Nordic design in South Korea: The ever-changing, colorful home of Pilwoo, Saerom, and Seojin

South-Korean family sitting around the dining table — Pilwoo (left), Saerom, and their 7-year-old son Seojin live in Seoul, South Korea. Their home is a playful and colorful mix of carefully selected furniture.

The playful home of illustrator Saerom Kim, book and magazine publisher Pilwoo Nam, and their 7-year-old son Seojin is an ever-evolving mix of styles. Design Stories visited their vibrant mountainside home near Seoul to talk about creativity, family life, and their love for Nordic design.

Text and photos: Puttonen Ruska

VISITORS ARE WELCOMED at the entrance by artwork from 7-year-old Seojin – nature-themed drawings from the young artist in the making. The parents, Pilwoo and Saerom, share that their favorite pieces in the home are the fun ones, just like their son’s art. Their interior ideology is to mix and match different styles.

“At first, I decorated my house only with famous designer furniture and props, but at some point, it lost its individuality,” Pilwoo explains.

He wants to avoid making their home look like a furniture showroom, instead preferring to combine different styles and materials. The couple didn’t do any renovations after moving in in 2018, but they added mirrors to create unexpected effects and installed indirect lighting to enhance the atmosphere.

“Here, people like bright homes, and a lot of our friends ask why it’s so dark,” Saerom says, laughing.

A collection of different chairs by a dining table — No two chairs or stools around the dining table are alike.

A yellow ceramic lemon — The ceramic lemon, crafted by a friend who is an artist, is one of Saerom’s favorite objects.

A child playing under the dining table — A cozy moment reflected – Saerom and Pilwoo share a smile at the kitchen table while Seojin plays under it.

Saerom’s style is colorful, while Pilwoo prefers minimal and simple designs. The couple never argues over interior choices; they believe that by combining their styles, they’ve created a space that is both calm and lively. They don’t plan the interior meticulously – items find their places over time, and they’re patient about waiting for favorite pieces to become available.

Pilwoo and Saerom enjoy DIY projects and are always exploring new ways to curate their space. Their latest project was using tape on the kitchen counter to imitate a metal finish. They’ve also changed the layout over 20 times already! “It’s like Howl's Moving Castle as everything keeps on changing,” says Saerom.

A home in motion – Pilwoo and Saerom love experimenting with their space, having already rearranged it over 20 times.

Since having a child, some of their furniture choices have changed; for example, they swapped three-legged Artek Aalto stools for four-legged versions to prevent tipping when Seojin climbed on them. However, they kept one three-legged stool because it holds special memories. The vintage Aalto stool, from before the ’60s, was bought second-hand from Finland.

“There’s a trace of the leather part of the stool being chewed on from when Seojin was young, but I think it’s meaningful because it’s part of our story.”

Aalto stool 60 by Artek — The three-legged Artek stools had to be replaced with sturdier four-legged ones when Seojin was little. The tiny bite marks on the leather upholstery are a cherished memory.

Folding origami — Seven-year-old Seojin is a budding artist – folding origami is his favorite pastime.

A șelf-designed mirror — Saerom works on freelance illustration projects, often at the kitchen table. The couple designed the large pale yellow floor mirror themselves.

Woman carrying an Artek stool — The couple appreciates the clarity of Nordic design. They have several Artek stools and tables in their home.

While the couple enjoys vintage pieces, they value functionality alongside beauty. “I like vintage items that I can actually use rather than ornamental vintage items. I feel burdened by items that I have to cherish too carefully. I call myself a 'practical romantic,’” Pilwoo explains.

During a visit to Finland in 2016, they handpicked tableware for their collection; a green vintage Arabia cup from a second-hand shop is one of their favorites. Nordic furniture has grown in popularity in South Korea in recent years and is often blended with the traditional Hanok style.

Pilwoo appreciates Nordic furniture for its purposeful straight lines and curves. “Nordic design is simple and has a purpose,” he says. The couple owns several Artek tables and chairs.

A South-Korean family taking a coffee break at home — While Pilwoo carefully brews coffee, Saerom takes a moment to unwind at the kitchen table.

Arabia vintage coffee cup — The vintage coffee cup from Arabia, the traditional Finnish ceramics manufacturer, was purchased in Finland.

Marimekko Oiva coffee cup — The black and white Oiva coffee cup is by Marimekko.

Transparent small speaker — The open shelves hold books, a record player, and favorite records – along with other treasured items. The white speaker is by Transparent.

Pilwoo reading books and comics — Pilwoo runs his own publishing house and dreams of becoming a musician.

PILWOO WORKS in multiple fields, from art licensing to graphic design, and runs his own publishing company, where he produces and creates books and magazines. Already a multitasker, he dreams of becoming a musician one day.

His office shelves are filled with items that hold personal significance, from old film cameras and books to his favorite fragrances and sleek electronics – all carefully curated and organized.

Pilwoo and Saerom both work from home, turning their space into a creative hub where even Seojin joins in with his origami.

The kitchen table, surrounded by mismatched chairs, is Saerom’s favorite spot; she works there on her freelance illustration projects. Sunlight bounces beautifully around the room, reflecting off a large pastel-yellow mirror the couple designed and hand crafted by a local artist in Busan. Saerom admits that the sculptural mirror makes the perfect selfie zone.

The ceramic lemon art piece on the kitchen table, by an artist friend, is another favorite of hers. During our visit, Seojin shared the workspace with her, making origami with colorful paper.

A child playing with a neon yellow hula hoop. — Seojin has mastered the hula hoop, too!

A child's playful drawings — From chickens to a “Sunflowel,” Seojin’s playful creativity shines through in every drawing.

&Tradition Flowerpot pendant light — The grey-beige Flowerpot pendant light casts a soft glow.

A portrait of Pilwoo and Saerom — Pilwoo and Saerom dream of living in a detached house with a small yard.

An image of apartment buildings and mountains in Seoul — Their home offers green views of Seoul’s surroundings and the distant mountains.

When we ask the couple if this is their forever home, they reply, “Actually, Saerom and I want to get out of here. We really want to, haha.” The apartment is convenient and quiet, surrounded by forest, but they dream of living in a detached house with a yard.

“To be exact, we want to build a house just the way we want to live: a bigger window with better lighting, a spacious kitchen, and so on. We’ll probably still be here in 10 years, but wouldn’t it be great if we could achieve our dreams in 20 years?”