Cosying up my Bedroom with a Danish Cabinet and Chair

This post is kindly sponsored by Skovby, thank you for supporting the brands that help make My Scandinavian Home possible.

Scandinavia is often synonymous with light wood, but lately I've noticed a growing trend - dark wood is making a steady comeback. In these darker days of December, while the snow falling silently outside, I think there is something incredibly cosy about the darker grain. Here's a fine example of how two beautiful 100% Danish crafted items from Skovby have transformed my bedroom. 

My little bedside stool has been swapped out for the harmonious #402 sideboard in walnut - meaning I suddenly have storage for all kinds of things, as well as a lovely display surface to wake up to each day! 

The beauty of Skovby items is that they are crafted in Denmark and you can often personalise them so they perfectly match your space. With the #402 sideboard, you can mix and match the top which is available in a variety of wood and laminate surfaces. For this shoot, I went for walnut throughout. 

You can also choose between a selection of legs or a plinth depending on what works best with the style of your home. 

Inside, the cabinet has a long drawer and two shelves. You could place the cabinet anywhere in your home, but there's something about being able to reach books, my diary etc without having to leave my bed. Bliss!

How beautiful is this embroidered cushion? It's a vintage Swedish cover which my friend, interior designer Helen Sturesson brought with her for the shoot! I'm going to keep an eye out for something similar on my antique rounds!

Do you have any vintage or antique bedding in your home? 

And now for the other item! 

You may recognise the #827 dining chair as I have the oak white oil version in my cabin! But I'm also absolutely in love with this oak mocca edition seen above in my bedroom - there's something beautiful about the combination of dark wood with the woven seat, don't you think? The rounded back makes it really comfortable too - little wonder it's won countless awards. 

And now, it's just to curl up with a book until nightfall - heaven! 

I have featured so many handcrafted items from Skovby in my home from the past. In case you're curious to discover more, take a peek at: 

Coffee tables and festive touches in our cabin

A glögg bar courtesy of Skovby! 

The skovby glass cabinet in our dining room

You can find your nearest store here. 

In other news, today is my birthday! I was born on St Nicholas day, hence why I am called Nicola (Niki) - yes, my parents named me after 'Santa Claus'!! I am hoping this really does give me licence to curl up with a book this afternoon!

Have a cosy day friends, 

Niki

Photography: Niki Brantmark

Styling: Helen Sturesson

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Preparing for 'Fredagsmys' at the Cabin!

Kindly sponsored by Skovby 

One of the things I love most about being up at our cottage are all the local farm shops. A short cycle ride along the road will take you past honesty stalls selling locally produced delicacies such as potatoes, corn of the cob, honey, eggs, strawberries and all other kinds of goodies. It makes grocery shopping a pleasure!

To top off my raid, I always head to Myltes Blomfältet (flower field) to see what's in bloom! 

The flower farm always has the pick of the in-season blooms. This time round it was resplendent with dahlia, cosmos and gladiolas! Well-worth the hay fever induced sneezes! 

Once you've picked the flowers, you measure the thickness of the stems that make up the bouquet and leave the corresponding amount (you can even wrap up your bouquet and add a label to make the perfect gift!) - my girls love coming with me! 

Do you have something like this near your home?  

How pretty are the dahlias on the table? They are possibly my favourite blooms - and one day I've promised myself I'll grow my own, despite the faff! Do you grow Dahlia? 

A word on the table, after all, it is beautiful! The Skovby #33 dining table is Danish made. This particular version is an anniversary edition (Skovby has been producing beautifully crafted furniture for  90 years!) with an oak white oil base and a green laminate top. It's an incredible table aesthetically, but there's also more than meets the eye. 

It's extendable! The leaves are hidden within the plinth and with a few smooth, moves (there's a turn table underneath the table top which causes the top to split into three and reveal hidden additional plates which pop-up and fold out!) you can extend the table from 123 cm - 149 cm - providing space for 6 to 9 people! In a small space, this is a dream!

Perfect for guests in the late summer sun! 

You might notice that the chairs are also new! This fine oak and wicker #827 dining table chair was recently unveiled by Skovby and are already iconic. True to danish design, it's impeccably handcrafted crafted and made from really high-quality wood.  The rounded back makes it very comfy too - so Per's happy! 

And with that friends, it's time for 'fredagsmys' (cosy friday!). 

Thank you so much for stopping by this week and for all your kind words about my new book! I forgot to mention that the English version will also be available through Waterstones and Amazon in most countries at the end of December ( available to pre-order now). 

Have a cosy weekend! 

Niki

PS The beautiful Skovby #33 dining table and #827 dining table chair are available in many different versions and Skovby have retailers throughout the world. Find your nearest dealer here. 

Thank you so much to Helen Sturesson for your help with these pictures! 

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A Magestic Butterfly in our Little Cabin!

Sponsored by Carl Hansen & Søn, all words and pictures are my own. I only work with reputable brands I love and think you will too! 

When something was designed in 1944, can you still call it a 'latest offering'? Probably not. But I was very excited to get my hands on the beautiful VLA61 Monarch Chair from Carl Hansen & Søn! Designed by one of the pioneers of danish modernism Vilhelm Lauritzen, only ten chairs were originally produced. And now the carpenters at Carl Hansen & Søn have worked their magic to produce the chair with a modern touch and of course, impeccable craftsmanship. 

The chair comes in an amazing variety of colours and wood finishes. We had the pleasure of living with the oak oil and Baru 0410 in our little cabin for a few days, and it quickly became a part of the family beside the Plico chair (yes, we're still fighting over the coveted spot!). Read on to discover why this fine specimen is named the 'Monarch' and take a closer look at the details! 

From the front you can clearly see the shape of the chair which was inspired by the majestic monarch butterfly!

Carl Hansen & Søn don't do things by halves. I've had the pleasure of watching their craftsman in action several times and to say they are masters in their field would be an understatement. The Monarch Chair has been reborn in collaboration with Vilhelm Architects with a modern perspective in terms of material and details. And each chair has received hours of undivided love and attention at the hands of a skilled craftsman. 

For example all of the oak parts have been hand polished several times and the top rail is only upholstered once the chair is assembled to achieve a perfect finish. A true masterpiece! 

I love that in Denmark they are still practising the art of craftsmanship and working with good, solid materials to create furniture that is built. Do you appreciate this too?  

It'd be rude not to pour a cup of tea, pull up a seat and enjoy it for a while, don't you think? 

Could you imagine having a chair like this in your home? Check out the ten different versions here and let me know your favourite! 

Niki

Ps Friday will be my final blog post before I take two weeks off to spend time with my family and enjoy the disastrous Swedish weather (our anoraks look like they'll be a staple). See you then!

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A Scandi Love Affair at our little Cabin: Carl Hansen & Søn Nesting tables

Paid partnership with Carl Hansen & Søn, all words are my own and I only ever work with brands I love

Hello, how are you this bright and sunny day? 

Do you live in a small space or have small rooms to finish? When you only have 30m2 / 322 ft2 to play with, like we do at the cabin, you're constantly on the lookout for furniture that works well in a compact living area. And these CH004 Nesting Tables designed by none other than Hans J. Wegner - one of the most prolific furniture designers of all time, couldn't be more perfect! 

I've always been a big fan of nesting tables since they are so versatile - and it's incredible to think that this particular set was first launched in 1952! The beauty of good design is that it's timeless, and the lightness, distinctive craftsmanship and classic Scandinavian minimalism of these fine specimens, ensure they work equally well in homes today - and no doubt fifty years from now too.  Which is why Carl Hansen & Søn has recently relaunched them. 

Here's a closer look: 

For a small space, compact and multifunctional furniture is key, and the Nesting Tables come in a set of three different sizes which nestle together to create one smaller unit, or they can also be pulled out for a larger surface area. 

Sidenote: The little ceramic plate is by Sara Bergman, who's home I featured here. Sara is currently exhibiting at Norrviken - a beautiful garden down the road and I couldn't resist picking this up in the museum shop! The knotted candle is by Swedish ceramicist Emmeli Hultqvist. 

You can also choose to divide up the tables and use them as a side table and coffee table. 

In the background you can catch a glimpse of the FK10 Plico Chair which is also from Carl Hansen & Søn - sadly I rarely get to sit there as it is highly coveted by the entire family - and I'm never quick enough! 

The craftsmanship that has gone into the tables is incredible. Look closely and you'll see the subtle rounded corners which means there'll be no sharp in-take of breath should you bump into them (easily done in a compact space!), and the joinery and oak finish is so ultra smooth (this kind of thing warms my design heart!). 

If you love these Danish beauties as much as I do, you can find out more about the CH004 Nesting Tables here - and check out the other finishes, which include oak, soap, oak / walnut, oil and an incredible, dark walnut, oil. 

Could you imagine having these nesting tables in your home? 

We are so looking forward to heading up to the cabin tomorrow for the night. It's forecasted to be 22 degrees Celsius / 71 degrees Fahrenheit - an absolute corker considering the winter we have just had, and we need to make the most of it before it drops by 10 degrees nest week - baaaah! Barbecue at the ready! 

Speaking of our little cabin, we were so happy to see it featured in the summer edition of Simply Scandi magazine in the UK this month. I wrote a guide to dreamy Scandinavian summer destinations in the same issue if you're looking for inspiration! I believe there's a digital version available here. 

The next step is to work on the garden. The neighbours put up a chicken wire fence and every time I see it, I weep a little inside! I'm thinking a hydrangea hedge will do the trick, but maybe you have other suggestions? I'm all ears!

I hope you have a fabulous weekend. See you Monday! 

Niki

A big thank you to Helen Sturesson for helping me to capture these nesting tables, it was such a fun day! 

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Celebrating Skovby Anniversary Edition Chairs at my Cabin!

Paid partnership with Skovby, all words are my own and I only ever work with brands I love! 

Hello from the cabin! I have to say I love an excuse to come up here and this time, I had the perfect reason: to capture a fine pair of iconic #825 dining chairs. And not just any  - these fine specimens are a special Skovby 90-year Anniversary Edition!

You'll likely recognise the name Skovby as I've been a proud ambassador for the Danish furniture brand for many years, and have had the pleasure of capturing items such as the display cabinet, coffee tables, desk and many more items in my home over the past few years. 

It's incredible to think the brand has been handcrafting beautiful pieces for 90 years in their workshop in Denmark. To mark the event,  Skovby is launching some exciting new anniversary edition pieces.  

Skovby finds a great deal of inspiration in nature and the iconic #825 chair already comes in 12 different wood finishes and a choice of over 50 covers yes FIFTY! - see the oak and black leather version in my dining room), and now they have launched two special anniversary editions in nutmeg and green. 

I had the pleasure of capturing the soothing, warm nutmeg version here at the cabin. 

Side-note: I'm so happy warmer days have arrived and we can throw the doors open (at least here and there!), it makes our little cabin feel so much bigger and brighter. 

The chair draws inspiration from mid-century furniture and yet also has a light, Scandinavian touch. I love a comfy dining chair - and this one has a gentle curved back and comes with a choice of over 50 covers for the seat. You can even choose your own customisable fabric! 

So lovely, don't you think? 

Sadly these chairs are only on loan up here - but the #120 extendable dining table and little #840 stool (made from leftover wood) are a permanent fixture at the cabin! See more pictures and read more about why I chose them here (you won't believe how far it can extend, we've held some great parties around it!). 

In addition to the chairs, Skovby has also launched a special anniversary edition of the iconic #33 dining table in four exciting combinations which combine the nutmeg and green shades with either oak white oil or walnut natural oil - read more about it here.

If you love what you see and would like to find out more, Skovby has stockists all over the globe. Find your nearest store here.

Sadly, it's time to close the doors here at the cabin and head back to the city again. I hope I'll be back soon!

In case you're curious about anything else you see at my little cabin, you might find what you're looking for in my Cabin kitchen post - or the cabin archive in general. Otherwise please do give me a shout below and I'll do my best to help! 

Have a great start to the week! 

Niki

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The New Wishbone Chair in Slate in my Home!

Paid partnership with Carl Hansen & Søn, all words are my own and I only work with brands I love and think you will too. This post has been edited with a correction. 

I love chairs. People often think that you need to buy a whole set, and that they're specifically designed to go round a dining table. But in my mind, chairs are like art. Functional art. And they can look just as beautiful and be practical anywhere in the home. Especially when they are as iconic as the Wishbone chair CH24. This classic Danish beauty, designed by  Hans J. Wegner is over 70 years-old, but you'd never know it thanks to its timeless design. 

I of course love the oak version, but I was also very excited to hear about a new collaboration between danish furniture company Carl Hansen & Søn and London-based designer Ilse Crawford. A partnership which resulted in nine new colour variants of the Wishbone Chair which include soothing earthy tones of Pewter, Hollyhock, Barley, Seaweed, Terracotta, Clay, North Sea, Slate and Falu.

This fine specimen in my bedroom is the 'Slate' variation. 

The chairs have then be finished in a translucent, non-toxic, water-based paint for depth to the familiar shape and also to allow the natural grain to shine through. Everything else about the chair remains intact including the FSC certified beech and natural cord (on a recent trip to Copenhagen, I watched the weavers in action and the level of craftsmanship was immense!). 

It's been a while since I've shown this little corner of my home. Per built these shelves over 15 years ago and they are still going strong! They're not very solid though, hence why they only hold a whittled down curated display including clay figures by local artists Simon Vendin and a bowl by Helena Gorne, a piece of drift wood picked up on a volcanic beach in Iceland, art by my children and lots of plants and photos! 

As I mentioned at the beginning of the post, I think chairs can look lovely in pretty much all rooms of the home. Perhaps my favourite spot for this one is simply against the wall in my bedroom (beside the desk). I like that it means you can more clearly see the outline of the shape. 

Until of course, I cover it in clothes - I give it two days! 

I know it would look beautiful by the table too - either as an entire set or one at the end, perhaps one day I'll move it down, we'll see! 

Are you a fan of the wishbone chair too? 

If you're tempted, see the complete collection over at Carl Hansen & Søn. 

It's been ages since I've featured my home here, if you'd like to see more corners, check out my home  although, I'm starting to feel some updates are needed so maybe you're better off looking at my cabin or better still, there are also lots of beautiful home tours to discover in the archive if you'd like some inspiration this weekend! 

I hope you a relaxing couple of days, thank you so much for stopping by.  

Vi ses på måndag! 

Niki

NOTE I previously stated that this was a limited edition collection, which was an error. The nine CH24 Sift collection will be permanent. The post has been corrected accordingly. Sorry for any confusion! 

Photography & styling: Niki Brantmark - My Scandinavian Home. 

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Cosy Winter Touches and Danish Design in Our Little Cabin

Paid partnership with Carl Hansen & Søn, all words and pictures are my own

UPDATE; come here looking for Rune's cosy Noreweign home at Christmas? Click here for the tour! 

A little elf has been busy at the cabin re-arranging furniture again! This time, four incredible Vega chairs from Carl Hansen & Søn have been added around the table (I'm beginning to like this elf a lot!). Are you familiar with this iconic chair? Officially known as VLA26T Vega Chair, it was created in 1956 in Copenhagen by Vilhelm Lauritzen. 

Previously confined to the historic Vega concert hall in Copenhagen, the wonderful team at Carl Hansen & Søn have re-launched the Vega chair in partnership with Vilhelm Lauritzen Architects and made it available to a wider audience - hurrah! 

I think it fits in beautifully here, do you? 

True to Vilhelm Lauritzen's signature style, the chair is a modernist masterpiece and features a simple functionalist design yet also has some beautiful touches. I especially love the softly curved back rest, the wood and steel combination as well as the elegant wooden feet (the devil is in the detail, after all!).  

It also comes in a black version. 

Aren't they beautiful?

Sadly, this set is sadly just on loan for the shoot, but I think I'll make the most of them while up at the cabin with my sister this weekend (can't wait to see her - and enjoy the chairs!)!

Loving this chair too? Find more about it over at Carl Hansen & Søn. 

I've captured so many iconic Danish design classics in my home for My Scandinavian Home over the past few years, here are some of my favourites:

Our dining room with soft blue wishbone chair

Bringing the hygge - a new Danish armchair in our cabin

The Cuba Chair in our sitting room

A pair of classic Windsor Chairs around our table

Is there one that stands out to you in particular? 

Oh, and do you like our subtle Christmas touches? Now that I've started, I can't stop. A tree might even sneak its way in at some point! 

Wishing you a very cosy weekend! See you Monday! 

Niki

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