HOME OF LINA Kouthoofd
For Pick a Poppy’s CEO, Lina Kouthoofd, intuition is essential — in her work as much as in the way she decorated her home. In the family’s 1960s home south of Stockholm, designed by a local architect, they have gently enhanced the building’s original spirit. The result is a home shaped by feeling, cherished objects, and a natural blend of past and present.
“I’m not overly concerned about mixing eras; if we love something, it will work.”
Tell us about your home – what did you feel at the first viewing, and how have you made it your own?
Our home dates back to 1964 and was designed by a local architect here in Huddinge. He actually built a near-identical house for himself just up the street. Only two families lived here before us, so the house carries a quiet, well-kept history. We were immediately drawn to the original details, the timber elements, the proportions and the understated, timeless architecture. For us, the process has been less about changing the house and more about refining what was already there — placing it into a contemporary context, while making it feel like us.
What did you feel on the first viewing — and how did you make the house your own?
We fell for the original features straight away, and for the fact that the house sits slightly elevated with complete privacy. The previous owners kept a style very true to the period it was built in — more restrained than our taste — so while the interior didn’t reflect us, the feeling of the house absolutely did. It had something genuine, with so much potential.
Products: Residue, Bone White, Wool Rug.
It almost felt as if the house chose us. At the first viewing it was completely crowded, and we weren’t ready to get pulled into a bidding war. I went alone without my husband and left with a strong sense that the house was speaking to me, but that the timing wasn’t right.
A few months later, after the summer, it came back on the market for various reasons. This time it was my husband who spotted the listing and said, “Look — isn’t this the one?” That’s when it felt obvious that the house was meant to be ours.
We always decorate intuitively — or at least I do. I’m not overly concerned about mixing eras; if we love something, it will work. Adding objects with a story or personal meaning is always the best way to make a home feel truly your own.
Product: Evelina Kroon, Currant Bush, Shaggy Rug.
Wool Rug, Classic Solid, Chicory Coffee. Art, Gallery Ditte Lauridsen.
Which object in your home carries the most special story?
My parents bought a beautiful large ceramic platter on Sicily when they were young and on their honeymoon. When my husband and I got married in Italy two years ago, they gave it to us as a wedding gift. It’s the most meaningful gift I’ve ever received. I think my mother truly loves the piece herself, but it meant more to her that I should have it — which makes it even more precious.
How do you create a home that feels both personal and inspiring?
For me, it’s about layering textiles, art, ceramics and objects that carry a history. I want our home to reflect everyday life as much as travels, memories and influences. It’s never completely finished — and that’s perfectly fine. It doesn’t need to be perfect. Decorating should feel joyful. And although it sounds like a cliché, combining old and new really is the key to everything.
What does layering mean to you — in your home and in your personal style?
Layering, to me, is about mixing materials, colours and patterns — perhaps through blocks of colour or different textures — to create an interesting composition.
Where do you find inspiration when decorating or collecting objects for your home?
On travels, at flea markets, in friends’ homes. I also find ideas in design magazines and on Pinterest. Things we grow tired of often travel to our summer house on Öland and get a new life there. We have a huge basement on the property, too — pieces can rest there for a while and sometimes make their way back into the house later.
Product: Arbor, Shaggy Rug.
How do you think a rug can transform a room — and what do you look for when choosing one?
A rug often ties a room together, adds warmth and frames the furniture. I genuinely love rugs. They set the tone for both the colour palette and the overall feeling. When I choose a rug, I look for something that brings life — through texture, pattern or shape — but that still feels timeless enough to live with for years and work across different rooms and seasons. And when you invest in high-quality rugs made from natural materials, they last a very long time.
