A Relaxed 19th century Apartment Full of Vintage Finds

God morgon vänner! I'm excited to kick off the week with the wonderfully relaxed home of Jenny Brucherseifer, a jewellery buyer living in 'Südstadt', Cologne, Germany. Jenny and her boyfriend took their time to find their new home - eventually falling in love with this 19th century apartment with its magnificent high ceilings and large windows. The pair moved in in February 2020 - immediately before the pandemic. The lockdown meant they had plenty of time to furnish their new home - choosing to invest in a wonderful selection of vintage pieces and beautiful lighting (some iconic, some high street!), designed to stand the test of time. In the evenings, the couple love to read and listen to music - either playing their own tunes or listening to music from the neighbours pads, floating in through the window! 

Recognise the Elfa shelves? I pointed these a couple of weeks ago in a small swedish home too) - they're very popular as they look great but also really practical! 

Jenny loves to search for vintage pieces online at Lauritz, eBay, and 1stdibs but also in local stores such as Ode & Dyck. 

Jenny has used the same styling trick seen in a Swedish home last week: placing a large plant on a stool to give it more height. 

An iconic Pipistrello lamp rests on a side table in the sitting room, while two pendant lights from HM Home hang over the dining table (out of stock - but well worth the wait if you can get hold of one!). 

How wonderful! Every time I look through the pictures, I spot another fabulous piece of furniture. And I love the vibe too! 

Is there anything that stands out to you? 

Checkout more daily snapshots of this lovely apartment over at @a.start.of.something.new. 

Wishing you all a wonderful start to the week! 

Niki

Photography @a.start.of.something.new, shared with kind permission. 

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A Beautifully restored Country Retreat in Burrawang

While I may have focused on all things Autumn on Instagram yesterday (those Scandinavian wool and alpaca blankets are a must, after all), other parts of the world are slowly emerging into spring. And James Watts - managing director of ethically run rug store Armadillo, his partner Tony and their dog teddy - will be enjoying the season to come in style. 

Located in the historic village of Burrawang (great name!), in the Southern Highlands of New South Wales, Australia, their 1930s weatherboard cottage has been lovingly restored into a cosy country retreat. For the look, James' drew on his design background and a previous career in set design - and the pair wanted to create a layered, cohesive look with a British touch. Think one-off vintage finds, heirlooms, textiles and art as well as nature-based colours inspired by the countryside and sea. 

Ready to take a tour of their cosy home? Step this way! 

James and Tony worked hard to restore many of the original features, and anything beyond repair was replaced with consideration to the 1930s architecture. A front porch and decking were also added.  

The cosy, light-filled dining area is comprised of a built-in bench topped with textiles from Cultiver, classic Thonet chairs and a rug from Armadillo. 

Walls painted in Porter's paint Highlands Grey add contrast and drama to the kitchen - as well as a sense of cosiness in winter. The stools are from Great Dane and rug from Armadillo. Many of the smaller pieces are vintage. 

A basket / pot from Water Tiger rests on a table picked up at Lydie Du Bray antiques. A vintage light from Emac & Lawton lighting can be seen to the right. The jute rug is from Armadillo. 

The house has two bathrooms, the first of which is kitted out with fittings from The English Tapware Company and tiles from Teranova. 

The bedroom wall has been painted in Porter's duck egg (the bespoke bathroom cabinet looks like a similar shade but is actually Porter's Arctic Bay, the table lamps are from Bragg & Co and the bed linen picked up at Society Limonta. 

What a perfect retreat. I love the blend of Australian country with British nostalgia - it really speaks to me! 

Is there anything that stands out to you about James and Tony's country home? 

I'm particularly grateful to photographer Marnie Hawson for the kind permission to feature these images. I'm constantly inspired by Marnie's work having featured many of the homes she has captured in the past including her own vintage-inspired living space in a former post-office. Marnie is a values-driven photographer working with people and brands who have a genuine commitment to the environmental and social impact of what they do. I particularly love her Prints for Wildlife - with 100% of profits going directly to independent wildlife shelters. 

Fancy taking a peek around more homes Down Under this weekend? There are plenty to feel inspired by here (if this cottage pops up first, just scroll on by - although I can understand if you'd like to look through the pictures again!). 

Right folks, that's it from me this week. I hope you have a wonderful few days and see you Monday! 

Niki

Photography: Marnie Hawson 

Styling: Olga Lewis

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When A Swede Styles A Beautiful Sicilian Townhouse

You might recognise the name Marie Olsson Nylander from her unique interior style and her TV show 'Husdrömmar Sicilien or 'Sicilian House Dreams' (fans out there will be happy to hear there's a new series starting in September). If you're an avid reader of My Scandinavian Home and have a great memory, you might also recall this feature I wrote about her incredible house in Höganäs, Southern Sweden a few years back. Either way, her unique style and passion for one-off vintage pieces means it's hard to forget any space she has turned her hand to. These days, Marie spends most of her time in Sicily - and her instagram feed has taken on a wonderful 'rustic, eclectic, palazzo' vibe as she shares daily shots from her own Sicilian home and those she encounters through her work (trust me, it's worth a look!). I was particularly taken by her latest 'Sicilian Autumn' campaign in which she styled a house in Modica, Sicily using objects from her own home as well as handpicked items from the Ellos collection. Can you spot the Scandinavian influence?  

"My style is artistic, many call it eclectic but I do not like that word - it gets almost too extreme. I am dependent on texture, finding the right material is crucial to get the right feeling. Textiles and colours that go together well with brown tend to be my favourite, I love that. Brown makes everything soft, as does wood. I like drama, the unpredictable and a personal touch. I also like things which are hard to buy, but which obtained after years of life and commitment" - Marie Olsson Nylander. 

Beautiful! 

It looks lovely and cool - a perfect respite from the midday heat (I see it's going to be 35 degrees celsius (95 Fahrenheit) there this weekend - PHEW!). 

Is this your kind of style? If so, you'll most certainly want to hop on over to her instagram for more inspiration this weekend. And don't forget to take the tour of her Höganäs house! 

Here are a few other lovely spaces abroad styled or lived-in by a Swede: 

A Swedish photographer's home in the South of France

A Swedish family home in the French alps

The cosy home of a Swede living in Holland

I've got so many exciting things to share with you next week including the tour of my bedroom, my new yoga studio (probably sounds grander than it is - it's just a corner of the bedroom, but it does the trick and I love it!) and potentially a cabin update (the build starts soon and I've started to think a lot about the interior and might just need your help!). 

Wishing you all a 'trevlig helg' (lovely weekend!). 

Niki

Photography: Ida Lindhag

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A Beautiful, Relaxed Family Home With Sky High Beams!

One of my favourite houses lately - that of Jessica Reed Kraus. Located in San Clemente, California, Jessica and her husband renovated it a few years back and have transformed it into a wonderful family home. I love the exposed beams, wood panelling, relaxed vintage touches, built-in bunkbed and all the wonderful natural light. Also, the space is proof that sometimes it doesn't need to be more complicated than white with wood. The rich variations, texture and patina in the timber add so much! Oh, and the beams and nooks are a perfect opportunity to add a playful touch for their four children (check out the swing!). Enjoy the tour! 

Every time I look through the pictures, I spot a new detail to love! So inspiring!

I hope you've enjoyed this tour and got some nice ideas for your home too! Is there anything that caught your eye in particular? 

See more of Jessica's home on her very cool instagram feed @houseinhabit. 

Fancy taking a peek inside a few other homes today? How about these fine specimens (with a 'beam theme')?

A light-filled 19th century swedish loft apartment

A  bright and beautiful light-filled loft

A cosy country home in rural Sweden

Oh, and Per and I are going to view a house her win Malmö this weekend. It looks like a total renovation job but has a lot of potential - do we take on the challenge or will it totally stress us out? I'd love to hear from anyone who has carried out a renovation or is in the midst of one! We'd need to know what we were getting ourselves in for if we go for it! 

Niki

Photography: @houseinhabit

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A Warm and Relaxed Artists Home Full of Vintage Finds

I'm in the mood for some arty / creative inspiration today, how about you? Scrolling through my instagram feed I happened upon Edna's charming home in Rheinland, Germany and it fits the bill perfectly! Edna has always wanted to live in an old house - and was delighted when she moved into the Art Nouveau property - with its high ceilings and wonderful light - dating back to 1911. Edna and her husband are both artists and live in the two lower floors of the property with their children and adopted cats. Their studio occupies the top floor. Edna loves to immerse herself in history and likes to keep the look and feel of her home "bright, natural and unconventional". The furniture is a blend of antiques (matching the date of the house), vintage finds as well as a few handpicked contemporary pieces. The result is a wonderful, relaxed, lived-in feel where no two pieces are the same. Ready to feel inspired? 

Oh, so beautiful! 

I love how distinct and personal this home is, it's truly original. 

That cat ramp! 

Do you feel charmed by this home too? Anything in particular that stood out to you? 

Keep an eye on Edna's email @ednas.house for more inspiration. 

The cosy, vintage inspired home of a Swedish artist

Pretty greens and blues in a Copenhagen home

A danish artists inspiring apartment

The lovely home of a Danish artist

A relaxed artists home in Norway (which I had the pleasure of capturing for my second book)

I also love the low hanging art in the Stockholm home of Karolina Modig. 

When it comes to hanging art, I love the way Edna's has played with scale and space. If you have art to hang but not sure where to start - or you'd like to create a gallery wall, I've shared a fail-safe technique here. 

Wishing you a wonderful Wednesday! 

Niki

Photography: @ednas.house - shared with kind permission.

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