Home from home: a beautiful rural hotel in Southern Portugal

On the last day of term I walked passed one of my neighbours (also a friend and dad to one of my daughter's classmates) who was putting the final pieces of luggage into the family campervan, having already secured his surf board to the roof. It turns out they were heading off on a six week wavecation to Portugal (imagine?!). And then today I stumbled across the beautiful Pensao Agrícola (thank you Style Files!), a small rural hotel near the idyllic fishing village of Cacela Velha on the Southern Portuguese coast. Built in 1920, Pensao Agrícola was originally a farmhouse which has been transformed by architect Atelier Rua into a small hotel with six rooms and a shaded terrace and plunge pool. Each room has white washed walls and touches of rustic wood, as well as vintage industrial style lamps and pieces by local artists. Let's take a peek....

I see the hotel also offers Vespa rental, a tuk tuk shuttle to the beach and (best of all) invites guests to help bath, brush and feed the faithful family donkey, Ernesto - who'd also love to join you on one of your walks.

I'm there if only to meet Ernesto. You?!

Get the look from Pensao Agrícola- source a beautiful vintage industrial pendant lamp here, jute rug (love the 'natural sand' version), soft herringbone blanket, there are two vintage cast iron beds available on Etsy right now here and here (hurry!).

Other holiday stays I love include this Greek island getaway, a Brazil escape and a Bali pool villa.

Holiday anyone?!

Have a lovely day! 

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The romantic Marienlyst castle meets modern Danish design

I'm feeling inspired by dilapidated walls after my trip to Florence at the weekend. Which is probably why these beautiful images taken in Marienlyst Castle, just North of Copenhagen caught my eye (I love how sections of the paneling have been removed to reveal the original brickwork beneath). The Danish 'slot' formerly served as a royal pavilion for Kronborg Castle (think Shakespeare's 'Hamlet'). The monochrome interior is simple yet elegant with period features and original floors that give the entire space an oh so romantic feel, don't you think? No wonder Danish homewares brand Tine K Home chose it as a setting for their Autumn / Winter 2016 collection - which is inspired by the pale colours found in bouquets of flowers and greenery and how the hues change as they mature (*she sits there dreaming*). Oh the romance of it all. Enjoy!

Tine K Home - images found via Seventeen Doors with thanks

Simply lovely! And such a mid-week treat?! 

Most of the items you see are from Tine K Home (visit the online shop here) and some exciting pieces from the forthcoming Autumn / Winter 2016 collection, which gives us all something to look forward to when the leaves start to fall?! You can also check-out the complete catalogue here.

Is there anything that caught your eye?

Other mid week links I love:

Rijksmuseum.ixxi thinks it's important that collections from prominent museums become accessible to the many. When you see this masterpiece in a cute children's bedroom I think you'll agree?! Pick up your own masterpiece here. 

This artichoke flower arrangement.

Bedside table inspiration.

Tonight's supper:  firey schezwan peanut and chilli zucchini noodles.

Pretty peach coloured house by the sea.  Imagine waking up here? And where I'd love to be right now.

Have a dreamy day

PS This was not a sponsored posts, I just loved the imagery and thought it had to be shared!

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Decorating my home with posters and prints

Sponsored
As you may know from pictures of my sitting room, I'm a big fan of art. If chosen wisely, it can really add a lovely personal touch to the home (and brighten up every corner). A few weeks ago I was invited by Swedish company Desenio to choose a selection of posters online (I absolutely love my job sometimes!).  It was perfect timing as I'd been planning on jiggling things around in our open-plan living space for a while. And now the bubble chair (do you remember that piece?) has made way for a new reading corner and gallery wall. Oh and I took the chance to update my drinks trolley with a lovely forest print too. Here's a sneak peak....

My Scandinavian Home

What do you think?

You can find all the art prints seen in these pics of my homes here: Forest, Cotton plant, Hungry, Limited, Skeleton leaf, Lune. And buy the corresponding frames online too!

Desenio was founded in Stockholm by Martin and Helena Blomquist who share a great passion for design, home décor and art. These days they work with an inhouse design team as well as a selection of artists from around the world and ship to many countries.

Enjoy the rest of your weekend! I'll be back on Tuesday (once I'm back from our long midsummer weekend). May the sun be shining wherever you are!

PS Give me a shout in the comments section below if you'd like to know where any of the items are from.

This post is sponsored by Desenio. However, all words are my own. I only ever collaborate with partners and services which I think you'll love. Thank you for supporting the sponsors which make My Scandinavian Home possible.

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A short and pretty guide to celebrating Midsummer, Swedish style

Tomorrow is one of my favourite celebrations of the year - midsummer. Here's my round-up of beautiful inspiration for celebrating midsummer the Swedish way. 

Damernas Värld

Miss wallflower

Honestly YUM

Bea's cookbook

A Bryan Photo

And for a little know how:

How to make a ethereal midsummer crown, and a beautifully simple floral wreath for your home.

And the feast. Oh the feast! This post by Honestly YUM is the perfect inspiration to create your own midsummer banquet. A midsummer berry cake. Or why not keep it simple - I love the idea of threading wildstrawberries onto straw (as seen above). 

Your midsummer cocktail: Aquavit, sherry and elderflower liqueur.  And decorating ice cubes.

Single? Swedish folklore says that if you pick seven different sorts of flowers and put them under your pillow on midsummer night, you'll dream of your future love!

 'Glad midsommar!' May the flowers in your hair be fresh, and your maypole dancing stay strong!

See you Tuesday! 

*for those of you in the southern hemisphere,  I guess it's happy winter solstice! - any excuse to celebrate, right....? Skål! 

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Workspace inspiration: an industrial style collaborative space

The other day I went to look at an amazing creative work space here in Malmö. It was in an old factory with a black and white flagstone floor and formerly used as a boxing ring. Unfortunately the timing just wasn't quite right, but at some point in the near future I'd absolutely love to work in an industrial-style shared work space with other creatives like the one I stumbled upon. The Forge in Bristol, England fits the bill quite nicely in fact- and although in the wrong country, it would be an inspiring venue for an event, workshop or just getting together with others and coming up with new ideas! Absolutely loving the exposed bricks, spiral staircase and general relaxed feel of the space. Would it even feel like work if this was your studio?!

The Forge. Source: Found via Desire to Inspire with thanks.  

I am trying to dream up an event now, just so that I can hang out there for a few days there. Any ideas?  Blog workshop perhaps? See you there!

Get the look: DSR chair, source a vintage metal jug here, white sheepskin throw, this industrial floor light is similar, vintage crates.

How lovely is this vintage industrial swivel chair? Because.

Other fab studios and ateliers include the creative studio of Katrin Bååth, the home and studio of a Danish carpenter, and the fabulous studio of an interior designer. Imagine if your office looked like this? And if it already does....pictures please!

Have a lovely day!

PS One word you should never use at work.  Agree or disagree?

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A magnificent Finnish apartment

Oh are we in for a treat today with this magnificent Finnish apartment! Not only does it have the most beautiful bones - large windows which flood the rooms with light, high ceilings, sculpted wainscoting, and original period features (just look at that ceiling in the bedroom!), but it has also been beautifully styled for sale through Bo LKV by the uber talented Marja Wickman (whose home I once featured here and here). Marja has used shades of grey and white and simple, contemporary pieces allowing the architecture to take centre stage. Unsurprisingly the space was snapped up in an instant (we'll have to be quicker next time!).

Source: Bo LKV, styling Marja Wickman. Found via Nordic Design with thanks. 

Is it worth me asking if you could live here?!

A few items I know and love: Thonet chairs, Cove print by Silke Bonde, ABCD poster - D,  cork bench.

For more beautiful Finnish inspiration it's so well worth exploring my 'Finnish home' archive (if the first home you see is the above one, just scroll passed it).... I know it's not the same as being there in person, but it will transport you to Finland in your dreams if only for a few hours!

Have a lovely day! 

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Your island retreat on the Swedish island of Gotland?

Hello! Having a bit of a Monday morning shock here after two very late nights in a row. Guh! Coffee. I hope you've had a great weekend too? Luckily I have something to brighten up the start of our working week. A summer home in Hamra, on the wild and wonderful island of Gotland (off Sweden's East coast)! The retreat recently came on the market through Fantastic Frank (and I'm pretty sure it will be snapped up in no time). The home is a blend of concrete and wood adding just the right amount of warmth. The look is simple and pared-back with soft linens and the obligatory Gotland sheepskin throw. Oh and did I mention a pool and small guesthouse too?!

Source: Fantastic Frank

Oh so lovely. The nature is just beautiful on Gotland.

Could you spend your summers here?

A few items I love from this home:  Gotland sheepsking throw, light grey linen bedding, g print, PH 5 pendant lamp.

*But where's that pool you mentioned?* - see a complete tour of the rural home here.

And more Gotland homes here.

If I've got you in the holiday mood you might also like to see this magical post- hey, shall we just forget the working week completely?!

Have a lovely day!

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