Because very small can be very beautiful too

Well, hello there! I'm feeling all revived today after a long weekend in the sun - the highlight had to be our picnic on the little island of Hallandsväderö off the south west coast of Sweden with this view (that cottage?!). The girls even took a dip - so much fun, but BRRRRRR! I hope you had a wonderful few days too? Right, on with today's tour! We've seen a 'shrinking homes' trend lately - which is why I wanted to kick off the week with this little Swedish gem - proof that very small (we're talking 32 square metres / 344 square foot) can be very beautiful too with a few very clever tricks. For example, a raised bed gives space for storage underneath, floor- to-ceiling shelves act as a room divider (a coat rack divides the hallway and kitchen) and a swivel chair can be used for the corner of the bedroom or turned into the sitting room area. Which means you really can get it all - a kitchen / dining area, hallway, bedroom, sitting room area and even a desk to sit and study / work. So clever!

Stadshem. Photography: Jonas Berg.

What a great use of space! Perfect inspiration for anyone living in an itsy bitsy space.

The narrow space-saving sink in the bathroom is especially handy too.

Is there anything that stands out to you?

Get the look: bedroom - the bed is bespoke with MALM drawers in white underneath. I love this rattan pendant lamp, white waffle blanket, this white clothes rack is similar (this clothes rail is a good space-saving one too), sitting room area: these mid-century nest tables (need to hurry though! If sold, try these), this is a great source for antique chaise longues, Hay hero dot cushion, vintage string shelves. Kitchen / dining area: IKEA shelves, white KitchenAid, this pendant lamp is similar.

It's also might be worth checking out the small spaces archive for lots and lots of one room apartment inspiration!
 
Have a wonderful start to the week (if only we were all here......?).

PS Lovely of those of you who messaged me about catching a glimpse of our family summer cottage - you've inspired me to explore the possibility of taking a few snapshots this summer. My husband's grandparents bought the land and built it and it's been passed from generation to generation. It looks very much as it did when it was first built - both inside and out. In the meantime, I was honoured to be interviewed about 'My Expat Life' for Motherland - are you a mother living outside your home country too?

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Order and poetry in the Stockholm home of a creative

Hello! It's a public holiday here in Sweden tomorrow so we're gearing up for a few days at the cottage - which I'm soooo looking forward to! But I'd never leave you without a beautiful home tour and a round up of a few links I love of course! This home in Hornstull, Stockholm really stood out to me for it's vibrant colours (the greens, the yellows....the orange!) and relaxed, lived-in vibe. The lovely space belongs to interior architect and designer Marie Dreiman and her husband and centres around  their philosophy of 'order and poetry'.  I certainly see that from these pictures, how about you?

Photos: Patric Johansson (shared with kind permission). Featured in Elle Decoration.

I love the sunny yellow cabinet - it's so cheerful! And the green in the kitchen is beautiful too. Is there anything that stands out to you?

Get the look: kitchen / dining - There are some really fab 1950's dining chairs here (including this blue formica one).  Tolix style bar stool in yellow. Sitting room: Corona chair by E Jörgensen and sofa by IKEA, rattan chair, pick up a teak mid-century chair here. I love this and this vintage filing cabinet. Bedroom: the Hay polygon quilt cover is similar, source a mid-century bedside table here, Le Klint pendant lamp.

Other relaxed homes I love include this mid-century inspired home in Berlin, a light filled Swedish family home and a cottage in the Australian countryside (in case you missed them).

I thought I'd leave you with a few links I love this week too:

Dining with lighting and plants overhead.... and the easiest indoor plants to grow (and keep alive) indoors.

A great way to store LP's.

Possibly the cutest children's clothing I've seen this season. 

Love the mix in this kitchen!

Where I'd like to be sitting right now. Want to join me? We could dangle our feet with a champagne cocktail? Say yes!

Which reminds me, have you ever seen Isaac's live lip-dub marriage proposal? If not, you must!! It's so wonderful!

And finally - the 22 most beautiful places in the world - do you agree?

Right, that's it from me. Better go and pack! Eeeee!

Have a wonderful few days and see you Monday....

PS Oh and calling all Stockholmers - Photographer Petra Reger (who's fabulous home in a former factory I featured here)  is looking for a lovely home story in Stockholm to photograph early next week. If you have any tips Petra would love to hear from you.

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The fab Danish home and studio of a photogapher

Today I thought we'd step inside the fascinating Copenhagen home and studio of Danish photographer Ditte Isager, which she shares with her husband Christian, and little son, Wilder. The space has unexpected looks around every corner - including a cosy sitting room with dark green walls, a calm dining room in muted tones and a modern work studio made entirely from wood (connected to the house via a repurposed staircase).  The home has been decorated with a wonderful mix of Danish classics, vintage finds and items collected on travels.  Let's take a tour!

Photography: Ditte Isager (shared with kind permission). Found via Goop and La Maison D'Anna G with thanks.

Although the entire space is pretty fabulous the studio really stands out to me. I love that they've successfully combined it with a guest house / place for the kids to hang out. Is there anything that stands out to you?

Get the look: Sitting room - F&B paint, Arne Jacobsen chair. Kitchen: the cabinets are bespoke - try IKEA's MÄRSTA for similar. This vintage industrial kitchen island is similar (and lovely!). Dining room: Ochre chandelier. Bathroom: Gubi table lamp. Studio: made using Dinesen douglas pine, series 7 swivel chair, source a vintage industrial stool here.

Read more about Ditte's lovely home over at Goop.

If you fancy  a little more er, great Dane style today you might want to take a peek inside my Danish home archive....which includes homes such as the cool Copenhagen apartment of a typographer and the fabulous home of an interior designer....I know, I know. Those Danes know what they're doing!

Have a lovely day!

PS The winner of the Scandinaviaform vase from Blackthumb has now been announced here (*holding thumbs* as they say in Sweden!).

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A dramatic Swedish space with black walls

Hello, I hope you had a great weekend? Despite the beautiful sunshine outside I thought we'd kick off the week with a bit of drama with this elegant Swedish studio apartment with black walls. The living space is laid out over two rooms - one large room making up the sitting room and bedroom and a seperate kitchen. I especially love how the period features have been painted in a crisp white which truly makes them pop, and of course the space has beautiful original wood floors and large windows too. Imagine having this as your city pad? Fabulous!

For sale through Entrance. Photos: Anders Bergstedt.

What do you think? Tempted to add a little drama to your own home?

Get the look: bedroom - grey linen bedding and white linen throw. Sitting room - vintage leather sofa, Russel James and Paolo Roversi print. Kitchen: Voliéres bird pendant lamp, Thonet chairs, copper pans, chopping board, Dagg vase, Smeg fridge freezer, toaster.

More spaces with dramatic dark walls you may have missed: A swedish home in dark blues, greys and greens and a Stockholm pad.  Or how about black floors? (I really love this space!).  

Have a lovely day! 

PS it's the last day to enter the fab give-away to win 5 Scandinaviaform vases from Blackthumb. It only takes a sec to enter here. 

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