Hello Home, Chili Bendt
In the heart of Gamla Enskede, just a stone’s throw from Triangelparken, Chili Bendt and her family have found their home. We meet Chili on a sunny March day - one of the first truly warm days of spring. She’s in her final week of parental leave with little Maggie, just before heading back to work. On a daily basis, Chili works as a production manager at Patriksson Group, where her sharp eye for both the big picture and the fine details allows her to lead projects that blend creativity with precision.
After months of renovation, the turn-of-the-century apartment is finally finished - the one with the round room that was what truly won over Chili and her husband Gustav. A passion project, driven by their love of reused materials, music, and a deep appreciation for thoughtful minimalism. This time, with two kids in the mix - both wishing for their own colorful rooms.
In Maggie’s room, the tones are sunny yellow - a warm, playful hue that lights up the space, where both the ceiling moldings and radiator covers have been preserved in their original form. The cheerful colors continue in the choice of curtains. “For the kids’ rooms, we chose linen Roman blinds with a wave-shaped edge, and a hidden roller blind behind that blocks out all the light,” says Chili. On the wall hangs a pair of pink silk ballet slippers - a gift from a neighbor. Still a little too big for Maggie, but patiently waiting for their first dance steps.
Beyond her role at Patriksson Group, Chili is also the founder of Bomber Management & Production - a creative music management company where she works as a DJ and music curator. Music is a red thread running through both her professional and personal life. Together with her husband, musician Gustav Bendt, she has built a life where both music and home are shaped by their shared creativity.
“For a home to truly reflect your personality, I think you have to decorate based on your own interests,” Chili explains. “For us, music is such a big part of life, which is why you’ll find photographs of our favorite bands on the walls. We don’t have coffee table books just because they’re pretty; instead, there are books about punk and rocker culture here. Scent also plays a big role in our home. We light candles with woody, rich, and deep fragrances. Even our furniture choices could be seen as gothic - like the Brutalist mirror from Dusty Deco, the Viscontea lamp from Flos, and the Horse armchair from Magniberg.”
“In the living room, we went with a classic silhouette and a muted tone to allow space for the rest of the interior. The cream-colored linen fabric adds a luxurious and airy feel to the room.” When it comes to unique details, Chili is drawn to the odd and unexpected - preferably with a story. When asked about her best vintage find, she says: “My best vintage find has to be the massive Travertine dining table - it weighs 300 kg and is three meters long, and someone was just giving it away on Blocket. It was hell to bring home. Or maybe it’s the amazing Zellige tiles in the bathroom, which I managed to find for just a thousand kronor.”
The kitchen has been one of the family’s biggest joint projects - and at the center is the tiled island, which sets the tone for the rest of the space. “One of my favorite memories from the renovation is when Gustav and I built the kitchen island in the evenings while the kids were asleep (while drinking wine),” says Chili. “It was hard, but we were so happy with the result - and it really gave the kitchen a unique character.” Beyond the kitchen island, textiles also play a key role in setting the mood of the room. “The kitchen got a beautiful, sheer Roman blind in a sandy tone, which creates the most lovely effect when fully lowered and you can just barely glimpse the world outside. It’s so cozy on weekend mornings when we hang out around the kitchen island drinking coffee.”
The bedroom is accessed through original double doors, and just inside, your eyes are drawn to the heavy, blackout curtains in a woven linen - one of many thoughtful choices in the home. The curtains were selected with both function and atmosphere in mind. “In the bedrooms, it was important to block out all light so that we all get the best possible sleep,” says Chili. “In our room, we have thick, luxurious blackout linen curtains in sand that run from ceiling to floor. The color, combined with the bed textiles, creates a calm and harmonious atmosphere.”The bed is dressed in a custom-made khaki linen bedspread - a warm contrast to the otherwise natural tones of the room and a perfect match for the wooden elements that add character.
Creating their home has been a project filled with both creativity and patience. When asked what part of the renovation has been the most fun, Chili replies: “The most fun (and hardest) part has been constantly hunting for building materials on the second-hand market. We’ve done our best to score finds on Blocket, which has meant making some compromises - but also buying the wrong things and having to resell them later. In the end, it turned out just how we wanted, but it really was a constant hunt and endless scrolling.”
In Kurt’s room, the tones lean blue, with a Roman blind in a petroleum shade with a wave detail - matching his sister’s, but here with playful red accents. A checkered curtain hides practical storage, and in front of the window, a spacious area invites creativity and play. It’s clear that Kurt shares his parents’ love for music. We laugh quietly as we move a synth off the desk before the photo shoot - a natural part of the decor in a room where imagination and music flow freely.
In Chili and Gustav’s home, it’s clear that every choice has been made with heart. It’s a place where aesthetics meet function, where creativity blends with daily life, and where every room carries traces of their personality. Vintage treasures live side by side with carefully chosen materials, and the sounds of play, conversation, and music are free to echo between the walls.