Interior Designer Review - Lena Nyholm
Lena Nyholm is one of Sweden's leading interior designers and a creative visionary, renowned for her ability to craft spaces that are both beautiful and functional. With a background rooted in design and a sharp eye for detail, she has worked on a diverse range of projects. From private homes to dynamic public spaces where she always focuses on enhancing everyday life.
Beyond her design work, Lena has become a familiar face through various television appearances, where she shares her expertise and inspires audiences with her fresh, innovative ideas.
Tell us about your project, its goal, and why you wanted to collaborate specifically with belarteSTUDIO.
Grunden Bazaar is a daily activity center for people with disabilities. During the day, it operates as a community hub, featuring a flea market and café open to the public. In the evenings, it transforms into a vibrant space for cooking classes, pub nights, quizzes, and a variety of fun activities for members. Our goal is to create Gothenburg’s most welcoming meeting place, a space where people who love people can come together to enjoy coffee, discover hidden treasures, and share laughter.
To bring this vision to life, I needed partners who share my passion for creating beauty that’s accessible to everyone. BelarteSTUDIO was the obvious choice.
What is it like working with belarteSTUDIO?
Since discovering the fantastic team at BelarteSTUDIO, we’ve collaborated on both large and small projects. Whether working on my own designs I created with Belarte or using their existing wall murals, the collaboration has always been smooth, enjoyable, and full of creativity. My visions have come to life beautifully. When I use their existing designs, the process is always seamless, from measuring to delivery.
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How do you use your skills and design expertise to create spaces that are accessible to everyone?
My goal is always to help people feel as good as possible. I want people to experience a sense of wonder, to feel encouraged to stay, and to want to return. To me, it’s essential that the spaces I create are both beautiful and functional, one should never exclude the other. Everyone should feel welcome.
Tell us about the wall mural choices in each room and why you chose them?
My vision was for the bazaar to feel like a vacation destination, as many of our members find it difficult to go on exciting adventures. I wanted the space to feel surprising, harmonious, inspiring, and joyful. An oasis where the weather is always beautiful, right in the heart of Gothenburg. By using wall murals featuring stunning landscapes, I was able to create the illusion of breathtaking views. The large, open space was divided into distinct “rooms” using different motifs, making it easier for everyone to navigate the space intuitively.
Tell us about your design, Striped Archway, which we created together. How was the idea born? Why did you choose a new color in blue?
I’ve always been fascinated and inspired by old architecture, and I love visiting churches and castles wherever I travel. Arches are a recurring element in the ceilings and windows of older buildings, creating a grand yet soft feeling. Nowadays, everything is built with sharp angles. Houses, rooms, windows, furniture, which can feel harsh.
With this design, I wanted to give the space the illusion of a temple, where the three-dimensional effect makes the room feel infinite. The new blue color came to me when I visited Lisbon. Standing on the rooftop of an old cathedral, I photographed and filmed the arches against the backdrop of the blue sky. Now, the sky is always blue at Grunden’s bazaar. Because beautiful weather makes everyone happy.
