames Hang-It-All Coat Hanger; $169.15 from Lumens.
Above: The Redecker Hard Dish Brush are handcrafted in Germany of beech wood with bristles from Tampico fiber; $4.99 from Crate and Barrel.
Above: Swedish-made organic L:A Bruket Soap contains a blend of cedar, rosemary, and orange; 215 SEK via L:A Bruket's Shop.
Above: The Lup Candle Holder by Swedish design group Hay is available in two finishes: brass and black powder-coated steel; $45 from the Dwell Store.
Above: An Edward Wohl Maple Cutting Board is $125 from Heath Ceramics.
Above: Alvar Aalto's Vase for Iittala is mouth-blown from non-lead crystal and dates to 1936; $65 from All Modern
Above: The Bialetti Stovetop Espresso Maker is a 1933 Italian design made from cast aluminum; $39.95 for a nine-cup espresso maker from Williams Sonoma.
Above: The finishing touch for a brick wall, the hanging Kay Bojesen Monkey; $199 from the MoMA store (member price: $179.10). For more on Kay Bojesen, see Revived: The National Flatware of Denmark.
Above: The geometric-patterned Ivory Macrame Wool Rug is made from New Zealand wool and comes in several sizes; prices start at $295 for a three-by-five-foot rug from Serena and Lily.
If you like this kitchen, you'll love the rest of the house featured in Lovely Life. Is mint green your color? Check out 5 Favorites: Minty Green Bathrooms Retro Edition. And how about a kitchen with minty green cabinets? Go to Steal This Look: A Mint Green Kitchen from a Scandinavia Stylist.