my scandinavian home

A Light & Lovely Malmö Home to Brighten Your Day

Hej raringar!

We've relocated back to Malmö for a few days (just a little interlude before heading back to our summer cottage since Alice is off to gymnastics camp tomorrow), and with that, I felt a Malmö apartment tour was in order!

This lovely home in the relaxed Möllevången neighbourhood (if you're planning a visit, don't miss my Malmö guide, and more recently: Malmö by the sea!) immediately caught my eye for its wonderfully light, easy-going feel.

I love the soft palette of warm greys, dusty blues and gentle greens, which creates such a calm atmosphere throughout and a wonderfully cool, restful backdrop to life in the heart of the city during summertime. The bedroom is especially lovely. That muted blue wall feels cocooning without being dark (clever how they've painted the IVAR cabinets the same colour), while layers of linen and natural textures keep everything feeling relaxed and effortless.

Elsewhere, it's the little details that really make this apartment sing: a deep windowsill transformed into a cosy spot for a morning coffee and a little people-watching, original doors full of beautiful patina, simple open shelving in the kitchen and carefully chosen artwork that adds personality without making the space feel cluttered. It strikes that wonderful balance between pared-back and cosy.

There's something about these old Malmö apartments that always gets me. Perhaps it's the generous ceiling heights, the original joinery or simply the way they balance history with such an effortlessly relaxed style.

Ready to take a look?

Very nice!

I have to say, I love the old-school look in the bathroom – it's so cool!

I'm also seriously considering painting our guest bedroom a blue like this. It's such a calm, restful shade. Maybe I'll manage it before my sister and her family come to stay in August (Per's ears are probably burning from across the room right now!). Mind you, I'll need to wait for a rainy day first!

An interior designer friend once told me that the danger with adding colour to walls is that you can grow tired of it over time. But I honestly don't think I'd ever tire of this blue. Do you have a wall colour in your home that you've loved for years? I'd love to hear what it is!

Before I head off to help my daughter pack, I thought I'd leave you with a few more Malmö home tours to enjoy:

Step inside a cosy Malmö apartment where old meets new
Tour a Malmö home filled with smart Scandinavian design ideas
An artist's home and studio in a converted Malmö warehouse

I hope you enjoyed today's Malmö tour! Thank you so much for dropping by, and for all your lovely comments and messages; they really do brighten my day. I'll be back later this week with one final post before I disappear for a couple of weeks to soak up the Swedish summer. See you then!

Niki

Photography courtesy of Bo-laget, with thanks.

FILED UNDER: swedish home

An Idyllic 18th-Century Swedish Farm Summer Oasis

Sun, sun, sun, sea and swimming. Sorry for waxing lyrical about summer on the blog lately, but we've waited so long for it and now it's finally here! With that in mind, I hope you don't mind me sharing another dreamy Swedish summer house.

Today we're heading to Lilla Nävesta in south-east Sweden, where this charming farm feels as though it's been lifted straight from an Astrid Lindgren story. Red cottages are dotted around a shared garden, creating the loveliest setting for family gatherings and long summer days.

The farm dates back to the 17th century, and while it's been lovingly updated over the years, it hasn't lost an ounce of its soul.

Inside, it's everything I love about an old Swedish country home: honey-toned floorboards, wood-panelled walls and wonderfully wonky ceilings, all softened with linen, fresh flowers and painted wooden furniture in cheerful shades of blue, red and white. The old wood-burning range in the kitchen still takes pride of place, and the covered veranda is surely where everyone ends up after a swim or a day in the garden.

Could you imagine spending your summers here? Take the tour to find out!

I think I'd struggle to leave. Then again, perhaps there's room for a home office so I could stay and work from here year-round?

Is this your kind of summer oasis too?

Speaking of which, my daughter is standing beside me with a towel slung over her shoulder, patiently waiting for us to head down for a dip in the sea. I'd better not keep her waiting!

Wishing you a wonderful weekend, and thank you so much for stopping by. See you early next week!

Niki

Photography via Historiska Hem, with thanks.

Inside a Magical Swedish Summer Retreat

Hi there sailors!

Sweden is in full summer mode. Boats zig-zag across the fairways, dropping anchor beside tiny islands for picnics, swims and long, lazy picnics. Everyone seems to be dressed in crisp blues and whites, and across the Stockholm archipelago, families are loading up the boat and escaping to their summer houses for a few blissful weeks by the water.

But... how many people can say they're heading to a cottage with its very own tower?

This incredible summer retreat centres around a turn-of-the-century villa, complete with a tower dating back to 1890, set on a sun-drenched waterfront. There's a private jetty, a guest house, beautiful original details... and, as if that wasn't enough, a magnificent little stone tower that has watched over the property for generations. Can you imagine the stories those walls could tell?

And the best part? Despite its history, nothing about the interiors feels stuffy or precious. Instead, it's all wonderfully relaxed. Blue-and-white stripes, old oil lamps, weathered furniture and beautiful antiques create that effortless coastal look Scandinavians do so well.

As for the children? I doubt they'd spend much time indoors. Would you, if you had a tower to explore, rocks to scramble over and the sea waiting at the end of your own jetty? I have a feeling they'd disappear after breakfast and only reappear when someone called them in for 'middag'.

Ready to dream a little?

Beautiful, in that wonderfully understated, yet traditional Swedish way.

It must be heartbreaking for the family who are selling it.

I recently heard that it's actually quite rare for summer cottages to stay in the same family for more than three generations. As families grow, more and more people have a stake in them, making it increasingly difficult to divide the time, agree on the upkeep or buy one another out. It must be with a very heavy heart that a much-loved place like this changes hands.

But then I like to think about the next chapter. Another family gets to arrive by boat every summer, children get to race up the tower, grandparents sit on the jetty watching the boats drift by, and new traditions are made.

Could that be you and your family? And if it is... is it OK if I drop by? By boat, of course!

Have a happy wednesday!

Niki

Photography courtesy of Mäklarhuset

FILED UNDER: coastal Summer cottage

A Home Filled with Art, Vintage Finds and Heart

I was quietly tapping away on my laptop a couple of days ago when a lovely message from Swedish artist and interior stylist Michaela Grut landed in my inbox, along with some beautiful new images of her home. A lot has happened since I last featured it seven years ago, so it definitely felt time for a revisit!

If there are a few things that have remained the same about the home Michaela shares with her two daughters and two cats (she jokes that she's become a bit of a 'crazy cat lady' – and I'm here for it!), it's that it's deeply personal and filled with art (some of it her own), ceramics and carefully collected vintage finds. Michaela describes her interior style as 'curated Scandinavian eclecticism', and it's easy to see why. Every room feels thoughtfully layered, balancing clean Scandinavian lines with an eclectic mix of colour, texture, art and meaningful objects. Take a look at the kitchen shelves and you'll spot an array of one-of-a-kind serving ware, vessels, ceramics and other little treasures, each with its own story to tell.

She's also embraced a beautiful palette of muted yet confident tones throughout the apartment, giving each room its own distinct character. And, as with so many Scandinavian homes, designer lamps act like sculptures by day before casting a wonderfully warm, inviting glow in the evening (I noticed a discussion about this in the comments a few days ago, and it's true that many people here are happy to invest in good lighting, perhaps because of the winter darkness!). Finally, keep an eye out for the rugs – each one adds plenty of texture and softness underfoot.

Ready to take a look around?

The little guy perched on the sunny yellow (Velvet by Jotun - 10246) shelf to the left is one of Michaela's sculptures.

I love the sense that Michaela's home has been created over time, a brass bowl added here, a vintage chopping board there. As a result, it's truly personal and tells the story of who she is.

The artwork in the top right of the gallery wall in the sitting room is by Michaela. Look closely at this shot and you'll see all the furniture, lighting and accessories are from different styles and eras, yet all come together so nicely. An art form in itself!

The sitting room is painted in Soft Skin from Jotun.

The green snoopy lamp is one of my favourites!

The combination of tones and materials in the bedroom is timeless yet with a contemporary touch. The shell lamp is beautiful - especially against the blue wall (painted in Linblå from Jotun).