Step Inside Verena's Relaxed, Warm and Inviting Home

When I look for homes / interiors to feature I try to find ones that inspire with a certain lifestyle (a Swedish cottage by the sea, a magical mountain cabin or rustic country retreat for example). I also strive to find homes with a wonderful unique touch and bags of personality that are full of ideas. Today, it's the latter in focus (I'm sure there's a wonderful lifestyle here too!). I discovered Verena's German home on instagram a few weeks ago (if you have the time check out her inspiring feed hop over to @vren1984) and immediately fell in love with the warm, relaxed feel. Verona's eclectic home is the kind of place you can instantly feel at home. So, pull up a chair and enjoy the tour - I hope you'll walk away with lots of new ideas for your own home! 

Love the mix and match vintage dining set - it works because everything is made from wood. The sheepskins help to add a cosy touch. 

A real life scene - how refreshing! 

We drink the same Oatly Barista with our coffee - have you tried it? Word of warning, once you start, you can't actually go back to milk. It originates from right here in southern Sweden! 

An indoor swing - wonderful! We have one from Finnish brand Lillagunga in Ali's room and it's always been a big hit. 

I love a packed bookshelf, do you? The other day on instagram I asked how people chose to organise their books. Many said by theme and then author, others said by colour or language. But best of all - one person said that their husband loves to spend hours organising books - organising them according to theme, and then if he thinks the authors would get along and have a good chat he'll place them next to each another. How brilliant is that? You can see the post and read all the responses here. 

Great to see a rug / blanket used as art. Instant cosiness and colour! 

If you have the space - or like the idea of an open wardrobe, perhaps a DIY concept like this one could be something for your home? 

I DID enjoy this tour, I have to say. 

I hope you walk away with some nice ideas. Is there anything that stood out to you in particular? 

Want to hang around for a while? Excellent! Why not check out: 

A German boathouse on the shotes of the Baltic

A fab mid-century inspired home in Berlin

A charming German home full of vintage finds and three mischievous cats!

Have a great day! 

Niki

Photography courtesy of @vren1984, shared with kind permission

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Scandi Cool Meets Mediterranean Warmth in a Beautiful Mallorcan Finca

Have you ever been on holiday and dreamt of staying? For one Swede, this is exactly what happened! Annsofie Stendahl booked a one-month holiday to Mallorca in the Spanish Balearic Islands over 22 years ago. With the long, dark, cold Scandinavian winter looming, Annsofie couldn't bear to leave - and when her friends packed their bags, she made a spur of the decision moment to stay.  

Annsofie found an incredible finca in the countryside. Once a vineyard and farmhouse, the house had been lying dormant for over 70 years and required a huge amount of work. Annsofie rolled up her sleeves and set about transforming it into a wonderful oasis, which is also enjoyed by her husband Viking and son Loke. 

Today, the once derelict garden features a wonderful covered social area with bespoke corner seating built by a local carpenter and cushions from IKEA). The family also enjoy a lush pool and outdoor bar (because, why not?).  

There are lots of beautiful rattan lamps like these available here*. The table was picked up in Thailand. 

Inside, a fresh white Scandi cool palette meets the warmth of the Med. The living space is sparsely furnished with wonderful vintage pieces, many of which have been purchased in nearby Palma. 

I love the cool linens in the master bedroom - try Bemz for an identical white linen bed skirt* (available in different sizes), I've got this one in my bedroom and it's wonderful! 

The beautiful stone walls have been left exposed around the windows and other parts of the house, adding a load of texture and warmth and ensuring the Mallorca character shines through. 

Annsofie transformed a former wine cellar into an atelier from where she can paint and create ceramics. 

How wonderful! What a life they've made for themselves!

Could you imagine moving abroad? 

Many Scandinavians have made the island their home - a few of which I've featured in the past. Here are a few other wonderful homes to dream about today: 

A relaxed oasis in Mallorca - with a Finnish touch

Scandinavia meets the Med in a beautiful Mallorca Finca

A wonderful townhouse in Palma - owned by a Swede

I've mentioned many times before that my older sister lives in Mallorca, and whenever I visit, I'm always tempted to stay! We haven't been able to visit for over three years now, so I'm super excited that we're going to visit in a few weeks. Since we're a bit of a rowdy crowd (!) we decided to book our own villa in the same village rather than inflict ourselves on Charlie et al for an entire week! I can't wait to see them all as well and discover more of the island. I'm also excited about visiting some of the vintage stores in Palma. I think Per's praying I don't stumble across a huge ceramic pot or other large item to bring back home. Trust me, it happens! 

I feel there's a bit of a theme forming this week already (did you see yesterdays holiday home in Kefalonia?). I'm curious to see whether it continues... (you may have noticed this blog is very unplanned, I simply share what inspires me day to day!). 

Niki

Photography: Anna Malmberg 

Styling: Mari Strenghielm

Shared with kind permission. 

*affiliate links

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A Dreamy Escape To Rent in Kefalonia, Greece

A quick show of hands from everyone who'd rather be somewhere else today? As I sit at my desk all weary eyed (I haven't had my morning coffee yet!) I'm dreaming about an escape to this incredible Péra Perou villas Kefelonia, Greece. I mean, who wouldn't rather wake up here? The good news is there's space for all! The property is divided into three villas each decorated with a minimalist yet earthy vibe, and designed to enjoy the incredible vista over wild, rugged mountains and sparkling emerald waters. The question is, how quickly can we get there? 

I love the seamlessness between the indoor and outdoor space. Notice how the outdoor seating area is sunken so it doesn't obscure the view from indoors. 

How's this for a suite? It offers a natural progression from sleeping, to sitting and then heading outdoors. And even has a romantic fireplace for winter visits. I've always dreamed about having a fireplace in the bedroom! 

Walls that are rich in patina are having a moment right now. But this feels like it's true natural habitat! I'm a huge fan of kalklitir lime paint for most areas of the home. Tadelakt is your best bet since it will give you the same affect while remaining waterproof. 

The decor is so well thought out (both indoors and out) - and is beautifully simple. I love the way it mirrors the surroundings - and allows the vista to shine. 

Gaaaah, take me there now! I want to be the girl in the pool! 

Are you tempted? 

If you're up for a little more dreaming today, pull up a seat and scroll through the holiday home archive, there are SO many dreamy places in there. 

Have a great start to the week! 

Niki

Photography: Ioanna Roufopoulou / Péra Perou

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A French Photographer's Earthy Home on The Vendée Coast

Kicking off the week with snapshots from the beautiful home of French photographer and director Aurelie Lecuyer, husband Jean-Christophe and their three children in a forest on the Vendée coast. The 1970s house exudes calm thanks to the wonderful warm wood, layers of texture and earthy tones. Think surfaces dotted with lamps and foraged pieces, contemporary lighting, sculpted built-in furniture and shelves laden with artefacts, books and magazines. All the while, the look is clean, calm and relatively contemporary.  Be still my beating heart! 

Simply wonderful!

A perfect home with which to kick off the week, do you agree? 

See more snapshots over at @aurelie_lecuyer - and recently commissioned work from Aurelie's photography portfolio here. 

If you're loving the wood, you're also bound to feel inspired by: 

20 ways to add warmth to your home with wood, Sanne Hop style

A beautiful, relaxed home with sky high beams

Life change: a swedish family home in the French alps

And of course - the magnificently crafted 'tiny mobile house' I featured on Thursday! 

Wishing you all a wonderful, calm start to the week!

Niki

Photography: Aurelie Lecuyer - shared with kind permission 

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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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