I encounter plenty of beautiful homes while browsing the internet and the pages of my favorite publications, yet some stand out more than the rest. I wanted to begin sharing a new feature on Wit & Delight, highlighting my favorite home I come across each month and exactly what I love about it. This month’s home stopped me in my tracks.
Welcome to the Swedish cottage brought to life by designer Beata Heuman, as featured in The World of Interiors.
These are the five things I love most about this home…
1. The Embrace of “Imperfections”
With an 18th-century cottage like this comes the imperfections and age of an older home. The hallmark of this space is that it’s designed in a way where nothing feels new or current. Throughout the home, you’ll spot original wood paneling and beautifully weathered doors. I love that Beata used the home’s setting and state as inspiration for its design.
2. Pattern Play
There are so many amazing examples of pattern play throughout this house. In the bathroom, you’ll spot the same Beata Heuman floral motif on both the wallpaper and the upholstered chair. In the dining room, I love the combination of animal prints on hand-painted tiles and a whimsical panoramic wallpaper that feels straight out of a children’s storybook. There are classic checkerboard tiles in the kitchen and gorgeous bespoke wallpaper in the guest room. Around every corner, there’s another playful pattern that catches the eye.
3. The Use of Color
To me, this home showcases the power of color theory in design. I always admire the way Beata plays with color in her designs, adjusting the levers until every room sings. She uses both bright colors and deep hues that complement each other in just the right way. What makes these colors feel really nuanced is how she brings in tertiary colors alongside them. Paired all together, Beata’s color selections are striking but still feel soothing and inviting.
4. Restrained Eclecticism
There’s a tipping point in any kind of eclectic or maximalist home where more is simply more. When it comes to this kind of design approach, you can either go all the way or pare back the eclecticism, creating moments of visual interest and allowing space in between. Beata does the latter so well. In this home, she layered elements of visual interest in specific locations and let simplicity shine through in other areas of each room.
5. A Casual Core
Part of the magic of any Beata Heuman design is that everything is considered but nothing feels too stuffy. The homes she designs are beautiful, playful, and casual. They’re spaces first and foremost meant to be enjoyed by the people who live in them. What more could you ask for?
For more details on this home, read the original article from The World of Interiors.
Kate is currently learning to play the Ukulele, much to the despair of her husband, kids, and dogs. Follow her on Instagram at @witanddelight_.
