My Day At A Charming Danish Cottage By The Sea

Collaboration* What does the sea mean to you? As an avid sailor and living by the sea in Malmö, Sweden, it's difficult to emphasise how much the sea means to me. The sound, the shapes, the light, the gentle saltiness. To gaze out to the horizon is to instantly unwind. Unlike the tumultuous waters of England's south coast where I spent much of my childhood, there's something disarming about Scandinavian waters due to the lack of tides and the beautiful blue-grey water lapping at whitish sands. It's incredibly grounding. I was inspired to discover Danish brand Skandinavisk has captured the impression of the Nordic coastline in a beautiful collection called HAV (meaning sea) - Distant Shores. On a recent visit to their atelier in Copenhagen, the team asked me what the sea meant to me and I felt it was easier to encapsulate in pictures rather than words. Here are some snapshots from my relaxing day in the pretty coastal village of Hornbæk, North Zealand, North East Denmark!

I was fortunate enough to hang out in this pretty cottage for the day belonging to Pernille Grønkjær Taatø's parents - Elisabeth and Per Grønkjær. The 1930's delightful cottage owes its charm to the blend of antiques, vintage finds, classic Danish design pieces and subtle treasures found on the nearby beach. 

The cottage was dotted with simple displays like this delightfully understated glass jar with pebbles and flora. 

Feeling instantly relaxed on this daybed - do you think they'd notice if I stayed all weekend, I would be as quiet as a mouse!

I felt my pulse lowering the moment I stepped in the door (not an easy feat right now with so much going on!). The soft grey-blue and white tones felt so calming! 

HAV scented candle (wonderfully subtle - and a new favourite!). 

The white washed wood cladded open ceiling gave the cottage a light and airy feel even on a fairly grey day! 

HAV Hand wash and HAV Hand and Body lotion

The HAV scent diffuser (seen on the shelf in. the entrance) is part of the Skandinavisk collection: "a new impression of the vast Nordic coastline - a meeting place where the cold Baltic and Atlantic waters touch the peninsula and the fresh wind and sea spray carry the resilient scents of the rugosa rose and hawthorn. from the shoreline." It set the scene for my afternoon by the water.

I love the beach in winter when it's at its most rugged. And although 'fresh', the local beach in Hornbæk on the shores of the Öresund sea proved to be the best spa afternoon I could have asked for.

It's not unusual to see Scandinavian people wondering down to the water in a robe. I wrapped up in a limited edition TEKLA x SKANDINAVISK bath robe "inspired by Scandinavian bathing culture - in all weathers" (softest thing E.V.E.R and a much needed hood to buffet the wind!).  

Cannot tell you how beautiful it was on this deserted beach. 

HAV hand cream - with extract of rockweed, designed to nourish and protect your skin from harsh climates (give me a load of that!). 

HAV body scrub 

The beach was speckled with little white shells, a few of which recognised from Elisabeth and Per's cottage, larger rocks and kelp. 

I actually used to be terrified of seaweed as a child (I remember my sister chasing me around with it!) - did you?! These days I see it in a more favourable light as I read that scientific studies have shown that seaweed bathing helps to lower stress and relieve muscle ache and join stiffness. Isn't that cool?! On the Swedish west coast there's a place where you can go for special seaweed baths and they actually massage you with the seaweed! 

What a wonderful day!

I wish I could have stayed for the entire weekend!

If you haven't had the pleasure of visiting the Nordic coastline, you must come and visit us in Scandinavia soon. In the meantime, the divine Skandinavisk HAV - distant shores collection will immediately transport you to the Scandinavian coast and is available online here.

I'd love to hear more about your relationship with the sea / ocean - do you find it relaxing too?

Have a wonderful weekend friends - may your lie-ins be long, and your coffee be strong!

Niki

PS Win the complete HAV hand and body range over on my instagram this weekend!

PPS Thank you so much to Pernille Grønkjær Taatø (who's home featured in 15 coastal living ideas to steal from a breathtaking Danish home) and Elisabeth and Per Grønkjær for generously lending me their beautiful cottage for the day. Thanks also to my dear friend Anna Häggström who helped me document the daybed the sea (I've known Anna since I was five and we both felt so inspired by the location) - and of course Skandinavisk for capturing my love for the nordic coastline in a fragrance!


*This post is brought to you in collaboration with my wonderful partner Skandinavisk. However, all words and photos are my own and I only ever work with brands I truly love and think you will too!

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A Charming and Relaxed Swedish Summer Cabin By The Sea

Do you have a 'happy summer' place? On a warm summer's day there's nowhere I'd rather be than by the sea in Sweden. One of Sweden's most popular holiday destinations is the laidback island of Gotland. Located in the Baltic, the sea might be a few degrees chillier than Sweden's West coast, but what the island lacks in water temperature, it more than makes up for in stunning scenery, creative vibes and a friendly summer community! This charming, laidback cabin perfectly captures the relaxed and pared-back nature of the island. Complete with sea views, a sauna, outdoor shower and many, many hammocks - it has everything you might need to kick back and enjoy everything the island has to offer. The only problem is, it might be hard to leave once the summer comes to an end. Oh and did I mention it's on the market?! 

Hammock chair*,  Black Thonet chairs*

Rustic bench*, lantern*

Gotland sheepskin throw*

 

 Black and white striped blanket with pom poms*

Hammock with white fringe*

Could you imagine wiling away your summers here?

If only I could rustle up some spare cash - this cabin is my absolute dream! Maybe we can all go in together?! 

It's actually not situated far from Fabriken Furillen (featured in 20 instagrammable places to stay in Sweden) - so even if you're not quite ready to splash out on a Swedish summer cabin yet (as tempting as it might be), you might still like to experience a slice of Gotland summer life! 

Other wonderful homes on Gotland include - an idyllic retreat, a charming 19th century house, an inspiring island get-away, a beautiful home in soothing shades of grey and the bohemian summer home of a Swedish fashion photographer. 

Roll on summer!

Niki

Photography / for sale through: Fastighetsbyrån

Affiliate links marked with *

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15 Coastal Living Ideas To Steal From a Breathtaking Danish Home

One of the things I truly admire about Scandinavians is their ability to draw nature indoors. And it's all about subtlety. Sure, in some homes you might find more obvious touches like a fishing net, sail boat or even an anchor, but more often than not, the outdoors is seamlessly brought in through barely-there touches - designed to create a calm sanctuary and a connection with nature. The breathtaking Danish home of freelance interior stylist and graphic designer Pernille Grønkjær Taatø is a fine example of this. Situated in the historical seaside village of Hornbæk, North Zealand, the home perfectly encapsulates the subtle off-white shade of the shifting sands and serene blue-grey of the Öresund. Light and airy and pared-back, the space is inspired by Pernille's passion for a simple Nordic way of life. Here are fifteen inspiring ideas to steal to create your own waterside sanctuary! 

1. Once you've got over just how stunning Pernille's kitchen is (*gasp*) look closely and you'll see items found in the great outdoors such as branches from the nearby beach or forest. They've been weaved under open shelving and used to dry herbs.

2. The family dining table has been fashioned out of a beautiful aged piece of wood reminiscent of drift wood and perched upon a sturdy wooden frame. The imperfect surface breathes life into the space. 

3. White washed wood cladding has long been associated with the coastal vibe  - and also helps to create a more relaxed feel in a contemporary setting.

4. When my sisters and I were little my Father used to take us swimming on the British south coast. The building was inspired by the hull of a ship (I still remember doing backstroke (badly) and pondering this!!). If you look closely at the A-frame ceiling in this house, you might also make out the shape of a hull!

5. When you have a light, 'washed-out' colour scheme, texture becomes incredibly important. A simple grey sheepskin* has been draped over a wishbone chair* to amp up the cosiness and comfort! 

6. In Scandinavia I always perceive the sea as a beautiful muted grey-blue (as a sailor you can imagine I've spent many, many hours gazing out over the water - more often than not, over the rim of a gin and tonic!). The white sofa and mix of muted grey-blue cushions in this window nook are are spot on. Pernille has kept the look relaxed by mixing up different cushion styles within the same blue colour spectre. 

7. Simple glass vases filled with shells and pebbles offer a decorative touch on the coffee table. 

8. The windowsill is a perfect spot to display age old driftwood washed up on the nearby beach. 

9. Accessories such as this pretty ceramic vase reflect the beautiful grey-blue of the Scandinavian waters.

10. Artists often comment on the wonderful light in this part of the world - I regularly find myself stopping and commenting on how sharp it is in the summer months (often met by eye-rolls from my kids but one day I'm sure they'll appreciated it too!). A butterfly chair* has been deliberately placed by the window as a place to sit and contemplate. There's even a rustic stool* for your feet (or coffee!). 

11. Designer furniture-wise nothing says 'coastal' like a Danish flag halyard chair, the name says it all! 

12. A haul of pebbles and shells have been laid out on a desk beside two stacked pebbles (have you ever tried stacking pebbles? It's actually harder than you might think!). If you find the right ones though, their subtle patinas and sculptural shape are akin to a beautiful work of art!

13. Same desk, different day. Pebbles in two tones of grey found on the local beach sit beside art by Pernille which was inspired by the sea (Pernille is the artist behind all work seen in the house).

14. The blue-grey hue has also been injected into the otherwise all-white hallway with a striped runner. A long rustic bench* also adds to the coastal feel. 

15. A striped rug, white panelled wainscoting and a white, blue and grey bedding theme bring the 'by-the-sea' feel to the bedroom. I'm also loving the simple industrial stool (source similar here*) used as a makeshift bedside table, isn't it lovely?! It looks wobble-free enough for a morning cuppa too - bonus!

Living by the sea myself I feel so incredibly inspired by Pernille's home! We often sail to Hornbæk in the summer time as it's just up the coast too - it's a lovely place!

But even if you're not living by the sea, there are so many ideas to steal from her lovely home.

Is there anything that caught your eye?

You can find out more about Pernille's freelance interior styling and graphic design work and take a peek at her blog over at Nordiskrum (she's also on instagram here).

I noticed Pernille rented her home out last summer via Airbnb - RESULT! If you're visiting Denmark this summer it's worth keeping an eye on the listing, just in case she decides to throw open her doors again. Imagine?!

I think it'd be rude not to leave you with a few more coastal Scandinavian homes do dream over today - these are a few of my favourites:

A dreamy Scandinavian-inspired beach house
A striking Danish home by the sea
A Former light-house keeper's cottage on Gotland

Happy 'Lilla Lördag' (Little Saturday),

Niki

PS If you'd really like to captured the essence of the Scandinavian coast in your home - try the Skandinavisk's newly re-launched range 'Hav' collection? The fragrance is divine!

Photography by Pernille Grønkjær Taatø and Trine Bukh
Affiliate links marked with *

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Dreamy Holiday Let: A Cosy Waterside Eco Cabin In Australia

I try to stay positive, really I do - but the weather in Malmö right now is so dreadful. It's been somewhere between rain and snow for the best part of a fortnight! BAH! So today, I'm dreaming of warmer climes and charming waterside getaways like The Little Black Shack. Located in Great Mackerel Beach, an hour from Sydney, owners Jamie and Ingrid Kwong first discovered the fisherman's shack over 20 years ago during their many boating trips on Pittwater. In 2013 they noticed it had been put up for sale. Despite the poor condition, they were hooked (and who can blame them?!). With the help of an environmentally conscious builder, the pair spent 18 months recycling, repurposing, reusing and rebuilding the shack- transporting materials by boat and carrying them up to the site by hand. Today the shack has been fully restored into a cosy and charming waterside cabin. And the best news? It's available for short term stays / holiday lets! I've got my eye on that spot by the window - how about you?

Race you there?!

Find out more about staying at The Little Black Shack here.

Other dreamy off-the-beaten-track waterside stays in Australia I've got my eye on include Captain's Rest and this cabin on Satellite Island (both in Tasmania). When I finally make my way down under, I feel like I'm in for a treat!

Can you imagine staying in these places too?!

Niki

Photography: Luisa Brimble / @luisabrimble

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