The Architect Couple Who Built Their Dream Home

Julia and Markus bought their villa on Lidingö in 2015, with just one child at the time and big dreams of what the house could become. With its spacious layout, the house initially felt overwhelmingly large. However, when their family quickly grew with the arrival of twins, Leonor and Eloise, it became clear that the space needed to be used in a new way to meet their needs.

Even though they considered other houses on Lidingö, they quickly realized that the stunning view of Stora Värtan was irreplaceable. They decided to stay and transform the house into their dream home.

Though the couple designs houses for others in their day-to-day work, Julia and Markus admit that building their own home came with unexpected challenges. For instance, they hoped to move in just in time for Christmas, but the completion date was pushed to June the following year.

“Ensuring everything goes according to plan when building a house is nearly impossible,” Markus says. He explains that even as architects, they often fell into wishful thinking. One valuable lesson they share is the importance of holding regular construction meetings throughout the project to avoid misunderstandings and mistakes.

Working on their own house together was a new experience. They also describe how emotionally invested they felt compared to typical client projects. But with compromises and teamwork, they managed to create their dream home while ensuring that everyone—from family members to designers—was happy.

“It was a balancing act—we have similar tastes but different ways of getting there,” says Julia. While Markus focuses on details and construction, Julia emphasizes the overall vision and feel.

For Julia and Markus, creating a calm and harmonious home for their lively family was essential. They achieved this by using a neutral light gray color for the façades, walls, interior doors, and other built-in elements. This color changes with the light and reflects the natural shifts outside the glass façade overlooking the water.

“We wanted the interior to reflect the seasons, weather, and light, almost like a canvas,” says Julia. By keeping the built-in elements and walls neutral, they created room for loose furnishings and textiles to add vibrant touches.

One important design detail was the choice of interior doors. Initially, Julia and Markus planned to have a custom carpentry shop craft doors to achieve the luxurious feel they wanted, with doors that reached all the way to the ceiling and had no visible frames.

But when they discovered Njord, they realized the doors already offered everything they had dreamed of. “They turned out absolutely fantastic, just the way we wanted them!” says Julia.

Building your own home is an exciting experience but also a challenge that requires planning and patience. Julia and Markus share some advice for others embarking on their projects:

• Don’t let go of your architect after the building permit: Regular communication with the architect throughout the process reduces the risk of misunderstandings and mistakes.
• Prioritize materials and details: Small choices, like the right interior doors, can have a big visual and functional impact on the overall design.
• Be open to compromises: Finding creative solutions that balance different ideas can lead to an even better final result.

Julia and Markus’s villa on Lidingö now stands as a balance between their professional expertise, personal dreams, and family needs. It’s an inspiring story of how architecture not only creates buildings but homes filled with life and history.

For anyone considering building their own home, their story shows that with the right insights, vision, and passion, you can create something truly unique.

Location: Lidingö, Stockholm
Architect: Studio From Lazar
Instagram: @villa_majbacken
Products: Plain | Door Frame k03 | Sliding Door
Photographer: Emma Jönsson Dysell | @emmajonssondysell