This Swedish vintage bed is the centrepiece of a very special bedroom, belonging to 5 year old Ingrid. Her Mum, Sabina Staedler of Style Luxe for Less designed and decorated this whimsical bedroom, that combines her love of vintage with a mix of new, high-end and affordable pieces. Could this antique bed be the ultimate Facebook Marketplace score? Originally from Sweden, Sabina couldn’t believe her luck when she found this piece locally in Melbourne.
“A beautiful home does not need to be expensive. I love sourcing vintage and secondhand pieces, both from a sustainability perspective but also in terms of the character it brings to a project” says Sabina.
TELL US ABOUT THE OWNER OF THIS ROOM?
“This is my daughter Ingrid’s room, she is 5 years old. Ingrid is a very happy and curious little lady that loves unicorns and anything pink! She has been asking for a ‘unicorn room’ for a while…”
WHAT WAS THE BRIEF FOR THIS ROOM?
“Ingrid wanted unicorn wallpaper and lots of pink, which I added with décor such as bedding, cushions, rug, vases, pots, and artwork.”
TELL US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT YOUR BUSINESS
“Back in 2017, I was working in banking and was decorating and renovating on the side, something I have always loved. I decided to enter our holiday house into the Home Beautiful ‘Beautiful Rooms’ competition. We call it ‘The Swedish House on the Bellarine’. A few weeks later, I received a phone call from Home Beautiful saying that I was a finalist. This was the push I needed to believe in myself and say ‘ok it’s time, you can do this!‘ A few days after the issue came out, I handed in my resignation with the bank and Style Luxe for Less, Interior Decorating and Styling was born! I think after having my daughter, it became clear to me to show her the importance of pursuing your passion and dreams.”
WHAT WAS YOUR INSPIRATION?
“We had our heart set on the ‘True Unicorns’ Majvillan wallpaper in Evening Blue. The wallpaper is from Swedish eco-friendly brand Majvillan that I import and distribute in Australia. It’s eco-friendly and very easy to install. I loved the colourway of the design and especially the blue/grey background, which gives it an old world romantic feel. I wanted it to feel like a true vintage Scandinavian bedroom.”
HOW DID YOU SELECT YOUR COLOUR PALETTE?
“I started with the wallpaper and the beautiful grey/blue background and added décor pieces that would compliment the wallpaper. I painted the secondhand IKEA roll top desk and bookcase in a light grey chalk paint, and added new hardware. Also, the desk chair was a Marketplace find that I painted light pink.”
WHAT IS YOUR FAVOURITE FEATURE IN THE ROOM?
“The bed is definitely the hero piece. I found it on Facebook Marketplace. I could not believe my luck (because I was born and raised in Sweden) and it feels extra special to have this bed in my daughter’s bedroom. The bed is from the late 1800’s so it’s a very special piece and tells a beautiful story just on its own. This incredible bed travelled all the way from Sweden to Melbourne and now sits in my daughters room. I must confess I did cry happy tears when we brought it home!“
WHAT WAS THE BIGGEST CHALLENGE?
“Finding the right bed! I never thought I would find a Swedish antique here in Melbourne. When I saw it on Marketplace I just had to have it. My daughter and her friends call it her Elsa and Anna bed.”
WHAT IS YOUR OVERALL FAVOURITE THING ABOUT THIS SPACE?
“It has to be the bed! It has so much character and soul, and truly reminds me of Sweden. The family we purchased it from had brought it over from Sweden. The father was Swedish and the bed was given as a gift to his daughter from a relative and had been handed down for generations. The family was relocating and the daughter no longer wanted the bed so she decided to sell it. My luck 🙂
I love to visit Flea Markets and Vintage stores to source furniture and mix it with new, both high-end and budget-friendly pieces. It just adds so much soul and character to a space that “all new” could never do. By sourcing furniture pieces secondhand I was able to save a lot of money. It’s hard to believe but the bed, bookcase and desk came in under $300.”
TOP 3 INSTAGRAM ACCOUNTS
@sable_85 – beautiful Swedish home and photography
@mreiness – lots of beautiful vintage inspo
QUICKFIRE QUESTIONS
(Netflix/TV) Can’t switch off: The Bonus Family, Can highly recommend!
(Motherhood) Defining parenting moment: The day my daughter was born and I got to hold her for the first time. It took many years and loss for me to become a Mum. I had severe endometriosis and had almost come to terms that it wouldn’t happen. But here she is little miss Ingrid now 5, our little miracle.
(Mindfulness) Quote that best sums you up: “Style is a way to say who you are without having to speak” – Rachel Zoe
GET THE LOOK
Wallpaper- True Unicorns in Evening Blue by Majvillan, Lighting- Eos Feather Pendant by Vita Copenhagen from Norsu, Bag- Kanken Mini by Fjallraven, Alphabet Wallhanging from Kmart, Suitcase- Pink Metal Case from Kmart, Chair- AGAM Junior Chair (painted pink) from IKEA, Bedding- Linen Sheet and Pillowcase from IKEA, Cushions- Velvet Cushion from IKEA and Star Cushion from Numero 74, Ingrid’s dress- Pippa Pinafore by Little Shadow Clothing, Print- “Dream of Me” A4 Print from Style Luxe for Less, Rug- Temple and Webster.
Designed and Styled by Sabina Staedler Style Luxe for Less
Photography by Kristen Nicole Photography
Check out Sabina on Instagram @styleluxeforless
