I was born and raised in Sweden, but my serious wanderlust eventually brought me to Maine a decade ago, where I currently live in a small 1950’s Cape Cod style house with my husband (who I met on a ferry in Patagonia) and our three kids and a dog.

When I am not immersed with all things interior design, I enjoy time in the great outdoors (as do most Mainers!). I love camping, hiking, and traveling with my family. My newest love is a 1960’s vintage camper which we acquired last summer and I can’t wait to see where it takes us!

What is your design aesthetic?

I love to mix! Mixing design styles, but also mixing new and old, patterns, textures, lots of textures, finishes, shapes, lines, wood tones… it’s how a space comes to life. I love imperfect elements. Natural patina, even chipped paint can be beautiful. An old house crocked wood trim, or the remnants on the floor of where a wall once used to stand. I value natural materials for its timeless appeal and for the connection to nature. I also love an unexpected moment. Such as an item you wouldn’t typically see in the particular setting (vintage rug in a bathroom or small piece of art above a door frame), or an unexpected funky or quirky item that just makes you smile. While a space always needs to feel balanced as a whole, and symmetry is useful in achieving this, sometimes it is the off-centered art or oversized lighting that strikes that balance and makes the space feel dynamic.

What about your Scandinavian background?

Naturally my design aesthetic is shaped both by Scandinavian and New England design and building-traditions. I draw inspiration from Sweden and from Maine. I think this is one of my strengths as a designer.

You may have heard of “hygge”. Although a Danish word, it is very much a cultural concept in Sweden and surely has an impact on how I approach design. Hygge is a feeling of coziness, contentment, and well-being found through cherishing the little things, which can look like lighting candles and cozying up under a blanket with a cup of coffee. A space needs to be comfortable, warm and welcoming for it to “be hygge”, it can’t be too precious, too perfect or polished. It also can’t be too minimal or sleek. I always strive to create a comfortable atmosphere when designing a space.

How can interior design improve our wellbeing?

Research show that our immediate environment can significantly impact our cognitive function, mood, and stress levels. Our surroundings affect our emotions, behaviors, and overall mental health.

Interior design is an art and a science. It bridges the gap between form and function. A space that is well-designed feels safe and good to be in and supports the lifestyle of those who exist in it. As an interior designer I carefully select every element of a space to work in harmony to promote balance, make it feel welcoming and provide positive emotional energy. Space planning, color and lighting are some very important aspects of this and are used differently depending on the particular space - how it is meant to function and what kind of energy we want to bring to the space (be it relaxing for a bedroom, energizing to promote creativity for an office, etc).

Overall I believe the indoor-outdoor connection can be so impactful on our mental health. Whether that is optimizing natural light, furnishing in a way that takes advantage of the view outside the window, or adding an inviting back patio that encourage you to step outside more often throughout the year.

What is important when designing a home?

When it comes to our homes the most important thing is to really try to look beyond trends and instead try to surround ourselves with things that support the lives we want to lead and makes us feel good, feel at home. What that looks like is different for every person and in every home and I love working with clients to identify these things. Every project is truly unique!

I believe that too much clutter has a negative affect on our everyday mood and mental health. Organizational solutions can be helpful for sure, but I also think that we should be mindful about the decor that we add to our homes. A good rule of thumb I follow is decor should either have a practical purpose (candlestick for dinnertime, bowl for fruit, etc) or an emotional one. It should mean something to you or make you feel something that adds positively to your everyday life. If not, it risks instead just cluttering your life and mind.

What is one thing every space should have?

Every space needs a plant.