My Home: Beautiful Limited Edition SKY Lamps From Bornholm, Denmark

Collaboration* In my mind, lighting is one of the fundamental ways Scandinavians create such beautiful homes. As soon as the sun dips beneath the horizon, the living space becomes bathed in a soft warm, golden light which is as cosy it is calm. The design of the light itself is of equal importance - it's form, style and colour adding something to the space when unlit. Listening to recent trend talks, I was excited to hear lights are set to be a big thing everywhere in 2019 - with every light becoming art in itself. Over the past year I've become a big fan of lighting by Danish glass-blower Pernille Bülow (remember these beautiful SKY pendants over my dining table?). To celebrate 30 successful years since opening her glassblower workshop in Svaneke on the island of Bornholm, Pernille has launched the limited edition SKY lamp. And it's so beautiful! The mouth blown pendant lamp comes in three sizes and has a smoky glass and brass finish - with every piece numbered one to one hundred! I've been looking for something to go over my bar cart for what feels like forever  -  and I think these lights are perfect. I particularly love them clustered together, what do you think?

I am thinking of combining these with the three I already have at some point to make a cluster of 6 - for even bigger impact! You can also add different colours from the collection too.

The mouth blown limited edition SKY lamp is available through the Pernille Bülow webshop. My cluster is made up of a size small (14 cm), medium (18cm) and Large (22 cm).

You'll need to be quick, I've got a feeling these are going to sell out very fast!

Wishing you a wonderful Sunday!

Niki

*This post was brought to you in collaboration with Pernille Bülow, however all words and pictures are my own and I only ever work with brands I truly love and think you will too! 

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Two Idyllic Cottages To Rent In Denmark This Summer

It's going to reach a high of 12 degrees Celsius (53 degrees Fahrenheit) here in southern Sweden tomorrow and we're seriously excited (we've been waiting 6 months for this, I kid you not!). If you walk through Malmö tomorrow, you'll see people outside cafes in droves, with faces tilted towards the sun. With warmer weather finally on its way, my thoughts are drifting to the summer holidays and carefree days by the sea. If you haven't been to this part of the world in summertime, it's an absolute must. In case you're wondering where to stay, I stumbled across these two idyllic coastal cabins on Airbnb last week while planning my day by the Danish coast. Both are located in beautiful holiday destinations on the Danish coast and are a relatively short hop from Copenhagen!

1. Liseleje
Danes flock to Liseleje on the Danish riviera in the summer time to enjoy the authentic fishing village, al fresco dining on the quay and the long, golden stretch of sand. This charming white washed cottage sleeps 6 and is a mere 600 metres from the beach - and the interior is as pretty as can be!

2. Rørvig

About a one hour and a quarter drive from the Danish capital, this rustic log cabin is surrounded by woodland and situated near Rørvig harbour which is lined with quayside restaurants, cafes and shops. The area is also great for hikes. I'm loving the rustic vibe! Oh and it sleeps 6.  

Could you imagine spending your summer holidays at one of these lovely cottages?

I certainly could!

For more Danish summer cottage inspiration, I'm also loving these homes (although they're sadly not available to rent!):

A charming cottage on the island of Fejø
An idyllic Danish summer cottage
A Danish retreat

Wishing you a wonderful weekend friends.

Roll on the Danish summer!

Niki

Photography courtesy of Airbnb with thanks

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A Lovely, Hyggligt Home In Jutland, Denmark

Newlyweds Katrine and Jacob Laoru know how to create a hyggligt home that's full of charm. The creative pair (Katrine is an interior decorator and visual merchandiser and Jacob is studying Psychology at Aarhus University while making beautiful clay masks in his spare time), live in Mårslet, a village in Eastern Jutland, Denmark with their 12-year-old cairn terrier Nemo. Their cosy home is furnished with a beautiful collection of vintage finds, Danish classics and plenty of art against a soft, muted backdrop. Hints of warm brown and terracotta add just the right amount of warmth, while natural materials give the space a wonderful lived-in vibe. Enjoy!

Grand Prix chair*

Panthella lamp* (found secondhand), LÖNHOLT rug from IKEA.

"We found the Wegner armchair secondhand. It's the comfiest thing ever! The seat is so wide, my dog and I can easily sit there together."

Kizu lamp

TIP! Creating a naturally aesthetically pleasing interior is about balance - in the corner of the living room, the terracotta linen curtains pick out similar shades in the oil painting for a perfectly balanced look. I have found that pairing items in terms of colour helps a space to come together and creates a sense of harmony (it's a tool I also used in this styling work in my own home a few weeks back).

Grönadal rocking chair, source a similar sheepskin here* 

Clay masks by Jacob Laoru, Flos 265 light* 

What a lovely home! It all feels so natural!

Is there anything that stood out to you? 

I've been thinking about making a trip to Eastern Jutland for a while (I've been to Skagen but keen to visit other parts too!). In case you feel the same, I asked Katrine for a few tips:

Katrine's East Jutland must-sees /dos: 

1. Visit Moesgaard Museum - the architect is amazing!

2. Go for a hike in Mols Bjerge National Park in summer time

3. Take a walk at Kalø Slotsruin

4. Enjoy the best ice cream ever at Social Foodies in M P Bruuns Gade, Aarhus

You can see more of Katrine and Jacob's lovely home here. 

I've shown a fair few homes from the Danish mainland in the past. Some of my absolute favourites include a rural retreat in Jutland, hygge and pops of colour in a Danish family home and a relaxed mid-century inspired Danish home. Guh! Did I tell you just how much I love Danish style?! 

Have a hyggligt day! 

Niki

Photography: Katrine Laoru shared with kind permission

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The Beautiful 1920s House of a Swedish Creative

Is it just me, or is the week moving at an alarming rate? If you feel like taking a breather with me, come and enjoy this beautiful Gothenburg home for a moment! It belongs to Swedish graphic designer, artist and photographer Cecilia Hedin (see her former home here), sambo (meaning 'live-in partner') Johan, their baby Björn and dog Bertil. Built in the 1920s, every room has been painted in a different colour - from a deep, luxurious green to soft blues and warm greige and they've also made use of some fabulous wallpaper, and yet there's a wonderful flow to the space. Cecilia's friends Alice Johansson and Johanna Bradford paid a visit and snapped these lovely pics. Välkommen in!

Kitchen cabinets painted in NORDSJÖ simplicity greige and wall panels in the same shade by 40% lighter. 

A circular table and series of Mogensen J39 chairs are surrounded by geraniums for a wonderful 'winter garden' feel! 

This is the kind of 'snug' you can imagine the family spending the lion's share of their time in. I love the classic Jetson chair and indoor climber. And that rustic wood wall adds so much character to the space too, don't you think?!

Sitting room painted in Farrow & Ball Oval Room Blue

This Blackthorne wallpaper by William Morris is so pretty!

Bannisters painted in Farrow & Ball Estate Eggshell

Source vintage botanical prints like these here*.

This lovely desk area reminds me a lot of the home office in their former apartment. The walls have been decorated in luxurious yet calm Chicken Coop by Alcro. Source a vintage architect's desk like this one here*. 

Björn's room has been partly decorated in Jimmy Cricket Woodland wallpaper in charcoal.

So fun with the vintage gymnastics equipment (source similar here*), don't you think?! Although not vintage, my daughter has a set of wooden gymnastics rings in her room and she absolutely loves them - she even gets ready for bed hanging upside down (you can imagine how long that takes *rolls eyes*!)! Rattan lounge chair from Tine K Home.

If I was merely considering adding more colour to my home before, I'm fully committed after seeing these pictures. It's also amazing how much the right wallpaper can transform a room too - Björn's room is just lovely!

Are you tempted to add more colour / wallpaper to your home too?

If you love Cecilia's home you'll also love her online shop where she sells her photography, art and badges (the latter of which remind me a little of our time in the Lake District, England as a child - my sister had a ton of badges showing all the fells she'd conquered - me, not so many!).  

Other inspiring Swedish homes with plenty of colour and pattern include Johanna Bradford's former home, an eclectic 19th century Swedish house and snapshots from Ida's vintage-inspired home in Dalarna. Oh and there's actually an entire archive dedicated to 'decorating with wallpaper' too! 

Do you have a favourite wallpaper?

Ha så bra! 

Niki

Photography: Alice Johansson. Styling: Johanna Bradford. 

Affiliate links marked with *

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10 Ways To Add Instant Warmth To Your Home

It seems having a cat is fast becoming a key criterion to appearing on My Scandinavian Home (or at least, that's how it feels right now!!). Maybe it's subliminal (I'd love a cat, as you know!) or maybe it's just that cats seem to add instant warmth a space. Fortunately for those without a feline friend there are plenty of other ways we can create a super mysigt (cosy) home. Take a peek at the lovely home of Josy Chen as an example. Josy lives in Ahaus, Germany with her boyfriend Timo and eight-year-old daughter Nele (OK, yes, she also has a cat named Cookie, but that's by the by - or, is it?!). Laid out over two floors, the apartment has a relaxed, contemporary bohemian vibe which makes you want to crawl through the pictures and chill out with a cup of tea. If you feel your home is lacking a little warmth right now, here are ten instant ideas to steal! 

1. Go eclectic: mix and match style and materials. Josy's home works because she keeps to a brownish colour scheme.

2. Go comfy: Swap out a dining chair for a sofa or nook  - so that the kitchen table becomes somewhere you could sit for hours!

The wooden shelf was made by Josy's boyfriend Timo / HERRBERT.

3. Rattan: the modern boho look owes itself partly to the 1970's revival. If you lived through the 70's you might completely balk at the idea of rattan - just like I do over hair scrunchies from the 80's (scrunchies are a thing in Sweden right now and my daughters love them! The only saving grace is that they've stopped stealing all my hairbands). Fortunately, rattan has been given a cool and contemporary update and adds a relaxed feel to any space (whether you're on a high or low budget!).

4. 3D wall decor: Shake up your walls by adding mobiles (this one was made by Jose and Timo), wooden sculptures, mirrors and wall hangings. They'll add interest and depth to the room and help create a homely atmosphere.

5. Plants on all levels: nothing says modern boho like an urban jungle, right?! Think about dotting plants throughout your home using plant stands, windowsills, baskets and hanging planters. Anything goes, you just need to keep them alive!

6. Pile up the cushions: as you know I've been banned from buying anymore cushions / pillows (unofficially the collection is still growing, of course!). Why? Because cushions are a perfect way to add to the relaxed feel of a space. Mix and match earthy colours, texture and pattern. 

Art from Honigbaum, wall hanging by Wednesday Weaving (love this shop!), string shelves*

7. Art: trawl local galleries and online shops to give your home a unique and personal artistic touch (I've promised myself this is the year I start to invest in oil paintings, illustrations and sculptures by local artists). If you're looking for wonderful ways to display art - try the Danish home archive, they are masters! 

8. Vintage finds - a vintage piece like a rattan chair (there's a beautiful vintage one* available here right now!) adds instant warmth and personality to a space.

9. Wood: nature nourishes the mind - bringing natural materials with a beautiful patina like wood indoors gives a living space soul. 

10. Kilim rugs - seek out patterned rugs with warm earthy tones - the more worn the better! 

So, if you're feeling your home is currently 'too cold' and you're missing that je ne sais quoi - the chances are could just add even one of these elements and it will make a difference!

Is there any other decor you feel adds instant cosiness to a space?

I'm thinking photos, items collected on travels etc.

See more of Josy's charming home on instagram here.

Have a relaxing day!

Niki

Photography Josy Chen shared with kind permission

PS I'm excited to see a load of new room designs taking shape in the My Scandinavian Home Studio right now. If you're stuck and would love us to help you just give us a shout - we're currently offering 20% off with the code MYNEWROOM. More info about the service and sign-up here. 

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