Whatever you do, don’t miss Carl Larsson-gården, home of artist Carl Larsson and his wife, Karin, in the picturesque village of Sundborn. After the couple’s deaths, their early-20th-century home was preserved in its entirety by their children, but it’s no gloomy memorial. Lilla Hyttnäs is a work of art, full of brightness, humour and love.
Tours (45 minutes) run hourly; call in advance for the times of English tours (alternatively, borrow an English handbook and follow a Swedish tour).
Superb colour schemes and furniture fill the house: Carl’s portraits of his wife and children are everywhere, and Karin’s tapestries and embroidery reveal she was as skilled an artist as her husband. Even today, the modern styles throughout the house (especially the dining room) will inspire interior decorators, and the way the family lived, suffused in art and learning, will inspire practically everyone.
Also worth a look is the Kvarnen ('mill') gallery, which focuses on Karin Larsson and hosts temporary exhibits (admission Skr50).
