A simply beautiful Finnish home

Have you ever been to Finland? The Finns have a simply beautiful, natural sense of style - often pared-back and monochrome with a hint of colour. Nature also plays an important role. Today I decided to re-visit the lovely home of Maiju of indie days (formerly 'my second hand life'). I once showed her kitchen decked out for Christmas but never shots from the entire home. I think it's definitely about time don't you?! So here's a sneak peek into Maiju's lovely home full of inspiring details and new ideas. I could live here, could you?!

Maiju of Indie days, with kind permission.

Inspiring ideas to steal from Maiju's home:

Kitchen: black candles match the vintage industrial light fixtures to create balance, and a simple marimekko plate has been hung on the wall. Wooden birds add a touch of nature to the shelves. Mix and match Bertoia, Hay, Eames, and Thonet chairs. 

Sitting room: Muuto dots have been used throughout the home as decoration, a way to hang clothes and for lighting. A simple bench makes a great side board in the sitting room - I love how Maiju has stacked magazines underneath and plants, candles, prints etc are on display above.

Bedroom: I love the wallpaper (I am hoping to find out where this is from, so pop back later if you're interested) and DIY grey marble side table. The black top and vintage girls dresses emphasise the power of using clothes to decorate - so simple yet so striking (check out other ways to display clothes and shoes in the home).

Children's bedroom: I've never thought of placing a garland across the middle of a big window, what a great idea (maybe I should do this in the girls room?!). A black rug grounds an all white room. DIY bunting is a great way to spruce up plain white storage (check out this fab Finnish children's room for more inspiration). 

Anything that catches your eye?

If you're after a little more Finnish inspiration today there are some great homes to explore here, here and here. I think it's about time I got myself to Finland...?!

Have a lovely day! 

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Small space inspiration in monochrome

It's the weekend (almost!) and boy do I need it (more later). But first, today's home tour. Following on from what has been a bit of a black and white week, I'm taking inspiration from this monochrome space. Despite being a one room apartment the owners / designers have achieved a spacious, light and airy feel thanks to the two toned colour scheme throughout. If there's one thing I love though, it's the cactus! My grandparents had a similar one and it grew so tall they had to cut a whole through the ceiling (which became a skylight) - no joke! I've been a big fan of these prickly plants ever since, plus you rarely need to water them - what's not to love?!

Stadshem

Is there anything that stands out to you?

A few items I know and love: Thonet chairs, linen bedding, DLM side table, L:A Bruket soaps etc.

I'm so excited to introduce a sponsor today- brand new online shop Blackthumb. Founded by Nicola Fanstone after an inspiring trip to Helsinki, Blackthumb sells a smögåsbord of fab contemporary Scandinavian home and garden items including items from three of my favourite brands Sne Design (I'm in love with this felt storage basket), Ferm Living and Normann Copenhagen (dropit hook anyone?). And the good news? Blackthumb are offering readers 10% discount on any item in the shop with the code MyScandi10 until March 31st.

As mentioned above this week's been crazy. Yesterday I had a visit from TV channel Arte, and I've recently started working on a book (more info to follow at a later date) and to top it all I've also started shooting homes in Southern Sweden. It's all so exciting and what I've always dreamed of doing YAY! I just need a few days rest.... !

I hope you have some fab plans for the weekend lined up?

Have a lovely couple of days!

It all started on an unexpected trip to Helsinki, Finland. While wandering the streets on a cold spring afternoon, admiring all the beautiful and simple designs that Scandinavia is so well known for, Blackthumb was born. - See more at: http://blackthumbdecor.com/about/#sthash.wZ4hCdCE.dpuf

It all started on an unexpected trip to Helsinki, Finland. While wandering the streets on a cold spring afternoon, admiring all the beautiful and simple designs that Scandinavia is so well known for, Blackthumb was born. - See more at: http://blackthumbdecor.com/about/#sthash.wZ4hCdCE.dp

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The lovely, relaxed home of a Danish student

I love this relaxed home of communications masters student Julie Wittrup Pladsbjerg which she shares with her boyfriend in Aalborg, Denmark. Julie is a keen writer and interior decorator and recently did an internship at one of my favourite Danish interiors magazines BoligLiv. She loves to mix old with new and has a big thing for plants, which can be seen dotted around the apartment. There are so many details I love about this space - the black and white wall in the bedroom with the low shelf as a side table, the DIY shoe rack in the hall, the open dressing room. Did your home look as cool as this when you were a student (I'd love to say mine did)?!

All photos Julie Wittrup Pladsbjerg

A few items I know and love: Kubus 4 candleholder, string lights, Eames DSW chair, Tom Dixon copper shade pendant, string pocket shelves, Hay clamp light.

Is there anything you love in particular about this space?

Thank you Julie for sending me the wonderful pictures (you can see more pictures of this fab home on Instagram).

If you're a fan of black and white and after a little more inspiration there are tons of beautiful monochrome spaces in my archive here, many of which also have a lovely mid-century touch.

Now, I'd better get back to my 'white floor make-over' - almost there, exciting!

Have a lovely day!

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A Swedish city pad in monochrome and copper

On Friday I was dreaming about spending the weekend in this rustic Norwegian cabin, weren't you?! And now, it's back to the city just in time for the start of a new week. This one bedroom monochrome and copper themed space in Gothenburg is a feast for the eyes, there's just so much to look at! I love the variety of light fixtures, the kakelugn (tiled oven) and touch of spring in the hallway.  Thank you 55 Kvadrat, you've brightened up the start of my week.

55 Kvadrat

55 Kvadrat

55 Kvadrat

55 Kvadrat

55 Kvadrat

55 Kvadrat

55 Kvadrat

55 Kvadrat

55 Kvadrat

Is there anything you love in particular about this Swedish space?

I love the white floor. I must have shown over 200 homes on here with white floors and never had one of my own. So I thought it was about time! I'm in the process of painting my top floor (and bedroom) white (you can see the work in progress here). I promise to create a post once it's finished. I must say, it's been such a tiring couple of the days - who needs the gym when you have a floor to sand, wash and paint?! Have you got a white floor in your home?

See more pictures and a plan of this lovely black and white apartment over at Kvadrat55.

More wonderful black and white homes here, here and here.

Have a great day!

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A truly incredible Swedish country home in monochrome

I fell in love with this home when I showed it decked out for Christmas in 2013. And now it's been beautifully captured by Kristofer Johnsson for Residence magazine. Ladies and gentlemen, it's the stunning home of Swedish calligrapher Ylva Skarp. Her home reflects her love for monochrome and is teeming with unique vintage finds and quirky touches. If you look closely you can also see hints of her artwork. What a truly incredible home, don't you think? 

Homeowner: Ylva Skarp, Photography: Kristofer Johnsson, Stylist: Residence.

Besides Ylva's fab artwork, what I really love about this space is the incredible mixture of textures (wood, concrete, paper, metals) which gives the home a part cabin, part country, part warehouse vibe.

And did you notice the industrial warehouse cart used as a day bed - what an ingenious idea?!

Is there anything that stands out to you?

Other incredible black and white country homes incude this and this one, and don't miss this fab apartment in Malmö.

Have a great day! 

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A fabulous swedish apartment for the weekend

Looking at these pictures you'd think they were fresh out of the pages of a glossy magazine. In fact, it's one of the latest homes for sale through Stadshem. Taking estate agent photography and styling to a whole new level, this stunning space in Gothenburg is decorated in white, light wood, greys and black through out and a mix of designer classics, mid-century and industrial finds. The result is an incredibly calm, modern scandinavian space which I could move into tomorrow. Could you live here?

Stadshem. Photographer: Jonas Berg.

Is there anything that stands out to you?

For me, it's the light wood and grey tones in the hallway. I always think it's important to create a 'wow' entrance as it's the first thing people see when they come through the door and sets the scene for the rest of the home. I'm not there yet with my own home, but I'm working on it (hallway inspiration here)!

I spy the Flos 265 wall light - one of my favorite pieces. 

See more of the space here. 

Other utterly fabulous black and white apartments here, here and here. 

It's the weekend - woo hoo! Up to anything fun? We'll be celebrating my husbands birthday (the girls have been busy cutting, pasting, painting, sticking…all week!). I hope we'll make it for a walk and bbq out in the forest too. 

Have a fab couple of days and see you Monday! 

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