Stylist and Author Natalie Walton's Understated Yet Incredibly Charming Home

FREDAG! Oh, am I happy to see you, it feels like it's been a long ole week. Do you feel the same?  Any fun plans for the weekend? Lots of rest in store for me I think (with any luck!). Before we all start mixing that Friday night sundowner, I have one more home tour to share with you. This charming and relaxed home belongs to Natalie Walton, an Australian designer, creative director and author of the best-selling book This is Home: The Art of Simple Living. Natalie prides herself on creating "genuine and atmospheric interiors" with meaningful products. When she's not working with her design studio and online emporium Imprint House, she's relaxing right here in her understated yet incredibly beautiful home in Byron Bay with her husband Daniel and four children. Ready to take a look around? Let's have a nose! 

Z1 cotton lamp, leather pouf*, safari daybed, Beni Ourain rug*

Natalie was considering painting the posts white but was so pleased she didn't. They add a lovely raw contrast to the space.  

Bemz loose fit urban cover* for IKEA sofas is similar to this

Linen table cloth in grey stripes*

Oh wow. I love this look. Raw, understated yet staggeringly beautiful! Natalie certainly practices what she preaches in her popular workshops (I see there's one coming up soon..... hmmm, interesting!). 

Is this your kind of style too?!

You can see more of Natalie's lovely home over on her blog and instagram. I have to say, her book This Is Home (a back-to-basics guide on how to create authentic wholehearted interiors) is so inspiring too - it's packed with drool worthy spaces! It's available in a load of different places including Amazon and Natalie's own website where she offers signed copies. 

I can't resist sharing a few more places from Byron Bay for you to enjoy over the weekend. It seems to be one of those creative hubs packed with incredible homes and places to stay. Here are a few of my favourites:

Dream stay: The Bower, Byron Bay

How about lolling about at this chalet?! 

A beautiful boho cottage - and it's available to rent!

Right, that's it from me this week. Time to start mixing (make mine a G&T!). 

Have a FABULOUS weekend and thanks for joining me on the blog this week!

Niki

Photography credits: 1, 4, 5, 6 , 7  Natalie Walton 2 & 3. Jessie Prince 

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Books, Art and Golden Tones in a Beautiful Copenhagen Home

Why, hello there! I'm heading over the bridge to Copenhagen this afternoon and feeling so excited.  It's been a while since I've been, and the Danish capital city is my saving grace when Malmö starts to feel a little small for this former Londoner! In honour of my trip, I thought we could peek behind the facade of one of the beautiful buildings in Frederiksberg - a leafy yet buzzing part of town. This incredible home belongs to Simone Polk Dahl, a Danish interior stylist, visual storyteller and artist. Simone's creativity shines through in the use of mix and match furniture where no two items are the same, her art which adorns the walls, her use of subtle earthy colours (loving the golden tones!) and all the other fabulous details that help to transform her apartment into a home.  Ready to take a peek? 

"I'm very drawn to the lighter scale of colours right now from beige and light earthy tones to the more brown and golden touch." - Simone 

Simone's art hangs on a wall painted in 4481 from Flügger. The armchair is from The Sofa Company and the sofa has been covered in a large natural linen fabric (source rough linen by the yard here*). 

This corner of the sitting room has everything I love in a home - books, art, ceramics and vintage furniture! "I love ceramics in special shapes," Simone tells me. 

Simone picked up the rug at a local Copenhagen store called By Fribert (this Beni Ourain* is similar).

"I seldom buy furniture, but when I do, I am not influenced by trends, but whether the piece will add value to our home. I am always inspired by well-known designers that I can't afford, and I try to find something that can give the same ambience or special wow factor." - Simone 

The dark chocolate wall adds a really cosy touch to the bedroom while a Velux skylight helps to give the room a light and airy feel. One of Simone's own art pieces fills the space on the back wall.  Beautiful! 

Art by Simone, this bench* is similar (I have a similar one in my sitting room!), Bouclé throw*. 

Aaaah, what a stunning home! 

I also couldn't resist asking Simone for a few tips ahead of my trip to the Danish capital this afternoon - perhaps you might find them useful next time you're in Copenhagen!

"I live right next to a little Parisian inspired street called Vænedamsvej, where the cafe Les Trois Cochons and Granola are the cosiest! I also love Ipsen & Co on Gammel Kongevej - the main street in Frederiksberg."

Thank you, Simone, I'll be sure to check these out! 

....a prize for anyone who can pronounce 'Vænedamsvej'!

You can see more of Simone's lovely home and make an enquiry about her art at @polkenstudio.

Other beautiful Danish homes in the capital city (can you tell I'm on a roll....):

A cosy Danish loft full off plants and vintage treasures

The timeless home of a jewellery designer

A charming Copenhagen loft with mid-century classics 

Feeling the love for Danish style today, how about you?

Copenhagen, I'm coming for you! 

Niki

Photography: Simone Polk dahl

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A Bargain Hunter's Fabulous Antwerp Home

Feeling super excited about today's home tour, it's a real beauty! Allow me to introduce you to Paulien Riemis. Paulien describes herself as "a 27-year-old full time internet adventurer, part time model and eternal literature graduate based in Antwerp, Belgium." Looking at her home, I would add interior decorator extraordinaire and bargain hunter to the list too. Paulien's Antwerp apartment (which she shares with her boyfriend Dan and their very cute and very fluffy cat) has the most fabulous bones. But extraordinarily high 3.5 metre ceilings can present challenges too and mean you need to work extra hard to create a cosy vibe. Paulien has played with the vertical space to turn the loftiness into her advantage and sourced furniture with rounded edges to balance the look. Her love of rugs, vases, ceramics, plants, polaroids and books has also helped to add a relaxed feel. Welcome to Pualien's cosy and truly personal world! 

After a long search, Paulien picked up the Travertine dining table for a song online. The chairs were also a bargain  - €2 each from a second hand shop! The perspex chairs are from IKEA. 

Paulien describes her fridge as 'a badass, American-style design object'! 

The sustainable IKEA Kungsbacka kitchen cabinets in anthracite make full use of the height. I am guessing there's a ladder lurking somewhere to reach some of the higher cabinets too.  

In the living room, a second hand marble coffee table rests on a white kilim rug*. I'm thinking a big round mirror would look lovely over that fireplace - but since Paulien describes her home as a permanent work in progress, I've little doubt there's already something fabulous in place. 

The brass Faye floor lamp looks great next to the blue velvet Harper sofa.

The bedroom floor has been painted in Levis white floor paint which makes the room feel even bigger and brighter. The bed was salvaged from Dan's old house and spray painted in gold paint. 

Pick up a set of Binga baskets here*. 

Step inside Paulien's dressing room and you're quickly reminded that she works as a model - imagine playing dress-up in here?! All those colours and patterns! 

What a fabulous home! 

Is the your kind of vibe too?  Is there anything that stood out to you in particular?

In case you're curious, you can see before pictures from her home over on her blog - Polienne. I also love her outfits and travel tips. Oh, and don't miss Paulien's instagram feed here. 

Only just getting started with the interior inspiration today? You might also love: 

The relaxed Antwerp home of a creative duo

An Antwerp home with a beautiful flow of light

I'm starting to think a trip to Belgium might be in order, how about you?! 

Kram!

Niki

Photography courtesy of www.polienne.com and shared with kind permission

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A Wonderful Vintage-Inspired Family Home in Metz, France

Formerly the owner of vintage concept store Le Velo Rose ('The Pink Bike'), Pauline Mellinger closed her brick and mortar shop in 2017 to devote her time to raising her children, looking after their three cats, chickens and rabbits - and renovating the family home in the countryside near Metz, France. I don't have access to all the 'before' pictures from Pauline's home but the few I do have perfectly demonstrate the incredible transformation it's been through. From play tents, flower petal lamps and swans  - to splashes of blue and countless vintage finds: the family enjoy a beautiful, playful, relaxed and truly personal living space that caters for all ages! 

Kitchen before

Kitchen after

Dated dark cabinets have been replaced with fresh white fronts, vibrant blue tiles, a wood worktop and relaxed open shelving.

The family dining room has been decorated almost entirely in white and wood for a light and airy feel. 

Look closely and you'll notice that the wire chairs all have a slightly different form which helps to add to the relaxed atmosphere of the room. This Bertoia chair* is similar. 

Playroom before

Playroom after

Despite the dark blue walls, the room is full of dappled light thanks to the dual aspect windows and disco ball light! The flower pendant light is one of my absolute favourites right now (and picking up momentum on instagram!). It's available here. 

The main sitting room is made up of IKEA pieces, DIY items, vintage finds and the odd children's toy! 

Landing before

Landing after

The heavy bookcase and cast iron banisters have been replaced with a simple white wall and a mirror for a lighter look. Trinkets and a chair collected on travels add a vibrant pop of colour to the space. 

Bedroom before

Bedroom after

Pauline and her husband's bedroom has been transformed into a cool, light and airy space thanks to the blue and white theme. I also love how she's used the darker paint to turn the fireplace and chimney breast into a focal point. 

Round jute rug*, rustic bench

It's amazing how one bright coloured Boucherouite rug* can make all the difference to a white bathroom, don't you think?!

The blue and white theme (with rattan accents) is continued into the children's bedroom - with a half-half blue and white wall. The cane flower pendant lamp also mirrors the lighting used in other rooms. 

Aaaaaah, what a perfect home. It's charming in every way, don't you think? 

Is there anything that stood out to you? 

If you'd like to see more of pauline's lovely home, hop on over to her instagram @leevelorose.

Also, don't miss: A relaxed vintage-inspired family home in the French country-side, The colourful home of a French photographer and stylist and a charming white and natural family home in Normandy.

Right, that's it from me for the week, The sun's shining and the sea beckons. I hope you have a fabulous weekend that sparkles in every way!

See you Monday1

Niki

Photography: Pauline Mellinger

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