A Charming Danish Home on a Shoestring Budget

Hello! Hur går det?! It's great to be back after a week in the mountains. I'm feeling all revived, the sun's shining and I'm ready to roll! I hope you feel the same this bright and sunny Monday?!  I thought I'd kick off the week with a tour of the charming home of Fie Frøling, finalist of the 'Danish Instagram of the Year' (and for very good reason!). Fie's home is packed with second hand finds, DIY items and an abundance of greenery. I caught up with her to find out a little more. Enjoy the tour!

Where do you live?
My home is in Næstved, Denmark and I have lived here with my boyfriend and our two dogs since 2014. I actually grew up in this house with my parents and sister. We're still in the process of renovating it.

Get the look: Marshall speakers, Ilva cabinet, Kimono from Sissel Edelbos,

How would you describe your style?

I would describe my style as mix and match with an ethnic, boho vibe and a hint of industrial. I love it when warm tones meet black steel and like to play around with feminine and masculine decor.

Get the look: Brok side table, source kilim cushions here, man in canoe print, Nordal rug (I have a similar one in my sitting room!).  

 Where do you like to shop? 
I love to buy my decor at different places. I have a serious soft spot for Swedish secondhand shops and the Danish website DBA. You can find some great stuff there. Our entire kitchen was bought from DBA. Otherwise I love to shop at unoliving.dk, Casanordic.dk, semibasic.dk, Ilva and Broste. They have amazing pieces at good prices.

It's nice to see so many plants in your home!
I have a huge love for plants. I can't go an entire month without buying a new green baby! They give such a cool effect against the black and warm colours. But also, I feel like they bring my home to life because you can watch them grow. Denmark isn't the most sunny and bright country but because of all my green plants I feel like it's never dark, they remind me of summer and rainforests.

I am fascinated by your bed headboard, can you tell us more about it?!
I made our headboard three years ago. We needed a new headboard but I couldn't find one I liked. I saw these pallets by our local train station which had been thrown out and had been lying there for some time and had turned grey and rusty. I was given permission to take them and then I screwed them to our bed frame. Et voilà! A headboard emerged! 

Thank you so much for the tour of your lovely home Fie! 

What a great tour - I specially loved the the rustic pieces and plants (you know, I still can't stop thinking about that urban jungle home a few weeks back, how about you?!). It's amazing what you can find at flea markets. Is there anything you loved in particular about Fie's home?

If you'd like to see more of Fie's home there are tonnes of lovely snapshots on her instagram feed @woodlandwhim. And for more homes with a boho vibe why not check out this archive (oh and I LOVE the Danish home archive too - a real favourite!).

Have a great start to the week!

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Going up in 2018: indoor climbing plants

After yesterday's awe-inspiring home tour, all I can think about today is house plants. And if there's one type to top all others right now, it's climbers. Climbing plants seem to be taking over the plant world (and homes) right now! Whether used to frame a window, wrap themselves around ceiling beams or winding their way up shelving, the green beauties provide a lush boost of green which will brighten up the dreariest of January days (I'm in, are you?!). Here's a little inspiration...

Michelle Hayes

Indoor living plants MR Kitly

Anders Bergstedt / Entrance

Natalie Jeffcott

Jonas Bjerre Poulsen / Höst restaurant Copenhagen

Kara Healy

So beautiful, don't you think? If, like me, you're already plotting where your climber should go (my home is suddenly feeling decidedly ungreen), here are 5 great climbers and two inspiring books to set you on the right path...

Get the look

Urban Jungle: Living and Styling with Plants
The Green Home

Training your climber

So we kind of know which plant and where to put it, but how on earth do we train them to go where we want them to go (and stop our house from becoming a scene out of Little Shop of Horrors)?! The methods vary depending on the type of plant - so do ask about the best way to train and care for your climber at the point of purchase. When it comes to support, you can either train your plant around whatever's already in place (pipes, beams etc) or invest in a trellis of some kind (there is a large variety of different supports you can use depending on the look you're after) - here's a helpful guide. My parents-in-law have had one as long as I can remember and they simply use evenly spaced tacks around the window frame - so it definitely doesn't need to be complicated!

I'd love to see your climber in action (don't forget to tag me on Instagram too!).

Have a great weekend and see you Monday! 

PS I love how this climber goes up and around a door frame!

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An incredible loft, filled with plants!

Hands up who loves a house plant? This home tour is for you! Seriously, I've never seen so much beautiful greenery in one place, it takes the term 'urban jungle' to a new level  - and the results are lush! Formerly a cotton mill from the 1870s, the plant-filled loft is located in the centre of Baltimore and belongs to green-fingered Hilton Carter and his girlfriend Fiona Vismans who met as neighbours three years ago (when she knocked on his door to ask him to turn his music down! Love that!). Hilton estimates he owns around 120 plants which wind their way around a blend of high street, thrift store and flea market finds and thrive on the light from the incredible windows. "I really like having plants as a part of my interior styling. You need that sort of life to open up the space, to clean the air, and to make it feel like home," Hilton explained to Baltimore Magazine. Prepare to be inspired...

Photography: Hilton Carter

Quite incredible, don't you think?

Who needs a greenhouse?!

If you'd like to see more beautiful homes with plants check out; Jeska and Dean Hearne's lovely home, plants and mid-century finds in a Brooklyn brownstone, the Melbourne home of a florist.

And I love this book: Urban Jungle: Living and Styling with Plants.

Oh and in case you're not very green-fingered - I included a guide to house plants that are almost impossible to kill in my Lagom book - tried and tested by yours truly!

I'd highly recommend following Hilton Carter's instagram feed for a load more inspiration too!
Vi ses!

PS Look out for our guide to indoor climbers (to follow shortly!).

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Step inside the 'New Darlings' Phoenix home

There are some homes which are destined to be featured on a Friday  - simply because they're the kind of joint you'd love to hang out at (or at least feel inspired by) ALL weekend! This is one of them. If you're already an avid follower of New Darlings, you'll  be familiar with this fab home in Phoenix Arizona. It belongs to the mighty cool husband and wife team Robert and Christina - who 'laugh too hard, dance all night and explore together' as well as have an uber cool sense of style. Fortunately for us, they're also amazing photographers so get a glimpse of this through their inspiring blog and instagram feed. The pair have recently moved house and have been renovating it one room at a time - using vintage and mid-century finds, interesting art and an abundance of plants. Let's take a little tour!

Photography / design: New Darlings

Isn't it such a great space? So vibrant - and just the kind of place you could walk into and instantly feel relaxed!

A few items I know and love: Article sofa, Jack chairs, hoop mirror (on mantelpiece) art from here, this sheepskin cushion is similar, source a vintage magazine rack here. Pick up a mid-century credenza here.

You can find out more about their home (and the items within) here: entryway, living room, kitchen, backyard lounge.

Oh and before I head off - there are two things I really wanted to share with you - firstly I discovered this lovely instagram feed (via Johanna Bradford - thanks for the tip!) - if you don't follow it already, you must! And secondly I was super excited to see my book The Scandinavian Home included in the Independent's top ten interior design books! That's my weekend made before it's even started! Thank you to everyone who's picked up a copy already  - you rock, and I hope it inspires you!

Have a wonderful couple of days and see you Monday!

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The cheerful Brooklyn home of an artist

Here in Malmö, the sun is shining and I've got one of my besties visiting from London - hurrah! I hope you've got some great things to look forward too this weekend too? If so, I've got just the home to match the FRIYAY mood.  This cheerful apartment in Brooklyn, New York belongs to the incredibly talented Leah Goren, an illustrator and surface pattern designer who counts brands such as Anthropologie, Penguin and Revlon as her clients and is the author of BESTIES and co-author of Ladies Drawing Night. Her natural eye for bold colours and playful design shines through in her relaxed home where art, rugs and accessories add cheerful pops of colour and vibrant green plants stand mid-century pieces and other vintage finds. Enjoy! 

Credits: homeowner - Leah Goren. Photography -  Kelly Fondots. Found via Glitter Guide, with thanks.  

Such a great home! I love all the quirky touches. Is there anything that catches your eye? 

Get the look from Leah's home: source vintage terracotta pots here, the big plant next to the parrot wall hanging is a fiddle leaf fig tree  (check out this piece on how to keep them alive and well). Knit pillow by Leah,  source a similar pouf here. Visit Leah's shop for colourful and playful art and accessories. 

You can read the full interview and see more pictures of Leah's lovely home here.

In case you'd like to see more from the neighbourhood - here are a few other fabulous Brooklyn homes to enjoy: the Brooklyn home of a Swedish expat, the boho home and studio of a creative duo and the lovely, relaxed home of a fashion designer. Oh so inspiring!

While on the subject of New York, my family and I are headed in that direction this summer - eeeee, so excited! We're planning on staying in Manhattan for a few days and then looking for somewhere  to go relatively nearby to explore and chill out afterwards - any tips?

Have a wonderful weekend and see you Monday!

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