Designer Notes: At Home with Gabriella Belin

Why hello there!

It's raining here for the first time in weeks and, to be honest, it's so welcome. The humidity is finally lifting, and it means you can actually get a few things done around the house. Even so, I hope it doesn't last too long!

In Gothenburg, I know two children who'll be happy to be staying indoors today, the three daughters of interior stylist Gabriella Belin. Their bedroom is so lovely, with its big desk, open shelving, and playful bed (all of which I would have absolutely loved as a child!).

Signs of Gabriella's talent as an interior stylist shine through in the rest of her home too, with its beautiful earthy tones, clever design solutions, effortless style, designer lighting, and a very cool ceramic shelf, as well as carefully chosen furniture sourced from antique and vintage shops. I also spotted the Gotain Sweet pea fabric in the kitchen once again, it's definitely the curtain of the moment! I'm tempted to follow suit. How about you? I hope you enjoy these lovely corners.

Happy scrolling!

Beautiful home. 

There's an ease about it that I love. Do you agree? 

In case you're wondering about any of these things: the kitchen is from Vedum, the chairs are Borge Mogensen.

And for the colours: 

Sitting room – Coconut, cabinet Olive

Kitchen – walls: Claro, beading: Lys Toscana, cabinets: Hummus

Children's room - walls: Scandinavian light, darker colour on the bed: Humble yellow, beading: turkey. 

If you don't have access to Jotun paint, you can always google search the colour codes and your nearest dealer should be able to match it. 

You can see more of Gabriella's home and work here. 

And how about a few more lovely apartment tours today? Take a peek at:

Hannes' cosy Swedsh apartment

A cosy Swedish home with earthy tones

Hanna's Swedish city home and country cottage

Thank you so much for stopping by, as always. I hope you have a wonderful weekend! 

Niki

Photography: Gabriella Belin

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A Dreamy Swedish Lakeside Villa With Its Own Private Cape

One of my favourite pastimes at this time of year? Spotting beautiful summer houses while out on a walk, driving through the countryside or gliding past them by boat, and imagining what it would be like to move right in. And when it comes to dreamy waterside homes, Sweden is hard to beat. With one of the world's longest coastlines and around 100,000 lakes, there are endless idyllic spots to while away the summer.

This charming villa in Börlänge is exactly the kind of dreamy place I am talking about. Perched on its own private cape on Lake Ösjön, the lovingly renovated 1927 house comes with sweeping views, its own beach, a lakeside sauna and no fewer than five fireplaces (lets hope no one needs to use them this summer!). The interior is also absolutely beautiful. The paint colours and wallpaper feel wonderfully timeless and remind me a little of Carl Larsson's world. I even spotted one of his prints in the bathroom, could that have been the inspiration?  Ready to come and dream a little with me?

An absolute dream, and so beautifully maintained too. I love how the window frames have been painted in shades of green, butter yellow and soft grey. It draws your eye to the windows and, of course, the shimmering lake beyond. Painted wooden staircases are also a popular feature in Swedish homes and can be found in every colour imaginable, from muted blues and greens to sunny yellow and vibrant red.

The geraniums on the banister are looking a little pecarious though, do you agree? 

But all in all, how blissful would it be to while away a few summer days here? I can't think of a more relaxing spot. Could you?

Since it is the the season of the Scandinavian summer house, here are a few more to dream about: 

A magical, fjord-side house in Norway
A treasure in Brömma
A timeless beach house on the North Danish coast

Hope you're enjoying some sunshine, wherever you are!

UPDATE!! It dawned on me this morning that I forgot to include the loo pic featuring the print by Carl Larsson - the piece is called 'Lisbeth Prepares a Bath'. Here it is:

I love the work of Carl Larsson, and was once lucky enough to visit his house for a tour. I can highly recommend a visit!

 Niki

Photography courtesy of properties & partners, with thanks.

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A Charming Summer Cottage Outside Ystad

Has anyone else been melting this week?! This heatwave sweeping across Europe really has been something. I hope you're managing to keep cool! 

We are are actually in Mallorca for a few days, visiting my sister and celebrating our 17th wedding anniversary. Per and I were married here, in the beautiful north of the island, so it's always great to come back. But here's the funny thing... while we're enjoying the Mediterranean sunshine, it's actually going to be hotter in southern Sweden tomorrow than it is here! 

The good thing about a Swedish heatwave is that you're never far from the water. Whether it's kayaking, sailing or an evening swim, there's always a cool lake or stretch of coastline waiting.

Today's home is just outside Ystad, one of Sweden's prettiest medieval towns, on the edge of Nybrostrand and only moments from the cool blue Baltic Sea. With open fields all around, a lovely garden and a charming guest house for summer visitors, it feels like the perfect place to enjoy these long, sunny days. Shall we take a look around?

I can imagine the lack of clutter and the calm, airy feel of this home makes it wonderfully cool on a hot day. Don't you agree?

I really like the darker colour of the skirting boards, door frames and even the ceiling in places, this is something I am planning to do in our cottage too. I also love that final touch of green in the guest house, it adds a time-honoured feel. 

Was there anything that particularly caught your eye about this Ystad home?

Right friends, I'd better dash! My family are downstairs waiting to head into the square here in Pollença for a light aperitivo, and who am I to argue on a beautiful Friday evening?

Thank you so much for stopping by. I hope you have a fabulous weekend.

¡Salud! Until Monday!

Niki 

Photography courtesy of Bjurfors, with thanks.

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A Warm and Inviting Stockholm Home with a Lived-In Feel

I'm writing this as we head down the motorway, heading back to Malmö after a wonderful Midsummer weekend at our cottage. There were wildflowers in our hair, garden games on the lawn and a long, leisurely feast outdoors, scenes not unlike those I shared with you last Thursday.

As we settle back into city life, I thought we'd take a peek inside an apartment in the heart of Södermalm, Stockholm. While the setting is urban rather than rural, there's something about this home that feels equally relaxed and inviting. Perhaps it's the warm earthy palette, the well-used kitchen, or the way everything appears collected over time.

This Södermalm apartment has that lived-in look, thanks to the open shelving, wooden island worktop, aged cutting boards, visible cables and tactile textiles that bring warmth and character.

What I love most is the unpretentious approach. Open shelves lined with everyday glassware and pantry staples rather than carefully styled displays, and earthy shades of olive green, ochre and rust add depth throughout. Art, plants and vintage finds lend a personal touch to the rooms, creating a home that feels creative, practical and welcoming. 

Let's take a closer look.

A rare peek into a bathroom on here! I was drawn to this one because although it is simple and unfussy, with exposed pipework, classic white tiles and straightforward fittings, it's a great example of how you can elevate a practical space without spending a fortune. A striking shower curtain, nice towels, artwork, baskets, a few hooks, a plant and a pretty robe all help to add personality and warmth.

All in all, there are plenty of ideas to steal from this lovely Stockholm home, do you agree? Is there anything that caught your eye?

I hope you enjoyed the tour!

Here are a few more Scandinavian apartments to feel inspired by today: 

Soft greens and floral dreams in a Gothenburg apartment

A small, cosy Swedish apartment with earthy tones

Sarah's calm Danish apartment

Ha det så bra!

Niki

Photography courtesy of Historiska Hem, with thanks.

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