A White Swedish Apartment in Stockholm In Winter Time

Not many cities are as beautiful as Stockholm in winter. And there to enjoy it is Marta Vargas, her fiancé Graeme and their English springer spaniel Summer. Located in Midsommarkransen (I love this name - it means 'Midsummer wreath'), the family of three (soon to be four!), live in a little apartment overlooking "a tiny forest, with deer, beautiful sunsets and many types of birds." Originally from Barcelona, Marta is a graphic designer, photographer and art director and combines her position in the design team at Spotify with other freelance endeavours. The one bedroom flat offers a pared-back yet warm and inviting base from which to explore the city and its surroundings. Here are some snapshots from Marta's wonderful snowy world in the Swedish capital! 

Marta and Graeme used their time during the pandemic to renovate their kitchen - investing in cabinets from Skandinaviska Shakerkök.  

Source a similar wooden clothes dryer* from River Bend Roes. 

A 'snöblomma' advent star* lights up the window, and you can catch a glimpse of the small forest beyond. 

A small space between the open-plan kitchen, dining and sitting room area provides the perfect spot for a Christmas tree, simply decorated in tones of off-white, gold and brown.

A cot from Baby Bay has been set up beside a Jotex headboard for the imminent arrival. 

How lovely! 

It makes me want to relocate to Stockholm, how about you? 

FYI the last picture is actually in Undersåker, 7 hours North of Stockholm. It was taken during a stay at a cottage overlooking a frozen lake for Marta's 30th birthday. Imagine! 

Feel inspired by more photos over at @imartavargas and www.martavargas.com today. 

And here are a few other lovely Stockholm homes: 

The fab Stockholm home of a designer hunter

A charming apartment in Stockholm where the past and present meet

A beautiful Stockholm pad in earthy green and grey tones

On another note, I mentioned that things have sort of piled up my end. I hope you don't mind that I skip tomorrow's post in order to catch up (and breath again!). I figured that Marta's lovely home and the landscape surrounding it offers enough dreamy Scandinavian inspiration to carry us through to Monday, what do you think?

If you're doing some final touches to your Christmas decorating (or just getting started), take a peek at the My Scandinavian Home Christmas archive - there are thousand of Scandi 'Jul' ideas in there! 

Wishing you a wonderful weekend! 

Niki

Photography: Marta Vargas, shared with kind permission.  

*This post contains affiliate links

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Dreaming of a White Christmas In A Munich Home

Good morning friends. How was your weekend? I have to say I'm feeling a little dusty after a big birthday weekend which involved cross country skiing (yes, I even managed to find a little snow in Skåne!), a barbecue (who knew we'd still be grilling at this time of year?), and even chopping down our Christmas tree (pics to follow). And it's in the spirit of the latter that I thought we could kick off the week. I featured Angela Giovanna's Munich home back in the summer and was curious to see how it looks with some beautiful festive touches. After all, who doesn't love a white Christmas? As you can imagine Angela, husband Tommi, baby boy Raffael and their little dog Juno's home is as cosy and pretty as can be! 

I love a hanging candle wreath (I'm sure they have a better name, but as mentioned my mind is only half functioning this morning!). The Duo candles are from Ferm Living and the wall has been painted with Icelandic Kalklitir, giving it a beautiful patina. 

I have to say candles are having a real moment this year - have you noticed this too? This one in the window is from Berlin based Førm Projekt. 

Watt & Veke sell similar Christmas stars - or if you fancy a little crafting, you can also find some DIY inspiration and know-how here. 

I only stumbled across the Diptique candle Christmas carousel recently - what a brilliant idea? They're selling out like hot cakes too. I wonder if you can put them over other fragrance candles too? 

Lovely white Lynby Porcelain vases are ideal for Christmas foliage!

These little houses are from räder design stories - they look so pretty all lip up with a tea light, don't you think?

The paper decorations are from H&M Home. 

I'd quite happily curl up on the sofa for the week, how about you?

You can see more Christmassy pics of Angela's home here - and her fresh white apartment in summertime here.  

In the meantime, here are a few other cosy homes for you to enjoy this bright and sunny Monday: 

Sandra's serene home with festive touches

A colourful, vintage inspired Danish home at Christmas

Step inside Janniche's cosy Swedish home

I can't wait to take a few snaps of my own home, it's starting to feel so cosy with the tree up! Is your home feeling cosy too?

Wishing you a great start to the week! 

Niki

Photography: Angela Giovanna / @tasselsandfringes

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Trend Alert: 5 Holly Jolly Christmas Danish Homes

Colours have been creeping into danish homes for a while now - so it makes sense that the Danish Christmas should be bursting with colour too. This is nothing new of course. Danes have been using their vibrant red and white flag as a tree decoration for hundreds of years. But there's something a little different about this Christmas - and it's all about the chintz! Think branches dripping with hand painted baubles in a riot of fuchsia, turquoise, silver and gold and green, and fun shaped ornaments featuring toadstools, snowmen, paper flowers and even avocados and skulls! Bright coloured candles with a twist (literally) and light up the darkness and there's glitter, plenty of glitter. Oh, and there's something else you should know, tinsel is back too. Naturally, the Danes carry it off beautifully with their innate sense of style, the bright colours popping against a backdrop of white, earthy pink and blue. Ready to feel inspired by a holly jolly Christmas - Danish style? Here are 5 homes that have captured my heart (snapped by Another Studio). 

1. Louise over at Mor Till Mernee is never one to shy away from colour in her home (albeit in a wonderful subtle way) - and her beautiful tree, covered in toadstools, snowman, hearts, baubles and the Danish flag, is a fine example! 

2. The Danish home of @papirkalas, purveyor of paper rosette garlands, is full of Christmas cheer. Think tinsel and alder tree branches adorned with shiny hand painted baubles, toadstools, bells and paper flowers in a riot of colours - against a serene white backdrop. 

Candle carousels have been popular in Scandinavia since World War II. Artilleriet sells a similar musical candle ornament with chiming bells! 

There's the tinsel folks. And in true Danish style, it looks fab!

Check out the finer details of her baubles and you'll spot hand painted glittery details too. 

3. In Sofie Boisen's early 20th century home it's colours a go-go with bright red candles, pastel coloured tree ornaments and a sprig of mistletoe against a dusty pink and blue backdrop. 

Whoever said all Scandinavians are minimalists?

Colourful glassware, Hay twist candles and a timeless Skultuna candleholder help the Christmas table to shine. 

4. Ida (@midtimeller) has gone for a Christmas tree with twist in her lovely danish home. These trees are not to everyone's taste, but there's something about the imperfection that intrigues me - plus they're perfect for small spaces. This one is looking resplendent with its bright coloured ornaments that catch the light. 

It wouldn't be Christmas without a wreath hanging from a glass cabinet door (see Helen's home) and I love Ida's tiny candle wreath!

5. In Tove's apartment in Frederiksborg, Copenhagen it's all about the pastels (check out her pale blue floor!) - and the tree is full of turquoise, fuchsia, yellow and pink touches. 

I love the casually draped stars too! 

Zoom in on Sofie's advent candle below and you'll spy a fabulous array of Christmas ornaments including avocado, rainbow and even a skull! 

What do you reckon? Could you imagine adding a little chintz to your home this Christmas? 

In the words of Burl Ives, it really does bring a 'holly jolly' feel, and when styled like the Danes, it doesn't need to be over the top either. 

I have to say, my kids would love it! They've got their eye on a tin of caviar, glittered unicorns, pink balloon pup and even a fun French set including a baguette, croissant and bottle of red! I quite fancy a set of the Hay twist candles (for the more daring among us, there's also these glittery candles on clips).

Looking for more Christmas decorating ideas this weekend? 

Check out the Christmas archive - it's full of 'jul' themed home tours, Christmas decorating ideas and cosy log cabins. 

Speaking of which we had a light snow fall in Malmö yesterday, you can imagine our excitement! 

It was perfectly timed with a birthday in the house on Sunday - MINE!!! I'm looking forward to cosying up with family and even doing a little cross-country skiing with friends - wish me luck, I'll need it! 

I hope you have some fun plans for the weekend too - stay warm and cosy! 

Niki  

Photography: Another Studio / @anotherstudio, shared with kind permission. 

First picture from the home of Sidsel Garsdal. 

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Georg Jensen Christmas Collectibles 2020 In Helen's Swedish Home

Sponsored*

I know Jul is approaching when I receive an exciting box of Christmas decorations from iconic Danish brand Georg Jensen. Every year, Georg Jensen collaborates with a designer to create a set of Christmas Collectibles which include candleholders, ornaments and tree toppers. You might recall last year's collection, based on Yuletide symbols of love. This year, Georg Jensen has collaborated with Danish born Sanne Lund Traberg once again to create the Christmas Collectibles 2020. Inspired by the wonder of nature in winter, Sanne took her lead from the frozen flowers in her own winter garden as well as the striking floral photographs by early 20th century photographer Karl Blossfeldt. The result is a wonderful collection of Christmas ornaments etched with delicate ice flowers, rosettes and dianthus.  

I immediately imagined the decorations in the home of Swedish interior designer and My Scandinavian Home stylist, Helen Sturesson. Helen favours a simple, rustic Scandinavian Christmas style and the Palladium plated brass ornaments added a beautiful touch to her nature-inspired creations. 

This pretty heart has to be my favourite item in the collection. Etched with a delicate ice flower, it looks so pretty in the centre of a wreath - and would look equally lovely hanging from the tree, or on Christmas wrapping! What a perfect present! 

Who doesn't love a tree lit with real candles? It's a wonderful nod to times gone by and so incredibly cosy!  My Danish friends tell me how they love to gather around the tree and appreciate it while it's all aglow (you should only ever light them for short periods of time, never leave it unattended and always have a bucket of sand nearby!). 

I love Helen's tree, which she plucked from her summer cottage garden, all lit with candles in candleholders etched with Ice Dianthus! Isn't it pretty?  

Look closely and you'll also spot delicate rosette and dianthus flower tree ornaments catching the light!

And finally, an ice flower mobile, designed to capture the delicate beauty of one of nature's most ephemeral spectacles, catches the light as it twists and turns from a fir tree sapling.  

What a pretty collection! 

I love the idea that you can keep the decorations for life - or give them to someone special as a present. 

One of my friends once gave me a 'little skier' Christmas tree ornament and I think of her every time I hang it on the tree, it holds such a special memory! I was also thinking what a lovely present this would make for a god child (or 'odd child' for the non-religious!) - each year gifting one piece from the Georg Jensen Christmas Collectibles until they have a tree full of decorations! 

FYI Helen has used string to hang these decorations, giving them more of a rustic touch, but they also come with bright red ribbon. 

See the entire Christmas Collectible 2020 collection here! 

Oh, and in preparation for our annual family trip to the Christmas tree farm this weekend, I'll be sharing a round-up of some of my favourite Danish Christmas trees tomorrow. And guess what? It will involve bright colours too, you've been warned! See you then!

Niki

Photography: Niki Brantmark / My Scandinavian Home

Styling: Helen Sturesson 

*This post is brought to you as part of a paid collaboration with Georg Jensen, however all words are my own and I only ever work with brands I love and think you will too! Thank you for supporting the wonderful businesses that make My Scandinavian Home possible. 

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A Cosy Norwegian Country Cottage At Christmas

Ready for something very cosy and a little Christmassy today? You might remember photographer Hilde Mork's beautiful rural Norwegian home from a feature I wrote about it just before midsummer. I've been dreaming about her lovely cottage ever since. Today, I thought it would be nice to revisit Hilde's home to celebrate the start of my favourite month of the year - December (birthday month!) and see how it looks in Winter time. As you can imagine, her little cottage in the small hamlet of Nesodden, near Oslo (which she shares with her two children) is as hyggeligt as can be! Surrounded by snow, the cottage is lit with the warm glow of a wood burning stove and advent candles flickering in the window. A fir tree has been chopped down in the forest and awaits outside the door and scattered stars hint that 'Jul' is near. Welcome to Hilde's cosy, sheepskin-lined home! 

How beautiful.

I can so imagine hunkering down there today by the fire, how about you?

There's evidence of what Hilde does in her spare time throughout the cottage - from the woodshed (imagine the amount of effort it took to chop up all that wood?) and dragging a Christmas tree home, to the homemade paper stars on the windowsill (see the DUY tutorial here) and knitting by the fire. Lovely hobbies - and perfect for when the snow falls gently outside! 

You can see more pictures of Hilde's lovely home here - and take a peek at how it looks in the summer here (equally beautiful, just very different!). Hilde also has an online shop where she sells her prints and other items -  and her work is also available at The Poster Club* (ships worldwide), something for Christmas perhaps?

Shall we entertain ourselves with a few more cosy homes this cold and frosty 1st December morning?

Here are some of my favourites: 

12 budget-friendly ways to transform your sitting room into a cosy winter haven

A cosy cabin deep in the Norwegian fjords

And one for those of you in the southern hemisphere: the cosy Whale Song Shack! 

Happy 1st December! 

Niki

Photography Hilde Mork - shared with kind permission

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