A missed turn leads to one family’s eclectic home, laboratory, and showroom
Driving home from Harris Teeter one day in 2021, Konrad Nyblom missed his turn and had to take a different route. Just a few streets away from his own home, he drove past a woman hammering a “For Sale by Owner” sign into her front yard.
“I got home and called right away,” says Nyblom. “We absolutely fell in love with the backyard. It was flat with space for the kids, and it looked so eclectic with different kinds of trees all over the place.”
Nyblom and his wife, Heidi, the owner and architect behind BLOM Design Studio, took a full year after that fateful missed turn to design their dream home around that eclectic yard and their kids (two under five, plus one on the way). Construction began in 2022, and before the house was even complete, the Nybloms were asked to participate in the GreenvilleMOD 2023 home tour. “It was a mad dash toward the end,” explains Konrad.
The Nybloms blended mid-century elements with Scandinavian design. Originally from Finland, Heidi has traditional Finnish glass pieces and trinkets throughout the house to remind her of home. On a larger scale, the Nybloms are working to incorporate more Scandinavian architecture into the area.
“In Greenville, architecture has been so traditional for so long and not much has changed,” says Konrad. “Scandinavian design is a nice way to introduce some new concepts that still fit with the area. The difference is that Scandinavian modern style tries to pare it down to exactly what are you using spaces for and then designs a home based on that rather than designing the form first. You have a lot more opportunity to design a home that is tailored to your lifestyle.”
A home tailored to your lifestyle is a goal the Nybloms are always striving to reach. When building their previous home, they designed it based on what they thought life would be like with children. “We were wrong on so many things,” laughs Konrad.
In their new home, Heidi focused on designing spaces where the kids can play within view, but their messes can be tucked away. The house features white oak custom cabinetry and built-ins where everything has a place. The Nybloms’ vision for these custom built-ins inspired them to start a cabinetry business when they couldn’t find anything locally that met their needs.
“You aren’t able to find a lot of modern building supplies here in Greenville,” explains Konrad. Modern-style materials, cabinetry, furniture—it is all pretty rare around here. So a lot of times we have found that you kind of just have to build it yourself.”
Their new cabinetry skills were quickly put to the test when Heidi wanted an open staircase to bring light into both levels, but didn’t want any steel showing that would look too industrial. “We had to have our cabinet company design a truss system within the railing that hides all the structure,” marvels Konrad. “It was an experiment that worked out well.”
If the staircase was an experiment, Konrad considers the house somewhat of a laboratory. From testing new floor-to-ceiling glass sliding doors to sampling new finishing colors, the Nybloms use their home to discover what works and what doesn’t.
“You’ve got to keep reinventing style; otherwise, it just gets boring and soulless to just do the same kind of house over and over again,” says Konrad. “So in that sense, our house is a laboratory. When we are done and we know the things we have tried actually work, then it becomes sort of a showroom. It gives us an excuse to keep the house very clean because you never know when we might need to bring a client over to check out the windows and doors or see our kitchen.”
Creating a space where design boundaries are challenged, clients are courted, and children feel comfortable enough to make fun messes has certainly been a successful experiment for the Nybloms.
A tour through Mid-Mod Living
Exterior
The exterior of the home was designed to blend into the neighborhood while still maintaining more modern, clean lines. “We used wood siding to give it a softer look and we kept the gable shape, but we are floating the second floor and have a flat roof to give it a little more interest,” explains Konrad.
Interior
Staircase
The white oak staircase was a challenge to design and build. The homeowners wanted it open to let the light in, but closed enough so that their kids couldn’t fall or jump through. Their solution was a white-oak-veneered slat wall that spans both levels of the home to keep the children safe and let the natural light in.
General interior
When designing the home, Heidi decided she didn’t want any black finishes. The Nybloms chose soft neutrals and wood tones to create a warm yet airy space. “We have sourced pieces from Design Within Reach, thrifting, and just collecting over the years. We wanted to design a home where we felt like all of our pieces fit in,” says Konrad.
Light in the main room: Vertigo Pendant by Petite Friture
The dining room light fixture and table are from Scandinavian design company Muuto while the dining chairs, barstools, and other furniture are from Danish-inspired furniture company HAY.
Windows and doors
The expansive glass windows and doors provide a seamless connection to the outdoors. In order to get the look they wanted, the Nybloms started Valo Windows and Doors. “We bring a lot of clients here to see the windows and doors because they are impressive. These huge pieces of glass truly speak for themselves,” says Konrad.
Primary bath/sauna
The Finnish steam sauna in the primary en suite is a relaxing nod to Heidi’s home country.
Office/kids’ playspace
The flex space of the main living room doubles as an office and a kids’ playroom. “We wanted to be able to have them playing within view, but not in the main area. If this room is a mess, the whole house doesn’t feel like a mess.” says Konrad. Heidi designed custom white oak drawers to hide all the Hot Wheels and other toys.
