Our Malmo Apartment
Back in January we found the apartment of our dreams in Malmö. Turn of the century (the 20th century, that is) and full of the most beautiful details — literally, the apartment we’d dreamed of for the last couple of years when we’d imagined our future selves living in Sweden. We’d started looking for an apartment a couple of months before, knowing our temporary lease was only very short and wanting to avoid having to move a second time if possible. We’d been to a few open homes for different apartments around the neighbourhoods we were interested in, but I couldn’t shake the obsession for this one particular apartment.
Initially, I had ruled it out for price and size, thinking it too expensive and too big for what we needed. Coming from our Sydney flat of 36sqm, anything above that felt generous, so to go much bigger felt downright palatial! I hadn’t really talked myself out of it, but then noticed it was de-listed from the website where all the available properties are shown. I thought we’d missed the boat completely, but I signed up to be notified from the real estate agent for any other information on the property — just incase something fell through. A week or so later I saw it was listed again on the real estates own website, but no further information. I fired off a few emails asking for a viewing, and a few days later was notified of a showing on a Sunday afternoon. We had 4 other viewings that day — none of which I really cared for, because I knew we were going to see the ‘dream house’ that same day.
We knew as soon as we walked in the door that it was “the one”… I’d been looking at the listing photos each night before bed so was very familiar with every room and the floor plan — it was a rare occasion of having the reality match up with the fantasy and we were whispering to each other how perfect it was, while still trying to keep an air of nonchalance about us. We started negotiations and it was the longest-shortest wait to find out if we could make it ours, but less than 48hrs after viewing it we were signing paperwork and dreaming of what it would be like to live somewhere so beautiful in a couple of months time. Sweden does not waste time when it comes to property!
The first week or so that we had the keys it felt like a fancy Airbnb, or a cute boutique hotel in Europe where we’d been upgraded to a room with a view on the ‘good side’. I would tip-toe from room to room because I was so paranoid about doing anything to damage the beautiful, 120 year old parquet floor. Once we had some furniture arrive things started to feel more comfortable and it was only a few days before we leapt into some minor renovations and some major cosmetic changes! Now having finished the majority of the projects we’ve planned, things are feeling much more cosy and ‘us’. I’m looking forward to sharing the before and afters of each room with you!
