Fabulous loft living in Arnhem!

Helloooo! We've woken up to a beautiful, sunny day here in Malmö. Shame I've a bit of a sore head (if you've been following on Insta stories you'll know this is totally self-induced!) - perhaps a morning dip in the sea will sort me out?! It's said to do wonders for your mind, body and soul (once you get over the initial shock!)?! Hmmm, I'll see. In the meantime, on with today's tour. And we're over to Holland! Do you remember the fabulous The Loft concept store I shared a while back? Well as of a few days ago, you can now stay overnight too - yup! A former dance academy in the charming centre of Arnhem, has been transformed into two magnificent apartments to form The Loft Hotel.  Loving the sound of that, how about you?! Let's take a peek!

I'm feeling like a trip to The Netherlands is in order - how about you?! 

Many of the items you see are available in the loft stores - and you can also buy online. More info here.

Other lofts I love include Carlson Young's charasmatic LA loft, a relaxed, family loft in Oakland and a truly inspiring, creative loft in Paris.

Ooooh to own a loft - is this your dream space to work with too?!

Well folks, it's Friday - woohooo! Any fun plans?

I hope you have a wonderful weekend, see you Monday! 

PS - a little book news: Thank you so much to the lovely Si from French By Design for the tip for today's post - and also for her lovely review of The Scandinavian Home: Interiors inspired by light yesterday - a true compliment (I love Si's style - take a tour of her San Francisco home here!).

And UK friends - Emerald Street are giving away a bundle of coffee table books including my very own Lagom book to 25 lucky winners, it's super quick to enter too!

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Less Is More: A Malmö Apartment That Lets the Details Speak

An exciting new week lies ahead! It’ll be a short one for me as I’m off to London on Wednesday to visit my family — I can’t wait! In the meantime, the sun is shining here in Malmö, and I couldn’t resist sharing this beautiful apartment that’s just come on the market, not far from my studio.

With its high ceilings and large windows, it already has incredible bones, but what really captures my heart in this turn-of-the-century one-bedroom are the details. Read on to discover the little touches that make this home feel so special and full of character.

Note the string shelving on the kitchen wall — a true Swedish classic, and especially beloved in Malmö, since this is where the company is based and where architect Nils Strinning first designed the system back in 1949.

Unlike in some countries, windows in Swedish homes usually open outwards, which frees up the windowsill as a perfect display area — often decorated with plants, lamps (like this Senigallia one), and other small treasures.

Can you believe this orange chair? It feels like a piece of art while adding a bold pop of colour — and yet it’s from IKEA! The design is called SKOLBODA.

The incredible Louisiana Museum in Denmark is only about an hour from Malmö by train. If you’re in the area, it’s well worth a visit — and don’t forget to pick up a memento, like a beautiful print, to take home with you.

Just like me, the apartment owners seem to have a real passion for lighting — I love their choice of the iconic Snoopy lamp alongside a Bauhaus-inspired donut table and wall lamp.

Who needs a bedside table when you can just use a Marshall speaker? We have three in our house, so it's given me an idea! Note the curtains in front of the wardrobe - a simple and soft way to maintain a calm feel in the bedroom while also adding texture.

A bedroom that feels both practical and decorative — simple white chests of drawers and shelving provide plenty of storage while blending into the background, allowing treasured items to take centre stage. I especially like the electric guitar on its stand in the corner; it adds a personal, creative touch and hints at the owner’s love of music.

I love how this home isn’t afraid to mix designer pieces with high street finds — in the hallway, a vintage black-and-chrome Bauhaus chair sits perfectly beside classic IVAR storage from IKEA.

It’s no surprise that the owners of this apartment also have great taste in clothes — the suede loafers by the door are a clear clue, and very much this autumn’s must-have!

I hope you enjoyed the tour! I was struck by how the neutral backdrop — from the white floors to the beige walls — allows the carefully chosen pieces to stand out, showing that with fewer things, the items you do have can be appreciated even more.

I’ve shared my observations, but I’d love to hear yours too — what details caught your eye?

If you’re in the mood for more Scandinavian home inspiration today, why not take a peek at these other beautiful homes:

Take the tour of Malmö upholsterer Carina Grefmar 
A charming Copenhagen loft full of mid-century classics
A dreamy scandi-inspired beach house

Have an 'underbart' start to the week!

Niki

Photography courtesy of Bo-laget, with thanks.

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My Malmö Studio: New Gallery Wall!

If you stopped by on Saturday, you'll have seen a first glimpse into my new studio in the centre of Malmö. I moved in last September and can't tell you how great it is to have a permanent desk somewhere out of home  - I was honestly climbing up the walls! I share it with upholsterer extraordinaire Carina Grefmar and designer and CEO of Swedish Ninja Maria Gustavsson - both such talented, inspiring ladies! It was an empty shell when we first got it and Maria and I set about making the desk. This week I finally put something on the wall too: a gallery wall thanks to Posterlounge who sell thousand upon thousands of posters and prints!

Designing The Gallery Wall
I'm always a little cautious about creating a gallery wall since it involves a whole lot of drilling, so I played it safe by designing it on my computer and then using recycled paper, nails and a spirit level before hanging the pictures!

The Prints
I've been feeling so inspired by Danish gallery walls lately. They often have a relaxed, eclectic vibe going on and not afraid to incorporate colour and pattern. I went through the Posterlounge website picking out all the prints I loved and then narrowed them down to a selection which worked well together. I also combined white and natural frames.

Get the look


1. Scandinavian design with marble and gold by Radu Bercan
2. Watercolor Lines in Blue I by Nouveau Prints
3. The Good, The Bad And The Ugly by chungkong
4. Picture frame LOFT (White)
5. Angel by Paul Klee
6. Composition trees I by Piet Mondriaan
7. Adjacent Abstraction I by Emma Scarvey
8. Picture frame LOFT (Natural)
9. Composition in Black and White by Piet Mondriaan

Thank you so much to Posterlounge for helping me feel even more at home - it's amazing how art can transform a space!

If you'd like to add more art to your walls, the fab team at Posterlounge are offering My Scandinavian Home readers a 10% discount with code SCANDI10! Woohoo! Do share if you create your own gallery wall, I'd love to see it!

Next step... a rug. Watch this space!

Niki

This post is brought to you in paid collaboration with Posterlounge, however all words are my own and I only ever work with brands I love and think you will too. Thank you for supporting the businesses that make My Scandinavian Home possible.

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Small Spaces: A Charming Swedish Summer Cottage In The Heart of the City

As you know, I'm a big fan of little kolonistuga - allotment cottages. They don't exist in the UK, I know because I spent copious amounts of time at my parents allotment in London as a child and could have used a space to hang out and play games rather than weeding (the rickety shed full of spiders didn't quite cut it!).  

Here in Malmö there are quite a few allotment communities dotted around the city. In the summer they spring to life with people toiling the soil, relaxing with friends over a fika, or simply taking it easy and enjoying the summer sun. 

As with all Swedish summer cottages, simplicity is the order of the day, and this charming kolonistuga in Gothenburg (which is currently for sale!) strikes the perfect balance. It's pared back, yet cosy, simple, yet warm. There's a lot at play to make this happen, let's take a closer look! 

The emphasis is on relaxation and warmth - and that starts with the glowing string lights and a an inviting ochre front door. 

Inside, the walls and ceilings have been clad in wood panelling - giving the entire space depth and interest. I love my panelling up at the cabin (from Norrlands Trä) - the only problem is, it's so beautiful that I can't bear the thought of nailing up any pictures! 

The kitchen cabinets are simple with a nostalgic traditional touch - both in terms of the design and the handles. 

Vintage touches help to create a relaxed feel. 

How cool is this makeshift wine cellar under the floor? So smart! It's an ideal space for extra storage too. 

The ceiling has been knocked through to reveal the A-frame bones, helping the 26 m2 / 279 f2 open-plan living space to feel way more spacious. 

Mix and match furniture is key to creating a relaxed, lived-in feel. 

A daybed doubles up as a sofa and somewhere to kip! There's also a loft providing just enough space for a cosy double bed. Speaking from experience with our own loft bed up at the cabin, it can really quickly get hot higher up so it's important to have good air flow, a fan or even AC depending on the climate you live in. 

The entrance doubles up as a cosy sun room and living room area. I love how the green floral wallpaper brings nature indoors, so you can get the sense you're outside even on a rainy day! 

In small spaces each piece needs to work harder. I haven't seen a coffee table / basket like this before - have you? So clever! 

Swedes are so clever at creating different zones in the garden. I can see three different places to relax including the deck, a hammock and a dappled dining area under the boughs of a tree. Roll on summer days!

What a perfect urban oasis in which to escape! Even better, you can just hop on your bike when it's time to leave: no planes, trains or buses to catch! 

Tempted to snap this place up as your very own summer oasis? You can find all the details here. 

I'll be back on Monday with a Danish home that features so many of the Danish design trends I spotted at Formland design fair yesterday. Can't wait to tell you more! In the meantime, here are a few other  kolonistugas to enjoy over the weekend:

This little allotment cottage is a true summer oasis

A charming allotment cottage in Malmö

A danish allotment cottage with charming details

Trevlig helg! 

Niki

Photography: Krister Engström

Styling: Martina Mattson

For sale via Kvarteret Mäkleri

Found via Nordroom with thanks 

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