Real Spaces: Heather & Rune’s Artful, Eclectic Family Home
Step inside the newest episode of Real Spaces with Furniture Row for an exclusive walkthrough of Heather and Rune’s expressive, story-filled home! This vibrant house proves that combining cherished family heirlooms, original fine art, and playful conversation starters creates a sanctuary that is entirely, unmistakably personal.
*Watch the episode at the top of the page!
Rune comes from an artistic lineage, while Heather brings an eye for rich color, vintage treasures, and joyful whimsy. Together with their kids, Magnus and Thea, they have built a lived-in haven where every room celebrates family history, daily function, and a healthy sense of humor.
Here is how Rune and Heather strike the perfect balance between comfort, personality, and everyday family living.
The Front Room: Sunlight and Vintage Finds
Flanking the entryway sits what Heather and Rune simply call the front room. While previous owners treated it as a formal dining room, the couple transformed it into a sun-soaked morning retreat framed by towering ceilings and oversized picture windows.
Rune loves sitting here first thing in the morning as natural light pours in, offering a gentle moment of peace before the school rush begins. To furnish the space, the couple leaned into resourceful, retro flair:
- DIY Dot Gallery: When Thea brought home dozens of colorful dot paintings, Heather framed each one directly on the wall above the Rhodes Sofa using black tape, creating a sleek, budget-friendly art gallery.
- The 1960s Table Lamp: A mid-century lamp sitting and attached table inherited from Heather’s grandmother. While other relatives considered the vintage design quirky, Heather saw its playful charm and gave it pride of place.
- Nostalgic Accent Pillows: Vintage woven pillows originally from her grandmother’s couch that Heather and her siblings once thought felt like sandpaper, but now represent timeless vintage beauty.
- Evolving Seating Zones: As the kids grew out of toddler toys, the former play corner evolved into an inviting adult lounge featuring a sculptural statement tree, the Schumacher II Accent Chair, the Calypso Leather Power Recliner, the lavish Sol Round Coffee Table atop the Aberdeen Heritage Rug.
The Kitchen & Dining Space: Grand Central Station
From the moment you step into the kitchen and dining area, you feel the energy of a bustling, tight-knit family. This open-concept space flows right into the adjoining family room, allowing everyone to cook, snack, chat, and stream together without tripping over each other.
The Heirloom 5 Pc. Light Dining Set is the literal launchpad for daily life. It is where the family gathers for everything that keeps household momentum going:
- Fueling up during busy mornings, casual family meals, and late-night snacks.
- Tackling homework assignments, permission slips, and forms that need to be signed.
- Setting up spirited family game nights and weekend crafting marathons.
"This is kind of the central hub. This is where everything, if it needs to be addressed or looked at, it comes to the dining room table... snacks, homework, food." - Heather
Beyond being practical, the dining space is deeply sentimental. Heather and Rune chose to fill it with pieces that tie back directly to people they love rather than sterile, off-the-shelf items. Rotating displays of the kids' school artwork hang right alongside heirloom pieces, making the family’s gathering table as inspiring as it is functional.
The Family Room: Connected Comfort and Smart Zones
Just steps from the dining area sits the family room. Even when everyone scatters across different corners of the house, Heather notes that the kids always track down Mom. Using this hub-adjacent space, she can easily stay connected to the rest of the main floor.
To make this large, shared room feel cozy without closing it off, Rune and Heather turned to thoughtful furniture placement:
- Defining Boundaries with Storage: Placing the handsome Sarona Server between the TV lounge and the kitchen naturally separates the two functional areas without blocking sightlines.
- A Space for Meaningful Keepsakes: A high ledge serves as an architectural showcase for heirlooms, sacred items, and sculptural pieces that celebrate world cultures the family admires.
- Soft Ambient Lighting: Adding a pair of Dara Table Lamps around the room introduces vertical height and warm evening light.
One of the room’s most touching focal points is a collection of paintings by Rune’s grandfather, including a portrait of Rune’s mother as a young girl. It offers a moment of reflection and honors the rich artistic heritage flowing through their household.
Heather’s Home Office: Wallpaper, Heirlooms & Whimsy
When she is not cooking, working, or momming, Heather retreats to her dedicated home office. The room is a masterclass in rich, moody character, pairing stunning patterned wallpaper and rich hardwood floors with vintage family furniture.
What truly sets this office apart is its unpretentious, lighthearted charm:
- The Famous Green Dresser: A vintage dresser passed down through generations of Rune's family. Rune's grandmother carefully applied detailed turtles, birds, and butterflies to the piece, while his mother later updated it in deep green paint.
- The "Mustache" Portrait: A family portrait painted by Rune’s grandfather with a hilarious twist. When Rune’s mother was home from art school, she spontaneously used her thumb to add a tiny painted mustache to the subject, turning the canvas into a beloved family legend.
- The Iconic Leg Lamp: Straight out of A Christmas Story, Heather’s prized illuminated leg lamp stands tall, proving that home design should never take itself too seriously!
"The humor behind it is just another piece of what we find important in our home, is just not taking anything too seriously. Life is too short to take it seriously. We like to see the fun and the whimsy." - Heather
Thea’s Bedroom: Pretty in Pink
Heading into 10-year-old Thea’s room, one color rules the roost: vibrant pink! While many parents hesitate to paint children's rooms in saturated hues, Thea’s passion for pink has held strong since she was a toddler.
Heather designed the space to gracefully transition into the upcoming tween and teen years:
- A Room to Grow Into: The Ashton Panel Bed, Dresser, & Nightstand offer sturdy silhouettes with functional storage for clothes, books, and keepsakes as her style evolves.
- Nighttime Reading Nook: Heather and Thea unwind every single evening with a book, making comfy bedside seating and cozy lighting absolute essentials.
- Pet-Friendly Comfort: The family cat, Timmy, claims Thea's bed as his favorite nightly sleeping spot.
The Primary Bedroom: Restful Simplicity
At the end of a long day, Heather and Rune retreat to a primary bedroom designed strictly for restoration. As Rune calls it, the room is "the dojo of escapism and recharging for the next day".
Because Rune is taller than average, tailoring the room to his proportions was a top priority:
- The King-Sized Solution: The bedroom’s soaring ceilings easily accommodate the spacious Arrowhead Platform Sleigh Bed (in King size) with comfortable clearance so Rune does not have to crouch down to sleep.
- No-Fuss Bedding: Heather kept the space calm and inviting with breathable, tactile layers that avoid feeling overly stiff or persnickety.
- Curated Book Storage: Shelving packed with favorite novels, poetry, and classics lines the room, offering quiet evening reading that helps everyone wind down.
- Zodiac Art Vignette: Hanging proudly above the headboard are framed astrological signs representing the whole family, celebrating their fiery household dynamics!
Bring the Story Home
Heather and Rune’s home walkthrough illustrates the core philosophy behind Real Spaces: a home does not need to feel like a showroom to be beautiful. When you mix dependable foundational furniture with heirlooms, handcrafted art, and bits of humor, you create an environment that welcomes people with open arms.
Ready to layer your own home with comfort, charm, and longevity? Explore quality foundational living room, dining, and bedroom furniture at Furniture Row, and watch the full video tour on YouTube to see Heather and Rune’s space come to life!
