Scandinavian Serenity: A Cleverly Curated Apartment Full of Calm

Hej kompisar! Welcome to your mid-week breath of fresh air—and a masterclass in creating a sitting room and bedroom in one! This light and airy 51-square-metre (549-square-foot) apartment in Gothenburg has been beautifully curated in a soothing palette of white, cream, amber and brown to create a calming oasis in the heart of the city.

The main living area seamlessly combines a cosy social zone, a home office, and a sleep space—all while maintaining a wonderful sense of serenity. And guess what? There's even plenty of storage! The spacious kitchen is another highlight, with just the right amount of warm wood.

While it’s undeniably styled and curated, there’s still plenty of inspiration to take from this delightful Swedish apartment. Välkommen in!

The bedroom area is tucked into a small alcove off the sitting room. For added privacy—or simply to avoid making your bed every day!—you could hang a curtain. Don’t have an alcove like this? No problem! A wrap-around curtain or canopy can also help define a bedroom space and create a cosy feel. There’s a great example of this in this Swedish apartment. 

The wooden floor is likely the original from 1900, when the building was constructed. Many people choose to sand off the varnish and treat it with a special soap or wax for protection and a natural look. Of course, it helps that shoes are never worn inside a Swedish apartment—one of the secrets to keeping floors in such great condition!

I love the soft bedside table! Correct me if I am wrong, but I believe the lamp is actually from H&M Home (they do great lamps!). 

What a great starting point! Now all that’s left is to add books, art, and all those personal treasures you’ve collected over the years to make it truly yours.

What do you think of the bed solution? Would you have done it the same way? Personally, I find these smaller sleeping areas so cosy—there’s something wonderfully cocooning about them.

You can see more sleep zones / smart bedroom zone areas in the small spaces archive - there are some really beautiful homes in there! 

Thank you for your warm wishes for my daughter (who is now back at school - yay!) and Per - who is hobbling around one of those boots (for the next 6 to 8 weeks) but also getting on with things. The sun is shining in Malmö today - so everything feels brighter! I hope the sun is shining where you are too. 

See you Friday, friends! 

Niki

Photography: Entrance Mäkleri

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A Cosy Turn-Of-The-Century Home Full of Charm and Colour

Hello there! Today in Sweden, it’s Saint Knut’s Day—a traditional marker when Christmas decorations are officially taken down. Although it’s less common nowadays, some Swedes still celebrate with a bit of fun: dancing around the tree and finishing off the last of the Christmas sweets and gingerbread before the tree is ceremoniously thrown out! I even wrote about this quirky tradition in my book Njuta*, in case you’d like to explore it more.

Which brings me to why the decorations are still up in this home today—it’s all part of the Saint Knut’s Day charm!

Anyway. On with the tour! 

This enchanting turn-of-the-century villa is perched on a hill in Huddinge, just south of Stockholm, surrounded by a picturesque orchard. It instantly caught my eye—as it’s the kind of place that feels like stepping into a dream where time has stood still. With beautifully preserved original details and thoughtful, subtle renovations, it's as if every inch of this house has a story to tell.

Inside, the generous ceiling heights, large windows, and beautifully maintained tiled stoves create spaces that are both grand and cosy. The kitchen, is a perfect nod to the past with its traditional cabinetry and a wood-burning stove that feels straight out of another era.

Elsewhere, it’s a spacious family home with up to seven bedrooms and a charming bathroom featuring a claw-foot bathtub. There’s even a wonderful collection of art that adds to the character and personality of the space. It’s the perfect blend of space and soul, with plenty of room for life to unfold.

So, come in from the cold and join me on a tour of this magical home!

What a home! So much love and care has gone into making each room feel personal and cosy—it’s just lovely!

I was especially drawn to all the warm colours—yellow, green, red—and the art. There’s always something to catch your eye and enjoy.

What stood out to you about this home?

This is the part where I’d usually share a few more homes for you to explore, but honestly, it’s been quite a day, and I have to rush out! My littlest one is under the weather with a temperature (poor Alice!), and last night, Per managed to injure himself on the padel court. (For my American readers: padel is a sport a bit like pickleball.)

This morning, his ankle was all swollen, so he decided to bike to the hospital (yes, really—I did offer to drive him, but these Swedes are fiercely independent and hate to trouble anyone!). Turns out, he’s ruptured his Achilles tendon and is now in a boot for eight weeks. He's reluctantly just called me to come and pick him up. 

I'll leave you to enjoy this home and all it's wonderful details, but will check in again later as I'm curious to hear your thoughts and observations! 

Happy Monday friends,

Niki

Photography courtesy of Historiska Hem - yes, this beautiful villa is for sale here. Photography: Jahnson. Styling Yngfalk. 

*advert for my own book / work

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A Home with Heart and History Awaits Its Next Chapter

When one of my darlings—a home I've featured—comes on the market, I feel an irresistible duty to let you know. Especially when it’s not just the house that’s up for grabs, but all the furniture too.

Yes, you heard that right: Lynda Gardener is selling her beloved The White House in Daylesford. The dreamy property is a masterclass in understated elegance, with natural tones brought to life by the patina and stories of the individual vintage pieces Lynda has so lovingly sourced over time. Every room tells a tale, making it a one-of-a-kind home.

And let’s not forget that beautiful garden room, the one I’ve been dreaming over since first laying eyes on it back in 2017. Now, imagine not just owning the home, but also having the chance to take it on with all its thoughtfully curated treasures. How wonderful?

Whether you’re contemplating a move to Australia or simply looking for a dose of gorgeous interior inspiration to brighten your Friday, this home is sure to have something for each everyone of us. Some of these images might be familiar, others perhaps new, I hope you enjoy the tour all the same! 

Lovely! I'll never tire of this home, and Lynda's unique style. 

Tempted? You can find more info about The White House and also reach out to Lynda over at @lyndagardener. 

I do love a garden room - what a perfect guesthouse. Is there anything that stood out to you? 

Shall we take a few more tours to round off the week? How about taking a peek inside: 

A delightful home where Swedish and Danish design come together

A fairytale Swedish cottage in a forest

Smart ideas for small spaces in a Stockholm flat

A rundown schoolhouse becomes a family home

It's been great to be back blogging this week, I hope you've enjoyed all the tours.

Before I sign off, I want to send all my love to everyone in LA. It’s truly devastating to witness the destruction from afar, and my thoughts are with all those affected—to those who have lost their homes and businesses and also the precious wildlife losing their habitats. Our thoughts are with you. 

Trevlig helg, 

Niki

Photography: Lean Timms / Marnie Hawsen.

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From Dated to Dreamy: Jennie-Ann's Swedish Farmhouse Renovation

One of the things I’ve always marvelled at is just how great my Swedish friends are at DIY. There’s no task too daunting for them (although, thankfully, they’ll call in an expert for electrics!). It certainly helps that absolutely everyone learns how to sew, work with wood, and generally run a home (even budgeting!) at school. But anything that hasn’t been covered "can be conquered with the help of YouTube" (or so they tell me!).

Jennie-Ann is a prime example of this. She and her partner have lovingly transformed an old Swedish farmhouse in Larv, taking it from a dated and rundown building to a beautiful home that stays true to its original character. Jennie-Ann is also the founder of Lin & Lera, which includes an onsite boutique offering everything you might need to renovate your home sustainably, a salvage yard, and workshops to help with every aspect of updating and caring for your home and garden.

If the beautiful natural materials, colours, and details in Jennie-Ann’s home are anything to go by, I think the farm could be well worth a visit if we're ever passing by! In the meantime, let’s appreciate her beautiful and unique house. 

First, let me just give you a glimpse of how the kitchen looked before they started. It’s a great marker to see just how much they’ve accomplished since moving in.

Are you ready to see the results? Varsågod:

Note that the lower kitchen cabinets were salvaged from the original kitchen. Jennie-Ann sells an array of earthy-toned linseed oil paint colours in her boutique - many of which feature throughout her home. She is also a pro at making her only paint colours from clay! 

Look extra carefully at the details and you'll spot traditional Swedish pendant lamps, tables and rugs.  

Mid-blue and ochre make for a beautiful combination and create a calm feel in the bedroom. 

The bathroom is potentially my favourite room of all - it's filled with nostalgia while also providing all the modern amenities you need to feel comfortable. 

Needless to say, locals flock to Lin & Lera to discover what's in store - and for exciting events. I hope I can be a part of the crowd one day! 

Keep an eye on Lin & Lera for one of Jennie-Ann's upcoming workshops (sometimes held in the barn seen below) which include themes such as 'how to make your own colour from clay', 'how to cultivate your own forest garden' and 'basic courses in window renovation' as well as many more! 

Truly inspiring! 

Does this give you the boost you need to get a paint brush out or dabble in a little DIY this weekend? 

Feel inspired by Jenni-Ann's latest renovation projects over at @lin.o.lera and find out more about her boutique and workshops here. 

Would you like to see more homes that have been lovingly restored with sustainability in mind? Check out Emma Sundh's country home (one of the most popular tours of 2024) and also Anna Swain's charming cottage on Lamb Island, Australia. 

Wishing you all a great Wednesday! 

Niki

Photography: @lin.o.lera, pictures 12 & 13 Daniel Strandroth 

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