Hello Home, Mathilda Rudén
In Östermalm, Stockholm, lives Mathilda Rudén, who has run INABO since 2022, a Swedish brand designing indoor shoes for life at home. She describes the philosophy behind the brand: “Our idea is to elevate everyday life with indoor shoes made from natural materials, crafted with careful artisanship and a sense of effortless elegance. The shoes are handmade in Portugal from LWG-certified leather and created to follow you from your morning coffee to the last guest of the evening.”
A sense of care and quality is evident not only in Mathilda’s shoe collection but throughout her home. The apartment in Östermalm was recently renovated together with Christina Wikman at WTP Studios, and the result invites you to move slowly, comfortably, and with the same ease embodied in her indoor shoes.
Stepping into Mathilda’s home, you’re met by a rare balance - the feeling of a completely renovated space that still appears as though it has always looked this way. With Christina’s guidance, no decisions were left to chance: furniture has been built in to maximize space, upholstery has been renewed, and endless text messages filled with antique finds have been exchanged throughout the year.
Mathilda explains that the bedroom is one of her favourite places, fitting for someone who works daily with indoor shoes. The bed has been built into a generous niche with smart storage, and throughout the apartment runs a thoughtful palette where burgundy details, including the lines of the hand-painted wardrobe doors, meet warm, light beige tones that form the foundation of the interior.
How have you approached curtains in your interior?
“We invested in Gotain’s linen curtains when we first moved in and have been very happy with them. When we later undertook a more extensive renovation with the help of Christina Wikman at WTP Studios, we chose to keep them and add matching curtains to the corner with the daybed. During the renovation we also had the linen curtains in the bedroom remade into blackout curtains, and the result was exactly what we hoped for. We sleep better, and the curtains still have the same elevated feel and beautiful drape. Textiles have been a key part of our interior, and the curtains have truly helped create a warm and harmonious atmosphere.”
This will be the first Christmas in the newly refreshed apartment, and Mathilda is more inspired than ever to create a festive atmosphere at home. She shares how she approaches decorating for the season:
“I love flowers, all year round, and Christmas is no exception. If I can fill the home with large amaryllis, glossy holly, and a beautiful tree, I’m happy. A tradition of mine is to find a new ornament every year, a small detail that gives the tree its own personality.”
The open layout connects the dining area and living room, and here it has been important to create distinct zones that give the space both structure and balance. A generous rug that frames the furniture ties the room together softly without interrupting its different functions.
Beyond textiles, lighting has been essential in creating a dim, cosy atmosphere, almost like an old English library. In addition to choosing the right lamps, even the wattage of the bulbs became a lively discussion. Mathilda laughs and shares that Christina hasn’t allowed anything stronger than 11W, essentially the brightness of an oven bulb.
But the soft, almost mysterious lighting is hardly a problem this time of year - if anything, it feels as though Christmas has arrived a little earlier in Mathilda’s home than anywhere else.
What do you wish for this Christmas - and what are you giving?
“I’m wishing for a pair of new leather gloves in the perfect brown shade. For my sister, I’ll be giving a pair of our new olive-green slippers, they’ll suit her Danish home perfectly.”
In the living room, a sofa Mathilda bought at auction and reupholstered in a silvery green tone sets the mood - a neutral colour that picks up the soft sandy hues of both the curtains and the walls.
Above the sofa hangs a portrait of a woman, and Mathilda shares that art has become a new and growing interest: “A new interest of mine is art, something that has taken on a much larger role in the interior after the renovation. I’ve always been drawn to older paintings in a classical style but never felt they truly suited our previous homes. Now it’s different, and it feels wonderful to finally let that kind of art take its place. My favourite is a still-life painting with a bold, dark-gold frame that hangs above a doorway.”
What do you love most about Christmas?
“Oh, everything! The nostalgia, the cosiness, the flavours - and the way the whole city sparkles when darkness falls.”
