MiNiMONO FAMILY #20 - VICKY, ALEXANDER, LEO (5) AND LOUIS (1) FROM MALMÖ
WE LOVE DISCOVERING THE UNIQUE UNIVERSE OF DIFFERENT FAMILIES AROUND THE WORLD, THE LITTLE RITUAL, PLAYFUL INTERIORS AND EVERYDAY MOMENTS THAT SHAPE THEIR WAY OF LIVING TOGETHER.
TODAY WE'RE STEPPING INTO THE MALMÖ HOME OF VICKY AND HER BOYS...
1- HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOUR FAMILY AND THE ROLE FAMILY PLAYS IN YOUR LIFE?
WE ARE A SCANDI FAMILY OF FOUR: OUR OLDEST SON LEO, OUR YOUNGEST, LOUIS, AND ALEXANDER AND ME. WE'RE FULL OF ENERGY AND LOVE SPENDING TIME TOGETHER, WE DO ALMOST EVERYTHING AS A FAMILY.
2- WE LOVE HOW CHILDREN BRING THEIR OWN MAGIC INTO A HOME. HOW DO YOU INVOLVE YOUR KIDS WHEN DECORATING THEIR ROOMS OR CREATING LITTLE CORNES FOR THEM?
WE RECENTLY REDECORATED LEO’S ROOM, TRANSITIONING IT FROM A TODDLER’S ROOM INTO A BOY’S ROOM. WE BUILT A CUSTOM LEGO TABLE WHERE HE CAN PLAY AND BUILD, AND BY TURNING THE TABLETOP AROUND, IT EASILY TRANSFORMS INTO A DESK FOR PAINTING, READING, AND DOING CRAFTS. AS HE’S STARTING SCHOOL AFTER THE SUMMER, WE’VE ALSO TRIED TO PREPARE HIM FOR THIS NEW CHAPTER IN HIS LIFE. THE BOYS LOVE TO PLAY AND SPEND TIME WHEREVER ALEXANDER AND I ARE IN THE APARTMENT, SO THEIR PLAY NATURALLY FOLLOWS US FROM ROOM TO ROOM, MAKING BOTH THE PLAY AND THE SPACE FLEXIBLE.
3- YOUR STYLE FEELS EFFORTLESS AND FUN. HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOUR PERSONAL AESTHETIC, BOTH IN THE WAY YOU DRESS AND THE WAY YOU SHAPE YOUR HOME. AND WHERE DO YOU FIND INSPIRATION FOR IT?
THANK YOU! COLOR BRINGS LIFE TO BOTH A ROOM AND AN OUTFIT. I NOTICE SUCH A DIFFERENCE—WHEN I WEAR COLORS, MY FACE IMMEDIATELY GETS A NATURAL BLUSH. I’D SAY IT’S THE SAME FOR A ROOM: ADDING COLOR AND PATTERNS MAKES THE SPACE MUCH MORE INTERESTING AND VIBRANT.
4- WE BELIEVE EVERY FAMILY HAS ITS OWN RYTHM. WHAT ARE THE RITUALS OR LITTLE MOMENTS IN YOUR HOME THAT DEFINE YOURS?
OUR WEEKEND BREAKFASTS ARE SACRED. WE MAKE A BIG EFFORT TO GET A GOOD START ON THE WEEKEND, DRESSING THE TABLE WITH DELICIOUS FOOD AND A NICE SETTING, AND THEN SITTING THERE FOR A LONG TIME. WHEN THE KIDS ARE DONE, THEY CAN LEAVE THE TABLE, EITHER TO PLAY AROUND US OR SIT WITH A COLORING BOOK AND PAINT, WHILE ALEXANDER AND I ENJOY OUR COFFEE AND CHAT.
5- DESPITE BEING ONE OF THE GREATEST FAMILY CHALLENGES, FOOD HAS A UNIQUE WAY OF BRINGING PEOPLE TOGETHER. WOULD YOU SHARE YOUR NUMBER ONE FAMILY DINNER RECIPE WITH US?
FOR A WEEKDAY DINNER, OUR GO-TO IS DEFINITELY MAPO TOFU—THE WHOLE FAMILY LOVES IT, ESPECIALLY LEO! SOMETIMES WE MAKE IT VEGETARIAN WITH JUST TOFU, AND OTHER TIMES WITH MINCED MEAT. WE ALSO LIKE TO MIX IT UP, SERVING IT WITH EITHER RICE OR NOODLES.
ON WEEKENDS, WHEN WE HAVE MORE TIME, WE ENJOY HAVING A BARBECUE WITH LOTS OF SIDE DISHES AND FRESH VEGETABLES. THEN THERE’S ALSO A LOT TO CHOOSE FROM, SO THE KIDS CAN PICK WHAT THEY WANT TO EAT.
6- AND FINALLY… AT YOUR HOME, WHO IS USING THE MiNiMONOs AND WHAT FOR?
THE BOYS USE THE MiNiMONOS ALMOST EVERY DAY. WE HAVE BOTH STOOLS IN LEO’S ROOM, AND THEY GET USED IN ALL SORTS OF WAYS: SOMETIMES AS A BEDSIDE TABLE, SOMETIMES AS A STOOL WHEN HANGING OUT OR DOING CRAFTS AT LEO’S DESK/LEGO TABLE. I ALSO GRAB ONE WHEN I NEED TO REACH SOMETHING IN LEO’S CLOSET. I LOVE THAT THEY’RE SO VERSATILE AND FIT NICELY IN THE ROOM.
THANK YOU VICKY, FOR WELCOMING US INTO YOUR COLORFUL FAMILY UNIVERSE, WE LOVED GETTING A LITTLE GLIMPSE INTO YOUR EVERYDAY LIFE AND YOUR LOVELY HOME.