Sustainability has been fundamental in the Helleday family's construction of their dream home, now completed in Överboda. 'We want to lower the threshold for others to create and shape their homes in a gradual manner and with unexpected materials,' says Cornelia Helleday.
At the Helledays' home in Överboda
– As you can see, the windows are not very traditional; I wanted the feeling that they flow over the house, says Cornelia Helleday, showing us around.
She is a creator in the truest sense of the word. She photographs, writes, designs clothes, makes ceramics, paints pictures and (tada!) designs houses. Together with her husband, Jonas Helleday, she designed the house they have been dreaming about for years, and which is now a reality, writes VK.
– For me, there's no real difference whether I'm making a garment, painting, or designing this house, the creative process is similar - with all due respect to the fact that a house is a much bigger and more complex project, she says.
The spacious kitchen has a built-in hood in the stove. 'Jonas thinks that hoods are usually just in the way, so we came up with this solution, and it actually works very well – better than we had expected,' Cornelia says.
At the Helledays' home in Överboda
The dream house is a large, bright, south-facing residence built of loose-logs on a sloping wooded lot, with, as Cornelia says, windows everywhere. As for the interior, she wants it to feel a bit like a dollhouse, with chunky furniture and odd details, but on a much larger scale.
–This green couch is a find from Returbutiken for 200 kronor. We removed the legs to give it a more 'chunky' look
– I love that it's so big, she says, serving coffee in handmade ceramic cups.
The generous kitchen island, designed for socializing and cooking, is made of terrazzo stone, and the kitchen comes from Norden Kök. 'I think it turned out great,' says Cornelia, who is very satisfied with the hidden storage and has designed the handles on the kitchen drawers herself. 'I wanted them to be concealed but a bit stylish at the same time.'
At the Helledays' home in Överboda
The walls are hung with art signed by her and a friend, as well as a Marimekko painting that Cornelia made from fabric she bought used.
They found the property about eight years ago, just as the plans for the house were starting to take shape. There were conditions: the location must not be more than 20 kilometers from Umeå, and there was a budget must be adhered to.
–Jonas found this plot. It had been on the market for about three years and the price was quite low. The pictures in the ad were incredibly gloomy; it was winter and gray. I said to him, "Do you really think this looks interesting?" she says, laughing.
My first visit was in early summer, so it looked very different from the picture.
– When we got out of the car, it was so quiet! It was fantastic! The quiet is something that both of us are attracted to, and then there was the view here. The property is high with a view of the valley and surrounded by forest. There is an ICA in the village, as well as a preschool and a school, a bus route, and an okay road.
At the Helledays' home in Överboda
At the Helledays' home in Överboda.
They acquired the plot and began sketching the house. They came here from Fäbodåkern, where they lived in Jonas' parents' house, and before that they had an apartment in Backen. The groundwork for Överboda started at the end of 2020.
– My cousin Niclas Syrén works as a project manager in the construction industry in Stockholm and has helped us a lot with ideas and tips: he's absolutely incredible, says Cornelia.
It is not always easy to find contractors who are willing to let homeowners participate in the work.
– But we've been really lucky to work with a lot of fantastic contractors who have made the building process so much easier, Cornelia says.
The Helledays have done much of the work themselves, including the basement, ventilation, insulation and electrical work. They even installed the house's paneling, which took quite a while. As far as materials are concerned, they've been mindful of environmental impact, quality and reuse, something Cornelia always prioritizes. Above all, they've let their decisions mature and percolate.
The hall upstairs.
At the Helledays' home in Överboda.
How did you find the time to work and build a house?
– Jonas was on leave one day a week for a while and we have spread out our holidays. Since labor is the most expensive part, doing a lot of the work ourselves was a way to keep expenses down. We also got a lot of help from our families when we had our "building days". The parents took care of the children, prepared food, and even helped with the construction, says Cornelia.
They moved in on July 11 last year, and their son Frans was born five days later.
- It was a bit chaotic, but it worked, she laughs.
The whole family gathered in the fantastic house they designed and largely built themselves; Hedvig plays on the floor, next to her stands Frans with the support of dad Jonas, and, at the rear, is mom Cornelia with the cat Lolo
At the Helledays' home in Överboda.
The atmosphere is harmonious and welcoming, with high ceilings, large windows that allow plenty of natural light, and soothing colors. Most of their time is spent in the spacious combined kitchen, dining and living room on the upper floor, which is decorated in beige tones with green and orange sofas providing vibrant accents. The walls are painted in lime for a vivid look.
– It may not have been the most obvious choice to choose such a shade, but I love colors. It's Jotun's color 'Vitt te' (white tea), says Cornelia.
They inherited the sturdy dining table from her parents and bought the chairs at Returbutiken for ten kronor each. And when they're in the mood for a little refreshment, there's room for new creative solutions, courtesy of Cornelia.
Cornelia has covered the stair railing in aluminum sheeting that she sanded with sandpaper.
At the Helledays' home in Överboda.
Remaining work on the house includes finishing part of the staircase railing to the lower floor, which Cornelia has clad in aluminum, but which will probably get plywood on the inside.
– I bought all the panels they had in that thickness from Biltema. It's probably used more for signs or for car panels. The guy at the checkout just stared at me and said, 'I have to ask, what are you going to do with this?' Cornelia mimics, laughing.
– I'm going to cover a banister!
She bent it, glued it, and sandpapered it. The finish turned out great.
– I just love using materials in unusual contexts - it's so fun and stimulating! And I like contrasts, like the combination of our walls with the wooden floor and the aluminium electrical outlets.
Hedvig's room on the ground floor. Sometimes she says, 'Mom, shouldn't we rearrange the furniture?' Cornelia says that sometimes she sees herself in her daughter.
Not everything is finished; a roof deck is under construction, lighting needs to be installed in the large room, and parts of the lower level are still under construction. But they live in the dream home they designed and built.
What is most important in a home?
– That it is safe and welcoming and that it is meant to be lived in - that things can be used - that is very important! And that it can evolve over time, concludes Cornelia.
Hedvig's playhouse was purchased second-hand and was completed before the main residence.
Fact box
Year of construction: 2020–2022
Living space: 225 square meters
Exterior: Superwood, color Sand
Plot: Just over 5,000 square meters