A Charming Swedish Home in a Windmill

The Southern Sweden county of Skåne where I live is known for its flat land and steady wind - which is why you'll spot so many windmills! Although the majority are no longer in working order, some have been transformed into year-round dwellings - like this one!

Nestled in the countryside near Höganäs (see my travel guide here), this beautiful four-storey windmill is currently for sale - and when you see inside you might just be joining the queue to be the next owner! The windmill has been lovingly restored to ensure many of the original features are still intact, while the furnishings have been artfully placed around the angled walls to create a cosy home. 

Shall we take a peek inside? 

So lovely! It would be so fun to be able to invite people over and welcome them inside your very own windmill, don't you think? 

You can currently see the full tour and find out more details over at Nadjafi Kirstensen here. 

This is the perfect opportunity to take a tour of some other unusual dwellings today, don't you think? 

Check out homes inside a former....

Swedish fire station

Carpenters workshop

Bar

School

It might not be a windmill, but if you're visiting Skåne, you can stay in your very own tower just outside Malmö. 

Do you live in an unusual property? Or perhaps you dream of living in one? If so, do tell below, we'd love to hear more! 

Happy Wednesday! 

Niki

PS Per and I are celebrating our 15th wedding anniversary tomorrow - it's crazy how quickly the time has passed. I understand that it's our 'crystal' anniversary. Any ideas for a fun present (yes, left it a little late....). Our neighbour's cat is called Crystal, but I have a feeling that might not work for many reasons. 

Photography courtesy of Nadjafi Kirstensen, shared with thanks.

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Emma Sundh's Beautiful Sustainable Swedish Country Home

Happy Monday! Sweden is still feeling the energy of Friday's midsummer's eve celebrations, and although the cut wildflowers have started to wilt, the memories of the day remain strong (although slightly hazy for those who imbibed a little too much aquavit!). 

Last Monday I featured a pretty summer cottage on the Swedish island of Gotland - which one eagle-eyed reader recognised as the former home of Emma Sundh. I've always loved Emma's projects, having featured her summer cottage (and pink caravan!) in the past. So, today I thought I'd share what she's been up to lately, and you won't be disappointed! 

Over the past two years, Emma and her partner have been busy building a house in Värmland. And not just any house. As a strong environmental advocate, the property has been built entirely from 'stone, clay, straw, recycled materials, laughter, hope, happiness and sorrow' (in Emma's own words)! 

Emma has covered the entire process in her new book Att Bygga ett Hem - halm, lera & återbruk (To Build a Home - straw, clay & recycling). Here's a sneak peek of the beautiful interior: 

Look closely at the sink and you'll see a crack in the sink. When Emma found it, there was a huge chunk missing from the front. Not to be deterred, she sought advice from expert friends and filled it in! 

I love these snapshots. It makes me want to see more and read Emma's book! Do you feel the same? I think it's only available in Swedish right now, but hopefully it will be translated to other languages soon! I'll keep you posted if so. 

We're about to head home from our own summer cottage now, life is whirring around me as we speak. I'd better close my laptop and help pack up! 

Wishing you all a great start to the week, see you Wednesday! 

Niki

Photography: Emma Sundh, shared with kind permission. 

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Feel Inspired by Charming 'The Station House'

This morning, I've woken up in Bodø, North of the Arctic Circle. It's flanked by spectacular mountains, deep fjords and the North Sea, which gleam under the midnight sun - which won't set again for three months. It's an awe-inspiring part of the world (do follow along on my instagram stories if you'd like to follow my journey!). Meanwhile, in the land down under, our Aussie friends are inching towards winter - which is one of the crazy things about our magnificent planet. As they say: the only constant in nature is change.

And today, I've got a beautiful 19th century cottage in Daylesford, Australia to share with you. Captured by Marnie Hawson, The Station House it is set in 3 acres of land and was built around 1853 making it one of the oldest houses in Daylesford. A few years ago, it fell into the hands of talented Theresa Albiloi who has renovated it to perfection! Walls were torn down to create an open-plan living space and the cottage was transformed to include five bedrooms and three bathrooms, all of which are full of vintage picked up  locally at Mill Market. 

Ready to feel inspired? 

It's the bathroom that does it for me. The vintage bath and stain-glass window - wow! I'd also be perfectly happy to sit and look out over the fields and relax too. 

Is there anything that caught your eye about The Station House? 

If you're visiting the area and would like to stay here, you can find more details here. 

Marnie Hawson has a knack for finding the most incredible properties - here are a few other houses she has photographed in recent years: 

Marnie's very own home in a former post office

A beautifully restored country retreat in Burrawang

The Whale Song Shack

A Swedish-inspired weatherboard cottage in South Australia

Right kompisar, I'd better get ready for my day out in Bodø - I've got lots of research to do for the magazine article and hoping to fit in a hike in the mountains tomorrow. Go, go, goooo! Luckily, the light is on my side for once! 

Happy midweek friends. 

Niki

Photography: Marnie Hawson

Interior / bookings: The Station House

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A Dreamy White Vintage-filled Cottage in California

I am often asked how I find homes for this blog. The answer is hours and hours of scrolling instagram, Pinterest, and interior magazines. But sometimes, I home just lands in my lap - and I was very excited when this beautiful cottage appeared in my inbox this weekend! 

The cottage is located in central Vacaville, California - a short drive to the Napa Valley and with the Sierra Mountains less than 2 hours away. It belongs to Colette Miller and her husband who have been busy renovating it to restore it to its former glory and add her own 'California Casual' vibe to the space. 

If you love light and airy homes, white wood panelling and plenty of lovely vintage finds, today's tour is for you! Oh, and it also features a romantic rustic sunroom and even a shed! Read on to hear more about this dreamy property in Colette's own words - and a load of beautiful pictures captured by Lynda Kennedy. 

"We downsized to this little cottage on a tree lined street 10 years ago. It is 1200 sq. ft (111 sq.m) with a detached garage and shed."

"The kitchen is on the to-do list, but I'm OK waiting. I call it the 'unfitted look'- I think when I do remodel it there won't be any drastic changes... maybe a Smeg fridge though!" 

"The previous owners had remodelled and took out the vintage wood paned windows and the wood floors were covered with wall-to-wall carpeting. All of the windows and had been replaced as well, so we found vintage windows and doors that we thought the home was probably outfitted with when it was built in the early 1940s." 

"We raised the ceiling in the living room and added two skylights to really let all the light in and it immediately felt so much more spacious." 

"We replaced the pot belly stove for a 60's Malm stove for the vibe we were going for."

"If someone were to ask my "vibe" I wouldn't really know how to answer. I don't really fit in one box, but if I had to put a name, I'd like to think it's 'California Casual". 

The back porch was open when we moved in. I knew the moment I saw it that it needed to be a sunroom. I had 6 old windows that we used to partially enclose and its my favourite space just off our master bedroom for morning coffee! 

"I love our little shed in the backyard too. It's been a gardening shed, an art shed, a sit-in shed when rain is pitter-pattering on the tin roof. And now that I have grandkids, I have made it into a playhouse for them to play in."

What a dream!

It feels like this property has fallen into exactly the right hands! I love that old windows and doors have been refitted - and also that a sunroom has been made from vintage finds, I'd be so happy sitting there, sipping coffee while the rain patters on the windows, how about you? 

You can see more pictures of Colette's pretty cottage and follow her latest home updates over at @colettemiller. 

Is there anything that stood out to you about Colette's home? If so, please do share in the comments below, I love to hear your thoughts, observations and reflections! 

The interior reminded me a little of Leanne Ford's woodsy cabin and also some of the properties by Australian Lynda Gardner (especially her Daylesford property) - two interior designers I admire. And I think the sun room holds similarities to romantic Camellas Lloret - somewhere I've always wanted to stay! 

I am busy packing as I am heading off to Norway tomorrow for a week. I'll be heading to Bodø and then the Lofoten islands for a travel piece for Simply Scandi magazine, and I am SO excited! If you'd like a virtual trip, do follow along on my instagram!

Have a wonderful start to the week! 

Niki

PS Don't forget to make the most of the 20% discount at Skandinavisk with code myscandinavianhome20 - I love their FJORD fragrance, they've managed to captured the scent of the Norwegian fjords beautifully! 

Credits: interior design - Colette Miller, photography - Lynda Kennedy, shared with kind permission. 

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