Hello home, Rachel La Chenardière

Rachel’s interest in antiques and vintage objects has always been there. Growing up in an antique shop meant that her love for the patinated and the timeless came naturally from an early age. Even today, few things spark the same excitement as stepping into an antique store or wandering through a flea market, Rachel explains. From this, Merde – Selection emerged: a personal project and an online shop featuring carefully curated vintage objects, created to give more space to that passion.

At home, the same balancing act is present as in much else – between maximalism and the need for calm. There is a constant tension between the desire to surround oneself with objects and the need for rest and recovery. Curtains therefore play an important role as carriers of that sense of calm.

In the living room, we are met with bouclé curtains in a sand that gently filter the light, creating a warm, muted glow. The texture of the fabric adds both weight and character without taking over – instead, the curtains exist in harmony with the rest of the interior. The overall impression feels thoughtfully composed down to the smallest detail, where every object has its place without overwhelming the space.

The kitchen, located in sequence with the living room, naturally features the same sand-colored curtain panels in woven linen. They beautifully connect the spaces through elegant double doors. In both rooms, the curtains hang from a black rail, adding depth and a subtle touch of contrast.

In the bedroom, blackout bouclé curtains in mustard fall generously from the rod to the floor. The black iron curtain rod introduces a subtle sense of robustness. Here, the fabric adds not only function but also a clear visual weight that frames the room. The color brings warmth, while the blackout quality creates a cocoon-like space to retreat to, allowing daylight to fade when needed. On the bed, a woven linen bedspread in ivory drapes softly, creating a beautiful contrast against the aged wooden floors.

In the children’s room, the expression shifts. A Roman blind from the Cottage Collection in the Sweet Pea print in olive green softens the space, evoking nature while creating a playful yet harmonious atmosphere. The light is filtered more gently, shaping a safe and imaginative environment to grow and play in. The bed is dressed with a woven linen bedspread in sand, complementing the olive tones, alongside a sphere pillow in ivory that adds a sculptural element.

Textiles are, overall, an easy way to create cohesion in a home, Rachel explains. “They tie different elements of the interior together and can move in both directions – bringing life to the understated while also softening the more expressive.”

Daily life revolves around finding balance. As a senior copywriter and a single mother part-time, it’s about making space for work, children, creative projects, and rest. The home therefore becomes a central place – both for recovery and for social moments. Looking ahead, a summer of simple pleasures awaits: time on the balcony with wine, friends, or a book, a few trips both within Sweden and abroad, and hopefully some new, beautiful finds for Merde.

A good find is something special. Sometimes you don’t know what you’ll love until you see it in the right context Rachel describes. Often, it’s the more unusual objects that stand out – like a bronze head placed in the window, even if it might not qualify as a traditional “find.” She also has a particular fondness for older wooden bowls, where the feeling of material that has lived through centuries finds new purpose in everyday life – perfect for collecting children’s Lego pieces or hair clips.

We leave Rachel with a quiet longing for the next find, inspired by the beautiful objects that let her home speak – where every detail, like the curtains, weaves together layers of material, form, and feeling into a home.