Peek Inside Swedish Homes In My Home Viewing Exhibition

My Scandinavian Home Partnership*: One of the things I love the most about Swedish architecture and design is that it's made for the many - and designed to be used, day in day out, time and time again. When I first moved to this Scandinavian country many moons ago, I was mesmerised by people's homes - and as you very well know, I still am! Swedes take so much pride in creating a practical home that's also a feast for the eyes. In essence, every house and apartment in Sweden is like visiting a wonderful exhibition!

Photo: Mattias Vogel / Skeppsholmen Sotheby's

That's why I was really excited when the Swedish Design Museum invited me to curate The Home Viewing Exhibitions last year. The curation resulted in a series of public open home viewings in regular Swedish homes across the country. 

And now, we invite you to virtually discover the wide variety of handpicked homes - from country houses to city apartments - online. Head on over to the Home Viewing Exhibitions to take the tour and read about a Falu red summer cottage on its own island, a 'funkis' (functionalist) townhouse from the early 30s and a show stopping property packed with Swedish design classics - and many others!   

Oh, and there's more. 

Photo: Tim Bohman / Fastighetsbyrån

Add a touch of Swedish Design to your home:

This year it's all about video conference calls, and I'm sure I'm not the only one fussing over the background before each call (and selecting a great top to match my pyjama bottoms!). 

How about creating a Swedish design backdrop for your calls? Pick from one of three beautiful Swedish rooms and instantly transform your home into a light and airy living space, a villa overlooking the archipelago or a cosy log cabin - no tidying required! 

Background photo: Tina Stafrén / imagebank.sweden.se 

Background photo: Patrik Svedberg/ imagebank.sweden.se

Photo: Patrik Svedberg / imagebank.sweden.se

So fun! Loving the roaring fire! 

Here's how to create a virtual Swedish design background on Zoom:

1. Select your favourite room from this image bank and save it to your desktop 

2. Open your meeting in Zoom and click on the arrow beside the video icon. Select 'choose virtual background' from the drop-down menu. 

3. Click the plus icon and choose 'add image' from the drop-down menu

4. Select the image you would like to use for your backdrop. 

And that's it! 

I look forward to seeing you over at The Home Viewing Exhibitions at the Swedish Design Museum! 

Niki

*It was an honour to be curate this exhibition and promote it as part of a paid partnership with Visit Sweden. 

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A 19th Century Farmhouse on The Swedish Island of Gotland

How long ago was it that I featured a house on one of my favourite Swedish islands? Too long! So folks, here's a Gotland beauty for you. Located almost in the centre of the Baltic island, this wonderful 19th century farmhouse has been decorated using calm shades to compliment the original stone walls, exposed beams and beautiful old solid wood floors. True to Gotland style, the look is pared back and draws heavily on natural, raw materials to connect the living space with the surrounding countryside. Could this be my next home (I've always dreamed of spending a year on Gotland!)? If not, perhaps you can snap it up and we can all come and visit? Teamwork friends, teamwork! 

Imagine having bones like these to play with? Mesmerising! 

My mind has immediately wondered back to the days we spent on Gotland last summer. Have you ever visited this island? If not, it's definitely one to add to your future travel files! 

In the meantime, here are a few other houses on the island to feel inspired by: 

A rustic summer cottage on Gotland

A charming 19th century house

A Former Lighthouse Keeper's Cottage

Your island retreat

Have a lovely day friends!

Niki

Photography: Fantastic Frank

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A Charming Swedish Orangery Used for Entertaining

The 'staycation' this year has seen a huge a rise of people looking to move out to somewhere they can enjoy a little more space. But we've also been looking to do more with what we have at home too - whether that's carving out private areas for a home office (see yesterday's post!), or building an extension, garden shed, or outhouse. But there's one thing I haven't seen mentioned - and that's an orangery! Technically, an orangery is a room or dedicated building on the grounds of fashionable residences between 17th - 18th century, used to protect fruit trees during the winter - these days it's become something more. Swedish interior and garden stylist, Ulrika Grönlund has built an orangery in the garden of her Malmö home using a mix of old and new.  The white facade gives the structure an air of the med while the wonderful recycled windows and doors offer a nod to the traditional orangery of times gone by. The space serves as a beautiful room in which to entertain, and also somewhere to store less hardy plants during the winter. Ready to feel inspired? 

How beautiful! 

If only we had the space for one of these. I'd love to be able to say, ''please come through to the orangery where dinner is served...''

You can take a tour of the entire Malmö home here (it's for sale.... gaaaah! I need to speak to Per!) and feel inspired by Ulrika's latest interior and garden projects on her instagram @ulrikagronlund1 and website. 

Could you imagine having an orangery like this in your garden (or future house!)? 

Niki

Photography: Skandiamäklarna

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A Clever Small Space Solution For a Bedroom or Home Office

Homes come in all shapes and sizes and sometimes you need to get a little creative to accommodate that extra bedroom or home work space! And I love what the owners have done with this small, 44 m2 (473 f2) Stockholm apartment. Using reclaimed wood, upcycled windows and doors, they've cordoned off part of the living room to form a master bedroom.  The windows ensure natural light still flows through to the bedroom - and yet the space still feels cosy and private. All in all, a lovely, unique idea! Oh, and check out the blue shade too - 'deco blue' by Jotun Lady has a similar calming tone. 

I love how the doors open right out to give the space a light and airy feel. 

Such a clever solution! 

I see that there are curtains in the sitting room which can be drawn at night, but I'd also consider black out blinds in the bedroom area too, just to make sure you get an extra good shuteye. What do you think?

Do you have an awkward space in your home that you're trying to puzzle out? 

In my parents home, where I'm currently staying (see below), the third bedroom used to be accessed via the second bedroom. Mum was always worried that taking away a section of the second bedroom to build a corridor would make the second room feel too cramped - but eventually they took the plunge and I have to say, it's worked amazingly. The second bedroom still feels fine and it's great to have separate access to the third bedroom rather than creeping passed someone snoring away! 

If you fancy checking out the entire tour - it's still available here. 

Niki

Thank you SO much for all your lovely comments, I've read all of them and your words feel so comforting. Unfortunately, we didn't receive the results we wanted and I have prolonged my stay at my parents' house to be with my Dad. However, I'd love to continue coming here daily to blog, but do bear with me if I disappear for a few days! 

Photos: Svenskfast found via Planete Deco with thanks

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A Pretty Home With Touches of Peach - And a Snoozing Dog!

Good morning friends. I'm stopping by to share snapshots of the the prettiest of homes. Laura shares daily snaps of the 'tidy version of her home' - an apartment in Osnabrück in Lower Saxony, Germany - on her Instagram feed @anotherflat_ - and it always brightens up my day. Think tones of peach, soft blue and lavender, Scandinavian design pieces and a gorgeous snoozing dog! Enjoy the tour! 

I love to combine different styles. I feel it's important to make it individual, but I can identify most with Scandinavian styles. I also like it when a space isn't too uniform and contains lots of unique pieces"

- Laura

So lovely! 

I especially enjoyed the touches of pastel, it makes me want to add more colour to my home, how about you? 

Wishing you a wonderful start to the week friends! 

Niki

PS Thank you SO much for all your well wishes on Friday it meant so much. It's a tough time. I'm so grateful for my blog, it always brings a little comfort and escape and everyone is so positive! I am still with my parents and still hoping for the best. If I don't post at times this week, bear with me! 

Photography: Laura / @anotherflat_

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