This is Karen.
My name is Karen Swan. I lived in Asia for a decade and have travelled extensively for several more (including numerous trips to Burma!). My home is full of unusual artefacts, of both old and new furniture, of up-cycled pieces, antiques and vintage finds. I like to make every room tell a story, and to help others do the same in their homes too. I live in Hertfordshire, but also have a house in Portugal, and am constantly tweaking both.
See inside Karen’s homes
My Hertfordshire Home
We live in Hertfordshire in two converted workman’s cottages on the outskirts of a big estate. We bought the house 20 years ago off a guy who had lived in it for 35 years. It really felt like an old man’s house when we first moved in, but we’ve been iterating it constantly since then and it is now a really wonderful home. It has lots of character with some original 18th century features, and also some completely new parts, such as the garage which we converted a few years’ ago into a separate area for my now grown-up sons to use when they’re home. We’re still tweaking! We’re building a new orangery putting at the moment. It’s a constant work in progress.
Before we moved here, we lived in Singapore and Hong Kong for years, so the house is full of all the bits and pieces I picked up over there. I remember where I bought each piece, and all these years later I am still drawn to anything with an asian aesthetic when I’m in an antique shop, or shopping online.
My Home in Portugal
We’ve had a home in Portugal for about 15 years. We used to live on a golf course, but now live in a 1990s house with an amazing view. When we moved, it took us a while to get past the slightly awful interiors, but with the help of some amazing Portuguese builders, and despite the almost total language barrier, we now have a home we’re really proud of. And thanks to a brilliant man with a van who has done countless trips over from the UK for us, it is also full of asian artefacts, and of course, lots of my Kalinko things!
My Kalinko
I absolutely love all of my Kalinko things. Their beautiful parasol is always up in the garden during the summer. I’ve got their tissue boxes in most rooms - I love them, they’re really sturdy. I’ve also got lots of their planters - I love the vibrant colours of the greens and mustards. The trays are really strong. I have them in both houses. I love the handblown glassware too - perfect for a nice large gin and tonic. Or water. I know which I prefer…! I have their bins in all our bathrooms, and I love the laundry basket in my bedroom; it’s so beautiful - like like a piece of artwork.
I’ve bought lots of Kalinko ice buckets as presents for people, and use a lot of their products when I design people’s houses.
I love how Kalinko teaches us about the people and places behind all of these products. Knowing about the culture of Burma makes the items feel really special and different.
Shop Karen’s Home
Rattan Tissue Boxes
Handblown Glassware
Rattan Planters
See more of Karen’s home and interiors her instagram account @swanliving
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Miriam Cooper
Miriam is a food blogger who whose kitchen is the centre of her world. It’s where she spends most of her time both personally and professionally. And it’s super beautiful - have a peek…
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Charlotte McMullan
Charlotte lives in London and has recently bought her first home. She found Kalinko while looking for rattan accessories for it and is now hooked! Click to see her lovely flat.
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Sarah Foot
Sarah is a textile artist living in South East London. She found Kalinko just after we launched back in 2016 and has been one of our biggest fans ever since.
