From light to dark in a Swedish sitting room

Hello! I hope you had a wonderful weekend? My family and I took to the slopes at a small tree-lined ski resort here in Southern Sweden called Isaberg Mountain Resort. It's amazing what a weekend get-away can do to revive the senses?! Anyway, on with the Monday morning home tour. Today I thought we'd peak into the lovely home of Anna-Malin who captures corners for her fab blog Helt-Enkelt. With the dark expression slowly sneaking into homes I think it's so interesting to see what a difference a dark sofa cover can make to a white room. Here's the before and after....

Anna-Malin / Helt Enkelt. With kind permission.

Such a nice home - and admittedly hard to look passed the amazing coffee table. But, which look did you prefer, the dark or the light? Tough one.

Get the look: Sofa cover, candle-holders from IKEA. Source a similar rustic / vintage coffee table on wheels here (this beautiful one is very similar). Flos 265 light. I love the idea of a rustic bench behind the sofa - not only does it break up the back of the piece but it also serves as a great place for magazines. Look out for similar rustic benches here. Super soft and fluffy Sheepskin throw.

I once showed Anna-Malin's lovely sitting room decorated for Christmas - so cosy?!

More spaces with a vintage / rustic touch include Line's Norwegian home and an industrial-style atelier (there's that coffee table again).

Before I head off....

The pink wall and fabrics in this by Mölle shoot are spot on. And just how fab is this chair to match?!

This is exactly my kind of kitchen...modern with a relaxed, rustic touch.

Thank you so much for all your lovely entries to win a signed copy of my book. I'm looking forward to reading through them all this afternoon and will pop back later to announce the winner...watch this space!

Until then, have a great start to the week! 

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A Danish sitting room transforms from summer to autumn

Although I'd love the summer to last forever, it seems the leaves are slowly turning here in Sweden and snug winter woolies are just around the corner. One of my friends in Copenhagen, Tina Fussell, photographer, writer and stylist extraordinaire, has completely embraced the new season by updating her sitting room with accessories, flowers and cushions. The dark colours create a cocoon-like feel, perfect for cosying under a blanket and wiling away a chilly scandinavian winter. These lovely pics show the gradual tranformation....

All photos: Valentina Fussell, Traveling Mama

Will you make any changes in your home this season?

A few tips on where items are from: Tom Ford book, silver coffee pot, Grey cabinet, Voluspa candle, desk light, Kartell Papyrus chair.

I couldn't resist throwing in the last pic - I think Monday's are made for long breakfasts, don't you?! Start the week as you mean to go on!

You can see a complete tour of Tina and her family's lovely Danish home here.


Other homes with rich dark grey walls include this fabulous Australian holiday home, a wonderful French home and this luxurious Swedish bedroom. 

Have a lovely day!

PS only a couple of days left to vote in the Amara interior blog awards (sponsored by luxury gifts & designer homeware store Amara). I'm so excited to be one of the nominees - my voting page is here, if you'd like to send a little love my way. 

PPS Swedish friends - I am volunteering with the red cross this month - if you are please interested take a look at this video (in Swedish).

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My new vintage/industrial scissor wall lamp

My new French scissor lamp from the 1940's arrived on Friday, so excited! Since then it's been something of an adventure getting it installed including a trip into town, a lamp shop, an electrical shop and a visit to a pensioners apartment where I met a lovely man in his 80's at a small desk fixing the people of Malmö's lamps. "I do love it when you young people acquire old things" he said, "and this one's a real beauty." By the time I got home I was grinning from ear to ear with my prized possession.. Here are a few pictures of our new lamp, at the centre of our Sunday morning....

All images My Scandinavian Home

What do you think?

I bought it from Daisy Roots France and although Annie doesn't have any more of these particular lights you can find a bunch of vintage / industrial scissor wall lamps here. 

If you're interested to know where any of the items are from there's lots of information (and photos of my sitting room) here. Otherwise just give me a shout!

Oh and in case you're wondering what my girls are up to - one of them (on the sofa) was watching how to make cakes on You Tube (her favourite viewing pastime!) and the other was watching Pippi Longstocking on my phone ("she's so stroooong Mummy"), so sweet! I do love a lazy Sunday morning. 

What did you get up to this weekend?

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The beautiful on trend sitting room

Morning! Reporing from a very grey London this morning. But if anything can brighten up my day this stunning sitting room created by Danish designer Mette Helena Rasmussen can. The space encompasses the current rose / gold trend perfectly by matching a vintage rose coloured accent wall with a polished brass Tom Dixon Etch Light - how very cool and pretty. Oh and they've added my favourite reading light too the Flos 265 wall light - could this be an option for my sitting room? I spy other bang up to date trends too such as the light grey marble table with pastel legs. What a treat for a grey Tuesday!

Photography: Tia Borgsmidt (with kind permission) for Boligliv via Ministry of Deco with thanks

What do you think? Are you channeling the gold / light grey marble and rose trend?

I've had a few questions about long-haired sheepskin rugs lately - this is a great source!

Oh and you might be interested to know that Mette owns an online shop called Retro Villa which sells the most beautiful items.....could be dangerous!

Have a lovely day!

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my home captured by karin: sitting room

Iiiiiit's Friday, woohoo! I'm looking forward to heading home and taking some down time with my little family. Maybe a walk in the forest with my three year old who's going horse riding, or wrapping up warm to take my elder daughter to her ice skating lesson - BRRRR! (I'll be battling with my man over that one!). Since home is definitely where my heart is today I thought it'd be apt to share the next in my mini series of 'my home captured by Karin'. This time it's my open plan sitting room in the spotlight....I hope you like it!

Pictures 1,2,,5,5,6  by Karin Björklund, Picture 3 by me. 

There's so much to do still - for example we'd like to paint the stairs white or light grey - any thoughts? Also we're in need of more light (especially as the days get shorter), I can't see a thing at night! OK, over exaggeration but...tips welcome!

I think Karin's done a sterling job on the photography. Thank you wondrful, talented K! Note though how my styling left a blanket all messy - just goes to show you can't miss a single trick in styling (I once read about someone who did a shoot over an entire day and then realised there was a bright red toy car under the sofa in every shot!).

In case you're interested here are a few tips on where things are from: Sofa, Scandinavian mid-century table and drinks trolley were inherited, black chairs from a flea market, Diamond print, Wasp print, Chair print, Muuto socket suspension light, phone and coloured cushions, Did I miss anything?!

See also my bedroom, my dining area, and my kitchen if you like :) Do you have any photos to share of your home or one you've photographed / styled?

So, the weekend......so exciting! What are you up to?

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Cosy sitting room the Norwegian way

There's a distinctive chill in the air here in Southern Sweden (how about where you are?) and I've noticed people are starting to get out their cosy knits BRRRRR! When I feel a nip in the air it always makes me romanticise about long walks in the snow followed by a steaming cup of hot chocolate (with a touch of rum) while thawing feet by the fire. This sitting room from the home of Norwegian blogger and photographer Elisabeth Heier is a firm favourite - just look at that wood burning stove and log storage! 

Elisabeth Heier with kind permission

I love the hall way too - I think that's a House Doctor rug - beautiful! 

I'm a big fan of Elisabeth's styling and photography (as you well know!) and have posted on her home before here and here. So beautiful!

If you're on the look out for wood burning stoves as I am check out these homes....

PS I loved the discussion on Facebook yesterday on 'all white homes' so many different opinions! 

Have a lovely, cosy day!

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Do you prefer less or more?

These sitting room snaps were recently taken by Line Klein for Alt Interior which featured a story about how to style your sitting room in different ways using the same fab sofa.

One sofa, two different spaces, which sitting room would you prefer? 

With kind permission from photographer Line Klein, Stylist: Nicola Kragh Riis

As you know I'm off skiing tomorrow - yay! But I'd never leave you high and dry and have lined up a series of fab guest posts including a very exciting Easter give-away next thursday which is not to be missed!

Before I hit the slopes (how much do I love writing that?!), here are a few links from around the web this week:

Loving these Danish iconic prints. And these wonderful photographic prints by Max Wanger  as seen in Bri Emery's LA home.

If you're hosting friends or family over Easter and are in need of some festive table inspiration check out these fabulous Scandinavian table spreads.

Easter renovations / shopping? Don't forget my wonderful sponsors who make this blog possible including Design Collectors (15% off with MYSCAN)! New socks from here, Nest for Hay, Muuto and countless other cool Scandinavian items, Loja Dada for the cutest kids clothes you'll ever see, cool shop LET LIV for you Ozzies and New Zealanders and The Reclaimed Flooring Company for the wood flooring you've always wanted but never known how to get (until now)!

I hope you have a wonderful week and a really lovely Easter!

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A little ray of sunshine from LA

Today we're all battoning down our hatches here in Southern Sweden Meteorologists have predicted the worst snow storm in 10 years. GRRR! On days like today we need a home whuich comes with a little ray of sunshine. This fun, vibrant sitting room belongs to the fabulous Bri Emery of Design Love Fest fame and was the result of a collaboration with one of LA's hottest interior designers / stylists Emily Henderson. It's just the fix I need!

photos by: laure joliet, space designed by: emily henderson, makeup by: danielle walsh

With kind permission from Bri Emery, Design Love Fest

Love the mid century Danish touches, love the colour, love the prints and the plants. In fact the whole living room space makes me smile and it's just the inspiration I needed on this snowy morning in March! What about you?

More pictures and a very cool before and after snap here. Oh and a full feature in the LA Times here!

Before I head off into the snow, if my blog looks a bit weird for a few days it's because it's going through a small facelift which I'm working on with the talented Ana from Blog Milk. I hope you'll like the end result! See you tomorrow :)

PS Thank you so much for all your lovely words about my bedroom yesterday. Lots to do still bit it's a start :)

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