Welcome inside Juni's Oslo Apartment

From a home on the coast of West Denmark on Tuesday to the Norwegian capital today, it’s been a very Scandinavian week here on the blog. While the coastal property was set among the dunes and awash with soothing pale blues, this beautiful light-filled flat in Old Oslo is flooded with golden sunshine that highlights touches of red, burgundy, yellow — and even light blue (which appears to be a favourite right now!).

The flat belongs to Juni Halseth Strenberg, who recently moved from this vibrant home. Granted, the renovation of her new home is still a work in progress, but I love seeing how her furniture has settled right in.

There are many things I love about Juni’s unique style, but what really caught my eye were the bedrooms. They are narrow, yes, but they make a true statement, with the ceilings becoming a design feature in themselves, while also helping to visually bring down the height of the rooms. I also love the patterned window dressings! And of course, there's that spotty sofa too! 

Ready to take a look? Velkommen inn!

I thought you might be curious about some of the colour codes in the bedroom, so here they are: 

Single bedroom

Window frame and skirting boards: 'Light' from Jotun

Walls: 'Soul' from Jotun 

Ceiling: code S2005-B

Curtains: Sweet pea dove blue

Double bedroom

Window frames and skirting boards: 'Light' from Jotun

Walls: 'Soul' from Jotun
Ceiling: Poetry red from Jotun

Curtains: sweet pea burgundy from Gotain

I have to say, I love all the curtains, they really bring together the rooms! Are there any details that caught your eye? 

Follow @junik to keep an eye on her latest home updates - I see the kitchen will be ready soon! 

Have a fantastic weekend all! Thank you, as always for stopping by, it really means so much!

Niki

Photography by @junik, shared with kind permission.

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A Dreamy Danish Summer House by the Sea

It dawned on me today that it’s exactly eight weeks until Midsummer, the unofficial start of the Scandinavian summer holidays. Can you believe it? 

One of the things I love most about Scandinavia is how seriously summer is taken. It’s not unusual for people to take a minimum of three weeks of uninterrupted leave. After the long, dark winter, this is the season everyone has been waiting for, and you can feel it everywhere. There’s a lightness in the air, a summery smile in every coastal village, and a sense that life is meant to be enjoyed outdoors. People flock to the sea for morning, noon and evening dips, zip around in every kind of boat imaginable, and gather for long, lazy meals in the sunshine. Just the way summer should be! 

The summer houses are part of the charm too, simple, understated and beautiful, often designed to reflect their surroundings. And then there’s the light: clear and pin-sharp, with the sea shifting between grey and blue, and the sand glowing in soft off-white tones. On interior designer Marie’s Instagram, @vestkysthjem, she shares endless inspiration from dreamy summer cottages, including this beautiful thatched house she recently sold, set among the dunes on the west coast of Denmark near Søndervig, just a stone’s throw from the sea. 

Inside, the pale blue and off-white palette, wood panelling and simple rag rugs create a calm, welcoming feel. It’s the kind of place made for relaxing in the summer sun, bare feet, salty hair, and falling asleep to the sound of the waves. What more could you need?

Can you imagine waking up there?

I'd never want to leave! 

If you love this, you'll also love looking at the inspiration over on Marie's instagram which alos includes her parents lovely home, her new home and some of the homes she has decorated. 

Now that we're all in the mood for a Danish summer vibe, you might also like to look at: 

A Danish cottage oasis on North Zealand

A light-filled Danish summerhouse on airbnb

Before and after, a dated house becomes a dreamy summer getaway

Roll on summer, we're ready for you!

Niki

Photography courtesy of @vestkysthjem, shared with kind permission.

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Breathing Room: A Beautiful Swedish Home

I was so happy to hear that so many of you loved the Norwegian home tour earlier this week - it certainly helped that we had such a handsome guide!

Today, I thought we’d go for something a little different. One of the things I’ve always loved about Scandinavian design is the calmness that comes with the “less is more” philosophy. Walking into a decluttered home, like the one you’re about to witness, makes me instantly take a deep exhale in and out. It’s instantly calming!

I also love how, when a home is pared back, you can see each carefully selected item in its entirety - the colour, the form, the material, the texture - everything.

So, this Swedish home is dedicated to anyone who needs a little calm, or some breathing room, to take with you into the weekend!

Granted, this is even more decluttered than usual since it’s for sale, but I still love the light and airy feel, along with the lovely choice of furniture and colour. Plus, I’ll always be a big fan of a wall rack for wine glasses - especially on a Friday!

Are you also a fan of the pared-back look?

I hope you’ve enjoyed the tours on the blog this week as much as I have. As always, thank you so much for stopping by and for all your comments, emails, and messages. I love this positive community! 

Have a fantastic weekend!

Niki

Photography courtesy of Stadshem, with thanks. 

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A Beautiful Oslo Apartment with a Four-Legged Star

Today I have a little treat for you. Not only are we heading to the beautiful district of St. Hanshaugen, an area of Oslo, Norway known for its elegant apartment buildings, leafy namesake park, and sweeping hilltop views across Oslo and the fjord, we’re also being given a tour of an apartment by a hound - an Australian Cobberdog named Oliver, to be precise. 

Monica Flatland’s lovely home is blessed with high ceilings, beautiful cornicing and large windows that let in plenty of light. She has cleverly accentuated the height and architectural details by using subtly different paint colours on the walls ('kalk' by Jotun can be seen in the kitchen and living room). I’m especially loving the blue ceiling in the bedroom!

I also love her kitchen, featuring mainly lower cabinets, which enhances the bright and airy feel. But the real star of the show is her beautiful doggy, of course, while the dog-themed art by Monica’s boyfriend (available here) is pretty cute too.

Ready to take a look? Here's Oliver to give you a tour. 

Simply beautiful! Granted, Olivier really did steal the show and seems very happy with his home (who wouldn’t?), but I still enjoyed looking at all the details behind him. There’s a wonderful ease about the space.

Could you imagine living here?

Do you have a theme with your art? Looking around my home, people and the human form feature highly in my art, purely subconsciously. I wonder why that is?

Shall we take a quick look at some other Oslo homes today? 

Inside Juni's Oslo apartment with cool paint colours
At home with the Arctic gardener
A relaxed artist's home in Oslo (I loved my day capturing this home!)

Happy mid-week friends!

Niki

Photography courtesy of Monica Flatland, shared with kind permission.

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A Lovely Swedish Home in Bloom

It’s Friday, the sun is shining, and Per and I are trundling up the motorway to Gävle, just north of Stockholm, to cheer on Alice at a gymnastics competition. As we go, I notice the grass turning greener and the buds on the trees growing fuller. Soon the landscape will burst into life again, and there’s no greater sign of spring in Sweden than that first hint of colour after months of grey.

Indoors, though, touches of colour have been quietly appearing for a while in many homes. True to Scandinavian style, they show up in botanical patterns on walls, textiles and everyday details.

In this Swedish home, a simple white and grey backdrop acts as a canvas for a chequered rug, a blue and white tablecloth, and vibrant patternts by Josef Frank and Svenskt Tenn, from trays and wallpaper to even the blinds.

Elsewhere, spring makes its presence known too, with a lemon plant here, vibrant artwork there and fresh flowers, along with pieces that hint at faraway travels, bringing warmth and life to every corner.

All in all, this is such lovely home that puts a little spring in your step and sets the tone perfectly for the weekend. Va bra!

Josef Frank is a staple in Swedish homes, but it’s so fun to see a growing interest among younger generations, and even further afield beyond Sweden. Are you a fan of Josef Frank’s designs too?

Another major comeback we’ve been seeing for a while now is blue and white porcelain by the likes of Royal Copenhagen. Of course, it has never really gone out of style in Denmark or the UK. My mother has always had a collection on her Welsh dresser. But it’s lovely to see it being embraced by a younger generation as well. I’ve had my eye on these mugs with initials in particular for a while now, but they are a little steep budget-wise!

Did anything stand out to you about this lovely home? I’d love to hear your thoughts.

Would you like to see some other homes with Josef Frank designs today? Take a deco at: 

A Copenhagen filled with design treasures
A Swedish apartment fit for a princess
Light, calm and oh-so Scandinavian in Malmö

Thank you so much for stopping by today – I hope this tour made the perfect breather out of your day! 

See you next week,

Niki

Photography courtesy of Oscars

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