Jennifer's Elegant Home Sparkles with Christmas Touches and Easy Ideas to Steal

 Hej! Happy December friends—one of my favourite times of the year!

Today, we’re off to a delightful destination I stumbled upon last night: the white clapboard house of Jennifer Zimmerman in Bavaria, Germany. With its charming wreath and fir trees adorning the entrance, her home makes a welcoming first impression. Step inside, and you’ll find spacious, light-filled rooms exuding elegance with just the right touch of festive charm.

Imagine STOFF nagel candle holders with delicate tapered candles, soft velvet bows adorning pendant lamps, and inspiring Advent displays—so many ideas to borrow! Beyond its holiday magic, this house is a year-round sanctuary and combines some of my favourite designer pieces (love the Gubi Pacha armchair) with antique and vintage finds, creating a tranquil yet character-filled space.

Most importantly, it’s a relaxed, lived-in home, featuring a harmonious blend of furniture styles and eras, thoughtfully curated bedrooms and bathrooms, and an inviting atmosphere which is perfect for a little calm, no matter the season.

Welcome to Jennifer's world!

So beautiful! This is just a small selection from the gazillion inspiring pictures of Jennifer's home on her Instagram, @home_of_blossom. If you love what you see here and crave more, be sure to follow along for even more inspiration!

I couldn’t resist ending with a picture of her adorable doggy—how sweet is that?

I hope Jennifer’s home has filled you with ideas and creativity. We all live in homes of different shapes and sizes, but there’s always something to take away from each and every space. From Jennifer’s home, I’m inspired to pick up some velvet ribbon to dot my house with bows this Christmas. I especially love the idea of tying them around the base of candlestick holders (though I’ll make sure to do so safely—no fire hazards!).

What about you? Did anything from Jennifer’s beautiful home catch your eye or spark a creative idea?

For more international home inspiration today, take a stroll through this archive. And if you're feeling festive, check out the magical Christmas archive (just skip over this home if it pops up first–but I wouldn't blame you for taking one more look through the pictures!).

Wishing you a wonderful start to the week!

Niki

Photography courtesy of @home_of_blossom, shared with kind permission. 

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Step Inside a Cosy Swedish Allotment Cottage Dressed for Christmas

I always get excited when I feature a kolonistuga (Swedish allotment cottage), but this little one is particularly exciting! Why? Allotment cottages are very seasonal. Since the water is usually turned off to avoid pipes freezing in colder weather, it's rare to see one decorated for Christmas.

Located in the heart of Gothenburg, this little cottage belongs to Elin Lannsjö. She loves staying here year-round. You might recognise the white abode from a summer feature way back in 2015. Now, I’m thrilled to share a tour of Elin’s cottage dressed in simple yet beautiful festive touches, complete with a roaring fire.

Outside, the snow blankets the ground, while inside, the glow of candlelight makes the cottage feel warm and inviting. Touches of greenery—branches of pine, amaryllis, and hyacinths—add to the cozy yuletide vibe.

Ready to step inside and soak up the Christmas charm of Elin's cosy cottage?

So cosy! A real little winter haven in the heart of the city. 

Perfect inspiration for the first Sunday of Advent (when traditionally in Sweden everyone starts to decorate their home, although I have noticed many couldn't resist starting already purely to brighten up the winter darkness!). 

Is there anything that stood out to you about Elin's cosy stuga? 

Before I wrap up for the weekend, why not grab a blanket and cosy up for a few more cabin tours:

A cosy candlelit cabin deep in the Norwegian fjords

A magical mountain cabin in Norway (captured for my second book!)

A Finnish log cabin in wintertime

Looking for more Christmas inspiration? Check out the Christmas and Christmas decoration archives. 

Have a lovely weekend friends. Thank you so much for stopping by, I've loved reading all your emails and comments and so happy you have enjoyed the tours this week (and the chairs in my dining room!). 

Stor kram! 

Niki

Photography courtesy of Elin Lannsjo, shared with kind permission. 

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Emily's Danish Family Home at Christmas (with this year's hottest trend)

 

Hello there friends. How are you today? I snuck in a little extra post yesterday featuring my dining room and some very beautiful iconic Danish chairs - did you see it? 

And today, I'd like to take you on a virtual trip to Denmark, and the beautiful home of fashionista Emily Salomon and her young family. Emily's home reflects her personal style - relaxed and simple with a wonderful unique twist. There are many things to appreciate about her home - including the neutral base and touches of stone. But I particularly love the way Emily decorates her home at Christmas using  garlands, a touch of chintz and this year's absolute must - bows! 

In fact, as a nod to the eighties we're seeing bows absolutely everywhere this Christmas - on the tree (as seen on this beautiful one), in windows, in the bathroom (as seen in Emily's lovely home), on the door, as earrings (I just ordered these bow earrings for my daughter for Christmas... shhhh), on clothes and of course, in the hair! 

Ready to take a peek at Emily's lovely home? 

I could get into that bath right now with a good book! I actually haven't seen a stone bath caddy before - have you? It looks so smart! And while on the topic of bathrooms, how cute is the little scalloped sink in the guest loo? 

All the Christmas decorations have got me in the mood for decorating my home this weekend - so looking forward to it! Have you started yet? 

Is there anything that stood out to you about Emily's home? And will you be decorating your home with bows? 

You can see more pictures of Emily's home and also get Danish fashion / style inspiration over at @emilysalomon. 

It would be rude not to share a few more Danish homes all decorated for Christmas - so many beautiful and unique ideas to feel inspired by: 

A beautiful Copenhagen home full of festive cheer

A colourful vintage inspired Danish home at Christmas

Also you might like:

5 holly jolly Danish homes at Christmas

My pick of Danish glass tree ornaments, tableware and gifts 

Beautiful Danish Christmas decorations in a Swedish cottage 

Happy Wednesday to you all - and an extra Happy Thanksgiving to all American friends out there! 

Niki

Photography courtesy of @emilysalomon, shared with kind permission. 

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Winter charm: Inside a Swedish Country Home Dressed for Advent

Sweden was blanketed in snow this weekend, brightening up the darkness. Even so, the cold has drawn life indoors, sparking a hive of activity as we prepare our homes for winter—layering rugs, blankets, and other soft textiles to create a cozy retreat.

The first Sunday of Advent is just around the corner, marking the start of Christmas decorating in Scandinavia. It's a gradual and thoughtful process, beginning with adventsljusstakar (advent candles) in the windows, perhaps paired with a star lamp and some wintry foliage.

Rebecka Palmqvist's charming country home, built in 1848, is a perfect example of this seasonal transformation. She and her partner have been lovingly renovating it, using old furniture and beautiful wallpaper while preserving its original architecture. The result is a warm, inviting space for their family, including their two small children, Gullvie and Frans.

In winter, the home feels especially magical. Star lanterns and electric candles glow in the windows, and orange garlands are draped across the ceiling. while a Christmas tree adds to the festive atmosphere indoors. Welcome to Rebecka's home! 

So charming! I’m so excited to see the first signs of advent candles appearing in windows here in Sweden. It’s such a beautiful tradition—something you’ll spot in almost every window across towns and villages, from homes to businesses. Do you have something similar in your country?

I also love how Rebecka has decorated her home, staying true to the original charm of the farmhouse while creating a magical space for her family. You can see more pictures here.

Here are a few more Scandinavian homes in the snow: 

A lakeside Swedish log house in the snow
Hannah's cosy Finnish house in the snow at Christmas
A rural cosy country home at Christmas
A Swedish home in snowy North Sweden
Simple Christmas touches in a Norwegian home beside a snow-covered fjord

I have loved all your comments this weekend - always so interesting and fun to read. I am looking forward to pouring myself a coffee and responding to all of them later today. 

There have been quite a few country homes featured here lately, so I’ll do my best to share an urban apartment with you on Wednesday for all of those of you looking for a little city inspiration. But before that, I’m excited to create an extra post for you tomorrow—I have some news to share from Carl Hansen & Søn! Please stop by if you have the time.

Kram! 

Niki

Photography courtesy of @rebecka.palmqvist, shared with kind permission. 

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