A Relaxed Gothenburg Home with Checks, Burgundy and Beautiful Details

I love Swedish surnames. Yes, many are the familiar ‘son of’ names, Svensson, Johansson, Andersson and so on, but so many others are inspired by nature, which I find rather lovely.

Mine, for example, means ‘steep ground’ (perhaps not the most romantic, let's hope it's not a slippery slope...), while I have friends with names like Häggström, ‘bird-cherry stream’. Then there are famous Swedes such as Astrid Lindgren, whose surname combines ‘linden tree’ and ‘branch’, and filmmaker Ingmar Bergman, quite literally ‘mountain man’.

And today I came across another one: Hallonkvist, ‘raspberry twig’. How nice is that?

You might be wondering where on earth I’m going with this. There is a point, I promise, although the link is admittedly rather tenuous!

Sarah Hallonkvist is an interior stylist based in Gothenburg, and in January she moved into a new home in Majorna with her little one, marking the beginning of a wonderful fresh chapter. Since then, Sarah has been slowly putting her stamp on the space and creating a beautiful, relaxed home for the two of them.

And it’s just the kind of home I love: warm, with soft creamy walls and curtains that form a calm backdrop for rich wood, tactile textiles and a wonderful mix of vintage and contemporary pieces. Simple pine shelves create extra storage under the TV, while sculptural lighting, checks, deep berry tones and a few playful details give each room its own character. 

Here are a few lovely corners from Sarah’s home to feel inspired by!

It would be lovely to see more of the kitchen, as well as a few glimpses of the bathroom and hallway, but I’m sure Sarah will get around to sharing these spaces when she’s ready – so do keep an eye on her Instagram for updates!

Even from these pictures, though, there’s plenty to take inspiration from. I love the warmth of the yellow tones, which are having a real moment right now. Other on-trend touches include the checks, zebra print, dark brown, burgundy and pale blue, as well as all the wicker details.

Do you have any of these in your home? Perhaps you’ve loved them for years, in which case, you were clearly ahead of the curve!

And finally, is there anything in particular that caught your eye in Sarah’s Gothenburg home?

Here is a mixed bag of Gothenburg homes to appreciate on this bright and sunny day: 

A beautiful Gothenburg home with a hint of English style
Inside Anna's coastal home on an island outside Gothenburg 
An allotment cottage hideaway in the heart of the city

On another note, did you see the lastest addiiton to our sitting room in last week's post? 

Thank you so much for stopping by. Hej då så länge!

Niki

Photography by Sarah Hallonkvist, shared with kind permission

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Say ‘hei’ to the newest (and cosiest) member of our sitting room

This post is sponsored by NordLif Home. All words are my own, and I only ever partner with brands I genuinely love.

It’s been a while since I’ve made any updates to our sitting room at home in Malmö, but with autumn creeping in I suddenly felt it was calling for a little more warmth and texture. Do you ever get that feeling when the seasons change, that a room just needs something?

As regular readers will know, I’m a big fan of natural materials, warm earthy tones and Scandinavian design, especially pieces that feel timeless and easy to live with. So when Finnish company NordLif Home got in touch, their collection immediately caught my eye. They focus on solid wood furniture with a calm, natural feel, which, as you can imagine, is very much my thing!

And with that, say 'hei' to the newest addition to our sitting room: the Astoria Fluted Bench.

It's made from solid mango wood in a warm amber oak finish. My original plan was to place it at the end of our bed, but when it arrived, it felt far too lovely to hide away, so it ended up taking pride of place by the sofa instead!

That said, one of the things I like most about it is how versatile it is. I could look just as good beneath a window, or in a hallway. Ours is sadly far too small for that though, we’re more in the “hop around on one foot while putting our shoes on” camp!

Are you the same as me and drawn to furniture that can move around the house to wherever it's needed?

What I love most about this bench are the fluted legs, which add just enough detail without making the design feel fussy. From a distance it’s beautifully simple, but up close there’s that little bit of texture and character that makes it feel entirely unique.

So now, by day, I’m using it as a spot for my coffee and a good read (it’s the perfect height), but by evening I suspect it’ll become a resting place for teenage feet, ice cream sticks and goodness knows what else!

The nice thing is that, with all that beautiful texture and its solid, hardy feel, I think it’ll look good whatever gets thrown at it. And in this house, that’s definitely a bonus!

And naturally, with autumn in the air, I couldn’t resist adding a few seasonal touches: pine cones gathered on walks, a candle, a favourite mug and a little pile of books. I’ve also brought out the sheepskin throws and cosy blankets again, which always feels like the official start of the season.

Autumn, we’re ready for you!

I hope you love this piece as much as I do. If you’d like to take a closer look, you can find the Astoria Fluted Bench at NordLif Home, and they’ve also kindly given My Scandinavian Home readers 10% off with the code NIKI10 (valid until 24th October, 2026). There are plenty of other lovely pieces to browse through too. 

I’d love to know what you think. Are you finding yourself adding warmer woods, softer textures and cosier touches at home now that autumn is here (for those of you in the southern hemisphere, of course!)?

Niki

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Soft Greens, Golden Tones and a Fairytale Children's Bedroom

It's quite incredible what a difference a little colour can make to a home. It doesn't have to be a lot either – sometimes just a splash here and there is enough to completely change the feel of a space.

Of course, choosing the right tones can be easier said than done. It certainly doesn't help when you walk into a paint shop and are faced with what feels like a million different shades of white alone!

But the effort can really pay off, and this pretty Swedish home is such a lovely example. With its golden kitchen doors, hints of soft green, touches of blue and warm nude tones, it shows just how beautifully the Swedes weave colour into an interior.

And keep an eye out for the children's bedroom, with its forest friends wallpaper, yellow window frame and oxblood chest of drawers. It feels like something straight out of a fairytale!

Lovely! Very relaxed with rustic touches, yet still beautifully cared for and thoughtfully put together.

Did you notice the picture of the washer and dryer? I kept that in deliberately, as it shows how Swedes so often place them. Ours is exactly the same in our laundry room! You'll usually find them tucked into a bathroom, utility room or basement. Never the kitchen (like in the UK).

I have to say, I really loved the children's bedroom in this home – it's so pretty! Did anything in particular stand out to you?

And what about colour? Have you used much in your own home, and if so, where and how? We've just re-decorated our guest room in Nordic Breeze and I absolutely love it! I keep going in there just to take a look! I promise to show a glimpse soon, I am just figuring out the final touches.

You can see more pictures of this country home over at Stadshem, where the house is currently for sale.

Ha det så fint! 

Niki

Photography by Mariette Svensson

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Inside Frida’s Warm and Welcoming Swedish Home

It's Friday, and today is shaping up to be a rather nice one! I'll shortly be heading over the bridge to Copenhagen for the store opening of Pink Rose, who make the most fabulous lamps, followed by a mooch around town and a visit to a few of my favourite haunts. And really, is there anywhere more relaxed than the Danish capital on a Friday afternoon? I hope you've got some fun plans too!

Before I shoot off, though, I'd love to share this lovely Swedish home belonging to Frida of @lillabonora.

The palette has a similar warm, golden feel to Linnéa's house, which I featured on Wednesday, and the good news is, I actually have some colour codes for you this time, should you feel inspired to get the paintbrushes out this weekend!

There's so much I like about Frida's home. The soft, buttery walls immediately make everything feel warm and welcoming, especially when the sunlight pours in, and I love how she's paired them with natural wood, touches of brown, crisp white and little touches of black. The beautiful original details, from the tiled stove and panelled walls to the ornate doorways and ceiling roses, add so much character without making the space feel too grand or precious.

I'm especially drawn to the little room by the window, with books tucked right up to the ceiling, patterned wallpaper and greenery everywhere. What a spot to sit and work! And can we also take a moment for the dining room chandelier? Quite the showstopper.

Perhaps my favourite thing is the way the same soft palette flows from room to room. It gives the whole home such a calm, cohesive feel without everything being too perfectly matched.

Shall we take a look around?

What a beautiful home! I especially love the light in here, and those warm, golden tones feel just right for this time of year. They’ll surely help carry a little warmth into autumn and winter too, even when the days outside start to turn cold and dark.

And, as promised, here are the paint colours used throughout the home:

- Sitting room with white sofa: walls - Lys toscana (Jotun), ceiling Silke (Jotun), door beside the Kakelugn- Humble yellow (Jotun)
- Dining room: walls - Soft (Jotun), ceiling Silke (Jotun), wainscoting- Croissant (Flügger)
- Wall in front of office area: wall, Soft Jotun, wainscoting - Croissant (Flügger)

I’d love to hear your thoughts on Frida’s home. Is there anything in particular that caught your eye, or any ideas you’ll be taking away with you?

You can see more from Frida over at @lillabonora.

And with that, I’m off to Copenhagen! Trevlig helg, hörni! Have a lovely weekend, all!

Niki

PS: It's been a bit of a busy week, but I am so looking forward to finding a quiet moment this weekend to read through and respond to all your comments. Thank you for adding so much to each post and the positive community here at MSH! 

Photography @lillabonora, shared with kind permission.

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