Sjögård – A Study in Preservation and Refinement

A house shaped by the dialogue between past and present. Originally built in the 1920s, it has been carefully adapted to meet contemporary needs while respecting its inherent character. Every decision in the renovation process was guided by the principle that preservation and refinement are not opposites, but complementary forces. The ambition was never to freeze the house in time, nor to impose a new identity upon it, but rather to highlight and reinforce its strengths while allowing it to evolve.

A consistent and restrained material palette serves as the backbone of the project, creating a sense of continuity throughout the house. Locally quarried Diabase and Brännlyckan marble provide a grounding presence, used across flooring, baseboards, and key surfaces such as the fireplace, staircases, and worktops. The materials were selected not just for their durability but for their ability to age with grace, creating a home that will continue to develop over time.

The introduction of copper in the new extension—wrapped entirely in this material—establishes a clear but respectful distinction between old and new. To integrate this transition, raw copper details were introduced into the interior, appearing in custom-made ceiling fixtures, architectural junctions and other details. This allows the house to feel cohesive, ensuring that its additions feel like a natural continuation rather than an interruption.

The renovation of Sjögård was not about assembling disparate elements but rather about creating a holistic whole, where every detail is considered in relation to the entire space. The house is filled with bespoke solutions that respond to its structure rather than impose upon it. The kitchen, for example, is entirely custom-built, designed with traditional joinery and an emphasis on proportion and material honesty. There are no unnecessary embellishments—its beauty lies in the careful attention to dimensions, the subtle interplay of shadow lines, and the contrast between powdery hues and the sharp definition of black detailing.

This philosophy extends throughout the home. The library, for example, features built-in shelving that curves around the window, reinforcing the sense of enclosure and intimacy. Here, walls are deep in tone, absorbing light rather than reflecting it, allowing the books, artworks, and personal objects to become focal points. Adjacent to this room is the main entrance, where the original wooden paneling has been carefully restored, preserving its historic character. One of the diamond-shaped panels has been fitted with mirror glass, serving both a functional purpose and adding a refined detail to the space.

The dining room, by contrast, is defined by openness and social presence. The original ceiling beams and the ceiling itself have been retained and painted black, making them recede visually and creating an illusion of vast spatial depth. Below, a custom-designed dining table in diabase anchors the space—solid, unyielding, yet quietly elegant. It is not just a place to dine, but a place where the rhythm of the house slows, where conversations extend into the evening.

The design prioritizes the fluidity between spaces, ensuring that movement through the house feels intentional and natural. What was once a confined service corridor has been transformed into a deliberate threshold, subtly defining the kitchen, dining room, and the newly built extension without creating rigid separations. By setting the extension slightly lower than the main house, a nuanced balance is achieved—respecting the existing structure while introducing a contemporary contrast that feels both distinct and connected. Expansive frameless windows open the space to the surrounding landscape, creating an ever-changing interplay between interior and exterior that shifts with the light and seasons. Inside, terrazzo floors with inlaid copper details mirror the metalwork found throughout the home, reinforcing the sense of continuity. A ribbed glass partition, emerging from a plinth of raw copper, subtly divides the space while maintaining transparency, allowing light to filter through in shifting patterns.

Each space has been considered not just in isolation, but as part of a broader composition, where practicality and aesthetic integrity work in tandem. In the bathrooms, storage has been integrated into the architecture itself, eliminating the need for excessive cabinetry. The stone surfaces have been carefully worked to enhance their natural textures and tonal variations, ensuring that their raw beauty and durability remain central to the design. The master bedroom, which now extends up into the roofline, is characterized by its soft sage-green walls and exposed wooden beams—traces of the past left intact but reframed within a modern context.

What makes Sjögård unique is not any single element, but the way all aspects of the house work together as a coherent whole. It is not a static restoration, nor a showcase of new interventions, but a living space that will continue to age and change with time. The project respects history without being bound by it and embraces modernity without overshadowing what came before. Through careful material selection, bespoke craftsmanship, and an understanding of spatial relationships, Sjögård stands as an example of how thoughtful design can create a home that is both deeply personal and timelessly relevant.

–

Photographer: Mathilda Werngren