my scandinavian home: Sitting room

All Fluffed Up: This Autumns Cosiest Trend (And The World's Most Simple DIY IKEA Hack!

I've kind of got over my end of summer angst and finally starting to embrace the chillier Autumn days, dhow about you? There's something about the idea of layering the home with cosy blankets, warm chestnut tones and lots of candlelight that makes me feel all warm and fuzzy inside! But there's also another cosy item to hit the scene and it's fuzzier than ever. It all started with the re-emergence of the short faux furry Teddy jacket back in 2016 (so called for its 'teddy bear' appearance) - an item that has become a bit of a wardrobe staple in 2019. And now stools, armchairs and sofas are being upholstered in undeniably cosy, super fluffy fabrics too. From The Tired Man armchair to the Banana Sofa (great names!) - this Autumn's seating is akin to a big bear hug - just add tea!

1. &Tradition 2. Oliver Gustav 3. Paustian 4. Jesper Florbrant / Lovisa Häger 5. Louise Holt Design 6. Suite NY 7. The modern House 8. RandCompany 9. Warm Nordic
Get the look

1. &Tradition Little Petra Chair
2. Paustian Arctander Chair
3. DIY Stool by Lovisa Häger
4. Flemming Lassen Easy Chair
5. By Lassen The Tired Man Chair
6. Danish Cabinetmaker Banana Sofa
7. Pierre Yovanovitch Pappa Bear Armchair
8. House of Hans Olsen Fried Egg Sheet Chair

How To Make Your Own Faux Fur Stool

Looking at Lovisa Häger's beautiful Stockholm home, you'd never guess that many of the pieces are handmade. Stools, tables, paintings - she is without doubt one of Sweden's queen of DIY! If you're feeling inspired by the fluffy furniture in today's post but a little tight on budget, Lovisa's DIY faux fur stool is super simple to make and looks fab!

What you need:

Frosta stool from IKEA
A section of thick foam
Black paint
Faux white fur

What to do

Before assembling the stool, cut the foam so it's the same shape and size of the seat surface
Glue the section of faux fur to the foam and the foam to the seat
Paint the legs black
Assemble the stool

Et Voilà!

If you love this, you might like to check out other DIY ideas on Lovisa's beautiful blog An Interior Affair and see more pictures of her fabulous Stockholm home here and on Instagram.

Could you imagine curling up in one of these seats this Autumn?! I most certainly could!

Niki

PS Thank you to the wonderful Ana Degenaar for helping me to compile this post!

Before And After: A Californian Mountain Living Room Gets A Scandi Makeover

I had the pleasure of working with American interior stylist and blogger extraordinaire Emily Henderson on a greenhouse make-over in Upstate New York exactly two years ago (funny how time flies, it feels like only yesterday!). In the minibus back to our hotel one evening Emily excitedly told me about a 1960s mountain fixer-upper she had just bought in Lake Arrowhead, an hour and a half from LA. I was really curious to see what she'd do with it. You can imagine how excited I was to learn a little later that she'd gone for a Scandi theme! Yay! Long may this 'Scandifornian' trend continue! I've been eagerly following the renovation process and last week the house was finally completed. Short of posting the entire house (tempting but would probably make the Guinness Book of Records), I thought I'd share the before and after pictures from the sitting room since it sets the scene for the rest of the home and strikes a delicate balance between light and airy and super cosy. Let's take a peek.

Before

Are those wall-to-wall carpets I see? The soft layer no doubt feels super cosy to walk on, but we all know that in the world of Scandinavia design a wall-to-wall carpet is an absolute no-no!

Another thing that stood out: the bannisters. Decorative cast iron bannisters might have a place in a more traditional home (especially in warmer regions), but in Scandinavia it's all about the clean lines and simplicity! You can also catch a glimpse of the kitchen in this picture - imprint the image on your mind, we'll come back to it in the after pictures!

Seeing these before shots, there's no denying that the space has great bones and interesting architecture. But it was in need of a little TLC. And that's exactly what Emily and her team gave it. Let's take a peek at the after pictures...

After

It really is amazing how much lighter and airier it feels with a wood floor and rug instead of a wall-to-wall carpet. And look at that floor to ceiling banister?! Love it!

Holiday homes are all about the lounging - and I have a feeling that low, deep vintage sofa (from Gallery 7 / chairish) would be hard to get out of come Sunday night! Love the soft grey shade and seams too!

Layers of texture give the room warmth - which is especially important when you've opted for a neutral colour scheme. There are so many different materials at work here - from wool and cotton to marble, wood, leather and stone.

Remember the bubble rock stones on the fireplace in the before pictures? They are still there but hidden under a layer of light plaster, hence the more subtle finish, yet still lovely and raw finish.

Olivia coffee table*, The Esters wood rocking chair* (out of shot), knitted pouf*, Performance Elder Rug

Remember that kitchen shot earlier in this post? It's no secret that Scandinavian's love open-plan living spaces and by removing the kitchen wall in this room, the space opens up in a whole new way - allowing natural light to reach the darkest of corners.

Large white sheepskin rug*, vintage mango wood table from Chairish, these leather and wood bar stools* are similar to the ones seen.

What a transformation!

It just goes to show what you can do to a space with a little TLC (and no doubt a LOAD of hard graft!).

Is there anything you love in particular?

You can read more about the Mountain House here.

Oh and check out more inspiring before and afters here (one of my favourites has to be the converted welding plant - so incredible!).

Ha så fint!

Niki

Photography: Sara Ligorria-Tramp - shared with kind permission.

*Affiliate links

FILED UNDER: before and after make-over Sitting room

My Swedish 'Fika' Just Got Peachy!

Sponsored* Have I mentioned how much I love a Swedish fika?! For those of you in the dark - fika essentially means to enjoy a coffee break, often accompanied by a small treat of some kind. Yes, this happens in many cultures, except in Sweden - absolutely nothing, but nothing gets in the way of the fikapaus. It can occur any time of the day - morning, noon or night. It can be enjoyed at home, work, in a café or even by the side of a road. And it's not unusual to down your tools several times a day! As you can imagine, it was a ritual I was quick to adopt (when in Rome!). And today my fikapaus just got a tad peachier thanks to some pretty items from Danish brand Nordal's spring collection! Yay!

Those biscuits really did taste as good as they look (that moment when they melt in your mouth....). I can't help with the recipe I'm afraid (you know how bad I am at baking!) - BUT I can help you with a few of the items!

Stoneware mug

Stoneware cake plate
Terracotta napkin
Tea ball
Cast iron tea pot
Clip and spoon for coffee / tea

These links lead you to the wholesale page, however Nordal do sell throughout Europe. You can find an online stockist in your region here.

What's your favourite sweet treat?

Niki

PS I hope this post has inspired you to take a Swedish fika today too!

*This post is brought to you in collaboration with Nordal. All words and pictures are my own. Thank you for supporting the hand-picked brands that make My Scandinavian Home possible.

FILED UNDER: my home Sitting room

11 Coffee Table Ideas For Every Style And Budget

Coffee tables are making a true style statement right now - and can give your sitting room a lift in an instant. The best thing of all this season? The options are limitless, and the rules are: there ain't no rules! As long as you love it and it serves its purpose you're all sorted! Here's my pick of 11 coffee table ideas for every style and budget.

1. Going boho (above) - the vintage chest in photographer Anna Malmberg's Stockholm home adds texture to the space and doubles up as storage! I'm sure it has plenty of stories to tell too!

2. On a high - Lauren MacLean rests her wares on a Superellipse Side table* from West Elm (the slim size makes it ideal for small spaces) in her Montreal apartment. For something a little lower, try the Superllipse coffee table*.

3. Vintage blues - queen of colour Sofie Amalie made her coffee table using a coloured laminate MDF board that she bought from a carpenter who had leftovers and attached it to some legs. "There are many great coffee table legs to be found online in places like Etsy," Sofie tells me. The table adds a pop of colour while balancing out the art work on the back wall in her wonderful apartment in the Danish capital.

4. Going Low -all of the tables in Lovisa Häger's Stockholm apartment, including this 'barely there' low glass Lair coffee table, are her own fabulous design.

5. Doubling up - Swedish photographer and visual storyteller Jasmina Bylund has combined a Menu Turning Table* with a By on design in her cosy Stockholm home (note - look for tables with different heights so they can overlap).

6. Keeping it clean - the super talented Katerina Dima has opted for a Menu plinth marble coffee table* in her minimalist Norwegian home, adding to the contemporary look and feel of the room.

7. A round-up - Laura & Nora of Design Tales and Our Food Stories fame have rounded up two lovely Frama Sintra Side Tables in their Berlin home. I love how they've combined black and white marble. Plus they can move them around depending on who's sitting where. Smart!

8. On a roll - Swedish photographer and stylist Karin Boo Wiklander has squared up with a FontanaArte Tavolo Con Ruote glass coffee table in her 'super snygg' West Coast Home. The shape works particularly well with an L-shaped sofa and large open space. Just make sure your kids keep their paws off, or there'll be a whole lot of polishing required!

9. Bench mark - I've been using a simple rustic bench as a coffee table in my living room for years and it's so handy. Not only is it extra long, it also doubles up as extra seating at the table and as a place for books and clothes at the end of my bed. These guys* sell similar (very beautiful) benches like this.

10. Cool Concrete - freelance interior stylist and CEO of Molge Decor Carla Sofie Molge has opted for a simple round Gallery Coffee Table from House Doctor, a contemporary, monochrome look which is perfectly in keeping with the rest of her soothing Danish home.

11. Feeling reflective - and last but not least, perhaps one of the hottest trends right now, a Kristina Dam Mirror Table bounces light around in the heart of Sidsel Garsdel's elegant Copenhagen home.

Did you have a favourite look?

I love the mirrored ones - and I'll always have a soft spot for vintage!

Have a fabulous day friends!

Niki

Affiliated links marked with *

FILED UNDER: Sitting room

My Autumn Sitting Room Makeover

I love this time of year. The yellow of the leaves, the darkness rolling in at 4pm, the chill in the air (trust me, this feeling only lasts until January!). So, when Bemz, who make design covers and legs for IKEA furniture, asked if I'd like to update my sitting room for the winter and make it extra cosy, I was already flicking through their fabric samples before we'd said hej då! As you know, I'm a big fan of Bemz (you only have to look at my bedroom and reading nook to see!) and it was a perfect opportunity to try something new and amp up the hygge! So, here it is, my new, updated sitting room with warm light wood, natural linen and touches of spice and sage brown. Oh and a candle or two!

I opted for the Bemz cover in Natural Brera Lino linen by Designers Guild for my Söderhamn sofa. Although I also love the Urban Loose Fit I had before - the regular fit gave the room an instant lift and the linen means the look still remains fairly relaxed, which I love.

I chose cushion covers in Spice Linara (this one is no longer available but this Cocoa linen one is very similar) Spice Linara by Romo, Sage Brown and Unbleached Rosendal linen as a nod to the rich colours of the season (I talked about 'brown' being the 'it' linen right now in Wednesday's home tour and the warm tones are so perfect for this time of the year, don't you think?).

I also swapped the original metal legs which the sofa came with for these pretty pins (namely the Terence legs that were designed in collaboration with Apartment Therapy). Aren't they fabulous?! These are a fairly new addition to the Bemz collection - see the full range here.

All that's left to do is light a few candles! If you're looking for me this weekend, you'll find me right here!

In case you're curious about any of the items I picked, I've created a little 'get the look below.

Get the look

Brera Lino Natural linen from Designers Guild, in a regular fit cover for my Söderhamn three-seat sofa and chaise longues
Terence, Chunky Wooden Furniture Leg 18cm/ 7"
Spice Linara by Romo
Sage Brown
Unbleached Rosendal linen

Funnily enough, a friend popped in for a cup of tea yesterday and said "wow, I love your new sofa!" She was so surprised to hear it was the same lady underneath!

Don't own an IKEA piece? Try your local online second hand store, you could always pick one up for a song and give it a designer revamp!

More Bemz inspiration to be found in my bedroom and reading corner. I also still love the previous cover I had on my sofa which you can see here.

Do you have a favourite look?

I hope you have a wonderful weekend - vi ses på Måndag!

Niki

This post is brought to you in collaboration with Bemz, however all words are my own and I only ever work with brands I love and think you will too. Thank you for supporting the hand-picked businesses that make My Scandinavian Home possible.

FILED UNDER: autumn my home Sitting room

Super Quick Survey: I'd Love to Hear Your Thoughts!

If you have the time, I'd be so happy if you could participate in this super quick survey for a new project I'm working on (I think you can guess what it is from the questions!). I'd love to hear your thoughts!

All entries go into a draw to win a signed copy of my book The Scandinavian Home - by way of a thank you!

Participate in the survey here.

Tusen tack!

Niki

PS Home tour to follow later today!

FILED UNDER: my home Sitting room

My New Reading Corner!

My Scandinavian Home partnership:

Do you have a 'lost corner', in your home? A place that doesn't really add any value?! The corner of our sitting room is not strictly 'lost' - it does serve as a nice spot for binge-watching Netflix - but that's really about it - it's too dark for anything else! With the imminent arrival of Autumn (there's already a crispness in the air in Sweden - eeek!) and the days getting shorter (nooo) I finally decided to create a cosy spot that can also work as a reading corner.

Say hello to the Zuiver Shady Double wall Lamp from Houseology. I didn't choose it just for the fabulous brass and grey powder coated steel finish (honest!) - I also love that the lamp heads tilt so it can be used for reading and putting pretty things in the spotlight such as the dried flowers or one of my prints.

I also added this little Zuiver side table (after all - it's imperative to have somewhere to place your coffee / tea / glass of wine while you read, right?!). It was a tricky selection process since our sitting room is fairly monotone and that corner in particular is very tight. In the end, I was taken with the Carrara marble top and cast iron legs on this little table - both of which add texture in a pretty, yet subtle way.

How beautiful is that grey marble?! FYI for those of you who prefer a lighter look, it's also available in white.

Now that it's all in place, I'm wondering why on earth I didn't do this ages ago! Isn't that always the case? I owe a big thanks to the online interior design store Houseology - who recently added the Scandinavian-style Dutch brand to their fabulous list of brands. Tack!

I hope this inspires you to transform that lost corner of your home too!

In the meantime, if anyone's looking for me this weekend, I'll be right here with a book!

Have a wonderful couple of days friends, see you Monday!

Niki

PS if you're wondering where anything else is from, check out this post or give me a shout in the comment section below!

This post is brought to you in collaboration with Houseology, however all words are my own and I only ever work with brands I love and think you will too.

FILED UNDER: my home Sitting room

Get The Look: Gen's Swedish Sitting Room in Detail!

A couple of day's ago I featured Genevieve Jorn's beautiful sitting room make-over here in Malmö and I promised to pop back and share the details! So here's the post - one day late but hopefully well worth the wait - there are so many lovely ideas to steal!