Extract from The New Era ISSUE 02 – A visit to the Halleroed hideaway in the Swedish woods

The couple behind Halleroed, Sweden’s most sought after interior architect firm, escape the work and city buzz deep in the woods of their favourite island. Arriving here makes them forget reality for a bit. In an exclusive extract from issue two, we share some photographs from their hideaway.

Walk into a retail space designed by Christian and Ruxandra Halleröd – of Stockholm-based design studio Halleroed – and you’ll discover details such as fluorescent lighting, monochrome walls, stainless steel dressing rooms and aluminium shelves. The pair have created striking interiors for fashion brands such as Acne Studios, Axel Arigato and Totême, all designed to create the ultimate retail therapy experience.
Drive two hours north of Stockholm and you’ll find the duo’s very own version of therapy: a cottage covered in cedarwood planks on the southern shore of Blidö island. Here, slick contemporary stools are replaced by fallen pine trunks, soft carpets by white moss and sophisticated flower arrangements by wild blueberry and heather.
“The past year we have spent almost every weekend in the house,” says Christian, with an obvious hint at the Covid-19 pandemic. “Arriving here makes us forget about reality for a bit. Seeing our daughter Iolanda freely roam in the forest, taking walks and just being able to relax is an incredible privilege.”

At 82 square metres (funnily enough, exactly the same size as the couple’s city apartment), the Halleröds opted for a smaller home that has a ‘cottage feel’ over a large villa, but the patio that runs around the outside of the building is as large as the inside space, creating additional room in the summer.
Out there in the wider world, the global pandemic has dramatically disrupted the retail sector and spurred on a digital transformation. The question is, what will happen to retailers now? “Let’s put it like this – at the moment we are trying to find out what the new shop is,” says Christian. 

Read the full story in The new era magazine issue 02. Pre order your copy here