A converted merchant builder's garage in Melbourne

Hello Monday! And what a rainy one it is here in Sweden too. But that's OK - I've got a wonderful studio home tour to brighten up our mornings. Designed by interior architects Hearth, this space in Melbourne, Australia has been transformed from a merchant builder's garage into a spacious and light home with views out over the gum trees. Many of the pieces you see including the windows, doors, bench tops, lighting and even the sink were salvaged second hand. Which just goes to show you don't need to spend a fortune to have a fabulous home.

Hearth, Melbourne, Australia. Photography: Lauren Bamford

It's incredible what you can do with a small space isn't it? But is this your type of interior?

You can find more small space apartment inspiration here, here and here (such clever solutions!).

Oh and I published a rare post on Saturday featuring an a-ma-zing Swedish home-tour (I would hate for you to miss it!!). And next Saturday I have such an exciting give-away on here open to you all - I can't disclose the prize just yet but I can say that it's made from classic Danish craftsmanship with a cheeky twist! Ooooo, intriguing.....?!

I hope you have a wonderful start to the week and see you tomorrow!

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A carefully laid out cosy Swedish apartment

It's pouring with rain in Southern Sweden today but it hasn't been like this for so long there's something strangely comforting about it! Do you find this sometimes? Today's home tour is of a fairly small (I have to be careful here, I've been told before how spoilt we are in S.Sweden!) two room Swedish apartment. I love the way the stylist has created different areas within each room so that it not only looks lovely but is practical too.

Alvhem

I love how they have squeezed in a cool home office area in the corner of the bedroom which is flooded with natural light. A perfect pad to wile away a rainy day don't you think?!

Anything you love in particular about this home?

Next weekend I'm attending The Hive European Blog Conference over the bridge in Copenhagen, Denmark. I'm so excited as it will actually be my first ever blog conference! Plus it gives me a great excuse to nip over to one of my favourite design cities (I hope I don't get distracted on my way to the venue....!). Will you be attending?

Have a lovely day and I hope the sun's shining for you (or you're enjoying the rain!).

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The serene white and wood home of an architect

Hello Monday! I hope you had a great weekend?! Sometimes it's so great to realise that the most beautiful interiors are often also the most simple (and small!).  The Barcelona home of architect and graphic designer Marina Senabre Roca, is the perfect example of this and such great inspiration for compact living. Marina has stuck to a serene white and wood combination throughout her one room apartment which creates a feeling of space and a beautiful oasis in the midst of one of Spain's most vibrant cities.

Marina Senabre Roca -  La Buhardi via Lua Nord

So beautiful don't you think? You can read more about Marina's home over at the lovely blog Lua Nord.  

I've learnt never to underestimate how much plants can add to a home. Whether it's foliage brought in from the garden and placed in a simple glass vase or fresh spring flowers in a riot of colours, plants can do wonders to a space. Do you have a favourite house plant or bunch of flowers for this time of the year? My favourites can be found here (but most importantly I need greenery which doesn't mind being a tad thirsty......!). 

This Malmö home is another wonderful example of how plants have been added to a white and wood inspired home to create a beautiful living space. I also love this, this and this scandinavian home. 

Could you stick to this palette?

Have a lovely Monday!

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A smart and wonderful small living space

Hello Thursday! Earlier this week I got a request to show inspiration for a small living space. I was having fun working on Pinterest this morning and found this perfect little living space in Antwerp owned by Caroline. With the help of architect Katrien Van Doren, Caroline has turned what could have been a fairly cramped space into a beautiful, spacious home full of smart solutions.

Photographer Lisa Van Damme and Ian Hermans, Architect Katrien Van Doren via Roomed / Studio Birdy 

I could live here, could you? I love the use of plywood throughout the home - both as kitchen cabinets and as room dividers. The important thing about this space (in my eyes) is that Caroline has been careful to divide up the space into specific areas such as a sitting room, dining, and bedroom despite space limitations. And although much of it is all white, the different textures create interest and warmth.

Is there anything else you notice about this space?

Thank you to Merel of Studio Birdy for your help with this piece.

If you'd like to see another home with this plywood and white blend check out my neighbour's former home from ATWTP, it's so fantastic! There's also all of these homes labelled under 'decorating with plywood'. And for more small space inspiration I'm loving this and this home.

Have a lovely day / evening.

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5 space-saving ideas from a fab Swedish home

I hope you had a great weekend? It's all very well showing beautiful, spacious homes like this one and this one. But what about if you live in a teeny weeny one room / studio apartment (love that one)? Today's Swedish home is a fine example of how small can also be beautiful using a few clever space saving ideas.

Alvhem

5 take-away space-saving ideas from this home:
Raise the bed to create floor space (here they have used the extra space for a home office)
Use high shelving as storage (they have used shelving above the door in the hallway)
Save space with an extendable dining table
Source stack-able dining chairs which also look great like the Thonet 214 chairs (15% off with code MTSCAN).
Make the most of every square inch by adding cushions to a windowsill and using it as a place to sip coffee and flip through a magazine in the morning.

I spy Menu POV tea light holders on the wall. A VIPP bin. Thonet chairs (15% off with code MYSCAN) and the Hay coffee table (10% off with code SCANDI-HOME). Doggy 'Tillsammans' prints.

Some exciting news too - please welcome my new sponsor DaWanda who fab sell fashion, accessories, home and vintage items.  I am all over this light, fine art print and paper cuckoo clock (Christmas pressie for my little girl's room?).

Have a lovely day!

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Tant Johanna's beautiful Stockholm apartment

You may remember this Gothenburg apartment back in the spring? It was the former home of Johanna of Lovely Life/Tant Johanna blog fame. Johanna and her boyfriend sold up and moved to Stockholm. This home is actually only 43 metres square. Johanna's top tips for decorating a small space are to use storage to 'swallow up' items, and make use of every single square metre, for example, they also use the hallway as a home office space. Mirrors have been used to bounce light around the apartment and create the feeling of space. The result is a lovely, light, living space which oozes personality and charm.

Tant Johanna

Johanna and her boyfriend are now on the move again back to Gothenburg. They live by the same motto as I do - 'just go, and if it doesn't work out you can always move back again!'.

And the good news for us? Johanna will be renovating a new apartment. Follow the developments here!

PS For more inspiration on decorating small spaces check out this, this and this apartment. Amazing what you can do with limited space.

PPS Have you made any big moves in your life? If so, how did it go?

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Small packages in Malmö, Sweden

Notice anything different today?! Something...unusual about my blog? It's exactly 6 months since MSH was born and to celebrate I have been working with the wonderful, super talented, super friendly Ana at Blog Milk on a shiny new blog design. And ta-daaaa! What do you think? 

So back to the interior design. And another local Malmö apartment here in Sweden today. This is pure evidence that the best things come in small packages as the home is a mere 33 m2!! What a clever and pretty use of space!

Pictures: Bjurfors

What do you reckon? I'm liking the dark wood floor and white walls, and of course the mid century scandinavian furniture!

A quick note to say, these 6 months of blogging have been so much fun and I've learnt absolutely loads (I only wish I had time to make my home as lovely as the ones I've seen). So I wanted to say a great big 'TACK' to you all for popping by on a daily basis, And 'TACK' for all your comments, and your blogs, Pins, and Tweets for giving me so much inspiration. Here's to plenty more blogging in 2012!

Niki x

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Colourful in Copenhagen

Morning all! I've found the perfect apartment crammed with colours that 'fizz' and 'pop' to brighten up your Tuesday! What do you think of this zingy home of Nicolai Eis in Copenhagen featured in Bolig Magasinet? I can't believe it's only 42 metres square, what a clever use of space and so inspiring for anyone living in a small pad.

Try Lauritz for a beautiful classic Wegner Shell Chair  FH1936

Find a Flowerpot VP1 light pendent like this blue one at ylighting. The Hang It All coat hanger is by Vitra. 

The coat hanger is Vitra (see above). The wonderful Plopp stool is from Hay, get one from Rum21

The shelving unit is from Montana and the wood lamp is from Muuto

Wood lamp from Muuto as above.



The Grand Prix chairs and dining table are Arne Jacobson. Try Danish Design Store.

All pictures: Bolig Magasinet, Photographer: Andreas Mikkel Hansen

For more pics and information visit Bolig Magasinet. Enjoy!

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