My Swedish Summer Cottage Kitchen Renovation (Before)

In paid collaboration with Bosch
I am so excited to introduce a new series today. If you've been following My Scandinavian Home for a while, you'll likely know my family and I have a very small summer cottage on the West coast of Sweden. I've never actually showed pictures of it before because it's in major need of renovation. I mean MAJOR! But all that is going to change! Over the next twelve weeks I'm going to be renovating the kitchen. I know in these pictures it looks surprisingly OK - but trust me, at a closer glance it's not! Firstly, it hasn't been touched since the 1970s - the wallpaper is peeling away in great swathes, the units are all frayed and sometimes the handles have a habit of falling off. Secondly, the current kitchen doesn't use maximum use of space (kind of important in an L-shaped room that measures 8 square metre / 86 square foot) - it could be waaaay more efficient. And finally, none of the appliances work properly (I can't tell you how annoying it is to leave a casserole on the stove for an hour, only to find the hob hasn't been working!) Oh and did I mention there is a family of mice lurking somewhere behind one of those cupboards? I think you get the idea!

The plan
My goal is to transform the space into a fresh, practical, well functioning, beautiful kitchen (big plans, huh?!) in time for the family to descend on the cottage at midsummer. It's also important to ensure the look fits with the rest of the cottage (the house was built in the1930s by my husband's Grandfather and holds lots of fond memories!).



The Partner
One of the reasons our summer cottage has been somewhat neglected over the years is that we're only there a few weeks a year and share it with other members of the family, so money is always invested elsewhere. Back in our kitchen in Malmö we've had Bosch appliances for over 12 years (oven, hob, fan, microwave, fridge freezer, dishwasher.... you name it) and we've always been so happy with them, it therefore felt like a natural step to partner with Bosch for this project and install Bosch appliances in our summer cottage kitchen too. Since we are keen to keep the costs down, it helps that Bosch appliances are a seamless fit with IKEA kitchens too!

Grand plans indeed. I'm feeling very excited and at the same time just a teeny bit daunted!

Over the next twelve weeks I'll be sharing my renovation here on the blog (as well as over on Instagram) including my inspiration, plans, the design, expected surprises (of which I'm sure there'll be plenty!) and of course, with any luck - the final reveal! Please do weigh in - I so welcome your tips, advice and opinion on decisions along the way! And if you're planning a kitchen renovation of your own, I hope you'll find the series helpful.

Time to hit the grindstone!

Niki

*This series is in paid collaboration with Bosch. However, all words and pictures are my own and I only ever work with brands I love and think you will too. 

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Before & After: A Beautiful Handmade Kitchen On A Shoestring Budget

The creativity of some couples is just mesmerising. I've featured a few spaces by Jeska and Dean Hearne, who live on the South coast of England, before (remember their bedroom, bathroom and garden retreat?). And now Jeska, creator of blog Lobster & Swan and founder of shop The Future Kept, and Dean, a photographer have turned their hands to the kitchen. Literally. Everything you see (except the appliances, hardware, and base units) have been made by hand using reclaimed wooden floorboards, recycled crates, old pipes from under the floors for hanging rails and oak laths from a local restoration centre - and the result is truly inspiring!

To get an idea of the transformation - here are a couple of pictures from before they started the renovation.

Before

The pair ripped it out and did a complete overhaul from the ground up. And today it looks like this: 

After

The bulk of the back wall has been painted in Annie Sloan Paris grey, with smaller tins of Old White and Graphite accents thrown in (read more about how to get the look here). The wall by the window has been painted in calming Dimpse by Farrow & Ball. 

The worktop is made from elm wood and the fan has been covered with a custom built box and clad with oak laths. The sides are made from ply off cuts which have been stained to match.

The pair found the beautiful farmhouse table at a local nursery and the chairs have been picked up over the years (source similar vintage bistro chairs here* - and actually, if you're super quick and live in the UK - there's a set of four original vintage Thonet chairs* exactly like these available on Etsy right now!). 

I love the Fowey pendant light over the table, it fits perfectly in this space, don't you think?

The shelves are made from a fallen eucalyptus tree that fell in their garden. They took the wood rot a local sawmill who cut it into planks. It was then stored for three years to dry. The rail underneath is made from a disused pipe.

Source made to measure linen curtains here* (I can highly recommend these guys - all the curtains in my home I made by them!).

What an incredible transformation - so imaginative and unique, and I love how so many elements have been made from reclaimed items. 

Could you imagine taking on a similar project?

You can reads more about the kitchen renovation here. 

I do love a great 'before and after' don't you? If you'd like to see a few more today, take a peek at:

A danish house gets a fabulous make-over

A Miami penthouse before and after

A dingy garage becomes a bright guesthouse

Is there one that caught your eye?

Ha så bra! 

Niki

Photography and design: Jeska & Dean Hearne

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10 Beautifully Simple Ideas To Steal From A Swedish Kitchen

We all know kitchens make for an expensive re-model - and sometimes there's simply not much wrong with them other than they're not entirely to our taste down to the last details. When we moved into our house the kitchen was in many senses perfect - it was simple, had lots of storage and decorated in white and wood. Not much to complain about it really. Except I'd have done it slightly differently (#husbandofinstagram rolls eyes!!). Do you feel the same about yours? The good thing is, I've learned there's plenty we can do to update the 'engine room of the house' without spending an arm and a leg - and this pretty green and white kitchen in Gothenburg, Sweden is a fine example of this (FYI the home is for sale - so rather than steal, you could always upsticks and adopt this very kitchen - tempting, huh?!). Otherwise, here goes:

1. Throw in a free-standing island: Sometimes the work surfaces in a kitchen just aren't enough - and that's where a stand alone kitchen island comes in. We actually added one to our own kitchen and it created a whole other dimension to the amount of surface space (incidentally, half of it's currently taken up by piles of post - but still...). This industrial one is a hacked version of the RIMSFORSA from IKEA (they've swapped the bamboo for marble which I think works really well!).

2. Add an accent colour: if there's an area of your kitchen you can paint, why not give it a lick of colour in a pretty, muted tone like this pale green? It will add another dimension to the space.

3. Update the door handles: swapping out the door handles for something different, like these leather pulls is really simple to do and can make a huge difference to the overall look and feel. You can buy similar here and here* or even make them yourselves out of leather belts or even reindeer reigns (sounds extreme - *loughs out loud* - but I actually photographed a home in Norway for The Scandinavian Home and the owner had done just this - you can take a peek at the mountain cabin here!).

4: Exchange the tap:  Swapping out a dull tap for something more in tune with the style you're looking for is a great way to add a personal touch. Go sleek and contemporary or vintage for a budget friendly option. Think about balancing the look of the new material - for example if you add a brass tap, you might want to also add a few brass lights to ensure a more complete look.

5. Speaking of lights: go wild and add a statement light to bring the look up to date. I'm loving the brass wall sconces in this kitchen (does anyone know where they're from?  It's important to remember that good lighting in the kitchen is vital (lights are lovely and all, but not worth losing a thumb over!!) so think about how much light is needed for various tasks.

6. Be a fan the fan: There are so many nice extractor fans on the market - by swapping the one you currently have for something a bit cooler can create a great statement and focal point.OK, this is not necessarily budget option, but it is cheaper than ripping out the whole kitchen (is that cheating?!).

7. Squeeze in a work space: I was reading an interview with Martha Lane Fox (of lastminute.com fame) where she talked about how she would control her children's use of screens by only allowing them access to a computer in the kitchen. This work space doesn't take up a lot of space but certainly does the job. Frama CPH and Elfa sell similar.

8. Go for contrast with curtains in a darker shade: Not perfect linen sells made to measure charcoal drapes* like these).

9. Get comfy: If you have the space a sofa turns the kitchen into a relaxed sociable area.

10. Get those tunes going: Something that struck me on a recent visit to Naja Munthe's Danish holiday home (again, for The Scandinavian Home book) - apart from the sea view obvs - was the amazing sound system. There was something so luxurious about bopping about the living space with amazing surround sound. I'm loving the design element of the Libratone Loop Speaker seen in the window in this space too (thank you for the tip on model and brand Rita!)

Oh and plants. Obviously!

Perhaps you've got a load of things to add to this list  - if so I'd love to hear your thoughts in the comment section below. 

If you're curious about the rest of the home - you can see the full tour and snap it up over at Entrance. 

Other kitchens I love include this calm, neutral space and a beautiful blue Swedish family kitchen.

Have a great day!

Niki

Photography by Anders Bergstedt for Entrance

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A tour of my kitchen!

Why, hello there! I hope you've had a great weekend? I've been thinking back to May when a team from GRUNDIG K!TCHN Mag paid me a visit here in Malmö, Southern Sweden. We spent the day taking snapshots of my kitchen and dining area and chatting about how I designed the space. I'm super excited to see the film live on Kitchen Stories (alongside Norm Architects no less - eeeeee!).  Before you watch the film - I have a couple of things to confess. Firstly, I actually had a cast on my leg at the time (it was filmed a couple of weeks after I'd ruptured my achilles heel!) so it's carefully stationed behind the kitchen island. This is also why they filmed me walking in slow motion (it was more of a hobble in real life!).... oh the things that can be done with a little clever film work! Secondly, my kitchen did not look like this when I left this morning! For now, though, I'll be dreaming that it's this spotless ..... (maybe it'll inspire me to give it a once over when I get home!). I hope you enjoy these snapshots and the film of the 'engine room' of our house!

Photography credits: © Agentur Loop. Styling: Niki Brantmark - My Scandinavian Home.

A quick note on where everything's from (if I've missed anything just give me a shout in the comment section below):

Dining area: the bench is from Lovely & Co, source a Gotland sheepskin here, the chairs were a flea market find and painted white, the large cushion and oil lamp are both Nordal.
Window nook: Söderhamn daybed. The lamp and patterned cushion are from Nordal, these linen cushions are similar. My book The Scandinavian Home: Interiors inspired by light.
Drinks trolley: barcart, vases and candlestick holder all Nordal.  Muuto E27 light, The Kate Moss Book.
Kitchen: cabinets from Marbodal, oak surface, chopping boards from Nordal and Granit, L:A Bruket hand & body soap. Kitchen island from IKEA, stools, hooks and feather duster from Geijersgatan 53, ceramic hanging planters by Anne Black. Rug from IKEA.

I'm so curious to hear what you think?!

Is there anything you love about your kitchen and recommend we do in our own? (Go on, inspire us - it's Monday, we need it!).

Have a great start to the week!

PS click the following to see more of my kitchen, dining area and window nook, if you're curious! Or maybe you'd like to check-out other kitchens (if mine pops up first just scroll passed!)?

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My kitchen update: HONK trolley

We were so lucky to have plenty of cupboard storage in our kitchen when we moved in. But sometimes I feel open storage is pretty handy too - plus I love the relaxed vibe it gives a space, don't you agree? Thanks to Danish homeware brand Nordal (#Ilovemywork) I finally got around to installing this beauty in the kitchen a few weeks back. Made from iron and recycled fir wood, the HONK trolley (great name!) has a lovely industrial feel - and as soon as I put it in place, it felt it had always been there - don't you love it when that happens? As you can see, it's already laden down with things (however did I find the space for these items before?). Here's a sneak peek....

Photography: Niki Brantmark / Styling Genevieve Jorn

Soooo happy with it!

Here's a quick guide on the items in my kitchen:

1. Wall lamp 2. Black and gold bowls 3. Glass measuring jar 4. Grey coat hook 5. HONK trolley 6. Stoneware pitcher 7. Tapas board 8. Grey leather carpet 9. Graphic oven dish10. Espresso pot.

Nordal ships throughout Europe - find your nearest dealer / stockist here.

Have a lovely day! 

PS Keep an eye out for my full kitchen reveal next month! In the meantime here's a tour of my dining area - so happy with the updates!

This post is brought to you in collaboration with Nordal. However, all words are my own and I only ever work with brands I absolutely love and think you will too! Thank you for supporting the businesses that help bring fresh content to your mail box and make My Scandinavian Home possible.

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The calm, natural kitchen

I was getting a little tired of being at home this week so I've re-located to a little café by the sea. They do a great porridge (have you heard of Grod in Copenhagen which only serves porridge? - I must pop over the bridge and pay them a visit!). Admittedly it was also to escape my kitchen which is in desperate need of a make-over.  This is why I was delighted to discover Holly Marder's inspiring new kitchen. As we know from her beautiful bedroom and studio, Holly has an entirely unique signature style, with a penchant for warm, earthy tones and natural textures. In other words, everything she touches literally turns to gold! Holly's make-over is a lesson in combining beautiful craftsmanship and maximising use of space for a truly functional, yet calm kitchen.

 

Photography and design: Holly Marder / Avenue Lifestyle. 

What a fabulous space?! I love that it has a slight mid-century vibe - and everything looks so calm. 

I couldn't imagine getting heated over anything here could you?  I'm thinking back to Saturday when I tried to make a chocolate meringue cake, in Swedish, with three young kids - let's just say I'll be sticking to cupcakes for a while! Or perhaps arts and crafts (hey, I know my strengths!).

Get the look from Holly's lovely kitchen: custom oak door fronts by Koak Design, walnut pulls and knobs by Ware Design Works, wooden pendant light, brass kitchen rails, wall lamp.  'My chair' by Normann, the beautiful Hubsch table, linen placemats, napkins and basket by Artha. 

You can see the full write up and more info about the products over at Avenue Lifestyle.

Looking for more kitchen inspiration today? You can always check out my kitchen archive and Pinterest board for mountains of inspiration! See you there...

Have a lovely day! 

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