A Soothing Colour Palette of Blues and Greys in a Swedish Home

Tjena! Lately Per and I have been thinking about moving house - mainly to get a bigger garden (from my side), I think he said something about a tool shed....(maybe he's resigned to the fact that he's the My Scandinavian Home DIY main man!). But, having taken a few months to look around the ruthless housing market that is Malmö right now, we're getting major cold feet and considering making changes to our house instead - have you been through this thought process too?! If we stay put, one of the first things I'd update is our kitchen and open plan living area (potential mood boards to follow!). I think this is why this Swedish apartment appealed so much to me this morning. Look at that blue / brown combination! I also love how they've painted the underside of the dining table to match. The rest of the apartment has been painted in subtle nuances of grey which complement the blue in a beautiful way and help bring the entire look together. All in all, a truly inspiring palette! 

The kitchen cabinets and brass knobs are both IKEA.

This soothing colour palette from Jotun Lady is similar to the one in the kitchen:

On trend brown and amber tones compliment the greys and blues and add warmth. 

The Little Petra armchair looks like a big bear hug! I could totally do with a cup of tea in that very spot right now, fancy joining me?!

The same tones are carried through to the bedroom.

This cushion is very similar to the one seen (it appears slightly darker in the picture but I have the same one on my sofa and it's actually lighter in real life). Source a pretty ruffled bed skirt here*.

We were at the summer cottage this weekend and every other person at the 'morgonbrygga' (morning swimming bridge) was wearing an old dressing gown and pair of clogs like the ones in this hallway. Another observation: if you truly want to fit in the next time you're in Sweden you're going to need a fairly battered pair! Sadly I don't have any either - but a quick search uncovered a treasure trove of vintage clogs and even a pair of wood and leather Scholls*! 

Vintage Swedish footwear aside (!), is there anything you love about this home? Could you imagine going for a colour scheme like this? 

Pull up a chair and drool over a load more Swedish homes in this archive! 

Have a wonderful start to the week! 

Niki

Credits: Entrance

*Affiliate links

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A Striking Holiday Home on The Swedish Island Of Gotland (AND it's for sale!)

As Swedish islands go, Gotland in the Baltic Sea has to be one of my favourite - it's a total summer paradise. Ever since our first ever visit last week I've been planning my next visit and eagerly scouring estate agent sites for holiday cottages (a dreamer, who me?!). And then this one popped up on Trendenser today (thank you Frida!). The house, which is for sale through Fastighetsbyrån, is situated just North East of Visby. Despite being built in 2016 / 2017, it encapsulates many of the traditional architecture traits of the region. Inside, towering A-shaped ceilings give the space a breezy feel while touches of wood add texture and warmth to a beautifully raw, understated living space. Time to dream...

Absolutely beautiful!

I am a huge fan of concrete floors which is probably what caught my eye - having said that, I'd probably need two add a load of rugs and textiles to cosy it up a little. 

Could you imagine rocking about here all summer too?!

Other Gotland homes to fall in love with here. 

When I get home, I'm going to download all my photos and see if I can put together a guide to Gotland. Everyone has to visit at some point!! Might that be of interest?

Happy 'lillördag' (little Saturday)! 

Niki

Photos courtesy of Fastighetsbyrån

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A Cosy Summer Cabin In The Swedish Countryside (available to rent!)

Tjena! How was your weekend? I'm feeling so distracted today: the schools have broken up, the warm weather has arrived and the sparkling sea beckons!  It's honestly the best time of the year to be in southern Sweden. Why don't you come and join us?! I wrote a local guide to Malmö here - and if you're a foodie, there's the unique Stedsans in the Woods about an hour away. Better still, if you're travelling as a couple and looking to get away from it all, I spotted that Swedish interior designer and photographer Daniella Witte is renting out her super cosy summer cabin.  Situated near Lomma (which has a wonderful beach), the cosy grey and white summer cabin interior is reminiscent of Daniella's own lovely home, sleeps two and has beautiful vistas over the Scanian countryside.  It's hard to imagine that the structure is made from repurposed steel shipping containers! How incredible is that?!

Daniella has painted an Ivar cabinet from IKEA in the same colour as the walls (Jotun Demidekk S 2502-Y) and added wheels.

I like how Danielle has also painted the hooks (seen above left) in the same colour as the walls - and opted for a kitchen cabinets and a table in a similar colour to keep the look clean and decluttered. 

When you go for a monotone look it's important to add loads of texture. Curtains are great for adding texture, softness and dampening the sound. 

A white bed skirt and natural bed linen* add a lovely freshness to the space. As you've no doubt noticed, linen is a massively popular material in Scandinavia. One of the main reasons is that it's really practical - it keeps you warm in winter and nice and cool in the summer, plus the natural creases add a relaxed look to the room - no ironing required!  

Perfect little spot for a morning coffee (or evening G&T! FYI the nearby island of Ven makes a great local gin, just saying!).

You might need to book quickly - before the resident cat gets in there first! 

Daniella rents it out Sunday to Sundays throughout the summer. Her contact details are available here. 

A quick note on container houses: there are thought to be over 14 million out-of-service shipping containers in the world. They have become a popular building material since they are relatively cheap to acquire, easy to transport and keep construction costs down - plus it's a great way to recycle!

Have a fabulous start to the week. 

It might just be time for that first dip in the sea for the day here in Malmö...

Niki

Photography / design: Daniella Witte

PS it's Per and my ten-year wedding anniversary next week and we've booked a little getaway to Italy (so excited, I can't remember the last time we were without children!). We're flying to Pisa and looking for somewhere beautiful to stay on the coast or Tuscan countryside - any tips?! All a bit last minute, I know! 

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6 Clever Tricks To Learn From A Small, Swedish Box Bedroom

Many of us have a small box room in our home. Maybe it's the master bedroom, maybe it's a guest room - or maybe you're a student living in halls (been there!). Whatever the case, it can be soooo tricky to get the balance right, don't you think? A few months ago I shared a feature on 16 ways to transform a tiny room into a dreamy, yet practical bedroom - and the response was overwhelming. So, today I thought I 'd share a tour of another mini yet mighty bedroom! Despite the small size, the bedroom is clutter-free and feels the essence of calm thanks to 6 clever styling tricks. I hope it inspires you to transform the tiniest room in your home! 

1. If you use too many colours in a small space it will quickly start to feel cramped. Yet, subtle, earthy nuances help to add interest while maintaining an element of calm. Try Magic Linen* for similar linen bedding. 

 2. A low round table plays with the height of the room and takes up less visual space - providing a spot for bedtime reads, morning coffee and even fresh blooms!

3. Combine different textures in similar tones to add a cosy feel to the room while keeping the look clutter-free.

4. Make the most of every inch with a wall-to-wall wardrobe. A cleverly placed mirror also helps to light up a dark room and create the illusion of space.  This one is available at IKEA. 

5. An additional bedside table at the foot of the bed provides an extra spot for smaller items. 

6. A row of hooks is perfect for adhoc (or your prettiest) items - but also helps the room to feel cosy. FYI I spotted hooks like these in H&M Home the other day! 

I might just steal some of these tricks for my elder daughters room!

Did you get any ideas for your home too?

Get a load more beautiful ideas in the bedroom archive.

I don't know about you, but this post has made me feel all sleepy and ready for a lie-in - bit tricky when I'm in Transylvania - yes really - so crazy! And I might add, such a beautiful place! More in IG stories right now!

Sov gott! 

Niki

Photography: Anders Bergstedt / Styling Nouvel Interior for Entrance. 

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One of Norway's Most Beautiful Homes Is For Sale!

The Oslo home of Nina Holst is a bit of an institution. Instantly recognised for its clean lines, soft, muted colour scheme, sloped wood ceiling, scandinavian design furniture and fabulous views over the Oslo fjord - it's been at the heart of Nina's wonderful blog Stylizimo for years. And now, it's up for grabs! Yes, really! Not only does this mean one lucky person gets to move in (could you imagine?!), it also gives us a chance to see what Nina does next - which will no doubt be incredible! In the meantime, let's enjoy a tour of her Norwegian home, one last time! 

Egg chair*, I am not sure who this artwork is by (tips welcome) - but Nina creates and sells paintings in similar hues here.

Wishbone chairs, Kong oil lamp

Kubus candleholder

IKEA cabinet, series 7 arm chair, Limited edition PH 3/2 table lamp, source made to measure white linen curtains here*

Do you recognise this fabulous walk-in-wardrobe? I once wrote a feature about it: Tuesday DIY: A Fab Walk-In Wardrobe on a Shoestring.   

I will never tire of Nina's home - it's so simple, yet so serene and inspiring.

Could you imagine living here?

After my trip to Norway earlier this week, I'm certainly tempted!

It's for sale here. Just saying....

Fancy dipping into a few more Norwegian homes this weekend? How about a serene japan style home in western Norway, a Norwegian house by a fjord, an elegant Norwegian home in striking dark colours and a stunning Norwegian home in many shades of blue.

Got to love the Norwegian flair for interior design!

In the words of our Norwegian friends:

Ha en flott helg! 

Niki

PS I'll be stopping in tomorrow to share the latest update on my summer cottage kitchen renovation.

PPS It's been one crazy week, I'm so looking forward to a more chilled one next week (fingers crossed!) and spending a little more time on here. Is there anything in particular you'd like to see? If so, give me a shout below!

Photography: Nina Holst / Stylizimo shared with kind permission

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