Autumn Charm at My Friend Helen’s Cosy Swedish Cottage

I was browsing Pinterest earlier, looking for a little inspiration, when an old photo suddenly popped up and whisked me straight back to the weekend I spent at my friend — interior designer Helen Sturesson’s — cottage in Blekinge. We had such a wonderfully cosy time: shooting beautiful products for clients, eating homemade apple pie, and wandering along the nearby coastline. It all feels like yesterday.

When Helen and her family first took on the cottage, it didn’t have any real heating. They relied almost entirely on the old woodburning stove in the kitchen to warm the space. Once upon a time, a father used that very stove to cook meals for his seven children after their mother sadly passed away — and the entire family slept together in a single bedroom. Can you imagine? Today, things look a little different. Helen now has electric heating, and the stove is mostly used to keep coffee and tea warm while the family potters about.

The sitting room and bedroom each have their own kakelugn too — such beautiful, gentle heat. There’s nothing quite like the soft crackle and glow of a tiled stove on an autumn day.

I couldn’t resist sharing a little tour of her lovely cottage here. Apologies if you’ve seen these photos before, but I’d hate for any new readers to miss out on the magic of this charming little place in the autumn time.

So toasty - and such a perfect weekend. 

The glass candleware in the window is all made by Danish glassblowers Pernille Bülow, who also make the most beautiful Christmas decorations (it is around the corner, after all!). In fact, you might remember the Christmas shoot we did in Helen's cottage - and also my visit to the island Of Bornholm where they have their atelier. 

Is there anything about Helen's cottage that caught your eye? 

Right folks, it's getting late on a Friday and the wine bar just around the corner is beckoning! Thank you as always for stopping by - and for all your wonderful comments. I'm looking forward to catching up and responding this weekend!

 

Trevlig helg! 

Niki

All photography in this post by me! 

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A Charming Cottage in the Heart of Södermanland

Hej there, friends! How are you today? I thought we could spend this bright Wednesday in autumn taking a peek inside a cosy cottage in the heart of Södermanland.

Welcome to Mosstorp Marieberg – a place where time seems to slow down and everyday life gently makes room for peace and stillness. This charming red cottage with its traditional white trims dates back to 1909 and has been carefully renovated over the years, always with great respect for its original soul. And it’s the kind of house that instantly makes you feel at ease.

Inside, the 53-square-metre (570-square-feet) home feels both bright and welcoming – full of character yet wonderfully relaxed and pared-back. There’s a cosy kitchen and a living room complete with a fireplace – perfect for those crisp Swedish autumn evenings - and bedrooms where everyone bunks up (after all, there's always room for one more in a Swedish summer cottage!). Keep an eye out for the choice of colour, no doubt inspired by the home of beloved Swedish artist Carl Larsson. 

Oh, and did I mention this lovely cottage is for sale? And those lucky enough to make it theirs will get a wonderful bonus: not one, but two extra buildings. There’s a converted storage shed that doubles as a guest room, and a separate guest cottage – ideal for visiting grandparents, older children (I do love it when everyone can be together, but not too together, don’t you?), or anyone seeking a quiet space to work remotely (Stockholm is only an hour away, after all). How great does that sound? 

Let's take the tour so you can decide for yourself! 

Wonderful in every way! It has just the relaxed nature I love. 

And how pretty is that little gazebo for meals and 'fika' (coffee and cake)? Perfect for rainy days when it's still mild in the air. 

Could you imagine flitting about in this home - and perhaps inviting friends up for the weekend? 

Are you up for a little Autumn home inspiration today? Check out these spaces: 

Autumn ideas from Laura and Nora's country home

11 autumn ideas to steal from a hyggeligt Danish home

5 cosy autumn ideas from a Swedish country home

Have a cosy Wednesday!

Niki

Images courtesy of Svenskt Fastighetsförmedling, with thanks.

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Anita's Cosy Little Cottage in the Cotswolds (before and after)

I hope you can humour me by visiting the Cotswolds one more time (after the house in Friday’s post) — after all, it’s such a beautiful part of England! This time, I’m taking you on a tour of Anita Russell’s very cosy little cottage. Anita has been busy renovating the house one room at a time, transforming it into a charming place to snuggle up in during autumn and winter — surrounded by beautiful warm tones, vintage furniture, country accessories, pretty wallpaper, and a roaring fire.

I couldn’t resist sharing some before pictures so you can see the incredible work that has gone into turning this house into a cosy family home - which is as snug as can be in Autumn time. 

So, get ready to wrap up, pour yourself a warm drink, and get in the mood for a cosy English cottage!

Kitchen before

Kitchen after

Dining area before

Dining area after

Sitting room before

Sitting room after

Master bedroom before

Master bedroom after

Children's room before

Children's room after

Cosy bathroom

I absolutely love what Anita has created. How about you? Much of the magic comes down to her use of paint, veering away from bright white to create a calmer, cosier feel. The textiles add layers of warmth, and the abundance of wood brings a touch of the countryside indoors, adding both texture and character. By incorporating one-off vintage finds, each with its own story, she’s given the space plenty of soul, while the wainscoting and window dressings soften the lines and add a beautifully traditional touch. Just my two pennies' worth! 

Is there anything you spotted that I missed? I’d love to hear your thoughts below!

See more pictures (and find out about the details) over at Anita's lovely instagram @by_anitarussell.

Shall we take a look at a few more cosy cottages this grey autumn day? How about:

A charming little Swedish cottage in the heart of Stockholm
A cosy Swedish cottage with stunning sea views
Helen's cosy Swedish cottage kitchen

Have a cosy start to the week!

Niki

Credits: @by_anitarussell, shared with kind permission.

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Exploring a Soulful 18th-Century Cotswolds Home

Veering off course today – hey, it’s Friday! Sharing a home tour outside of Scandinavia is my new rock ’n’ roll, and honestly, it’s about as wild as I get these days (at least that's what I tell my teenagers ;). But this isn’t just any home – oh no. This is the archetypal English dream house.

Set in the rolling hills of Gloucestershire, overlooking the breathtaking Five Valleys region, this beauty lies within the Cotswolds National Park. Built in 1720, it has a magnificent limestone façade – the kind you might expect to see in a Hollywood Christmas film, complete with a dusting of snow and twinkling lights.

One of the first things I noticed – and I don’t know if this is just a British thing or not – is that the main front door of these grand old homes is often purely for show. There’s nearly always a side or back door that sees all the real action. I say this because, firstly, in this house the front door opens straight into the sitting room (with nowhere to hang your coat or kick off your boots!), and secondly, at both my grandparents’ and my parents’ homes we never used the front door. In fact, I’m not even sure we could open my grandma’s front door without a bit of a battle – it was wedged in so tightly!

Anyway, once inside, there are all kinds of delights waiting. Oh, to have those wonderfully higgledy-piggledy floors and walls, with one step up here and another down there! It’s the perfect foundation for a home brimming with soul, brought to life through playful modern touches and little bursts of surprise – think jewel-yellow pendants, a red chair, an orange desk lamp – all of which create a charming juxtaposition against the property's timeless heritage. 

So, come on – follow me through the back door, and let’s take a tour!

So lovely! 

I absolutely love this home (you know I am a real sucker for old houses), but I also love the dots of colour, which are not overly done, but just enough to add personality, a contemporary twist and interest to each room. 

I'd love to hear about your impressions below.

Is it Ok if we complete the week with a tour of a few more beautiful English homes? Why not pour another coffee and check out: 

A 17th century english farmhouse

Global soul, english heart in a London townhouse

A cosy cliffside hideaway in Devon

Step inside the cosy world of a collector

A beautiful home in Nottinghamshire

Thank you so much for stopping by this little corner of the web—and for all your comments and emails—always great to read! Have a great weekend!

Niki

Photography courtesy of Inigo, shared with thanks. 

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