“My home, my work and me, it’s all tied up together,” says artist Kristine Hasseloy when we visit her apartment and studio in the Norwegian city of Drammen. Kristine and her husband moved into the large, light-filled space thirteen years ago, and have since created a place that is packed full of personality. 

“When we first came here it had not been renovated for forty years but we instantly saw potential in all the unique and original elements of this old house.” 

“When we first came here we instantly saw potential in all the unique and original elements of this old house.” 

It was after winning an art competition in a newspaper that the young Kristine says she, “soon realised I liked to make beautiful things and wanted to share them with others.” By the age of fifteen, she was exhibiting and selling her work locally before going on to study art history at university.  

“Being creative has always been part of my DNA. As a child I would daydream about decorating our home my way. I remember standing upside down on the couch looking at the ceiling imagining it was an empty room and planning what I would do.” 

Over the years that followed, as Kristine’s popularity as an artist developed; so too did the scale of her work, and with it the amount of space she and her growing family needed. Mixing classic design pieces with contemporary Norwegian furniture, lighting, and accessories, Kristine says, “I love that the aesthetic expression of Northern sets the tone in this house. Its effortless elegance complements my artworks perfectly.”

“Being creative has always been part of my DNA.” 

When we ask if her surroundings have an impact on the art she produces, Kristine gives a resounding ‘yes’. “I absorb inspiration from everywhere and while the studio is my creative outlet, it is our home that motivates what I make.” 

“Just like my paintings, my home is a mindful mix of timeless layers. Sleek clean shapes, striking tones and natural textures come together to produce an atmosphere of contrast and calm.”   

While Kristine says she is fond of a traditional approach to interior design, with her own home she wanted to bring some freshness and flexibility into everyday family life. “We revamp, repaint, and move things around a lot as the need for change is constant. But essentially all I need is my super comfortable Oblong lounge chair, my cosy Acorn floor lamp, and my soft Row rug, all of which I use and enjoy every single day.” 

“I love that the aesthetic expression of Northern sets the tone in this house.”

“My head and my home are always full of dreams and plans. I treasure how within these four walls I can be me and enjoy the company of the people I love the most. The relationship between our lives, and the places in which we live them has never been more important.” 

“The relationship between our lives, and the places in which we live them has never been more important.” 

Kristine’s home is the perfect example of how our living spaces truly provide a canvas on which to express our personalities and passions.

Photography by Estera Johnsrud