A Light Filled Family Home in Berlin with a Nordic Touch

During the Easter school holidays, my daughters and I are heading to Berlin, Germany for a couple of days. It's somewhere I've been saving up for as I've always wanted to take them, it's an amazing city and only 6 hours drive from Malmö! While doing a little research for things to see and do (any tips would be wonderful!), I veered off course (as always), and ended up stumbling across the Berlin home of Judith Schenk - which I had to share it with you guys! 

Judith describes her home as 'Nordic minimalism meets Berlin Altbau' - and the light-filled family apartment is made up of sleek finishes, Scandinavian design, plants and art. Read on to see more pictures and find out about some of the touches Judith has decided on. 

The kitchen is made up of IKEA cabinets with Reform CPH fronts. The countertop is a solid Corian surface. 

The lights are Flowerpot pendants in white.

'Case Study House #10' by Stephanie Kloss hangs over the dining table. A Gubi semi pendant hangs over the table. 

The Model 2065 pendant light by Gino Sarfatti makes a statement in the sitting room. The sofa is from Bolia. 

The plant-filled sun room is bathed in light - a perfect cure for the winter blues (have the leaves come out on the trees where you live yet? Here in Malmö, it's still just twigs - gaaaah!). A desert lounge chair can be glimpsed in the corner. 

Double doors in the living room lead through to the lovely children's room. 

A sofa by Karup Design pulls out into a double bed in the spare room. 

Look at all those beautiful trees - *sigh*, there's nothing like a green view! 

The serene bathroom reminds me a lot of the tones / look I have used in our little cabin bathroom - including brushed / antique brass. The tap is from Grohe. 

The master bedroom is the epitome of calm with walls painted in Portlandstone Pale by Little Greene. Judith has used this shade throughout her apartment: "As we have a super open layout in our flat, this was my approach. Also the paint is so highly pigmented that it always appears different depending on the light and daytime," she says. 

Judith has hung three prints over the bed, including Bleu by Lucrecia Rey Caro*. Arum lights an be seen either side of the bed. 

Absolutely love this home. All the windows certainly help but also Judith has made everything look so effortless and struck the perfect balance between pared-back and personal. 

Did you feel inspired by this tour too? 

See more of Judith's apartment and follow her latest projects over at @kavalierchen. 

Now I'm in Berlin mode, here are a few other tours from the German city: 

A lovely relaxed artist's home full of plants (don't miss this one!)

A bohemian touch in a magnificent Berlin apartment (another favourite!)

The Berlin flat and country home of Nora and Laura

A serene family home in Berlin

And of course, if you're looking for more inspiration this weekend, make sure you look back t the tours I've shared this week, including a Gotland country home (I loved all the discussions about the tiny bath!) and a Stockholm flat worthy of an interior magazine feature - which is currently for sale! 

Have a fabulous weekend friends! 

Niki

Photography courtesy of Judith Schenk, shared with kind permission

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Allie's Bedroom Makeover - From Tween to Teen!

Paid partnership with Elfa, all words are my own and I only ever work with brands I love and think you will too. 

The thing about children is that one minute they're tiny babies, the next they're whizzing off on adventures with friends! Take my daughter, Allie. She's turning twelve this October! Where has the time gone? Always a ray of sunshine, she can't go two steps without a cartwheel and loves to ski, play football (that's soccer to all my American friends!) and lately, has become passionate about fashion and interiors (hmmm, I wonder who she gets that from?). 

Needless to say, she grew out of her bedroom a long time ago - and a makeover was well overdue. Since I promised 2022 would be the years we'd organise our home (with my new wardrobe checked off the list last month), one of the key factors would be to ensure it had plenty of storage! It would also need to cater for Allie's needs - and of course, reflect her personal style and wish list. 

Before

I told you our house is messy / disorganised! I'm surprised there wasn't a pair of pants (UK version) on the floor! Chaos aside, this side of the room was dominated by low storage which was crammed with books, toys, cuddly bears and a load of other bits and bobs. 

I've noticed that the toys have slowly started to collect dust and her room has become a place to hang out with friends, do homework and experiment with fashion, hair and make-up - in between making TikToks and doing backflips on her bed - not always in that order!

I asked Allie what she felt was missing and we narrowed it down to:

- A desk area with drawers 

- A pinboard for small pictures, notes and general inspiration 

- Book shelves - with book ends! 

- A dressing table 

- Good lighting 

Oh, and the look and feel should have a hint of boho with lots of greenery, natural material and plants! 

Planning 

Above is the original design, which was created using the Elfa drag and drop online planning tool. Once the items arrived, we rejigged them a little to make use of the natural light (that's one of the beauties of Elfa - it's a flexible system so you can constantly adapt it according to your needs as well as add items over time). 

After 

Just like the wardrobe system in my bedroom, this shelving system is centred around a series of vertical rods, to which you can click-in a whole tray of items such as shelves, drawers, clipboards, mirrors, hooks and more. For a children's bedroom it's an absolute dream! Here's a breakdown of the items we added: 

The desk area

Above the desk we added a Storing Board with attachable hooks and boxes for small items like pens, paperclips and scissors (Per always marvels at how many 'tiny' items the girls amass, all of which are apparently crucial!). 

I particularly love that the desk height can be raised as she grows!

A mesh basket under the desk is used to store cables (her room is officially neater than my office!). 

And we also added a series of deep wire drawers with Décor fronts for all her notepads, paint etc. 

The shelves 

To create the shelving, we used a series of melamine shelves mounted on click-in brackets. Lesser used items are / old photos etc which Allie would like to save for the future have been stored away on higher shelves (we might buy a small footstool which could double-up as the dressing table stool) and the things she uses daily are within reach on the lower shelves. 

One of the niftiest items we discovered is the reversible shelf / tray which can be used as a shelf for plants etc or a tray for paper, prints etc with a ridge so they don't slide off.  

We also used a series of book supports and wallbands to stop tomes and other items from falling off the shelves (you haven't seen the chaos when Allie does gymnastics!). 

Sidenote: have you read 'The Boy, the mole, the fox and the horse'? It's the sweetest book and a Brantmark family favourite! 

The pinboard 

I made the pinboard using a cork board covered with stretched linen.  

Slim hooks that click into place created a place for hairbands, necklaces, sunglasses... you name it! 

The dressing table 

A dressing table was highest on Allie's wish list! She's actually not allowed to wear make-up outside of the house yet, but she loves to experiment and have fun with it at home!

To create the dressing table area, we added a Decor Mirror - which is the same as the one I have in my new wardrobe. We also put a reversible shelf underneath it for nail varnish, brushes etc and a series of clear boxes (from the Elfa Studio in town) for make-up, jewellery etc. A simple lamp above lights up the area after dark. 

The drawer underneath has been fitted with a Decor accessory tray so that Allie has a place for her bits and bobs like earrings, hairbands, purses etc. 

And finally, we hung a Bracket hook rack on the side for her bags. 

Oh, how I'd have loved to have had this setup when I was a kid! 

The best thing of all, is that it's created so much space in the rest of her room, perfect for phase two of the make-over - rumour has it, Allie's planned a gallery wall with Per's old LPs, a garland of trailing ivy and there was a mention of a lava lamp! I'm looking forward to seeing the boho look unfold!

Oh, and in case you're wondering about the keyboard, there's space for it on the long desk but she might also use a stand instead. 

I hope you like the results as much as Allie does! Please do give me a shout if you have any questions - or if you have a children's room to plan, you can find out more about this system over at Elfa. 

I hope you have a relaxing, fun weekend planned. I'm heading off to Stavanger, Norway this evening to write a city guide for an English magazine - very exciting, Norway is my favourite country in the world! I hope I can squeeze in a trip to the fjords and a hike on the Saturday. If you'd like to follow along, I'll be sharing my trip on Instagram stories. 

Trevlig helg! Have a great weekend! 

Niki

Photography Niki Brantmark / My Scandinavian Home

Styling: Helen Sturesson

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A Cool Yet Calm Rose-tinted French Family Home

Every now and again I come across an entirely unique home that totally draws me in. This is one of them. The house (from the early 1900s) is located in Nancy, North East France and belongs to Coralie, so doctor,  her partner Nicolas, an architect, and their three adorable children. Coralie has a penchant for pink - the dominant accent throughout their home - but twee it's not. Her preferred pink is distinctly calming (Setting Plaster by Farrow & Ball to be precise) and when paired with neon, brass, ochre, wood and rattan it emits a wonderfully bang up to date look that's cool and contemporary yet incredibly calm. Ready to feel inspired? Pull up a seat and enjoy the tour - I've added a few tips on where items are from - just in case you'd like to get the look at home! 

Kitchen countertop from Mosaic factory. Print: I love You. In French.

Lamp: DIY (how cool is that?) - see Coralie's instagram highlights for more info. 

Palm lamp, poufs from Muskhane

Dusty pink accent colour: Setting Plaster by Farrow & Ball, Good Vibes light*. 

Rainbow wall hanging* 

Colour on the wall: Setting Plaster by Farrow & Ball, bedding: Le Petit Florilège, Print: Rabbit by Fine Little Day 

Bed canopy: Nordic nest*, Boheme bed by Bon Ton

Wallpaper: Roomblush, hanging light: Ekatarina Galera, Garland on wardrobe: Happy Moon Studio. Print: Marta Abad Blay. 

Such a wonderful home! The pink hue is spot on, and there are so many great details! 

Could you imagine having a dusty pink accent in your home? Or perhaps there were some pieces / details that really stood out to you? Share your thoughts below, I'd love to hear from you! 

See more of Coralie's lovely home over at @coraliefelicie. 

There are a ton more French homes to feel inspired by here. 

I'll be back tomorrow with a charming, pared back Danish cabin - I think you're going to like it, so make sure you stop by! 

Niki

Photography: @coraliefelicie, shared with kind permission

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7 Simple Steps To A Tidy Home!

For some right now, it's simply about muddling through the day in the best way possible, and that's perfectly fine *breathes a sigh of relief*. For others, the chaos that comes with working from home, home-schooling, working out in the sitting room, plus everyday activities such as cooking, crafting etc can feel a little overwhelming. And to be honest, my home is a bit of a mess at the best of times, right now, it's an all time high (I know it can be hard to see that from my pictures, but ask any friend and I'm sure they'll concur!). Can anyone else relate? Don't get me wrong, I LOVE it when my home is tidy, I'm just not always sure how to get there quickly!

For those of you who already have a wonderfully tidy home - or simply have come here today for a little eye candy - relax, sit back and enjoy the pictures (Esra's home is lovely!). 

But for those of you, who like me, could use a little guidance on keeping the mess at bay - and would love a calmer, more organised home - these 7 tips from Esra from @i.like.it.tidy - might just come in handy! 

Hi! My name is Esra and I live in Berlin, where I was also born and raised in Berlin. My partner and I have two children Max (7) and Mika (3) and a dog Bex. Our apartment is 160 square metre. It's an old house and very typical for Berlin - with its large rooms leading into one another and high ceilings. 

Our place is known for being super tidy, which is of course not true all the time. But I do like my home to be clean and tidy. I would therefore love to share my tips with you on how to keep your home tidy. 

7 Simple Ways to Keep Your Home Tidy

1. Declutter: I know this is so Marie Kondo, but it's the ultimate way to enjoy a tidy home. We tend to hoard things like candles, vases, and bedding, so start by going through your things and ask yourself: how often do I use this, and do I have too many of them? Start with the small things as these are the easiest to declutter. 

2. A place for everything: Everything you own needs to have a home - somewhere you can put it back after you have used it. If an item doesn't have a 'home', it will be in your way all the time and you will constantly move it around. Trust me, a home always feels calmer if nothing is in your way!

There's a useful article here about how to create a home for the tiny bits and pieces in your home. 

Wall mounted storage units are great for storing items you don't want to be on display. I particularly like IVAR units from IKEA since they can be painted the same colour as the wall - and you can combine them for extra storage.  

3. Avoid impulse buying: only buying the things you need is better for the environment and better for you. It's better to save money and invest in something valuable - and that you know you'll use for years to come, like a sofa or armchair. 

4. Children's rooms need lots of storage: always use big boxes or baskets so that kids can put things away easily. It's especially important that the storage containers are in easy reach - low shelves, drawers, containers etc. Let them literally throw things back - don't make it complicated for them. 

Above left and below: IKEA toy storage is ideal for little ones - it's low and the buckets make it easy for even the youngest of children to tidy their toys away. If your child has a small bedroom use storage that doubles up as furniture like low drawers that can also be used as seating, or drawers that tuck neatly under the bed. For tiny items like beads, nail polish etc (of which my girls have many) - the Moppe mini chest of drawers is a winner! 

5. Edit toys regularly: if you overload a kid's room with toys they don't use, they will quickly feel overwhelmed. If they'd like something new, try to sell or give something away that they no longer need at the same time, this will help keep toys at a manageable level. 

Above: is it just me, or do children tend to want you to read the same books over and over again? Usually the longest ones - to draw out bedtime! Why not keep a little book stand (the Douve book box* is similar) by the end of the bed - it will help keep their favourite books off the floor and in easy reach. Note the desk has built-in storage underneath so craft items can be quickly stowed away after use (this one is from IKEA). Woven seagrass baskets* are also super handy for storage - plus they can be flattened when not in use! 

6. Tidy-up straight away: Whether cooking or crafting with your children or carrying out your own tasks - always tidy up immediately after you have finished. Don't let the mess fester and take control. It's so much easier to tidy up in the moment than to be confronted with a huge mess at the end of a long day! 

Note Esra has combined two IVAR cabinets in the picture above  - one on top of the other. Store items that kids don't use daily higher up (or the pieces that require adult assistance like felt tips, paints etc!). 

 7. Make it routine: last but by no means least, try to do all the steps above as a routine to keep on top of your home, it's an ongoing process. Enjoy it. It will make you happier! 

Thank you so much for sharing these tips Esra. 

Perhaps you are already a neatnik and have your home perfectly well organised - if so, wonderful! 

If not, and you feel you have the time and energy (seriously, no pressure guys - I know times are tricky right now), shall we agree to make a start? Here are three things I'm going to do: 

1. Clear out our bed linen and towel cupboard - there are WAY too many things in there and I have a feeling that's why there are always about twenty towels on the go (it drives me insane!). 

2. Invest in more storage so that I have somewhere to put post and bills, as well as other small items like candles etc. I've realised not everything has a home! 

3. Encourage the entire family to deal with their clothes at the end of the day immediately (way too many 'chairobes' in this house!) - and while we're at it - our wardrobes could use an edit too! 

There you have it, in black and white! 

Is there anything you're thinking of doing at home after reading this? Or perhaps you have some great tips on how to keep a home tidy not covered here - if so, please do comment below! 

Niki

Photography: Esra / @i.like.it.tidy

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