Life at Home With... Austė Skrupskytė Cullbrand
The playful publisher and strategist shares her simple memory-makers, why she's learned to trust her gut, and finding the positive in any kind of place.
Austė feels like human sunshine—she radiates energy and light through her work and expansive community of creatives. We must have spent no more than three minutes in each other’s company in total (amidst the throng at the Milan Design Fair a few years back), but it was enough for me to realise that Austė is something special: a deep and playful think-and-doer in a world that craves dopamine content that barely breaks the surface.
Austė is, as they say, a multi-hyphenate who has a knack for knowing where the conversation is going and who’s having it. Lucky for us, we get to join in with the best parts thanks to her launch of Playground magazine—a beautiful piece of print publishing—that has become something of a manifesto for the creative industries.
Knowing that Austė has moved around a fair bit, like me, and how playfully she tends to her working life, I asked Austė to share more about her life at home with us. Unsurprisingly, her answers to my probing questions offer some inspiring insights into the practical and emotional qualities that help establish a nurturing home, and—delightfully—a playful one. And just like a reflection of her inner sunshine, she shares a few breathtaking Stockholm sunsets with us too.
Life at Home With… gets under the skin of the emotional side to home from the perspective of people who live and create in all kinds of ways. So let’s get into Life at Home With... Auste Skrupskyte Cullbrand.
Where is home for you, today?
Stockholm, Sweden!
Where do you feel most at home?
Definitely in our home in Stockholm, Sweden—but more than the place, it’s being with my husband Magnus. He’s what truly gives me that feeling of home. So no matter where we are—a tent at a festival, a hostel in Morocco, or a friend’s place abroad—if he’s there, it can feel like home away from home too.
The only other place that comes close is my childhood home. Even though I no longer have my childhood room there, the walls still stand and hold that deep sense of safety that I probably associate most with the idea of home.
Tell me about a formative homemaking experience in your life to date.
My mum has always had an eye for beauty, and she taught me early on that a home isn’t just a place to "put your things", it’s where you create and hold good memories. It should feel cosy, for you, for your family and friends visiting too. Not cluttered, but full of life and stories.
I think I lost a bit of that feeling while moving between countries and cities, but I always carried photographs, small objects, and tiny memory triggers with me. Those little knick-knacks that spark joy—that’s what homemaking is, for me.
And food! Eating well and having wholesome meals is a big part of that experience too. It’s a curious memory I hadn’t thought much about until now, but food and home are deeply linked for me.
What have you learned about your life at home from living in different countries?
It’s not really about the flat or the house itself, but the mood you create within it. I’ve learned that every place has something positive to offer—you just have to embrace it. Even if the space is small, maybe that’s a sign to spend more time outside during that chapter of your life.
Above all, I’ve learned to trust my gut. If a place feels good, you’ll find a way to make it feel homey too. And if it doesn’t work out? You can always move. It’s not easy, but the option is always there.
Where do you find inspiration to make changes to your life at home?
A mix of visiting other people’s homes, reading magazines, and seeing things online. I’m not big on chasing trends or constantly switching things up ‘just because’. For my husband and me, the key is making our home feel cosy, personal, and functional.
When we do invest in something, we focus on quality. We both have a good sense of the materials we love, and now that we’ve settled a bit after all the moving around, we’re learning more about our shared taste as a couple. It’s a slow process, but a rewarding one.
What’s one thing you would do differently with your life at home today if you could change anything at all?
I’d have a bigger kitchen with a cooking island. I’m not a huge everyday cook, but once or twice a week I love diving into a longer cooking session. I dream of having a kitchen island—somewhere to cook, hang out, and just be.
Another thing: I’d invest in some made-to-order furniture, pieces that really suit this flat and our way of living. But since we live in a rental, those kinds of investments don’t quite feel worth it yet.
I’m also not a fan of having too many small furniture pieces. I like when the base is just right for how you live, then the decoration becomes a layer of personality and, well… a bit of play.
What’s your love language at home?
Slow weekend mornings, long brunches at home, and homemade meals that fill the space with beautiful smells.
Tell me about something or somewhere in your home that reflects who you are.
Funny question—I actually feel like the whole home reflects me. Almost every room shows a different side of me, or of us as a couple. I’m lucky to have my own workspace, which I envisioned as a creative studio. But in reality, it’s mostly about work so apart from working or reading, I don’t spend much time just hanging out in there.
What probably says the most about us are the bookshelves, and all the books and magazines scattered around the flat. The range of topics they cover really reflects our curiosity and all the things we’re drawn to. They tell a quiet story about who we are.
If you lost all your possessions tomorrow, which loss would you feel the most in ten year’s time?
My diaries, my small collection of cards and letters, and photographs. It’s the memories they hold that I’d miss the most. Now that I think about it, I’d also be really sad about losing our books and the beautiful cutlery I got for my 30th birthday. Small things.
What are some of the frustrations you have with where you live?
When it comes to our flat, I just wish we could own it or at least have the possibility to, someday. I love this place so much. It’s the first time I’ve had the feeling that I could live here forever. For someone who’s moved between flats, cities, and countries so often, that’s a big, new feeling. But because of the Swedish rental system, buying this flat isn’t an option, and that’s frustrating. I do really love the area, though. It feels like home.
How does your work life intersect with your home life?
My work life intersects with my life quite a lot, in general. I think it’s the nature of the field! I used to feel a bit ashamed of that, but I’ve learned to embrace it. I’m actually very good at closing my Mac and switching off when I need to.
That said, I do work from home sometimes. I have a dedicated workroom and, like this week while I’m doing this interview, we even used our flat to pack all the Playground Issue 3 pre-orders. So it’s definitely a mix. But it’s a beautiful combination, really.
What was the last thing you did that made you feel joyful at home?
Hosting brunch for friends!
If I found you at your most comfortable at home, what would you be doing?
On the weekend, probably in bed with a coffee, reading – or scrolling real estate apps (a funny little habit of mine, I just really love looking at homes).
Or you’d find me in the living room, doing a morning yoga or stretch session after a run.
In the summer, our balcony becomes a whole new room in the home. That’s where you’d find me soaking up the sun.
How do you cultivate a feeling of belonging where you live?
Definitely by inviting people over, and using our home as a space for hosting. Sharing meals, conversations, and moments with others makes the space feel more alive — and more like ours.
Where do you go when your home can’t meet your needs?
I feel good around people—I think, in many ways, people create that feeling of home for me. So I’ll go to my office space, a café, a pub… somewhere with a bit of buzz, where you can feel part of a community but still enjoy being on your own.
What are the qualities of an ideal home for you?
Physically: Light-filled, with open window views. In the city, but close to nature. It needs bookshelves, small details, and memories scattered around. And a well-balanced colour palette that feels calm but alive.
Mentally: A place where I can be fully myself.
What advice would you give readers on cultivating a better life at home?
Follow your heart and your lifestyle needs. Focus only on making a home that feels right for you and your family—nothing else really matters.
And finally, please finish the sentence: Home is…
… where I am together with Magnus.
Austė Skrupskytė Cullbrand is a Lithuanian strategist, publisher, and managing director of studio playground – a strategy studio, creative network, and publisher based in Stockholm, with a satellite in Vilnius. Since 2012, she has lived and worked across London, Berlin, Gothenburg, and now Stockholm, shaping ideas for global brands like Volvo Cars, Zalando, IKEA, as well as for agencies and startups. Her work blends strategic clarity with editorial depth and an insatiable curiosity for culture.
Austė also leads Playground – an award-winning, honest print publication and manifesto for the creative industries. What began as a small side project has grown into a community-driven platform that challenges industry norms and celebrates fairness, play, and collaboration.
Upcoming projects include the launch of Playground Magazine Issue 3 on May 5 (now available for pre-order), studio playground’s first “more play” caps merch drop, and an exhibition for a client at 3daysofdesign Copenhagen 2025. Stay tuned via @studio__play__ground/ for more. You can also subscribe to the Studio Playground Substack here.
I love your interviews!! So nice to know more about Austè!!
Thank you so much for this! Made me think about home more, and blush blush blush while reading your kind words now <3 Loved doing it.