A charming little hotel transformed from an old residence that leaves many visitors reluctant to leave

This exquisite little hotel Ett Hem in Stockholm won the Mr & Mrs Smith Hotel Awards in 2015. Ett Hem actually means "home" in Swedish.

Located in the quiet and peaceful L·Rkstaden residential area, this small red-brick building with Art Nouveau features was originally built under the supervision of local architect Fredrik Dahlberg in 1910.

Although the exterior of the main building appears upright and square, continuing the classical revival style of the Victorian era, the arched windows, wavy lines of the small pointed roofs and other exterior details full of flowing expressiveness highlight the important influence of the Art Nouveau movement on 20th-century European architecture.

The charming qualities of this old residence all begin with the famous painter Carl Larsson and his wife Karin Larsson in the early 20th century.

The mistress of Ett Hem when it was first built was a devoted fan of Karin, and she integrated the Larsson style of aesthetics into daily life.

It all begins with the Swedish artist couple Carl and Karin Larsson, born in the 1850s. The two fell in love in Grèz-sur-Loing, France, and after marrying returned to a house by a stream in the Swedish countryside, where they raised eight children.

Their married life was like the many beautiful country living stories we have reported before: Carl painted and designed furniture, while Karin made textiles such as rags, rugs, covers, tablecloths, door and window hangings, bedding and more.

With soft, bright tones and delicate brushwork, Carl depicted the most representative colors of life in the minds of Swedes. His wife was a designer with great talent for home decoration, and her creations in interior spaces, furniture and fabrics were all deeply imbued with the essence of Swedish tradition and a lively texture.

Everything in the home was made without seeking outside help, and the style they created at home became one of the key influences on 20th-century Scandinavian design.

Unlike the aristocratic and nouveau riche tastes of the time, the Larsson aesthetic had a great influence on William Morris, the father of the Arts and Crafts movement. They supported simplicity, handcraftsmanship and a return to natural beauty. These qualities not only helped define the direction of 20th-century Scandinavian design, but still have far-reaching influence today.

In Larsson's watercolor paintings, Carl often took the family as his subject, painting his family members and even the dog. These works became subjects of study for Nordic artists and designers, and even social theorists, showing a microcosm of family-centered social democracy.

The Larsson home was characterized by being light, informal and comfortable.

In those days Swedes also popularized buying expensive revival-style furniture, but the Larssons instead used handmade furniture, colorful cotton textiles and indoor plants to decorate their home.

In 2011, the current owner Jeanette Mix invited the famous London designer Ilse Crawford to renovate this old residence. In the process of converting this private residence into a boutique hotel, Ilse deliberately preserved many of the original artworks and handmade decorations, allowing this century-old residence in traditional Nordic style to retain a historical flavor even in the process of modernization. She said: "We want to continue the story of this house in a way that has a future."

Ett Hem, with its 12 guest rooms, is designed like a large family that offers generous hospitality. Through the garden forecourt enclosed by red-brick walls, the first floor is an open public space with a living room, library and kitchen all available. The kitchen is the center of the public space, where guests can come to the kitchen to help themselves to food and drink, and choose their favorite books to read in the library. In the garden there is a semi-open glass conservatory, which is the most pleasant place to rest and also a great place for evening drinks and gatherings.

Ett Hem is not an ordinary hotel, but more like a family. The beautiful family life passed down over 200 years since the Larsson family continues to convey warmth, comfort and joy through clever renovations that respect history and contemporary functionality.