Renovation Project: A 1940s Swedish Villa with Preserved Features for $242,000

Built in 1946–1947 for industrialist Ivan Forssell and his family, Villa Forssell sits on a wooded hillside in Norberg, beside the Forssell Brothers’ Art Stone Foundry.

The company became known for its polished terrazzo bathtubs, producing more than 100,000 before the end of the decade. That connection between industry, craftsmanship, and home life is still visible throughout the villa.

The house was designed at a moment when the clean lines of functionalism were giving way to warmer materials and a greater emphasis on comfort. Its connected brick volumes step across the sloping plot, with low tiled roofs and deep eaves giving the exterior a strong horizontal line. Terraces, stairs and stone walls carry the architecture into the surrounding garden.

Inside, the entrance hall sets the tone. A leaded window lights the vestibule before the space opens onto a curved staircase with red artificial marble steps and an ornate green wrought-iron railing. A zigzag floor, painted floral ceiling, and cast relief depicting industrial workers make this a room with a story to tell.

Beyond the hall, the living spaces can open up for a large gathering or serve as smaller places to sit together. Wide openings create long views through the rooms, while the plan’s angles offer natural spots for a sofa, dining table, and library.

Windows look out towards the forest, and a door leads to a covered terrace. In winter, the open fireplace becomes the center of the room. Parquet floors, built-in joinery and carefully placed decorative details add richness without overwhelming the space.

The kitchen occupies its own part of the entrance floor, connected to the dining area by a serving passage and swing door. Built-in cupboards provide ample storage, and the sink overlooks the garden. Beside it, a room marked “Jungfru” on the original plans reflects the household arrangements of its time. It has since served as both a dining room and a study.

A separate bedroom wing holds two bedrooms, a bathroom and a shower room. Both bedrooms open onto small balconies with patterned iron railings, while the larger room has a full wall of built-in wardrobes.

The bathroom contains one of the villa’s most distinctive features: a substantial polished terrazzo bathtub, likely made at the family’s foundry. Near the entrance hall, a study could also be used as another bedroom; its position once allowed business visitors to be received without entering the family’s private rooms.

Upstairs are three further bedrooms, including the family’s former studio, where timber ceiling slats rise to the roof ridge. A toilet sits off the upper hall. The basement provides a pantry, boiler room, workshop and storage space, while the grounds include two log cabins, a guest cabin and a small playhouse.

The garden is now overgrown in places, but its original design remains visible. Stone terraces and paths follow the site’s changing levels, and a covered patio features a sculptural fireplace and spiral column. Deeper among the trees are a Japanese-inspired barbecue pavilion and a cast pool with sculptures.

The house is listed for sale at Historiska Hem (listing date: September 25)