Be&Liv: Fika by Candlelight

Sponsored -  I use the word fika a lot! In case you're not familiar with the term, it's a Swedish word meaning to 'take a break and enjoy a hot drink (usually super strength coffee!) and a small sweet treat'. A fika can be enjoyed at anytime of the day and nothing, but nothing gets in the way of a Swede and they're fika! Naturally, I was quick to adopt this cultural ritual (it does sound rather nice, right?!). I especially love them at this time of the year as it always feels so cosy. Lately, I've really stepped up my game in this department thanks to two beautiful items from Be & Liv (a Finnish design brand making beautiful items for the home designed to "bring the poetry back to everyday life" - how lovely?!): the Solo candle holder and Treepot 3D trivet in wood.  While the candle holder in black chrome is a pretty way to bring a warm glow to the table, the wooden Treepot 3D trivet can be used as both a coffee pot stand and a 3D Christmas tree, how fabulous is that?! I've found they go particularly well with a steaming cup of coffee and pepperkaka (ginger thins)! Any excuse.... 

Photography / styling: Niki Brantmark (My Scandinavian Home).  

Ahhhh, and relax!

I was lucky enough to meet the Be & Liv the team on my last trip to Helsinki and they're the loveliest people - truly dedicated to creating beautiful items made from high quality materials. The pieces also arrive flat-packed, which is a more sustainable choice for the environment - love that!

If brass is more your thing -  you may want to take a look at this feature captured in my sitting room. See entire collection here!

What's your favourite treat to munch on your coffee break?


This post is brought to you in collaboration with Be&Liv however all words are my own and I only ever work with brands I love and think you will too.

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My bedroom make-over in detail

I hope you had a great weekend?! Thank you so much for all your kind words about my bedroom make-over (feeling the love guys, feeling the love!). I promised to come back with info about all the items yesterday and then my family and I took an impromptu trip out to the forest to chop down our Christmas tree which was soooo fun but also meant I completely ran out of time! So, a little late, but here it is.....

The accent wall is painted in Jotun Lady Pure 'Blushing Peach' which I think makes the room feel so cosy, and warmer too (something of a necessity in the Swedish winter!!). It also makes a great backdrop for deep rust and chestnut hues as well as lighter off-white / wheat tones - thank you so much to My Scandinavian Home interior designer / stylist Gen for finding this colour for us! The big 'ole waffle throw is from Granit.

I love a big old fluffy bed with tonnes of pillows, cushions and throws, it makes it look so much more inviting don't you think?! The white pillow case is from John Lewis, the off-white linen pillow is part of a bed set from H&M Home and the dark rust from Granit.

We were looking for prints with a relatively calm feel.  I'm so happy with the limited edition New Form 4 print by Riikka Kantinkoski and Noon print by Kristina Krogh from the The Poster Club. The bedside lamp was handmade by someone in the UK years and years ago, and sadly (as far as I'm aware) is no longer made.

When we moved in, we couldn't find shelves to span the height of the four metre wall that would also hold a load of heavy objects. In the end my husband designed and built the shelves himself! If you look closely there are support brackets on the back and side wall for each shelf and then they are also suspended on a strong wire which runs from floor to ceiling. If you've got any questions about it just give me a shout (the man's super proud of them so he loves to help anyone looking to do the same!).

The four metre long Washed white linen curtains were made-to-measure by small, independent online shop notPERFECTLINEN. These guys also made the curtains in my window nook and are so wonderful to work with (they ship worldwide too!).

The pendant over the bed is the Feriel drop light by Paris Au Mois D'août - it really pulled the whole look together. I absolutely love it (and it's as light as a feather too). 

Here's a complete run down of all the items for you...

GET THE LOOK

1. Granit Maroon Linen Cushion
2. Nordal Candle holder
3. The Poster Club Noon print by Kristina Krogh
4. Jotun  Blushing peach 20047
5. Granit Waffled Maroon Bedspread
6. NordicWoolCompany Gotland sheepskin
7. Paris au mois d'août Feriel drop light
8. Bemz Loose Fit Urban unbleached linen Bedspread and Bemz Loose Fit Urban Bed Skirt 
9. The Poster Club New Form 4 print by Riikka Kantinkoski
10. notPERFECTLINEN Washed white linen curtains
11. Ikea Söderhamn armchair - covered with Bemz Loose Fit Urban Armchair cover


If I've missed anything - give me a shout below and I'll be happy to advise! I hope you like the make-over as much as we do!

Have a great start to the week!

Photography / Production: Niki Brantmark - My Scandinavian home. Interior design / styling - Genevieve Jorn.

Some of the items were generously gifted from companies across Europe - thank you! 
This post contains affiliate links.

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Cosying up my bedroom with Bemz

Do you have a favourite room? A few years back we decided to turn the entire top floor of our house into our bedroom. It's become a little oasis among the rooftops of Malmö (if you peep out of the window you can see the sea too!). But with the drop in temperature we just weren't feeling the cosy vibe, and that's important right?! My Scandinavian Home interior designer Genevieve Jorn and I got together to make a plan  - yes, we take this kind of stuff very seriously! Having collaborated with Bemz before for my sitting room make-over (aaaaaah, I love that space - can I have two favourite rooms?!), we knew it would be easy to create an entirely new look without a whole load of hassle (and with all that's going on at this time of year, who needs that?!). If you're not familiar with Bemz, they make the most beautiful customised design covers for IKEA furniture (including sofas, armchairs, chairs etc) as well as curtains, cushions and bedroom textiles - in a choice of over 250 colours and patterns (machine washable and sewn to order too!). Read on to here more about the transformation!

  The Planning

Since we were aiming for a cocoon like feel, the room needed some some rich, warm tones, and yet at I also was keen to keep the Nordic aesthetic.

Bemz Rosendal Pure Washed Linen in White and Unbleached were the obvious choices to use for layers of soft textiles (linen has such a wonderful relaxed look and it's a great material since it's snug in the winter and helps keeps you cool in the summer). We combined it with Velvet Malmen in Chestnut cushion covers to ramp up the cosiness!  

I'm particularly pleased with the bedspread made in Rosendal Pure Washed Linen in Unbleached in their Loose Fit Urban style. It's beautifully made with exposed seams and a lining. Best of all? When I'm in a bit of a hurry in the morning (err, daily) I can just chuck it over the bed! Yasss!

I've had my eye on the bed skirt made in Rosendal Pure Washed Linen in Absolute White in their Loose Fit Urban style for a while. A bed skirt / valance is a great way to hide the box spring, under bed storage, and all other kinds of stuff that finds it's way under there! This one is so pretty too, don't you think? I love the detail!

The Söderhamn one seat section with Urban Loose Fit cover in Rosendal Pure Washed Linen - Unbleached was a must. Not only does it mean I finally have an armchair in my bedroom for all my clothes. Eh hem.  I mean, for reading, the linen slipcover adds much needed cosiness to the window nook (check out the seams too).  I kind of want to sink in and stay there all day drinking coffee and flipping through magazines (what kids?!).

 

Or maybe the chestnut?

What I love most about Bemz is that you can quickly update the look of an item of furniture by replacing the slipcover whenever the mood takes you. For example, check out how switching to the Söderhamn 1 seat section cover in Malmen Velvet Chestnut gives a new look to my reading corner! The only problem now I can't decide which I prefer - what do you reckon?

Photography / Production: Niki Brantmark - My Scandinavian home. Styling - Genevieve Jorn

So happy with the outcome, I hope you like it too.

If you're interested in getting a similar look in your home, you can shop the look at Bemz here. 

And in case you're wondering where any of the other items are from - there'll be a big follow-up post on Sunday covering all details - but feel free to ask away in the comment section below in the meantime!

Have a great weekend all! 

This post is brought to you in paid collaboration with Bemz and contains affiliate links, however all words are my own and I only ever work with brands I love and think you will too.

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2017 Gift Guide: For Lovers of Scandinavian Design

Every year I have this wonderful vision of merrily strolling the fairy light festooned shopping streets, picking up gifts for my nearest and dearest,  before stopping for a mug of steaming glögg (mulled wine). The reality? Somewhat different! There's just SO MUCH TO DO! Do you feel the same? If so, you'll be happy to hear Ana Degenaar (My Scandinavian Home's wonderful elf contributor) and I, have been working away on a gift guide for Scandinavian design lovers - covering all budgets (it's stated in dollars but the items are available almost anywhere in the world) and items we feel represent the Scandinavian aesthetics. We're super proud of our picks and hope you'll get some great ideas for even the most picky of friends and family!

Vitra - Eames House Bird
Leather MacBook Air/Macbook Pro 13" - Made from veg tan leather
Sandqvist - Backpack
Muuto - Framed Mirror
Triwa - Gold Nevil 2.0
Zoeppritz since 1828 - Must Have Blanket
Serena and Lily - Winter Beach Pillow Cover
Klong - Patina oil lamp
Kinto - Brewer Stand Set
JOHNSTONS - Plain cashmere scarf





La cerise sur le gâteau • Cushion
Ferm Living • Hexagonal Vase Green
Round Bottle Carafe
The Poster Club - Berit Mogensen Lopez
Concord Set - Aesop
Georg Jensen - Ilse Candle Holder • Georg Jensen
Bloomingville • Aluminum Tray
Native Union - iPhone Lightning Charging Dock+
Decosinto - Linen Towels
Tom Dixon - Stone Spice Grinder



HAY - Lup Wall Candle Holder - Half Round
Bloomingville - Stoneware Tray - Natural - 30cm
Bloomingville - Pom Pom Cotton Cushion - 45x45cm
SNÖ - Scented Candle
Bloomingville - Ella Mug - Green
Present Time - Nimble Slope Vase Hazel
My Scandinavian Home Book by Niki Brantmark
H&M - Waffled Bedspread
Muuto - Silent Vase
Coriander Seed Body Cleanser • Aesop  

Under $15:  If you know someone who's looking to add a little balance and calm to their life, my book - Lagom - The Swedish Art of Living a Balanced, Happy Life - Niki Brantmark (available in English UK, English US, French and Portuguese - note they have different jackets) could be a nice little pressie!  I wrote it with all my friends and family in mind and included all the small tips and tricks I've learned from Swedes and my life here that make daily life just a little easier. The LA Times included it in their list of 'Great Stocking Filler books' this week too - so perhaps Santa will be coming down the chimney with it?! Ho ho ho!

 

I hope our 2017 Christmas Gift Guide has helped, and more importantly, gives you a little more time to enjoy those all important cosy evenings with friends sipping glögg (or espresso martinis!) with friends and family - just as December is intended!

Happy shopping!

Lifestyle photography - © Niki Brantmark / My Scandinavian home 

This post contains affiliate links. 

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An Elegant Swedish Farmhouse Conversion

Tjena! How are you today? Is it just me or are things kind of crazy right now?! Only one day to go before the weekend - PHEW, make mine a double! It's all good though, as my favourite month of the year is on our doorstep - YAY! Is December yours too? The other bit of good news: I've found the most fabulous apartment to share with you today. Formerly a railway station and large farmhouse, the magnificent late 19th century building in the centre of Gothenburg has been transformed into nine apartments all of which are characterised by beautiful exposed brick walls and beams and arched windows. I particularly love this apartment which has been styled by Swedish interior designer Emma Fischer (and will no doubt be out on the market soon - eeee - watch this space!). Take a fikapaus, put your feet up and enjoy!



























Photography: Alen Cordic Styling: Emma Fischer - fund via Nordic Design with thanks. 

Isn't it such a fantastic space?! I love the architecture, and the combination of old and new.

Could you imagine living here?! I certainly could. It helps that I'm a huge fan of gothenburg - we've spent many summers sailing around the gothenburg archipelego and it's one of my favourite places on earth! 

In case it's not possible to move to Gothenburg, Sweden right now (despite my recommendation!!) - you can still get the look in your home! Here's a guide....

GET THE LOOK

1. FLOS Taccia Lamp
2. Atelier CPH Abstract Construction
3. H&M Washed Linen Bedspread
4. &Tradition Hoof Side Table
5. &Tradition Flowerpot Lamp
6. Pedrera Coffee Table
7. Paper Collective Essence of ballet 02
8. BS1 Floor Lamp with Round Base Matt black
9. Gubi Beetle Dining Chair
10. Menu Well Wtering Can

Oh, such beautiful things!!

Have a lovely day!

PS Super happy to see my Lagom book included in the Los Angeles Times stocking filler guide - I hope Father Christmas sees it! 

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Twinkle, twinkle little tree!

Sponsored post
The Scandinavians generally start decorating their home for the holidays on the first Sunday of advent (is it the same where you live?). As with all things Nordic, the decorations are beautiful in a fuss-free, subtle way.  Think earthy colours, natural textures and plenty of foliage for perfectly imperfect vignettes.  Every year we head to the forest to cut down our Christmas tree (one of our family's favourite days of the year,  not just because there's glögg and pepperkaka (ginger thins) involved, honest!). But this season I'll be bringing in another type of tree too - the Nobili collection by Denmark's oldest ceramics brand Kähler. Designed by Mette Bache and Barbara Bendix Becker, Nobili is a pretty series of six hand-decorated ceramic candle holders inspired by the clear frosty nights of the winter forest. Each is perforated with holes to allow the warm glow of candlelight to cast pretty shadows on the wall. Not only does it make for a cosy display on a table, mantel piece or windowsill, if you're very tight on space at home it's the perfect mini Christmas tree alternative!

"The distinctive silhouettes are inspired by clear frosty nights in a winter forest, when the shadows
dance and the stars glimmer in the soft, freshly fallen snow."

 "When darkness falls and the moon shines in the clear night sky, the shadows dance across the frozen streams and the soft, freshly fallen snow that covers hills and trees. It is these evocative hours and the wholly unique light of Nordic forests that inspired the range’s dark, vivid glaze."

Aren't they beautiful?! Sooo cosy too.

I love how pretty the dusty green, mouth-blown Omaggio glass vase looks in the vignette on the table too. "When the dusty green vase is combined with other shades of green, it creates a shadowy, fascinating contrast to the pale, Nordic aesthetic," the Kähler team explains. Yep, totally agree. It's very subtle and ideal for fresh sprigs of pine and other foliage gathered from the garden / nearby park / forest / through the cracks of the pavement - the more imperfect the better! 

You can pick up items from the Nobili collection and Omaggio glass range over at the Kähler web shop and a whole host of design shops (find your nearest retailer here). 

Bring on the hygge! 

This post is brought to you in collaboration with Kähler, however all words are my own and I only ever work with brands I love and think you will too.

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The striking, eclectic home of Malene Birger

When you go shopping do you find you have a handful of 'go to' brands / shops which you can almost guarantee will have something you'll love? One of mine is Danish brand By Malene Birger. Founder, Malene Birger sold her share in 2010, and left By Malene Birger in 2014. And now the designer and artist is relaunching her Interior and Design brand BIRGER1962 in January at Maison et Objet in Paris - oh yassss! To celebrate, Malene opened the doors of her flat in South Kensington, London to Danish photographer Birgitta Wolfgang and stylist Pernilla Vest. And what a treat! The space is decorated with finds from all over the world and expresses her unique and eclectic style beside her own art work. I remember reading once that Malene loves to move home often - and yet seeing this space tells me that she truly goes all out to make each house a home. Here's a peek inside her office and sitting room!

Photography Birgitta Wolfgang / Sisters Agency. Stylist Pernille Vest.

Such a striking apartment! I love that it has an entirely unique look and feel. It's the kind of place you could potter around for hours, studying all the objects. It makes me so excited to see what's in store for BIRGER 1962 - how about you?

Word on the street is that she's also opening a showroom in Copenhagen in April 2018 which will feature both her interior and design brand as well as her small clothing brand A JOURNEY London (designed, created and based on the idea of packing a suitcase and presenting two small collection per year just before the holiday season begins). A trip over the Öresund bridge is so on the cards for me April '18!!

If you'd like to get more inspiration from Malene, you might want to check out her interior books Life and Work 2010 and Move and Work 2014 published by teNeues as well as her instagram feeds - @malenebirgers_world and @ajourney_london.

Have a great day!

PS see more striking monochrome homes here.

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