Visiting Sweden with local textile house Vandra Rugs, renowned interior designer Marta De La Rica speaks to Vogue Scandinavia about the special kind of warm and light she relishes in our region. Here, she talks about her impression of the capital and offers a first glimpse into her new book that captures her incredible Biarritz home – richly layered with Vandra’s handcrafted designs
On a frosty Stockholm morning, warmth filled the halls of Bukowskis Auction House, radiating from its mix of antiques, art and hand-woven textiles – and from the presence of interior designer Marta De La Rica, newly arrived in Stockholm. Visiting in collaboration with Swedish textile maker Vandra Rugs, the designer introduced her new book, Biarritz, A Vocabulary of Colour, as the brand presented pieces from its newest collection, 'The Journey of the Empresses'.
It's not De La Rica’s first time in Stockholm – she visited with her grandparents some 15 years ago – the memory is, she admits, “quite blank.” Arriving the day before our conversation at Bukowski's, she took a walk only to find that “it was dark already, so I didn’t recognise anything.”
Vandra Rugs' 'Wool Columns' rug in yellow in Marta De La Rica's Biarritz home. .
The Onde rug, part of Vandra Rug's 'The Journey of the Empresses' collection. Photo: Vandra Rugs
This sense of unfamiliarity, however, brought with it an opportunity for rediscovery – a fresh encounter with Scandinavian aesthetics and atmosphere. “Swedish people have embraced the country being dark for great parts of the year,” she says. “You could see how the buildings and windows become lamps for the city with this very low, orange, warm light. I found it very special and welcoming.”
It was in that soft urban glow that De La Rica felt a spark of inspiration – a reminder that warmth, both in design and in spirit, often becomes most vivid against the backdrop of winter. “These are interiors you don’t want to leave,” she says, praising Stockholm’s fluid connection between kitchens and dining rooms. “That exposure adds to the warmth, it invites gathering and ritual.” The sentiment mirrors her own design philosophy. “That’s the purpose in my projects too, to create warmth and cosiness,” she notes. “I probably use more patterns than Scandinavian design typically allows,” she adds – having earlier praised Stockholm’s ability to make white feel warm and unadorned spaces feel inviting “but the feeling we aim to evoke is very similar.”
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Vandra Rugs' 'Dual Diamond' twill wool rug in Marta De La Rica's Biarritz home. Photo: Vandra Rugs
Photo: Vandra Rugs
It’s this shared sensibility that first drew De La Rica to Vandra Rugs, a brand she discovered a decade ago at a trade show and whose pieces now soften the floors of her Biarritz home. For her, the warmth she associates with the company extends far beyond its textiles. It lives in the values of the people who make them. “They have a beautiful story that has kept my heart,” she says, referencing Vandra’s response to the war in Ukraine.
When conflict broke out, the Swedish label chose not to close down its workshop. Instead, it relocated production – a decision that, in De La Rica’s view, revealed the depth of their commitment. “Craft is very trendy now; many brands use the word without truly investing in it,” she notes. “But what Vandra did made me realise how much they genuinely believe in craft.”
That belief is evident in the expertise required to make each rug. Every weaver undergoes four years of training to master the intricate patterns and techniques that define the brand. “It’s not just about having a wonderful rug,” she emphasises. “It’s about the people behind it. That is the most beautiful thing – the people.”
Discover more of Vandra Rugs and De La Rica's Biarritz home within the designer's book