Last word

Sydneysider Mel Chesneau started her interiors blog in Auckland but now lives in Södermalm, a hip island in central Stockholm.

Mel Chesneau.

I live on the fourth floor of a beautiful old apartment block with my husband Guillaume, our three children and our cat. We were so lucky to get something so big: 180m2. It’s a necessity for kids who grew up climbing trees in Auckland.

People have described our interior style as bobo – aka bourgeois bohemian, and not to be confused with boho! Mostly, it’s a home that’s layered with our stories.

I’d heard about the importance of making your home hyggeligt, but it wasn’t until I moved here that I truly grasped the concept. In winter, the sun sets at 2:45pm, so it’s crucial for your wellbeing to have a lovely, inviting haven to come home to. Candles work wonders and you can see them flickering in everyone’s windows.

We have a weekend ritual at home that I cherish. When Guillaume and I wake up, we call out to our children, who’ve usually been up playing for a while. One of them will hear us and yell, “Cuddle time!” then all three bolt into our bedroom and jump under the covers with us for a snuggle and a chat. styledcanvas.com; @styledcanvas

“In Scandinavia, redecorating is a national sport, so some amazing designer pieces end up in auction houses.”