Pine Edge Villa: Where Swedish archipelago meets American modernism
Jonas and Evelina Ljung’s home is located in the Värmdö archipelago just outside Stockholm.
LOCATED AMONG THE PINES of the Stockholm archipelago, Pine Edge Villa embraces both the rugged beauty of the surrounding landscape and the calm rhythm of the sea beyond. Designed with a deep respect for functionalist principles, this modern seaside retreat takes inspiration not only from Nordic nature but also from the mid-century Case Study Houses of California.
The timber-clad home is shared by the family of magician and director Jonas Ljung and his wife, Evelina. Swedish viewers may recognise the house from the popular TV show Grand Designs Sweden, while Jonas himself is internationally known as one half of the magic duo Brynolf & Ljung.
The couple fell in love with the plot in Värmdö at first sight. Evelina grew up in the area, and Jonas, too, immediately felt at home among the rocky cliffs and windswept pines.
In addition to the local landscape, the design of the house draws inspiration from the American Case Study Houses of the 1940s–1960s.
Designed by architect Max Holst, the timber-clad building stands on a concrete base supported by a V-shaped pillar.
The tones and forms of Pine Edge Villa blend effortlessly with the rugged beauty of the surrounding archipelago landscape.
Pine Edge Villa was designed to blend into its natural surroundings rather than stand out. Alongside warm wood, glass, concrete, and limestone were chosen for the main materials, keeping the palette deliberately restrained.
Jonas and Evelina envisioned a home that would be both beautifully simple and highly functional. The key, they decided, was storage: with a place for everything, life feels balanced, and the serene atmosphere remains intact.
With a place for everything, life feels balanced.
The couple turned to Swedish company Nordiska Kök to design and build custom cabinetry for the kitchen, bathroom, bedrooms, and living areas. The dark oak finish of the built-ins creates a unifying thread throughout the interiors, forming the foundation of the home’s color palette.
The dark oak bespoke cabinetry was custom-made by Swedish company Nordiska Kök.
Ample storage is the key to a calm and harmonious interior.
The color palette was kept deliberately pared down – the pines outside lend their evergreen warmth to the interiors as well.
Thanks to the large windows, the connection between indoors and outdoors feels seamless.
The house was designed by architect Max Holst, who was tasked with creating a Swedish take on the American Case Study Houses.
Originally conceived in California, the experimental Case Study Houses of the 1940s–1960s embodied a modernist vision of affordable, high-quality homes for the post-war middle class. Their open floor plans, expansive windows, and seamless connection between indoors and outdoors became architectural icons of their time.
In Pine Edge Villa, these ideas are reinterpreted through a Nordic lens – adapted to the local climate, landscape and building traditions while maintaining the bold modern spirit of the original concept.
Concrete, limestone, glass, and wood form the foundation of the home’s material palette – both inside and out.
Much like the Case Study Houses that inspired it, the architecture reveals its complexity through openness — every structure and detail is left visible within the fluid continuity of the space.
The bedroom wardrobes were also custom-designed by Nordiska Kök.
The bathroom was designed to evoke the serene feel of a boutique hotel. The walls are limestone, and the floors are finished with microcement.
At the heart of the home spa is a limestone bathtub that basks in natural light.
Jonas has travelled the world performing sold-out shows with the magic duo Brynolf & Ljung, and Evelina has often joined him on these journeys. Their shared experiences abroad inspired them to bring an international sensibility into their home – a balance of bold, cosmopolitan architecture and the tranquil elegance of a boutique hotel.
Yet despite its sophistication, Pine Edge Villa remains intentionally minimalist, allowing the dramatic beauty of the surrounding nature to take centre stage. The result is a timeless and tranquil whole – a dialogue between architecture and the elements, as if the house had always belonged to the landscape.
More inspiration:
• Dining essentials >
• Spa-like retreat >
Styling: Pella Hedeby Images: Kristofer Johnsson / Nordiska Kök
Published on 9 Oct, 2025
