Right in the heart of Malmö, in the charming Gamla Väster district, a traditional apartment is being transformed into a colorful and personal home. In this episode, Gamla Väster – Husdrömmar, we follow Alex, a brave and creative soul who takes on the challenge of creating his dream home with great passion. An apartment dream rather than a house dream, but with just as much heart and soul. What happens when you dare to let go of the conventional and instead build a home that reflects your own identity? Let’s dive into this inspiring transformation.
Table of contents
Background information
Alex, 42 years old and a business developer for a fashion company, is not alone in his project. He shares his life and his new home with his daughters Lo (7 years old) and Lilly (5 years old). After several years in Stockholm, Alex longed to return to his roots in Malmö, where his identity and memories are deeply rooted.
“I really want to build this home for us over time. Not for a catalog, not for a social media account,” Alex says emphatically.
What drives him is not only the need for functional housing, but also the desire to create a place that breathes family, love and heritage. With roots in the former Yugoslavia, he carries memories of summers spent with his grandmother in the Serbian countryside, where cooking and community were at the center. He now wants to recreate this sense of togetherness in his new home.
Facts about the house
Location: Gamla Väster, Malmö
Size: 79 m²
Year of construction: 1911, renovated into an apartment building in the 1980s
Budget: Apartment purchase for 5 million SEK, renovation budget of 1.5 million SEK (final cost about 2 million SEK)
Timetable: Renovation started in November 2021, move-in planned after four months
Material choices: Herringbone parquet, handmade Italian tiles, colorful wall and ceiling paintings
Challenges along the way
Renovating an older apartment always brings surprises. For Alex, one of the biggest disappointments was the discovery that a wall, which he had planned to demolish to create a larger bathroom, contained important electrical and internet wiring.
“Emotionally, it was a hard blow actually,” he admits.
But creativity and flexibility proved key. The solution was to adjust the plans, build a wardrobe next to the electricity and extend the bathroom instead of widening it. Alex also showed great tenacity in fighting to preserve details such as the old stairwell, now a charming wine cellar.
Design and inspiration
Colors play a key role in Alex’s home. He originally planned a pink bathroom inspired by Mexican resorts, but after several re-evaluations, he settled on a more green color palette.
“I want to dare, it’s just color,” says Alex with a smile.
The social part of the apartment is bathed in a peachy-orange hue on the ceiling, while the children’s room is an explosion of cheerful, playful colors. Each room tells its own story, but together they form a harmonious whole that reflects the energy and personality of the family.
Final result
The result is a home that exudes color, warmth and personality. A home that is not designed to impress others, but to be a safe and inspiring place for Alex and his daughters.
“This is my own dream house. And it’s exactly the way I want it,” he says proudly.
Alex celebrated her new chapter with a big housewarming party – surrounded by friends, family and neighbors who have all been part of the journey. A reminder that a home is not just about walls and ceilings, but about the people and memories that fill it.
