A Charming A-Frame Cabin on the Danish Island of Orø

Saturday marks the start of 'höstlov' (autumn half term) here in Scandinavia, and many will be packing their bags in search of a quieter week in the countryside. I wonder if Marie Monrad Graunbøl will be heading to her cabin on the beautiful Danish island of Orø? I first came across her cosy A-frame in the Skandinavisk Voices magazine, and since we're in the middle of building our own cabin, I couldn't resist taking a closer look and sharing a few pictures here! Ready to be transported to the Danish wilderness?

Orø is a small island in the Isefjord, an hour or two west of Copenhagen. It's especially popular in summertime, when Danes flock to their summer houses. But actually, one of the best times to visit is off-season, when you can experience the vastness of the wilderness in solitude. 

A picture of Marie's A-frame cabin taken by Mikkel Tjellesen, as seen in Voices magazine. 

Marie spends the majority of her time in Copenhagen, where she runs her visual communications studio Revolver, which offers journalism, editing, creative direction and interior styling services.  But there's nowhere Marie loves to be more than at her cabin on Orø:

"Each time I reach the ferry terminal, I get an immediate sense of tranquillity, I breathe more freely, and my mind seems clearer.... most often I greet the stunning scenery on a late Friday afternoon, exhausted from a week's work and longing for a welcome respite... life slows down at Orø" - Marie.

When Marie and her husband first bought the cabin, it was rundown with a rotting foundation and in need of a new roof.  The pair painstakingly replaced everything inside, ferrying items over from the mainland. It was a slow process, but now their hard work has paid off and they have a wonderful retreat.

Although fairly compact, the couple have everything they need at the cabin, and it's been decorated with a simple yet charming blend of artisanal pieces and vintage finds, creating a wonderful, relaxed feel. 

These days the couple know the cabin and island inside out, as Marie explains in her interview with Voices:

"We came to know all the little signs of the changing seasons, the loud, terrifying noises of pines swaying dangerously in the storm, and the true bliss of entering the house to the warmth of the woodturning stove."

What a perfect place to recharge the batteries, don't you think?

Thank you to Skandinavisk for the kind permission to share these images (hop on over to explore their fragrances - they're simply divine!)

Looking for more dreamy inspiration this week? I love these archives: 

Scandinavian summer cottages

Country-style living

Cabins

Rural retreats

Holiday homes

Speaking of recharging batteries, my family and I are heading to Mallorca tomorrow to visit my sister for the first time in 4 years! We CAN'T WAIT! She lives in the North of the island with her boyfriend Ben and my two nieces. It's so beautiful up there. 

I'll be taking some time out with Per and the girls and will be back here blogging again on Monday 6th November. Feel free to pull up a chair hang around and browse the archives (after ten years of blogging there's a ton of inspiration in there!). I'll most likely capture my trip on Instagram stories if you're curious to see the island. 

Have a wonderful week! 

Niki

Photography: Chris Tonnesen

Voices spread photography: Mikkel Tjelleson

Styling: Marie Monrad Graunbøl / Revolver 

Shared with kind permission from Skandinavisk. 

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Helen's Cosy Swedish Country Cottage Kitchen

Kindly sponsored by Nordal, thank you for supporting the brands which make features like this possible*:

Last week I spent a lovely few days at Swedish interior designer Helen Sturessons's cottage in the Blekinge archipelago on Sweden's east coast. I'd heard so much about it and was really intrigued to see it in person. The opportunity came thanks to a series of photoshoots which required a cosy backdrop - and her country cottage is just the ticket! A short walk from the Baltic Sea, the traditional red and white cottage was every bit as charming as I had imagined! 

The little 19th century cottage is made up of three small rooms (her family of four share a bedroom when they're here at weekends and in the holidays) and the wooden floors creak under foot as you move from room to room. Masonry tiled ovens and a woodturning stove (in addition to a thermostat) kept us feeling toasty throughout our stay as did some woolly socks and chunky woollen jumpers! Best of all - Helen's Mother turned up with a divine smelling apple and cinnamon pie. 

Here are a few snapshots from a cosy afternoon in Helen's kitchen - which she's kitted out with some seriously beautiful items from Danish brand Nordal - as well as other treasured items. 

When Helen and her family first bought the cottage it had no heating, and they would use the woodburning stove in the kitchen to heat up the room. Once-upon-a-time a father cooked meals for his seven children on this very stove (tragically the mother died when the children were young). These days, Helen has electric heating and the stove is used to keep coffee and tea warm.  

A wooden worktop is used for extra storage and keeping a few useful items at hand. 

Pictured: round herringbone board, TORC ceramic bowl, glazed ceramic pot, recycled wooden chopping board

Open shelves add to the relaxed feel of the kitchen. I especially love the traditional Swedish 'kryddhylla' (spice rack). Each of the glass pockets are used to store herbs and spices as well as sugar, flour and even small items like elastic bands and string. These days 'kryddhylla' are made of glass (as seen in Helen's kitchen), but you might also see them in a 60s/70s plastic variety or, if made prior to the 1920s, in porcelain. 

Do you have something similar in your country? 

The shelves are laden with glasses and crockery as well as other small items like egg cups and measuring jugs. 

Pictured: JOG red wine and white wine glasses, grainy cup in sand, grainy dot bowls, plain grainy bowl.

The cottage surroundings portray an ever-changing scene. At the far end of the plot is a woodshed - and beyond that the outdoor loo (the only one at the cottage!). Throughout my stay, a fiery array of leaves swirled to the ground before settling on the rain drenched grass. Helen tells me that the family sometimes see deer and elk wander past, though sadly we didn't see any this time. Even so, we were able to find a load of pretty plants and late autumn flowers in the garden, including this foraged branch. 

Finally fika (a Swedish word meaning taking a break and enjoying a hot drink and a small treat). 

In Sweden you generally eat apple pie with 'cold vanilla sauce' and most would choose coffee - whereas in England we'd go for cream, vanilla ice cream or best of all hot custard with a cup of tea! How do you enjoy yours? 

Pictured above and below: rectangle baker, pie knife, TORC ceramic bowl, cast iron teapot, recycled wooden chopping board, serving spoon

The pie tasted every bit as divine as you can imagine! I wonder if I can get hold of the recepe - it would be nice to nee able to share it with you. Watch this space!  

Pictured above and below: dark blue spotty grainy cake plate, dark blue cake plate, ceramic spoon rest

And the final touch: candlelight! So mysigt!

I have to say, I can almost taste Helen's Mother's apple pie just looking through these pictures! 

Thank you for a wonderful afternoon 'fika' and for having me to stay Helen! 

I can't wait to share more pictures from Helen's cottage soon. 

If you like the look of the Nordal Danish kitchenware, you can find it in various webshops around Europe here. Please feel free to ask about any other item you see, I'm sure Helen would be happy to share the info! 

Have a 'hyggeligt' day friends! 

Niki

*Thank you to Nordal for this paid partnership and helping to make My Scandinavian Home possible. All words and photos in this post are my own and I only ever work with brands I love and think you will too. 

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Step Inside Verena's Relaxed, Warm and Inviting Home

When I look for homes / interiors to feature I try to find ones that inspire with a certain lifestyle (a Swedish cottage by the sea, a magical mountain cabin or rustic country retreat for example). I also strive to find homes with a wonderful unique touch and bags of personality that are full of ideas. Today, it's the latter in focus (I'm sure there's a wonderful lifestyle here too!). I discovered Verena's German home on instagram a few weeks ago (if you have the time check out her inspiring feed hop over to @vren1984) and immediately fell in love with the warm, relaxed feel. Verona's eclectic home is the kind of place you can instantly feel at home. So, pull up a chair and enjoy the tour - I hope you'll walk away with lots of new ideas for your own home! 

Love the mix and match vintage dining set - it works because everything is made from wood. The sheepskins help to add a cosy touch. 

A real life scene - how refreshing! 

We drink the same Oatly Barista with our coffee - have you tried it? Word of warning, once you start, you can't actually go back to milk. It originates from right here in southern Sweden! 

An indoor swing - wonderful! We have one from Finnish brand Lillagunga in Ali's room and it's always been a big hit. 

I love a packed bookshelf, do you? The other day on instagram I asked how people chose to organise their books. Many said by theme and then author, others said by colour or language. But best of all - one person said that their husband loves to spend hours organising books - organising them according to theme, and then if he thinks the authors would get along and have a good chat he'll place them next to each another. How brilliant is that? You can see the post and read all the responses here. 

Great to see a rug / blanket used as art. Instant cosiness and colour! 

If you have the space - or like the idea of an open wardrobe, perhaps a DIY concept like this one could be something for your home? 

I DID enjoy this tour, I have to say. 

I hope you walk away with some nice ideas. Is there anything that stood out to you in particular? 

Want to hang around for a while? Excellent! Why not check out: 

A German boathouse on the shotes of the Baltic

A fab mid-century inspired home in Berlin

A charming German home full of vintage finds and three mischievous cats!

Have a great day! 

Niki

Photography courtesy of @vren1984, shared with kind permission

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The Beautiful, Earthy Home of Swedish Illustrator Sara Bergman

Tjeeena! I hope you had a 'underbart' weekend! I seem to have come into my studio bursting with energy, extremely unusual for a Monday morning. But I think it could have something to do with the home tour I have lined up for you - it's so beautiful! Swedish illustrator Sara Bergman and her family have set up home in the picturesque village of Brunnby, not far from where my parents-in-law live here in Skåne county. Her beautiful home is testament to Sara's creativity. Look beyond the soothing earthy tones and you'll find one-off pieces, treasured items made by artist friends, beautiful pottery and layer upon layer of texture. Oh, and keep a look out for the well camouflaged TV and dozing family dog Kerstin (what would a Monday morning be without the latter?). 

Such a beautiful cabinet and cushions - but the star of the show has to be that marble bowl. I believe it's by Olsson & Jensen, but sadly couldn't find it available online. Let me know if you have more luck! 

Sara's home is full of beautiful sculptures. The one above is by Stockholm-based Elisabeth Ottebring. Sara also loves pieces by her talented friend Carola Kastman - and I have to say, I'm so excited to have discovered her art through Sara! If you have the time, check out her paintings and sculptures here. 

Can we all just take a moment's pause to admire this bedroom door?

The photo above Sara's desk is by Anna Malmberg, who recently packed up her Stockholm apartment and  moved to the South of France. 

What a beautiful way, in a perfectly imperfect way. I love how Sara has supported other local artists throughout her home. 

Is there anything that stood out to you?

Head on over to Sara's instagram to see a load more pictures from her home today. 

The entire Kullahalvön area (where Brunnby is located) is popular among artists and other creatives - it's also one of the few places in southern Sweden you can surf! I've featured several homes from the area, including: 

The home of Josephine Ekelund (which we also captured for my book The Scandinavian Home).

The unique and fabulous home of Maria Olsson Nylander 

And the fresh white home of Jenny Hultgren

I hope all this inspiration has put a spring indoor step!

Niki

Photography courtesy of Sara Bergman

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14 Ways To Add a Touch of Scandi Luxury To Your Bedroom This Winter

// Paid partnership with Carpe Diem Beds, all words are my own and I only ever work with brands I love and think you will too*

The North of Sweden experienced its first dusting of snow this week - a sign that winter is on its way! Eeek! Here in the south, the mornings have become progressively darker and as the cold wind blows, we're starting to migrate indoors. And there's nowhere I'd rather be than in bed!  

I guess there's nothing too unusual about that. They say the average person spends 26 years of their life sleeping (seriously?) add to that reading, and luxurious lie-ins and we're talking a serious amount of time in bed!

With this revelation in mind, winter looming, and a wonderful trip to visit the birthplace of Carpe Diem Beds on Sweden's West coast still fresh in my mind, I felt inspired to give my bedroom a complete Scandinavian luxury makeover just in time for winter. Here are 14 tips in case you'd also like to add a little luxury to your boudoir this winter! 

1. Invest in a bed that's just right for you! No amount of luxurious bedlinen can compensate for a mattress that's not suited to your needs! If you haven't already, speak to a bed expert to find out what type of mattress you need. Per and I tested a load of different beds before choosing our Sandö bed from Carpe Diem Beds a few years back. Each side has a different firmness, and it's transformed the way we sleep and how we feel when we wake up. I'm not going to lie, Per still snores though! 

2.  Invest in a good mattress topper: I promise, this will make all the difference to your comfort! Since the climate is really variable with cold winters and warmish summers in Sweden, we chose a mattress topper with a cotton-lined side for summer and a wool-lined side for winter (I just flipped it this week in fact!). There are lots of varieties on the market to suit all budgets so do take a look!

3. Use a mattress protector: not only will this protect your mattress - it will also make your bed feel even more cosy when you slip under the covers. 

4. Use the right duvet for the season: Depending on the climate you live in and how well the temperature in your room is regulated (according to research, the ultimate bedroom temperature is a relatively cool 18.3 degrees celsius / 65 degrees Fahrenheit) - you ned to make sure you have the right duvet to suit your needs according to the season. My daughter recently described our duvets as 'fluffy cloud' - high praise indeed! 

5. Use two single duvets rather than a double: Yes, REALLY! This might not come as a surprise to you if you live in Scandinavian or some parts of Europe. But it's really the only way to get the absolute BEST night sleep possible simply because you can choose your own duvet thickness, stick limbs out at will, and won't fight over the covers! 

6. Use a pillow (or two) that's just right for your needs: An essential element - as the firmness / style will  totally affect the way you sleep. My Mum also taught me to always use a pillow protector (this could be as simple as covering your pillow with an old, worn-out pillowcase which will then go under your a actual pillowcase). I've also added larger cushions which match the bed upholstery (Zaragoza Eggshell by Designers Guild) to have something to cosy up against while reading.  

7. Make your bed with beautiful linen! Let me in on you a secret, Per never texts me. If he does, it will be two letters, like 'OK'! But the other day after I'd prepped our bedroom for winter, he sent me a text that read: 'this bedding is incredible'. 

An unprecedented four words without prompt! 

The secret: it's all in the thread count - the higher the thread count the more luxurious it feels and our new Havbris bedlinen has an immensely high thread count of 500. Also, dare I say it - a simple iron makes a big difference too - boring! 

8. Keep a spare blanket to hand: just in case of drafts, extra cold feet etc! 

9. Add soft, warm lighting and a beautiful scent: Tap into all the senses by adding a lovely warm glow and a beautiful scent to the room. This hand poured Gryning candle smells divine! 

Word of caution, be vigilant- never leave a naked flame unattended and always ensure it's well away from anything flammable. 

10. Coffee and a good read: what would a luxurious lie-in be without either of these? 

11. Add somewhere to sit: hopping around the room on one foot while getting dressed / undressed doesn't spell luxurious - so make sure you include a place to sit- weather a bench, ottoman or footstool (the latter adds an instant 'dressing room' feel. 

12. Treat yourself to some heavenly nightwear: whatever your preferred style, make sure it feels wonderful against your skin and you can move freely (like this silk robe!). 

13. Keep moisturisers to hand: skin dries out so much more in the winter!

14. Turn off your phone and relax!

All this writing about winter luxury bedrooms makes me want to go straight back to bed, and the clocks haven't even gone forward yet. 

I hope this has given you a few ideas for your own bedroom. Please do feel free to add your own tips in the comment section below! 

Sov Gott! / Sweet dreams! 

Niki

*This post is brought to you in paid collaboration with Carpe Diem Beds and includes gifted items. All words are my own and I only ever recommend brands I love and think you will too. Thank you for supporting the Scandinavian businesses that make My Scandinavian Home possible. 

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