In living colour: this Swedish hillside house is a pop-tastic wonderland
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Step inside the vibrant home of Cissi Åhlén, known on Instagram for her knack for ‘dopamine decor’. In a quiet corner of Bandhagen, a small neighbourhood on the outskirts of Stockholm, Cissi Åhlén lives with her partner and their nine-year-old son in a home bursting with vibrant colour. The house, a 1957 villa, is a testament to the unspoken connection that can exist between a space and the people who inhabit it.
![[Candy crush: The pink-and-white-tiled kitchen with checkered floor and colourful cookware.]](https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/ede8bf0cb473257f796e5480275e5de258b0b255/0_144_4600_5750/master/4600.jpg?width=445&dpr=1&s=none&crop=none)
“We had seen the house for sale online, but weren’t that impressed,” Åhlén admits. “It wasn’t until one morning, on a walk to the park, that we passed by it and we saw the potential. That’s when it clicked.”. What they discovered was a house with history and character in a promising location: perched on a hill, it offered a peaceful view over the surrounding area. Partly renovated in the 1970s, it had a lived-in feel and reminded Åhlén and her partner of their grandparents’ homes. “The first time we entered, it had that older vibe,” she recalls. “But we knew with a little love and imagination, we could turn it into something that was uniquely ours.” And so began their journey of redesigning the space.
![[Diner style”: retro features and a vintage vibe in the dining room.]](https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/e688d0cf0f816a28e245fdbfdffad342b9b79300/0_400_6000_3600/master/6000.jpg?width=445&dpr=1&s=none&crop=none)
The villa, with its large living space and additional garage and storage area, is partly built into the hill, creating an intriguing layout. The lower floor contains the garage, cold storage, a study, laundry room and a bedroom with an attached bathroom. However, the upper floor is where the magic happens: a spacious open-plan area with a living room, dining room, kitchen and a balcony that soaks up the southern sun.
![[House of fun: Åhlén’s home is a unique combination of clashing colours and old and new design.]](https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/23f757a3176b4ee6457bb71eb5359a0060564381/0_17_4600_5750/master/4600.jpg?width=445&dpr=1&s=none&crop=none)
