A Beautifully Pared-back Norwegian Hillside Home

I was thinking that it's been way to long since I featured a Norwegian home - and then this beautiful space popped up from nowhere (actually, it wasn't technically from nowhere - it's the fruits of an Avenue Design Studio trip to Norway late last year!). The house is located in Drammen, just south west of Oslo and belongs to design duo Kine and Kristoffer and their son Vilmer. Like their creative studio, the hillside house reflects their passion for sustainability and function as well as their penchant for a clean, Nordic aesthetic and eye for detail. Let's take a peek inside!

Although fairly minimalist the look has a lovely, relaxed feel thanks to the mix and match chairs around a Hay Loop Stand Table.  The light overhead is the Gubi Semi Pendant.

The U-shaped kitchen is a prototype of their own bean stained bamboo kitchen and the open shelving is also from the Ask og Eng collection.

Kine and Kristoffer exercise a lot of restraint when it comes to colour, preferring a neutral, monochrome scheme which draws heavily from nature. 

Upstairs the family of three have a second sitting room where they like to relax together.

The pair made the bespoke headboard from bamboo to create a warm and intimate feel in the bedroom. I also love how the reading lights have been hung from a central point in the ceiling.

The bed is covered in the Mega Dot Quilt by Hay. 

Vilmer's room has been painted in a gorgeous blue and white colour scheme (although I don't know the exact blue paint colour, it looks similar to the one in my stepson's room (S 7010-R90B Ambience by Nordsjö). My daughter has the same Apple Papple print by Fine Little Day in her room and tells all her secrets to him! Isn't he fab?! She also has the same tent! Source a similar one here. 

Thank you so much to Kine and Kristine for a virtual tour and to Holly and Hedda from Avenue Design Studio for the kind permission to share these lovely pictures. You can see more / read the full interview here.

What struck me the most about this home, is how beautiful each and every piece of furniture is. In the interview it says that the pair are careful to select items that are built to stand the test of time, and you can totally see this from the pictures.

Is there anything that stands out to you? 

For more Norwegian inspiration today don't miss this serene home looking out over a fjord,  this cosy and relaxed cottage and a magical mountain cabin! Gah! So lovely!

My sister's arriving from London tomorrow evening with my 2.5 year old and 6 month old niece in tow, so it's a hive of activity around here in preparation for the royal arrival. We're so excited!!

Have a lovely day!

Niki

Photography: © Avenue Design Studio

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Grey and Greige in a Magnificent Berlin Home

Why, hello there! How was your weekend? Kind of whizzed by, like mine?! Don't worry, this is going to be a great week for us all, I can feel it in ma' bones! I'm back home in London today enjoying a little snuggle time with my one year old niece (she's adorable - I might just have to pack her into my case and take her back with me!). I did manage to tear myself away for just enough time to create today's post though. I thought, being a hectic Monday and all, I should opt for a home tour with an element of calm, what do you reckon? This beautiful home belongs to interior stylist Selina Lauck, her boyfriend Olli, a cutler (AKA knife maker - yes, I had to look that up!) and four year old dog Gordin (look closely and you might just spot him!) in Berlin Mitte. Selina studied fashion design before realising that this wasn't her passion, and after a year in Oslo, returned to Berlin to work for Danish brand Hay. Her love for Nordic design shines through every corner of her home, which she describes as 'minimalist with a Scandinavian influence'. Enjoy!

Photography: Selina Lauck

Wow! What an incredible home - don't you think?! Selina's minimalist style and subtle colour scheme allows the magnificent structure and period features of the space to shine through - so perfect!

Here's a little guide to where things are from:

Bedroom: Mantis table lamp (I've got the same in my office!), House of Baltic sells similar linen bedding. Wall colour by Farrow & Ball.

Kitchen: lamp from Kai Linke, Alessi kettle (love this!) faceless portrait from faroe island artist Gurilla Artstudio, wall colour by Farrow & Ball.

Hallway: this round mirror is similar, print from The Poster Club.

Sitting room: Knoll diamond chair, Begonia Maculata print by Coco Lapine, Menu dining chairs. Hay sofa.

If you don't already follow Selina on Instagram, it's an absolute must (she's so good at tagging too - something I need to be better at!!). A little birdie tells me she's also launching an interior blog any time soon - stay tuned! Oh and, the word on the street is that the wonderful Jules from Herz Und Blut paid Selina a visit recently and snapped a beautiful home tour (check it out here!).

More beautiful Berlin homes here too!

Have a fab start to the week!

PS Tonight I'm heading to Regent Street to celebrate the launch of the new limited edition Nespresso Variations Confetto collection in collaboration with artists Craig and Karl (candy inspired coffee blends - fika galore! Yay! More on Instagram stories later!

PPS The voting for the Domino Design Blog Awards finishes tomorrow - I'd be soooo grateful if you can take a mo to stop in and cast a vote one last time here (My Scandinavian Home can be found in the category 'Best International Design Blogs'). Thank you so much!

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Melbourne home with fab accessories

There are three things I love about this Melbourne home of Justin and Jeanne Roebert; the round mirrors (I am after the Hay strap mirror), the pretty, light grey marble in the bathroom and the fab PP225 Flag Halyard chair. Note the cheese plant too - big leaved plants became popular in 2012 and will continue to be a part of  the home in 2013. The only problem is, I've already managed to kill my Fig tree. looking so healthy in these pictures only a few months back sniff sniff.....

 Interior design and styling by Hecker Guthrie.  Photos – Derek Swalwell, production – Lucy Feagins / The Design Files.Interior design/stylist: Hecker Guthrie, Photography: Derek Swalwell, producer: Lucy Feagins for the Design Files

What are your top picks from this home? Or perhaps something you would change?

PS Anyone got any tips on how to look after a fig tree (much needed)?! Or perhaps you can recommend something else err, a little less high maintenance?!

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Swantje's Beautiful, Quirky, Colourful and Unique Home

I thought I'd shake things up a little today with a move away from Scandinavian summer cottages to a fabulous house in Münster, North West Germany. Outside of Scandinavia it may be, but a quick search on google maps tells me the city is a mere 4-hour drive from the Danish border - which may explain the hint of Scandinavian design! I caught up with art director, graphic designer and illustrator Swantje Hinrichsen to find out more about her beautiful, quirky, colourful and unique home. 

Swantje has painted the Danish design Kristina Dam coffee table in NCS 4050 Y60R. A Hay Danish design sofa can be seen in the background. 

From what period is your house?

My boyfriend and I live in an old house built in 1928 in Münster, close to the canal. 

The bright yellow shelf by Dutch designer Mickey Philips is an example of the many quirky and unique touches in Swantje's home. Source similar abstract prints from The Poster Club*. 

Can you tell us a little more about the layout?

The house is 145 sqm (1560 square feet), laid out over three floors. When you walk through the door you are greeted with a colourful hallway with bikes on the wall. The stairs lead to the first floor which has an open-plan living space with a kitchen, dining room, living room and bathroom. The second floor is under the roof and contains the bedroom, a workspace and closet room (we call it 'the everything room', a second bathroom and a small balcony. 

How would you describe your style? 

Very graphic, colourful, warm, natural, conceptual and intuitive - with a touch of Scandinavian design. 

The freestanding kitchen units are from IKEA and the back wall has been painted in Kolorat K711-17-34-25/T. Ceramics from Studio Hear Hear, Studio Oyama, Mette Duedahl and TYBO Art and Craft line the shelves. 

The dining room wall has been painted in Kolorat K/0-0-15-54/T. 

There are some beautiful, fun details in your home, what do you look for when acquiring items?

I love craftsmanship, contrasts, materials and artisan ceramics. 

I love the road bikes, are you and your boyfriend keen cyclists? 

My boyfriend totally is. He is super passionate about it and also restores vintage road bikes from the 70s / 80s and 90s in his spare time using a workshop that he shares with others. 

Colourful racers like these are starting to be a big trend among the young and hip in Sweden right now (whether they are just used for peddling around town or into proper racing). I particularly love the ones with an eighty's vibe - they remind of the bikes my sister and I used to ride to school on! Have you ever owned a racer? 

Source similar bike wall brackets here*. 

Would you say your interior is a reflection of your personality?

My home, work and colours are kind of my way to express myself. They help me stay true to myself, help me change perspectives, charge my batteries and transfer emotions and thoughts. They are my visual language. 

Thank you so much for inviting us into your lovely home for a virtual tour today Swantje! 

If you'd like to see some more snapshots of Swantje's house, check out her wonderful instagram @swantjeundfrieda or for more info about her work, hop over here: www.swantjehinrichsen.de. 

Other German homes to love today: a delightful, colourful farmhouse in Northern Germany,  a pared-back, yet warm family home with handcrafted pieces and a serene family home in Berlin.

On a completely separate note: my children are enjoying their fourth day of the Swedish school summer holidays. All I can say is, I have total respect for all parents around the world who have been juggling the children being at home AND home schooling while trying to work over the past few months. How on earth did you do it? It's only 11am, the house is a mess, I've been asked over 100 questions (by each child) and we've completely run out of food. Thank goodness the sun is shining! 

On that note, I'd better get to the supermarket! But I'll be back tomorrow with one final post before Midsummer's Eve on Friday (will you the celebrating it?) - see you tomorrow! 

Niki

Photography: Swantje Hinrichsen

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An Inspiring Finnish Home With an Element of Surprise

It was such a long while since I featured a Finnish home, wasn't it?! I have absolutely no idea why since I love Finnish style. In fact, one of the highlights of my second book The Scandinavian Home was that I got to visit Finland for the first time and photograph two inspiring homes. Naturally both had saunas (they are such an integral part of daily life that there are said to be more saunas in Finland than cars!) - but with one being in the countryside and one in the city the two styles were very different. The home of interior design and lifestyle blogger Sini Liikala, her husband and two children reminds me very much of the second place we visited. It's modern, bright and minimalist with a beautiful, large open-plan living space.  But it also harbours an element of the unexpected...

In the kitchen, sleek, white kitchen cabinets from Finnish brand Topi Keittiot  (IKEA sells similar) are broken up by a black mat faucet and sink (both Tapwell) . The shelves above are laden with ceramic and glassware including the classic Oiva Stoneware Teapot* by Marimekko (loving the gentle silhouettes).

I like how Sini has combined marble (the large square tiles are from Tarratinta) with wood flooring to create a distinct kitchen zone and add a lorry load of warmth! I'm not sure if you're thinking what I'm thinking: how about stubbing a toe in the night?! On closer inspection however, it looks like the wood floor has a soft gradual edge. The oak bar stools are from Hay and the lights are the Artek A110 pendant (FYI!). 

 "I think our home is quite a typical modern Finnish house. Nowadays people like to build modern houses with big open spaces, large windows and minimalist shapes. Although, I still think our home is quite unique and looks like us."

The family dining area includes some real Scandinavian classics including the Artek beehive light and wishbone chairs. I like how the inclusion of a black chair balances the dining area with the black door behind (US readers - check out Target's budget friendly look alike!). The white storage cabinet in the background (and below) is by Finnish brand Lundia.

"The best thing about our home is that we have a big open space which incorporates a kitchen, dining room and living room. It means we can all be together as a family but there is still enough space for everyone to do their own things if needed."

Despite the open space, Sini has created a cosy spot for the family to relax (I bet it's even toastier when the fire's going!) using layers of textiles (including a Beni ourain rug), plants and a raft of new nordic design pieces such as a pink Ferm Living Plant Box (I've got my eye on that, how about you?!) and the Around coffee table.

"I think that the best interiors come with time, and years bring different interesting layers to it. I usually buy furniture that I hope will last decades and tell the story of our home to our visitors."

 "Every interior guide says that all the rooms should be in 'perfect harmony' with each other to create a complete look. I am quite a 'safe' decorator who loves neutral tones but I wanted to have one room with a completely different look." 

To achieve the darker look,  Sini covered the back wall with bold floral wallpaper from Ellie Cashman Design (if you have the time you must check out this insta feed!). The rest of the room has been painted in Stiffkey Blue from Farrow & Ball. A rattan pendent from Bloomingville, and an IKEA bench and cabinet add a soft, light touch to the overall look.

"I really love our bedroom because it's like going to a completely different land! It's dark and kinda romantic and that's what I like in a bedroom. People are always so surprised when they enter the room! They're like "wow! this is awesome!" it's not what you'd expect from our home when you look at the other rooms. And that's why I love it so much, it's my hidden flower garden."

"We have black window frames so I figured black doors would go well with them. I also wanted to add an 'edge' to the interior since most of our walls are white. I have not regretted them, I love them!"

Thank you so much for inviting us into your home Sini! Love that you have broken the design rules and followed your heart - that's what makes a house a home - don't you think?

If you'd like to know where more of the items give me a shout in the comment section below and I'll do my best to help. Sini is also great at tagging her images over on instagram, so you can always check there too (and see more of her home over on her blog!)!

If you fancy taking a peek at more homes in Finland today, how about this home in a converted factory,  a living space where old meets new and the calm Finnish home of Anna Pirkola. Yup, the Finns know what they're doing when it comes to interiors!

A little bit of Finnish trivia for you too - did you know that when a baby is born in Finland they are given a box which includes every single item thing they might need for the best start in life? The box itself is designed to be slept in too! You can find out more about what it contains and why they provide it here (it makes for a fascinating read!).

Have a lovely day all!

All photography © Sini Liikala shared with kind permission. 

*My Scandinavian Home posts include some affiliate links.

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