Modern interior design is thankfully pushing past the “Millennial gray” and “everything beige” trends that have defined the better half of the 21st century—the big trend now is bright, whimsical spaces filled with color and interesting shapes. If you aren’t ready to adopt those pastel pink baguette holders, bubbly gold candle holders, and those viral squiggly blue mirrors in your own space, there’s a creative way to incorporate the look into your next vacation.
The Swedish designer Gustaf Westman—who has an upcoming collaboration with Ikea and whose dishware regularly goes viral on TikTok—is opening up his Stockholm home to guests. Westman partnered with home-swapping platform Kindred to give other people the chance to experience his space, which is decorated with chunky décor, larger-than-life mirrors, and soft, indulgently shaped furniture.
“I’m really excited to open up my home to others on Kindred,” Westman said. “There’s something unique about letting people experience my designs in a personal space where there is no curation whatsoever, just my own creative chaos of whatever I’m working on at that moment. It’s a full expression of my world.”
Kindred
Unlike booking a vacation rental or hotel, there’s a bit more to booking Westman’s home on Kindred. First, you’ll have to head to the Kindred website and create a home and user profile. Sign up with the code GUS.TAF, so his home will automatically be saved to your favorites. Then, where there’s availability to book, you’ll be notified so you can send in a request.
Pricing will vary depending on how you use Kindred as a home swapping platform. With Kindred, you earn credits every time you host other travelers. On top of that, you will have to pay a fee—for example, you could stay in New York City for seven nights for $545, if you have earned seven credits. Many of the homes on Kindred are just everyday, well-maintained apartments and homes. But some, like Westman’s, are true gems.
“There’s something deeply personal about stepping into an artist’s home. It’s not just about the objects, it’s about seeing the world the way they do,” said Justine Palefsky, CEO and cofounder of Kindred. “Gustaf builds more than furniture. He builds feeling. Swapping homes with him isn’t just a design moment; it’s an invitation to live inside someone else’s creative mind. That’s what makes Kindred different: you don’t just visit a place, you experience someone else’s perspective.”
