Ett Hem.
Photo: Courtesy of Ett Hem
Designed to Travel: An Inside Look at Ett Hem in Stockholm
Interior design maven Christine Gachot and her fellow designer husband John share highlights from their personal travel diaries
A sketch by John Gachot from their time at Ett Hem. Photo: Courtesy of Christine Gachot
When we first arrived at Ett Hem in the summer of 2021, we immediately felt at home. Our car pulled into the quiet residential neighborhood that actually reminds me a lot of our Sutton Place home in New York, and we walked through the front gate, catching a glimpse of the cozy courtyard with the most welcoming scent of firepits. It felt like we had just arrived at our friend’s townhouse—and like an insider’s best-kept secret.
Making an entrance…
As we quickly discovered, when it comes to hospitality, the team at Ett Hem is the best of the best. They go above and beyond, as you’d expect of a luxury hotel, but the team is also very genuine and comfortable. They took cues from each guest about what we were looking for in our stay.
Our host brought us into what was essentially Ilse Crawford’s living room, full of beautifully arranged furniture. There was a home honor bar in the corner that was begging us to help ourselves. I saw two guests playing cards in the library and realized right there that we probably wouldn’t be spending much time in our suite.
Entrance. Photo: Courtesy of Ett Hem
Resident's lounge. Photo: Courtesy of Ett Hem
My husband, John, is known for documenting every single design detail of a hotel—and before he had even reached our room he had started his deep dive. We walked into what felt like a private home kitchen where the chef had just made macarons. Next thing I knew, John was eating cookies and taking photos, and I was sipping a glass of wine and chatting with the chef about our dinner. This arrival experience was already next level, but we had gotten a taste of the Ett Hem hospitality game even before we checked in.
Kitchen. Photo: Courtesy of Ett Hem
Kitchen lounge. Photo: Courtesy of Ett Hem
Come hungry…
A couple of our friends who were in Gotland with us for a wedding the week prior were also stopping in Stockholm and wanted to see the hotel. We had dinner booked for the two of us on our first night, so the day before we arrived, I called and asked if we could add four people to our reservation. Then two other friends heard about the dinner, and I had to call back again. The team at Ett Hem said it sounded like a dinner party and asked if we had any specific requests. I told them to just do what they do.
Now, I was answering the chef’s questions as he prepped our dinner. Somehow, he knew that I did not eat meat but wondered if I ate fish. They asked if we would be interested in a wine pairing with dinner and I told them one of my friends is big into wine. The sommelier told me to point him out so he could run the wine by him once seated. Then our host asked if we wanted a preview of the set up.
We followed her out through the courtyard to the glass conservatory and saw the most spectacular dinner table! My immediate thought was, how did they make this magic happen so fast? I called my friends and let them know it was going to be an epic night!
Breakfast in the courtyard. Photo: Courtesy of Ett Hem
Guest apartment. Photo: Courtesy of Ett Hem
Rest your head…
After our host walked us through our suite, she said goodbye and I think I maybe gave her a hug… This was already better than most hotel stays. The loft suite was clad in beautifully warm wood and felt very Scandinavian. It was clean but layered. It was a little less eclectic but felt in line with the public spaces. There were curated snacks and magazines, and proper glasses at the full bar.
I fully move into every hotel room, whether I’m staying for one night or longer. I move around the furniture, and I fully unpack my clothes and my beauty products. There was such a great element of discovery as I unpacked. I opened a drawer and found the sweetest chocolates. I walked into the bathroom to discover Verso skincare. I love product so much and definitely play favorites, but this was unreal. I was so excited to try it all! It was like I was in my best friend’s bathroom and she wasn’t going to get mad at me for using as much of her skincare as I wanted.
Guest apartment. Photo: Courtesy of Ett Hem
Attic suite. Photo: Courtesy of Ett Hem
Make yourself at home…
Somehow, we made it downstairs before dinner and had time to sit in the living room, where we had a glass of wine with another couple that was staying at the hotel. The living room has a casual, old-world salon feeling that can be private or friendly. It feels familiar and it’s easy to meet new people.
Dinner with our friends was as epic as I expected! It was smooth and elegant, one delicious taste after another. From the bread to the meats to the veggies, everything was so fresh! Our friends sat around the candle-lit dinner table all night.
Dinner at Ett Hem. Photo: Courtesy of Ett Hem
That extra mile…
From then on it was hard for us to leave the hotel, but when we did, the team arranged for cars to wherever we needed them and told us about vintage stores for children’s gifts. There was the most charming pocket-sized city guide that we took with us as we explored Stockholm.
Every evening we’d ask ourselves if we really wanted to eat somewhere else, and we did get to a couple of great restaurants, but we also loved to eat at the hotel. One night we ate dinner just the two of us in the kitchen. Everything was exposed and it felt like the chefs were making a family meal. I don’t think we ever ordered anything, they just kept feeding us!
Another night, I was waiting for John in the living room and a young girl who was staying at Ett Hem with her family sat down and asked for a menu. Her family had gone out to dinner and she had decided to stay in. Before giving her a menu, the staff member asked if there was something particular she wanted. She said she’d like a salad, and they asked what kind of lettuce she’d like and what kind of protein. They very easily helped her craft a custom salad order without ever bogging her down with a menu. My jaw was on the floor! To see firsthand how the team treated a young person with such warmth and respect was so impressive.
Their democratic approach that everyone is important, young or old, a first-time guest, or a friend of a guest, is hospitality at it’s best.
The drawing room. Photo: Courtesy of Ett Hem
Ett Hem. Photo: Courtesy of Ett Hem
The takeaway…
Our stay at Ett Hem was eye-opening to unbelievable hospitality and exceptional design. That fall, “Ett Hem” became a verb in our studio. We’d be in the middle of a design charette and I’d say, “Ett Hm it!” and the team would know to add a residential Scandinavian layer to the space. The design of the hotel works together so perfectly. It felt curated, but not overly so. It felt fresh and incredibly warm. I absolutely had home envy! I’ve tried—unsuccessfully—to recreate the staircase cascading with elevated house plants in my own home. John still references the railing detail and I still have the notebooks and key chains they gave us.
When we were there, they were renovating but we never would have known. I can’t wait to see the expansion. And I know the experience will be exactly the same because I know they’ve grown thoughtfully. I know how much energy and care goes into running a hotel, but as a guest, the Ett Hem team made it all look effortless.
We celebrated our 25th wedding anniversary last summer and John gifted me a book of his sketches with memories of our favorite hotel experiences—a personalized take on “Hotel-Hotel” a 1992 hotel stationary book by Martin Kippenberger. His sketch for Ett Hem has me dreaming of our next trip to Stockholm. Maybe it’ll be warm and maybe we’ll take a dip in the water at Tantolunden Park. I know for sure, we’ll be staying at Ett Hem!
Ett Hem. Photo: Courtesy of Ett Hem
Don’t miss…
Drinks in the courtyard and dinner in the kitchen.
Next trip…
We’re using the hammam!
Cover: Ett Hem.
Photo: Courtesy of Ett Hem
