Surfs Up At A Boho Studio And Holiday Home Hideaway

How wonderful would it be to work for a few hours and then head out for a surf? That's exactly the set-up Dee Kawai Tang has created at Kawai Heart Studio! Located on the wild coast of Australia on the edge of Fremantle, the atelier was hand built in the 90's using recycled materials and has been lovingly converted into a light-filled photo studio and guest cabin - a few hundred metres from the sea. The family also rent out Lady California Bungalow a beautiful art-deco style property filled with natural light and birdsong. Here are a few snapshots of the two spaces. I could just imagine heading here to write a book (I've always loved the idea of a writer's cabin!), chill or simply head to the nearby beach - how about you? Oh and, please tread quietly - sleeping baby alert! 

How incredible! This relaxed style is right up my street. I'm pretty sure I could find a great rhythm of sleep, work, surf... how about you? 

See more of Kawa Heart Studio and take a peek inside Dee's own home over at @kawa_heart_studio. 

For more workspace / atelier inspiration check out:

The lovely home and atelier of a Swedish artist

A relaxed Danish artists cabin in Copenhagen

The boho home and atelier of a Swedish florist

Speaking of holiday home rentals, I'd be so happy if you could take the time to fill in this very quick questionnaire for me. It's a business idea I am thinking about developing and I'd absolutely love to get your thoughts if you have the time. You can find the survey here. 

Wishing you a lovely day!

Niki

Photography courtesy of @kawa_heart_studio found via SF Girl By Bay with thanks. 

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Beautiful Stays: A Hundred-Year-Old Workman's Cottage

What's the temperature like where you are? In Malmö it's lovely and sunny and I did actually witness someone take a dip in the sea earlier. BUT they did need to withstand -2 C (and that's without the windchill!). Meanwhile, Down Under I'm guessing the waters are exactly the right temperature. Which is why I found my mind wondering to Dubbo, NSW, Australia today. Admittedly, this is because I've found a perfect place to stay. The Repose is owned and managed by Bede and Jemima Aldridge, co-founders of boutique Saddler & Co and Ric and Moir Jones. The four spent two years renovating the hundred-year-old property by hand, with Jemima taking the lead on the design, before opening the doors to guests. And what a great job they've done! Think whitewashed cladding, vintage touches as well as a dreamy bathroom and European-inspired courtyard. Did I mention that there's always a local bottle of wine waiting for you too? We're all aware that travelling to Oz is not an option right now, but if we close our eyes, we might just feel the warm sun on our skin while we sip wine in the courtyard. Or you could just keep your eyes open and feel inspired by the design that oozes from every image. Either way, you're in for a treat! 

"We all have European heritage and I purposefully ensured the cottage has interwoven elements that reference our love for 'gezellig' interiors and also the Australian quintessential cottage charm."

- Jemima Aldridge 

"Many of the items featured throughout are by Australian artisan designers, but the house also features a rather lovely custom brass lamp by Wo and Wé Collection as well as table linen and blankets by Timeless Linen."

The luxury bathroom features an original clawfoot tub restored with care, brass tap ware, original artwork, as well as complimentary Aesop hair and skin formations (now you're talking!). 

How lovely! I'd be happy to check in and stay for a while, how about you?

The decor makes me want to head off and for a 'loppisrunda' (flea market tour) - second-hand pieces add so much to a space don't you think? And of course, there's all that wonderful linen! 

Is there anything that stood out to you?

Find out more about The Repose here. 

Other beautiful homesteads Down Under can be found here (keep an eye out for the 'before and after' and other dreamy guest houses). 

Har det så fint! 

Niki

Photographs: 1. The Repose 2. Lean Timms 3 - 8. Abbie Mellé 9 - 10. Lean Timms 11- 12. Alana Landsberry 13. The Repose

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A Weekend of Solitude at a Dreamy Island Hideaway

Recognise this place? I first featured beautiful Satellite island in 2016 and was completely blown away. It's been my dream to visit this remote and rugged island off the southern coast of Tasmania ever since. Sadly, I've yet to make it Down Under yet, but I know a girl who has. Twice! The lucky woman in question is travel photographer Kara Rosenlund, who completely fell in love with the island five years ago - and decided to return to capture the wilderness and pure solitude. Kara spent her days waking to the sound of low-flying gulls and the gentle lapping of the waves, foraging for fresh Tasmanian oysters  - and watching the sunset over the water. I couldn't think ion a more heavenly way to spend a weekend, can you? Here are here snapshots: 

So incredibly beautiful - what a dream! 

Could you imagine spending your weekend here?

Interestingly, Per just walked past my computer screen and thought this cabin was somewhere in Scandinavia (if only!) - perhaps that's why it's stuck with me all these years? 

More info about Satellite island can be found here. And you can see more of Kara's incredible photography here - and her lovely prints are available in her online store. 

Shall we compete the week with a tour of a few more island hideaways? Here are a few I dream about on grey, dreary January days: 

A cosy hideaway by the sea

The ocean-view whale song shack 

An off-the-grid shack on Bruny Island

A charming and relaxed swedish cabin by the sea

I hope you have a wonderful weekend! 

Stor kram! 

Niki

Photography: Kara Rosenlund found via Lobster & Swan with thanks

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Beautiful Inspiration From An Earthy, Bali Pool Villa

Sometimes I think (or at least hope) that My Scandinavian Home is like a box of chocolates - you never know what you're gonna to get! Yesterday, we were charmed by a relaxed Copenhagen family home, littered with Lego - and today, we're in dreamy Bali. because, why not? I came across Villa Arjuni by accident over the weekend and it had me longing for a holiday, flitting between the pool, dining table, bed and back again! But more than that, I felt so inspired by the earthy tones, tactile fabrics and touches of warm wood and tropical rattan added by owners Lena & Carlo Catterick, founders of Byron Bay shop Yöli & Otis. There are plenty of ideas to steal from this villa - even if that holiday of ours is on hold for now! Pour yourself something cool friends, we're off to Bali! 

This rattan lamp*, linen tablecloth* and rustic bench* are similar.

Love the display of straw hats, fans*, necklaces and decorative baskets* on the wall - they add a lovely warm touch too the room. 

Mark Tuckey makes these beautiful 'egg cup' wood stools. 

Pick up a striped linen bed* set like this on Etsy.

A bedside-table like this would look cute in any bedroom, don't you think? I couldn't find the exact one, but a pair of these wicker nightstands would create a similar look and feel. 

Hands ups who'd happily lie here for a day. Danish brand Tine K Home are the mothership of outdoor rattan furniture - and I love their bamboo loungers. Sadly, with all the rain / sleet / snow we get up here in the North, they'd need to be carried inside on bad weather days, but perhaps it's worth it to get that holiday vibe anyway, what do you think?

Ooooooh, to be in Bali right now. *Sigh*! But I have picked up quite a few ideas for my own home all the same. I hope you've felt equally inspired. 

If you'd like to add this beautiful villa to your future holiday files, you can find all the details over on Airbnb. Perhaps I'll see you there - my lounger is the one reserved with the straw hat!

Fancy taking inspiration from a couple of other Bali villas today? I also love a romantic hideaway in Bali and exotic meets boho in a Bali pool villa. 

Time to up our rattan / bamboo game? 

Niki

Photographs courtesy of Villa Arjuni with thanks.

*affiliate links - which means if you click on the link and buy an item I would make a tiny commission. 

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A Rustic House that Embraces Nature - Inside and Out!

It's been at least 10 days since I featured a home from somewhere Down Under (actually, the most recent from that part of the world was in Tasmania which is Down Under the land Down Under!) but still... it's been too long! So today, while keeping with the cosy theme as yesterday, I'm stopping by to share this cosy cabin with you. Designed by Taliah and Sein Lowry, founders of Byron Beach Abodes and the talent behind this dreamy cottage as well as a bevy of other beautiful holiday homes, The Perch is a rustic cabin high above Possum Creek Valley (great name!) in Byron's Hinterland. The interior is designed to embrace the lush green surroundings and made up of nature-inspired textures and colours, from the terracotta wash on the mud brick exterior to the mottled white on the interior walls and the timber slated cathedral ceilings and raw timber columns. I could quite happily wake up here and snuggle up by the fire each day, how about you?! But for those of us that live on the other side of the world, there's plenty of inspiration to be taken from this hyggeligt home too! 

I particularly love all the raw materials - including the original brick floor in the bathroom. I can imagine it gets really hot here in the summertime and the floor would be so lovely and cool! 

I also really liked the warm, rust and amber tones on the beds. This 'clay' linen bed set is similar (love it!). 

Is there anything that stood out to you? 

If you'd like to archive this for future travel - or lucky enough to live nearby, bookings can be made here. 

How about enjoying a few other cosy spaces today? Some of my favourites include: 

A cosy Scandinavian boho family home

A cosy rural home in rural North Sweden

A get-away at a cosy lake-side cottage

How's life with you guys? Tough times don't you think? I love this to be a positive bubble for everyone to come to each day and feel inspired but felt I wanted to write a little note to acknowledge that life is far from easy right now - hang on in there friends! This too shall pass. 

Niki

Photography courtesy of The Perch / Byron Bay Abodes, found via Planete Deco with thanks.

*affiliate links

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