Stay in This Beautiful Victorian House in Nottinghamshire, England?

You can take a girl out of England, but you can't take England out of the girl - as the saying goes. Despite having swapped my morning tea for coffee, bicycling in all weathers and celebrating midsummer, I will always have a penchant for English country homes! Nicola Huthwaite lives in a 150-year-old Victorian house in the village of Burton Joyce, Nottinghamshire. Founder of Brand Design Studio and a passionate photographer, Nicola has decorated her home in a beautiful muted palette, and focused on texture and the way the sunlight flows in through the magnificent sash windows to create shadow and light. 

It's one thing to admire lovely decor from afar, but entirely different to experience it first hand - and luckily for us, the house is available for hire! Complete with fireplace, three bedrooms, large garden courtyard, a Victorian greenhouse and outbuilding with an outdoor kitchen - who wouldn't want to spend a week, month... year here! Ready for a nose? 

The kitchen has been painted with an earthy chalk paint. Try Kalklitir for a similar affect. 

Nicola has filled the house with lovely vintage furniture for a relaxed look. 

I bought a drop leaf table like this in a Swedish second-hand shop recently - it's so useful since it can be extended and also contain small drawers. The funny thing is, I didn't even have a place for it, but couldn't resist it anyway (that's the thing with second-hand - you have to seize the moment!). And now that it's home I realise it's equally useful as a side table! 

There's something very English about walking through a front door and immediately seeing stairs. In Sweden houses are configured differently - there must be a reason, but I'm not sure what it is! How about in your country?

I love the ruffles on the shower curtain (source one here*)!

Could you imagine staying here? 

See more snapshots of this Victorian home and find out about hire here, and explore Nicola's Instagram for more inspiration!

Would you like to see a few more country homes today? Check out the country style living archive. 

Stor kram! 

Niki

Photography: Nicola Huthwaite - shared with kind permission. 

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The Beautiful City Apartment of Photographer Anna Cor

Why, hello there! Today I'm taking you on a journey to Berlin and the lovely unique home of photographer Anna Cor which she shares with her husband and three children. The open-plan living space  combines a kitchen, dining area and sitting room in one - providing an L-shaped extended room where the entire family can hang out. 

Anna's favourite spot is the kitchen where she spends most of her time (especially with hungry teenagers around!). It's an area that stands out from 'the crowd' with it's wooded cabinets and island - a cool and quirky contrast to the soothing palette used throughout the remainder of the home. Ready to take a tour? Laura and Nora of Our Food Stories fame were there to capture these images: 

Beautiful! 

I especially love all the different light fixtures which include a Lampe Gras (kitchen), Valerie Objects No2 (dining area) and Le Klint sax (bedroom). 

The balcony is also a perfect oasis in the heart of the city - loving the tropical vibe! 

Is there anything that stood out to you about Anna's lovely apartment?

Read the full interview and see more pictures over at Our Food Stories. 

Don't miss Laura and Nora's own living spaces and studios past and present which include their beautiful city flat and country retreat, dreamy swedish country house which they sold recently and was coincidentally bought by a friend of mine, magnificent Berlin photography and styling studio and the time they transformed a derelict classroom into an incredible kitchen. And if you're into cooking - or would simply like to drool over divine looking dishes, make sure you take a look at their instagram (there's a reason they've amassed over 1 million followers!).

Wishing you all a lovely day! 

Niki

Credits: Laura Muthesius & Nora Eisermann / @ourfoodstories - shared with kind permission.  

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Emilie's Charming Family Home Among the Rooftops of Strasbourg

It's Friday people - woohoooo! I hope you've got some fun plans for the weekend. Perhaps a little interior 'zhuzhing' in the mix? If so, I've got plenty of inspiration for you here on MSH! 

Today, we're heading to Emilie's home high up in the rooftops of Strasbourg, France which she shares with her husband and two young children Jeanne and Gustave. Emilie loves to surround herself with beauty - and has created a wonderful home to return to after a day working as a general practitioner doctor. Despite the tricky angles and beams, every room feels spacious and full of light (keep a look out for cover use of dormer windows and skylights) - and there's somewhere to relax around every corner. 

Ready to take a peek? Bienvenue! 

The dining room and sitting room is all one room and a glass partition separates the home office from the main living space. I am often asked about glass room dividers - if you're a dab hand, you could build one yourself, if not, I'd recommend a company like Elfa or Velfac. 

There's something about a piano in a home, don't you think? - just the sight of one is enough to make me feel relaxed. Alice used to play, and I loved hearing her practise (so much better than a recorder!). 

A close up of the room partition - a smart solution if you have one large room which needs dividing but you still want to keep the light. 

I really like how Emilie has included accent walls throughout her home. The colour in the master bedroom is not unlike the 'Blushing peach' we used to have in our bedroom. 

Emilie's prettiest summer dresses hang from a DIY open rail. 

The children share a bunkbed (from Oliver Furniture). Pretty wallpaper from Sandberg adds interest on the side away from the windows. 

I love the black radiator here.

The vintage school desk provides plenty of space for creating (there is some fantastic vintage school furniture available on Etsy*).

*affiliate link.

Skylights fill the bathroom with light and a shelf allows for art or other items in a tight space. 

Very charming! 

I think my favourite thing is how the light dances off a disco ball in the main room (it's Friday after all!), and of course the children's room - I'd have loved a room like this when I was little! 

Is there anything that stands out to you? 

See more corners of Emilie's home over at @lunettesetsalopettes. 

And here are a few other wonderful French homes from the archives to explore this weekend: 

A relaxed, vintage style family home in the French countryside

The fabulous eclectic home of a French antique dealer

A dreamy vintage-inspired home in the French Riviera

Lovely black floors in the home of a French stylist

Alexandra's home in the French countryside

There are even a couple of homes belonging to Swedes (something special happens when two cultures combine!): 

The home of a Swedish photographer and French milliner

A charming Swedish home in the South of France

I hope this has given you plenty of ideas for your own home!

Wishing you all a wonderful weekend!

Niki

Photography courtesy of @lunettesetsalopettes with kind permission

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A Light Filled Family Home in Berlin with a Nordic Touch

During the Easter school holidays, my daughters and I are heading to Berlin, Germany for a couple of days. It's somewhere I've been saving up for as I've always wanted to take them, it's an amazing city and only 6 hours drive from Malmö! While doing a little research for things to see and do (any tips would be wonderful!), I veered off course (as always), and ended up stumbling across the Berlin home of Judith Schenk - which I had to share it with you guys! 

Judith describes her home as 'Nordic minimalism meets Berlin Altbau' - and the light-filled family apartment is made up of sleek finishes, Scandinavian design, plants and art. Read on to see more pictures and find out about some of the touches Judith has decided on. 

The kitchen is made up of IKEA cabinets with Reform CPH fronts. The countertop is a solid Corian surface. 

The lights are Flowerpot pendants in white.

'Case Study House #10' by Stephanie Kloss hangs over the dining table. A Gubi semi pendant hangs over the table. 

The Model 2065 pendant light by Gino Sarfatti makes a statement in the sitting room. The sofa is from Bolia. 

The plant-filled sun room is bathed in light - a perfect cure for the winter blues (have the leaves come out on the trees where you live yet? Here in Malmö, it's still just twigs - gaaaah!). A desert lounge chair can be glimpsed in the corner. 

Double doors in the living room lead through to the lovely children's room. 

A sofa by Karup Design pulls out into a double bed in the spare room. 

Look at all those beautiful trees - *sigh*, there's nothing like a green view! 

The serene bathroom reminds me a lot of the tones / look I have used in our little cabin bathroom - including brushed / antique brass. The tap is from Grohe. 

The master bedroom is the epitome of calm with walls painted in Portlandstone Pale by Little Greene. Judith has used this shade throughout her apartment: "As we have a super open layout in our flat, this was my approach. Also the paint is so highly pigmented that it always appears different depending on the light and daytime," she says. 

Judith has hung three prints over the bed, including Bleu by Lucrecia Rey Caro*. Arum lights an be seen either side of the bed. 

Absolutely love this home. All the windows certainly help but also Judith has made everything look so effortless and struck the perfect balance between pared-back and personal. 

Did you feel inspired by this tour too? 

See more of Judith's apartment and follow her latest projects over at @kavalierchen. 

Now I'm in Berlin mode, here are a few other tours from the German city: 

A lovely relaxed artist's home full of plants (don't miss this one!)

A bohemian touch in a magnificent Berlin apartment (another favourite!)

The Berlin flat and country home of Nora and Laura

A serene family home in Berlin

And of course, if you're looking for more inspiration this weekend, make sure you look back t the tours I've shared this week, including a Gotland country home (I loved all the discussions about the tiny bath!) and a Stockholm flat worthy of an interior magazine feature - which is currently for sale! 

Have a fabulous weekend friends! 

Niki

Photography courtesy of Judith Schenk, shared with kind permission

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