A Lovely Swedish Home in Bloom

It’s Friday, the sun is shining, and Per and I are trundling up the motorway to Gävle, just north of Stockholm, to cheer on Alice at a gymnastics competition. As we go, I notice the grass turning greener and the buds on the trees growing fuller. Soon the landscape will burst into life again, and there’s no greater sign of spring in Sweden than that first hint of colour after months of grey.

Indoors, though, touches of colour have been quietly appearing for a while in many homes. True to Scandinavian style, they show up in botanical patterns on walls, textiles and everyday details.

In this Swedish home, a simple white and grey backdrop acts as a canvas for a chequered rug, a blue and white tablecloth, and vibrant patternts by Josef Frank and Svenskt Tenn, from trays and wallpaper to even the blinds.

Elsewhere, spring makes its presence known too, with a lemon plant here, vibrant artwork there and fresh flowers, along with pieces that hint at faraway travels, bringing warmth and life to every corner.

All in all, this is such lovely home that puts a little spring in your step and sets the tone perfectly for the weekend. Va bra!

Josef Frank is a staple in Swedish homes, but it’s so fun to see a growing interest among younger generations, and even further afield beyond Sweden. Are you a fan of Josef Frank’s designs too?

Another major comeback we’ve been seeing for a while now is blue and white porcelain by the likes of Royal Copenhagen. Of course, it has never really gone out of style in Denmark or the UK. My mother has always had a collection on her Welsh dresser. But it’s lovely to see it being embraced by a younger generation as well. I’ve had my eye on these mugs with initials in particular for a while now, but they are a little steep budget-wise!

Did anything stand out to you about this lovely home? I’d love to hear your thoughts.

Would you like to see some other homes with Josef Frank designs today? Take a deco at: 

A Copenhagen filled with design treasures
A Swedish apartment fit for a princess
Light, calm and oh-so Scandinavian in Malmö

Thank you so much for stopping by today – I hope this tour made the perfect breather out of your day! 

See you next week,

Niki

Photography courtesy of Oscars

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Fall in love with Lisa's calming Swedish home

Hej kompisar! I hope you had a lovely Easter break – and that the sun is shining for you like it is here in Sweden (despite the tail end of Storm David, which we could probably do without!). While the storm might be raging outside, inside Lisa's Swedish home, it's an entirely different story – it's as calm as can be.

Soft, nature-inspired tones wrap around each space, with muted greens, warm woods and creamy whites creating a quiet kind of harmony that feels grounding. The kitchen, in particular, draws you in – can you imagine starting your morning here, coffee in hand, sunlight catching the glass jars and simple ceramics on the shelves? Nothing feels forced or over-styled, and that’s exactly the beauty of it. 

And then there are all those little corners… a traditional Swedish bench with striped cushions, a softly lit dining table with a Le Klint lamp overhead and the candles flickering in the bathroom. Wait, is that TWO baths side by side? We actually just got rid of our bath - but this is making me wish we hadn't!

All in all, there’s something so inspiring about how effortlessly this home balances function and feeling, simplicity and warmth. The perfect tour to start the week after the holidays. Step this way! 

So calming, don’t you think? I’d love to hear the story behind those two bathtubs – I’m not sure I’ve ever seen anything like this indoors. Have you? My sister and I would have loved this when we were little.

It actually reminded me of the most unusual bath setting I’ve ever come across – a little varmbadhus (warm bath house) in the fishing village where we have our summer cottage. Sadly the establishment burnt down a few years ago, but it was such a beautiful old place. Each room had a clawfoot tub filled with seaweed, and you’d be gently scrubbed with it, leaving your skin feeling incredibly silky smooth. Have you ever tried a seaweed bath?

I also love the soothing greens running throughout Lisa’s home – they bring everything together so effortlessly and add to that sense of calm. 

Here’s a little aside: this doesn’t happen very often (thankfully!), but while putting this post together, I started to recognise a few of the rooms… and realised I’ve actually featured Lisa’s home before (I didn't notice at first since she has changed her instagram handle), many moons ago! Even so, since I'd started, and Lisa's made quite a few inspiring changes, I couldn’t resist sharing it again – some homes are simply too lovely not to revisit. I hope you feel the same! 

Wishing you a happy mid-week! 

Niki

Photography by @lisasarkiv, shared with kind permission. 

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Jessica's Beautiful Nature Inspired Swedish Home

Jessica Berglund describes herself as a photographer, visual storyteller, knitter, potter, and mother, and you can see hints of all of these throughout her beautiful country home in Ulricehamn, Sweden. What she doesn’t explicitly say, though, is that nature inspires everything she turns her hand to.

From strawberry-themed ceramics and home-baked bread delicately decorated with flowers, to botanical wallpaper, fresh and dried flowers and subtle touches of green paint throughout the house, her connection to the natural world is everywhere. 

Keep a special eye out for the gentle hints of Easter, spotted in the daffodils just beginning to bloom here, even if these ones are charmingly made from paper, and the “semlor”: traditional Swedish soft cardamom-spiced buns filled with almond paste and whipped cream, typically enjoyed in the lead-up to Lent. They are so delicious! I am looking forward to enjoying some myself in the next few days.

And of course, you might catch a glimpse of their dog, Flora, and their fabulous cat, both of whom look completely at home in Jessica's cosy home. 

Välkommen in! 

Beautiful! I absolutely love homes inspired by nature, which is perhaps no surprise since I wrote an entire book about it!

I also found myself completely in awe of the arched cabinetry. It has such a soft, handcrafted feel to it, and I can’t help but wonder if it might have been a DIY project. Are you a fan too? 

There is so much to take in, but what really stood out to me was the way every detail feels intentional yet effortless. Jessica’s home manages to be both creative and calming at the same time, which is no easy balance to strike.

Is there anything that stood out to you in particular? 

On another note...

Here in Sweden, the sun is shining today and we are up at our little cabin. My mother arrives from London tomorrow and we are hoping to enjoy some simple traditions together, including the “konstrundan”. This is a much-loved Swedish Easter tradition where local artists open up their studios and homes to visitors. You can wander from place to place, discovering artwork, meeting the creators, and enjoying the spring atmosphere. It is such a lovely way to celebrate creativity and the spring sunshine (although the weather forecast might say otherwise!). 

Since I am running out of time this week, this will sadly need to be my only post. However, I will leave you with some pretty Easter decorating ideas in case you feel like adding a few Scandinavian “påsk” touches to your home:

Swedish easter traditions including feathers and hags
Pretty and fun easter decoration ideas
8 pretty Easter decorating ideas 

If you'd like to give the semla buns a go - you can find a recipe here.

And there's so much more Easter inspiration in the archives here!

Glad Påsk! See you next week!

Niki

Photography by Jessica Berglund / @fruohlson

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