My friend Louise's home in a converted school

Earlier this week I went to visit my Danish friend Louise who lives in the most fantastic house in the village of Remmarlövs in the heart of the Skåne countryside. Louise is a life coach, a lecturer on job satisfaction, flirting and communication and holds workshops in her home which she shares with her husband Johan, children Iris and Walter, ten chickens and two cats. The property was built in 1830 and started life as the village school and housed the village sauna in the basement.  It was converted to a private resident forty years ago. Today high ceilings and large windows flood the rooms with light and in the winter a large fireplace and classic Swedish masonry oven help to keep the house warm.  'Our main focus has been to create a welcoming home, where old and young alike can relax and have fun' Louise tells me.  The space is filled with vintage, antique and Scandinavian designer piece as well art and quirky touches collected over time. Look closely and you'll see a little mouse on a picture frame or a miniature tea set. I couldn't resist taking my camera along to take a few snapshots with you!

 
Photography Niki Brantmark / My Scandinavian Home. Styling Tina Lekeberg.

Isn't it such a wonderful home? That cat seems to love it too - although he looks a bit tired of me taking his photo?!

Recently, the family decided to head off in search of new adventures on the other side of the Öresund (i.e. Denmark) and the house is now on the market. I asked her what she'd miss most about their home: 'Oh, lots! The beauty, the light, the big rooms, the old apple trees, the churchyard, the view, the atmosphere...I totally love this house and realise I will never live like this again. I have enjoyed every single day here.'

Get the look from Johan and Louise's lovely house: paintings by Karen Broos (you can see the Swedish artist's own home here, also a converted school!), Haruko Maeda and Sarah Becker. 

Thank you for inviting me over Louise, what a great day!

I hope you have a wonderful weekend!

PS I've just arrived in Milan - very excited. Tips welcome! 

PPS I've been busy updating my office for spring this week, so happy with my shiny new workspace.

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A monochrome Swedish pad with a soft touch

Hi de hi campers! I have to say, I've been more than a little optimistic with my time lately - and with a flying trip to Salone del Mobile in Milan on the cards for tomorrow (very excited!), I'm not quite sure how I'm going to fit everything in! But the beauty of blogging about interiors is that it forces me to take 15 minutes out of the day to relax and feel inspired - I hope you feel the same way when you stop by! Today I wanted to share this Swedish space with you. The lovely apartment combines simple, minimalist style with a light, soft touch. Think monochrome, subtle florals and warm pools of sunlight. What a perfect place for a breather!

Styling By Bon. For sale through Bjurfors.

Oh so lovely, and so effortless too. Must be the magic touch of By Bon!

Get the look: söderhamn sofa from IKEA, source a similar floral print here, Lilla Åland chairs, this vase is similar.  Please feel free to add to this in the comment section below!

I'd love to linger but sadly I've got to dash off today - but if you'd like to hang around for a while why not take pour yourself a coffee, sit back and feel inspired by these beautiful Finnish, Danish and Norwegian homes.

Have a lovely day!

PS There's a fab give-away here right now!

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Singing the bedroom blues

Heeejsan! It's way past mid-morning but I can't seem to shake that tired feeling (despite the copious amounts of double strength coffee of course). It has a lot to do with an early morning breakfast meeting with my wonderful mentoree Ebba (have you ever done any mentoring? It's surprisingly energising, not to mention rewarding - I can highly recommend it!). But, being the terrible morning person that I am, all I want to do now is crawl back under the covers - how nice would that be?! I've got lots to do though so instead I'll *dream* of a quiet doze in this Swedish bedroom. I mean, just how beautiful are the walls? The grey-blue tone is both cocoon-like and calm in equal measure and looks so striking against the white ceiling, window frames and doors. Add to that the wooden furniture and soft linen bedding and the entire space is an oasis of comfort and calm! Of course, there's also a roaring fire waiting just around the corner to keep you toasty over breakfast - perfect!

For sale through 55Kvadrat. 

Could you imagine a duvet day here?

Get the look:
It's very difficult to recommend a paint colour (although if anyone can let us know this exact paint colour we'd all be happy bunnies?!). My best advice is to nip down to a paint shop and pick up several different tones which match this and try them out on the different walls in the room. The colour can vary dramatically depending on the orientation of the room and time of day.

Bedroom - notPERFECTLINEN sells beautiful bed linen like this (ships wordwide) Hallway: Muuto dots. Sitting room -  Bertoia chair, Tuuli Burman creates beautiful Finnish birch baskets. 
 
Loving the walls in this bedroom? You might want to check out my 'decorating with blue' archive. All hail this wonderful hue?!

Have a lovely day!

PS Don't forget to enter the give-away to win a framed, limited edition Palm Print from Absolut Art! It only takes a sec too!

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The winner of an exclusive limited edition framed 'Palm Print' from Absolut Art!

Thank you so much to everyone who entered the a-ma-zing give-away to win a limited edition Palm Trees print by Ruvan Wijesooriva from Absolut Art. I'm excited to announce the winner as....

Susan!

Congratulations! I'll be in touch shortly so we can send your prize to you! If this isn't you, all is not lost. Keep an eye on My Scandinavian Home for the exclusive reader offer very soon!

Photography: Niki Brantmark / My Scandinavian Home.

This post was brought to you in collaboration with Absolut Art. All words are my own - and I only ever work with brands I love and think you will too. Thank you for supporting the wonderful businesses that make My Scandinavian Home possible. 

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Creative work space inspiration from Studio Hear Hear

Hello, how are you today? This afternoon I've been invited for a fika at a local creative studio here in Malmö. I love going as not only are the girls super talented, the environment is really inspiring too. It always gets me wondering if I should exchange my home office for a beautiful studio somewhere. I have to admit this has been fueled lately by the recent discovery of Studio Hear Hear just outside Amsterdam, The Netherlands. The design studio belongs to Rena, a self-confessed plant enthusiast and founder of  Hear Hear, an online shop selling handmade ceramics, and a forever changing selection of bags, prints and other items selected for their simplicity and authenticity. The two floor space has been divided into a series of zones from which to run the day-to-day business, create ceramics, and other items and hold themed gatherings such as plant swaps and picnics.  What a wonderful place to work, don't you think?!

All photography y Rena / Hear Hear, except the 'overhead table shot' by Oak & Fir and 'table spread' by Food Bandits.

If I were to create a studio I'd like it to look like this! Industrial, slightly boho, an abundance of plants (did you spot the indoor climber?) - somewhere warm and sunny to relax, a great space for entertaining....

It reminds me a little of this fab Brooklyn home and studio of two creatives I featured a while back (also lovely!). 

Could you imagine working here? Or what does your dream work space look like?

Get the look from Rena's studio: the yellow patterned rug is from IKEA, pick up a similar vintage industrial cabinet here. Choose from a selection of vintage yellow table lamps here or pick up a new one here. Pick up beautiful handmade ceramics at Hear Hear.  

Looking for more workspace inspiration? Why not check out the atelier, studio and home office archives?! 

Have a lovely day!

PS I'm holding a really exciting give-away later today so don't forget to stop by!

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A fresh and light-filled Swedish pad

Hej hej! How was your weekend?! We had a lovely, relaxing time at the summer cottage - except for an hour or two following a burst pipe. I did learn a few new Swedish expletives from my ordinarily calm husband though so all was not lost!  It made sitting by the fire in the evening all the more rewarding too! Back home again and my thoughts are turning to the first flushes of spring - and a shiny new month - APRIL! Hurrah! This definitely calls for a beautiful, fresh, light-filled don't you think? This lovely pad in Gothenburg, Sweden is currently for sale through Stadshem. I love the contrast of traditional wood paneling and wallpaper in the kitchen with the clean, organised feel of the sitting room - and of course the serene looking bedroom.....

Photography: Jonas Berg for sale through Stadshem. 

Is there anything you love in particular about this space?

Get the look from this Gothenberg home: kitchen - wallpaper, gubi semi pendant, ant chair, bentwood chairs. Sitting room - this macrame wall hanging is similar, series 7 chair, cross blanket, le lampe gras wall light is similar, Gotland sheepskin throw. Try The Poster Club for similar art. bedroom - light box (love this!), source pure bed linen in beautiful earth tones here. 

This home reminds me a little of Johanna Bradford's apartment with it's delightful mix of vintage and modern (as well as lots of wallpaper inspiration) - don't you think?

Looking to create a feature wall in your home with wallpaper? Try this archive for lots more inspiration!


Have a great start to the week!

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