A Soulful Cottage in the Wilds of Bruny Island

Those of you who are regular followers of MSH will know that not every home I show is actually located in Scandinavia. In fact, I have a particular penchant for homes Down Under, Tasmania to be specific. And today I'm taking things one step further.

This home is on a small island off Tasmania, which is pretty much as far from Sweden as it's possible to get without starting to come back again! But hey, geography has never stopped me dreaming. I've promised myself I'll make it there one day. And for those of you who get there before me, here's a stay that would be very hard to resist.

On the southern tip of Bruny Island, interior stylist Tess Newman Morris and her husband Jack have transformed a century-old timber cottage into a wonderfully soulful retreat. Built around 1906 and perched above Little Taylors Bay, Fairweather stole Tess's heart the moment she saw it. She and her family bought it in 2018 and spent the next seven years slowly restoring it, largely themselves, using reclaimed timber, salvaged windows and doors, antique furniture and natural materials.

Rather than making the cottage feel new, Tess wanted to return it to something simpler, calmer and more handcrafted. The result is beautifully understated, with waxed timber floors, vintage pieces, natural fibres and plenty of breathing space, all surrounded by the wild landscape of Bruny Island. Days here are shaped by the sea, changing skies, sea eagles and dolphins, and for Tess there's an added emotional connection too, since her late mother once lived in a nearby bay.

Today, Fairweather is less about polished perfection and more about switching off, slowing down and feeling completely immersed in nature. Or, as Tess puts it, "Time feels different there, like the rest of the world is on pause."

Ready to take the tour? Photographer Lisa Cohen captured these beautiful images, so let's take a look inside...

Incredible! I can’t think of a better place to spend a weekend... can you? Actually, scrap that. The rugged wilderness, the beautiful, relaxed interior and the views have me wanting to settle in and stay a while.

Definitely one to save for my future ‘gap year’ on the other side of the world. It might be a long time coming, but oh, it’s coming!

Is there anything that struck you about Fairweather?

And if you fancy experiencing it for yourself, you can find Fairweather Bruny Island on Airbnb and book a stay.

I hope you all have a wonderful weekend!

Niki

Interior styling: Tess Newman Morris
Photography: Lisa Cohen

READ MORE...

0

The Coolest Canal-Side Home Stay in Copenhagen

One of the most amazing things about Copenhagen in summertime is that the water around the city is clean enough to swim in. So, if you're planning a visit, make sure you pack your bathers!

Better still, book an Airbnb like this one. Belonging to Astrid Storm and Phil Thornhill, founder of artist agency Next of Kin, this canal-side property is in what Time Out magazine describes as “one of the coolest neighbourhoods in the world” and has its own floating deck, where you can sit and watch the boats bob oby over a morning cup of coffee, take a dip, or even borrow a stand-up paddleboard or kayak. The interior is beautifully decorated too, with red elm panelling and many details made by the owners; what’s not to love?

What a perfect pad to return to each day after exploring the city, don't you agree? A holiday within a holiday!

You can find more details about it on Airbnb or @copenhagencanalhouse. 

Have you been to Copenhagen recently? If so, please do feel free to share your favourite things to see and do below for others to feel inspired by! 

Oh, and if you do decide to stay here, make sure you pop over the bridge to Malmö during your visit and come and meet me for a coffee too. It’s only a short hop away!

Kram!

Niki

Photography courtesy of Astrid Storm, with kind permission.

READ MORE...

7

Sara’s Relaxed Country Home in Österlen, South Sweden

The summer is over in Sweden. Not weather-wise, necessarily, but the majority have returned to work and the children are back at school. On the islands along the east and west coasts, little signs have started to appear in shop, café and restaurant windows: stängt för säsongen - closed for the season. Some will shut their summer cottages up completely, while others will continue to visit at weekends, enjoying the quiet, the changing seasons and the return of deer, seals and other wildlife that dare to venture a little closer once the summer crowds have dispersed.

This is how Sara will enjoy her beautiful, relaxed summer cottage near the village of Simrishamn in southern Sweden. It lies in Österlen, a part of Skåne famous for its rolling farmland, beautiful light and long association with artists and creatives. And Sara's home feels perfectly at ease here.

Inside, there's a wonderfully relaxed, country-style feel, with whitewashed timber walls and floors, old exposed beams and simple, honest materials setting the tone. The kitchen is a lovely example, with its open shelving, mismatched ceramics, rustic wooden worktops and mix of painted and natural wood cabinetry. Elsewhere, vintage finds, botanical prints, books, plants and quirky little treasures have been gathered over time, giving the space warmth and personality.

I especially love the way flashes of colour - a yellow cabinet here, a pale blue pendant there, a sunny paper lantern overhead - lift the otherwise quiet, earthy palette. Sheepskins, worn wood, old rugs and an eclectic mix of furniture add to the sense that this is a home designed for kicking off your shoes and staying awhile rather than worrying about everything being perfect. I can just imagine an autumn weekend here: putting an LP on, lighting a few candles and settling down to a board game while something bubbles away on the stove (we have learnt that Monopoly isn't the best choice though - as things can quickly go south!). 

And beyond the windows lie views over the verdant farmland of Österlen - a reminder that although the summer season may be drawing to a close, there are still plenty of beautiful days to be enjoyed here. In fact, could this be the loveliest time of year to have a place like this?

Let's take a closer look!

Yes, to all of this. So relaxed, so down-to-earth, Sara has created the perfect place to kick back! 

If you'd like to see more of her lovely home, head on over to @husetvidsimris. 

And for more lovely houses to explore in Österlen, don't miss: 

Karen's lovely summer house in the South of Sweden.
A charming holiday home in Österlen

Holiday rental: an architect's villa in Österlen

And that folks, is it for me this week. Have a fabulous weekend, and see you early next week! 

Niki

Photography @husetvidsimris, shared with kind permission.

READ MORE...

6

Step Inside Ellen's Beautifully Restored 1920s Swedish Villa

Hello campers! I hope you've had a wonderful summer! We've had such a fantastic time - above all else, those long days with no plans, waking up without an alarm (worth its weight in gold!), swims in the sea and simply spending time together. Bliss! And it's so good to be back here in my favourite little corner of the internet today too!

Let's kick off with the beautiful home of Ellen Ingman. Built in 1923, Ellen has been slowly renovating the villa, restoring it little by little while adding her own modern touches to create a wonderfully warm and relaxed home for her family - cats included!

And there is so much to love. Original details such as the deep door frames, herringbone floors and generous windows have been carefully preserved, while a soft palette of buttery yellow, warm beige, muted green and powder blue brings a gentle sense of colour throughout.

I especially love how Ellen has mixed old and new: an antique workbench takes centre stage in the kitchen, vintage wooden chairs sit alongside contemporary lighting, and traditional wallpaper and joinery are balanced by relaxed linen, rattan and wonderfully tactile rugs. Nothing feels too perfect or overly styled - instead, it has that lovely, collected-over-time feel that makes a home feel truly lived in.

The kitchen might just be my favourite. Those creamy yellow cabinets, stone floor and marble worktop are beautiful in themselves, but it's the old wooden table piled with pots and pans that gives the room so much soul. And how pretty is that little dining nook with the striped pendant?

A little note: This is a shorter version of Ellen's home tour, but I've kept a few of my favourite images here. For more glimpses of her beautiful home, you can find Ellen over on Instagram.

Altogether, it's a home that feels wonderfully respectful of its 1920s roots, without ever feeling stuck in the past. Shall we take a tour?

Oh, so beautiful! I can only imagine how much work has gone into this home over the years - restoring, renovating and building, not to mention choosing the tiles, colours, wallpaper, furniture and even every last light fitting. A true labour of love, which has certainly paid off in the form of a beautiful, warm and personal family home.

Is there anything that particularly stood out to you? 

You can keep an eye on Ellen's latest renovation projects over at @galgbergsvillan.

Other Swedish villas to feel inspired by: 

Step inside a dreamy Falsterbo beach villa

A beautiful country wedding / party villa (I once had the pleasure of staying here and it was even more fabulous in real life!)

A romantic Swedish art nouveau villa

'Stor kram' from me, happy to be back! 

Niki

Photography: Ellen Ingman, shared with kind permission.

READ MORE...

24

The Ultimate Scandinavian Summer Round-Up

Dearest friends,

It's time for me to head off on my summer vacation for a couple of weeks. But I'd never leave you high and dry without plenty of beautiful Scandinavian summer inspiration!

Today, I've put together a big summer round-up featuring some of my favourite Scandinavian summer cottages (plus links to another twenty at the end!), floating saunas, outdoor seating ideas for spaces big and small, pools for every size space and budget, and the most wonderful outdoor shower and bath inspiration, in other words, everything you need to embrace life alfresco.

Just add a good book (and perhaps a little mosquito repellent!), and you're all set. I hope these ideas inspire you to soak up every last moment of summer, wherever you happen to be.

A Gotland summer escape (available to rent)

A rural Norwegian cottage by a fjord

A Swedish summer house filled with vintage and antique treasures

Before and after: a dated Danish house becomes a summer home

A dreamy Danish thatched cottage by the sea

A dated house becomes a Danish summer home

Anna's floating little Swedish cottage with a sauna

10 ways to maximise your balcony for summer

7 boho ideas for outdoor spaces big and small

16 outdoor bath and shower ideas

10 small pools for every budget

I hope you felt inspired by these ideas. In case you are looking for more while I'm away, you might also like to see: 

10 dreamy Scandinavian summer cottages

10 magical Nordic summer houses

Scandinavian summer holidays to rent (and a few others further afield)

That's it from me for now. As always, a heartfelt thank you for stopping by, and for your wonderful comments and emails that make this blog such a warm and positive community to be part of.

I hope you have a magical, Scandi-style summer, wherever you are in the world. I'll be back on Tuesday 18th August, refreshed and full of inspiration. Until then, take good care and enjoy every moment!

Niki

PS two other things you might like to see - did you tour the Danish theatre home earlier this week? It's not to be missed! Also, if your child is starting college, here's a piece I wrote for IKEA about how to style their college room. 

Credits: 1& 3 Monica Almskår Heggset & Lev Landig, 2 Airbnb, 4. @clindholm_design for Historiska Hem 5. @det_lille_hus_i_skoven 6. @vestkysthem 7. Anna Starrén 10 Alicia Taylor

READ MORE...

15