Chili Bendt Home Tour

HOME OF
CHILI BENDT

Situated in Stockholm’s first garden district, Gamla Enskede, Chili Bendt’s home reflects her passion for aesthetics—an artful blend of vintage treasures, contemporary design, and a deep appreciation for craftsmanship. The apartment, once a 1920s dental practice, still carries traces of its past, now transformed into a thoughtfully curated space where history meets modernity.

“I love odd, quirky shapes. Unfortunately, not much color finds its way into our home (except in the kids’ rooms), no matter how hard I try.”

Wool Rug, Residue Shaggy, Oatmeal

With a love for bold silhouettes and unexpected shapes, Chili layers textures and statement pieces to create a home that feels both personal and inviting. Here, she shares her creative vision, thoughts on interior design, and the Stockholm spots that continue to inspire her.

For those who don’t know you, how would you describe yourself?

"Creative, fearless, straightforward, and with strong integrity. I work as a creative producer in events at the communications agency Patriksson Group, where my personality is fully expressed.”

How would you describe your interior design style?

“A light base with dark contrasts. I love odd, quirky shapes. Unfortunately, not much color finds its way into our home (except in the kids’ rooms), no matter how hard I try.”

What inspires you?

"Music and various subcultures. In our lives, music is the foundation of everything — it shapes our lifestyle, values, fashion choices, and even our home.”

When starting to decorate or design a home, how do you usually begin?

“Since I’m used to working with mood boards in my job, that’s always where I start. Then I dive into interior design stores online, Blocket, and Marketplace.”

Alapaca Blanket, Evelina Kroon, Dancing Doll, Wool Rug, Classic Solid Wool, Chicory Coffee.

You just finished renovating the apartment, what have you done with the place?

“We redid all the surfaces, as the previous owner was a wallpaper specialist, and we installed textured wallpaper in almost every room. A lot of time went into scraping and plastering to get smooth walls, and at the same time, we embedded electrical cables to run across the apartment. Beyond all the hard work that isn’t really visible, the kitchen and bathroom got a major upgrade.”

Mohair Blanket, Teklan, Mullberry Jam, Wool Rug, Classic Solid Wool, Capulet Olive

“Our renovation philosophy has been to challenge ourselves to source as much material as possible secondhand or reused. The light gray Zellige tiles and Bardiglio marble in the bathroom are from Blocket, and almost everything in the new guest toilet is leftover material from someone else’s renovation. The flooring was bought from an architect who had extras from a large construction project, the dark brown Zellige tiles came from an art gallery, the sink is a restored Blocket find, and the original door with a mechanical lock came from a neighbor’s apartment that was about to be thrown away.”

Do you have a favorite corner or detail in your home?

"The entire round room is my favorite and the reason we impulsively bought this apartment. I love the mirrored doors, the fireplace, and the almost 100-year-old decorative ceiling painting. It all pairs perfectly with our incredible arched sofa in a print designed by Eley Kishimoto.”

Mohair Blanket, Teklan, Mullberry Jam, Modul Sofa, Rosso, 2-seater

Wool Rug, Röllakan Hilma, Marigold

“I also get a special rush every time I walk into the kitchen and see the gigantic kitchen island in dark brown Zellige tiles, which my husband and I built at night while our kids were sleeping. I had this idea that we needed a kitchen island in time for my birthday party, which was just a week away. So we got to work—drinking wine, listening to true crime podcasts, making out, building, and swearing!”

What do you love most about living in Gamla Enskede?“

We’ve lived at several different addresses around Enskede, but Gamla Enskede has a special charm with its restaurants, markets, churches, and artisans working within the residential areas. It’s an incredibly welcoming neighborhood with a lively atmosphere—it almost looks like a set from an Astrid Lindgren movie.

What are your top three favorite cafés in Stockholm for an inspiring atmosphere?

“I’m not much of a sit-down café person, but I love grabbing a takeaway coffee from Bageri Kompass at Skogskyrkogården. Otherwise, Bar Montan in Slakthusområdet for amazing food and architecture, Riche Fenix for bar vibes and great art, and Kollektivet Livet in the old Birka Terminal for live concerts and an amazing view of Gamla Stan and Djurgården.”

Can you recommend any hidden gems in Stockholm that tourists often overlook?

For music lovers—Kafé 44! Great vegetarian food during the day and live gigs in the evening. It’s a historic venue where many Swedish rock and pop musicians got their start.

Which neighborhoods in Stockholm do you think have the most inspiring architecture and design?

Slakthusområdet, which is just a stone’s throw from us. You can already see how the area is transforming into an urban hub with a focus on food, culture, and experiences.