Hello home, Estelle Graf

It’s early morning as we make our way to Ljusterö, the picturesque island north of Stockholm. Today’s destination is the home of painter and designer Estelle Graf, who is in the midst of a project close to her heart: the renovation of her father’s old summer house on the island.

But this is more than just a renovation project. The house has been in Estelle’s family for many years and is the place where she spent almost all of her summers growing up.

“I have so many memories here that the house almost feels like a family member,” she says. “I remember how endless the days felt as a child — running barefoot between the house and the water, playing cards late into the evening, and falling asleep with the windows open.”

When her father passed away a few years ago, Estelle took over the house. The most important part of the renovation was preserving its soul and building upon what was already there.

From the entrance the eye is immediately drawn to the French doors opening onto the bay below. Delicate linen curtains in the shade Mustard hang from a bronze curtain rod, gently billowing whenever the doors are left open. It is the kind of room that invites you to sink into the sofa and feel your pulse slow down.

For Estelle, textiles have played an important role in the transformation of the house.

“I think curtains do so much for a room. They soften it, capture the light and make a space feel cared for.”

In the living room, the choice fell on sheer mustard-yellow linen curtains that fill the room with a warm glow whenever sunlight filters through them.

As we sit together, our conversation turns to the celebration just around the corner: Midsummer. We can’t help but agree that this place feels made for that day. This year, Estelle and her family will celebrate here with friends. Long tables will be set, the food will be simple and relaxed, and hopefully the water will tempt for a swim. Bare feet will meet the grass, children will run between the house and the jetty, and perhaps the sauna will be lit as the evening draws in.

Next to the living room stands a robust dining table surrounded by wooden chairs. The window frames have been painted dove blue and dressed with crisp white Roman blinds in 100% linen.

“In the dining area, I wanted to keep as much light as possible,” Estelle explains. “The sheer white Roman blinds filter the light rather than block it out, allowing the view and the greenery outside to remain part of the room.”

All around us, we are surrounded by art. Some pieces are Estelle’s own, while others are passed down through family or won at auction. Together, they bring colour, personality and stories into every room. Here, art is not merely a decoration, but also a natural extension of the home and its history.

Adjacent to the dining area is the butter-yellow kitchen, where old and new meet in a careful balance. A porcelain sink and hand-painted tiles above the stove, painted by Estelle herself, give the room a deeply personal character. As if they had always been there.

At the centre of the kitchen stands a substantial island in a rich brown tone that harmonises with the deep brown window frames, creating a beautiful contrast against the creamy yellow surfaces. The eye is then drawn to the window, where a pleated café curtain in delicate linen, in the shade Off White, softens the overall look. Mounted on recess brackets, the curtain allows the beautiful window frame to remain the focal point, highlighting the character of the house.

As the morning sun filters through the linen, the kitchen fills with a soft, diffused light that enhances the room’s calm and welcoming atmosphere.

We follow the wooden staircase to the upper floor, where we are greeted by a playful yellow-striped room created for the family’s youngest member. The window is dressed with a blackout Roman blind in an oat-yellow, finished with a soft waved edge.

“I wanted the room to feel like stepping straight into a storybook,” says Estelle. “I think children’s rooms should be colourful and full of imagination.”

The colours work beautifully with the striped walls, enhancing the room’s creative and whimsical atmosphere. A bright red bookshelf immediately catches the eye, filled with books, toys and treasured finds. All those important little things that belong to childhood.

Next to the children’s room lies the home’s master bedroom, a space that exudes calm and rest. The walls are dressed in our Cottage Collection Sweet Pea wallpaper in a soft dove blue, giving the room a cosy yet airy feel. Here, the light feels softer and the pace of life slows down.

“I think this is probably the most harmonious room in the house,” says Estelle.

Curtains from the same collection help set the tone. Blackout Cottage Stripe curtains in dove blue are framed by a matching valance with beautifully curved edges, adding both charm and character. On the bed lies a woven linen bedspread in the shade Sand, paired with a cylinder pillow in the same colour palette. Natural materials, muted tones and thoughtful details come together to create a room that feels effortlessly calm.

It’s easy to understand what this place means to Estelle and her family. Not just as a summer house, but as a place where old memories live on and new ones are created. There is something special about returning to a place from your childhood and watching the next generation make it their own. In many ways, it feels like a full circle moment.

Perhaps that is what makes this house so special. The care woven into every colour and material choice tells a story of love for the place and a desire to preserve. Here, cherished memories coexist with new ideas in a home where generations come together, new stories take shape, and summers continue to leave their mark.