The Beautiful Home and Studio of An Argentinian Textile Weaver

The loom will always remind me of my first ever visit to Sweden at the tender age of 8. We stayed at my friend's summer cottage by a lake in the countryside and they had a huge loom in the corner of the room (actually, looking back, it probably wasn't that big - I was just small!) which her Mother used to make Swedish rag rugs. I've been curious about weaving ever since. It's one of the oldest human crafts and practised all over the world. This home and studio in Argentina belongs to textile entrepreneur Carolina Sanchis. Carolina specialises in modern weaves for the home in the form of very cool cushions, slippers, wall hanging, bags, belts and even items for the office - sold through her brand Carolita Home. Look closely and you'll spot many of her creations in her beautiful home which she shares with her architect partner, Santiago. Enjoy the tour! 

How beautiful is this place? I'd move in tomorrow! 

The textiles totally make the space - adding a warm, cosy and decorative touch. 

Is there anything that caught your eye? 

Check out Carolina's online shop here (even if it's in Spanish you can still get a glimpse of some of the items she makes) and her inspiring instagram feed here. 

Curious about other Maker Spaces? I love:

The beautiful home of a Danish designer

The charming creative home of a Polish artist

An artist's home and studio in Stockholm

I took a quick look through the archives to see if I've featured any Argentinian homes in the past, and this was actually the first (of many, I hope!)! However, I have shown some inspiration from South America - including a Brazilian beach home and a remote beach escape in Uruguay. It makes me realise that I have a lot of traveling to do once all of this blows over! How about you? 

Have a lovely day friends!

Niki

Photography: Magalí Saberian Styling Sil Bidabehehere  / Archicect: Estudio MASS - shared with kind permission. Found via Planete Deco with thanks.

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A Beautiful Rustic Swedish Home Where Old Meets New

Why, hello there friends! How are you today? The sun is still shining in Southern Sweden, which is just what we need right now! I thought I'd kick off the week with a beautiful home tour which could have easily have hopped straight out of the pages of The World Of Interiors. It's got this wonderful, old school, rustic, romantic feel about it. Located in central Umeå, East Sweden the house belongs to Soraya Forsberg, a Mother to six children (yes, SIX!) and the founder of Byn Collective - a creative design studio in North Sweden. Soraya is unsure when the house was built since the records were destroyed in a fire, but it's thought to date back to 1800. The living space has been decorated and furnished with a wonderful nod to both the past and present. Look out for textured walls, bare wood ceilings and a wealth of vintage and antique pieces! 

I've looked back through these images a few times and every time I spot something new. It's full of wonderful details! Make sure you take your time to linger on each image, there's so much to feel inspired by!

Did anything stand out to you in particular?

You can see more lovely pics of Soraya's home over on her instagram here.

I've searched archives for similar home tours - so if you're loving this vibe, pour yourself a coffee, put your feet up and enjoy a cosy country home in rural north sweden (the picture of Nicole watching salmon jump in the river from her atelier is etched in my mind - so beautiful!) and a Rustic mill on the shores of lake Rinnen, Sweden.

Have a great start to the week!

Niki

Photography: Soraya Forsberg, shared with kind permission

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The Eclectic Home of Jewellery Designer Andrés Gallardo

Hands up who loves an eclectic home with splashes of colour, lots of plants, art and books? Well, you're in for a treat today! The relaxed bohemian home of designer Andrés Gallardo and his husband has all this and more. A creator of jewellery, handbags and porcelain objects, Andrés has decorated his home with an eclectic array of items from flea markets and secondhand shops as well as some high street finds. Surfaces are crammed with porcelain, glassware and other treasures, and climbing plants wind their way around works of art. Make sure you look through these pictures by Eduardo Boillos more than once - you'll spot a new detail every time! 

Andrés picked up the chairs at El Rastro, an area in Madrid known for its Sunday open air flea market and antique shops.

I love how he's opted for a vintage wall lamp instead of an overhead pendant light - and this one is beautiful, don't you think?

A 40s cabinet it used to store plates, bowls and other kitchen items. The floor has been covered with various rugs including a jute one* (under the dining table) and long mats not dissimilar from Swedish rag rugs*!

The walls are adorned with an eclectic array of art including everything from Mr Men prints, oil paintings, butterflies and porcelain plates. 

An Ikea Stockholm rug covers the floor in the sitting room. 

Uneven plaster walls add to the relaxed charm of the home.

Bunches of dried floor hang over the bed, while a vintage Verner Panton Flowerpot pendant light* adds a pop of colour. This exact late 60s one is currently available here* (you need to be quick - there's only one!). 

A little red chair sits atop a myriad of vintage rugs (the one in the hallway is from Ikea)

SNOOPY! *heart melts*

I used to play with Snoopy and Bella all the time when I was a child (once I tied long leaves to their feet with elastic bands and pretended they were skiing!). Did you have a Snoopy too?  

The rule books have been firmly ripped up with this vintage bureau, and art in the bathroom, and I love it!  

Climbing plants became extremely popular in 2018 (check out my feature / get the look here). I love the way ivy winds its way up over the pictures and the shower curtain. 

If you were worried about getting something 'wrong' in your home while decorating, I hope Andrés home has inspired you to think otherwise - and just follow your heart! 

The next time I'm in Madrid (I say that like I'm a regular visitor - but I've actually only been there once!) - I'm heading straight to El Rastro! While writing my book The Scandinavian Home I learnt that it's usually no problem to pick up larger pieces abroad - post offices are always happy to help ship. Although try telling that to your husband / wife / bf / gf.....!!

If you're feeling inspired by Andrés home, check out his fabulous jewellery, handbags and porcelain here. You might also like to see more pictures over at Revistaad.

I've featured several other homes belonging to jewellery designers - and they're always beautiful! Remember the home of Malia Grace Mao in Topanga Canyon? If you scroll to the bottom, you'll also get a glimpse of their Kauai surf shack. Take me there now! 

I also love the home of Danish jewellery and furniture designer Anders Forup! 

Have a fabulous day!

Niki

Photography: Eduardo Boillos shared with kind permission

Originally featured in Revistaad

*This post contains affiliate links (marked with an asterisk), which means I make a very small amount of money if you click on the link and buy something! Thank you for supporting My Scandinavian Home. 

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A Beautiful Vintage-inspired Guest House in Reims

I've been writing my regular column for Scandi at Home this morning and it was all about investing in pieces that stand the test of time. And then I discovered Les Pénates in Reims, France on The Socialite Family - a perfect illustration of everything I'd been writing about! A former archive and artist's studio, the building was about to be torn down when Anabelle Bruny and antique dealer Brice Bérard took the reins. The pair lovingly restored the residence, creating a series of guest houses which have been fully furnished with beautiful secondhand finds. I particularly love Guest House One with its white washedwalls and touches of wood and leather which is available to rent both privately but also as a location for film and photoshoots. Did I mention that everything in it is for sale too? I think a trip to Reims might be in order...

Cheeky ending to the tour there!

But isn't this place just so charming?

It just goes to show that if you have the time and patience, hunting for second hand treasures can really pay off! When I was little my Mum used to take us to auctions at the weekends (I remember the huge halls being very cold!) - and she still has many of the items we bought today.

I might just scour the flea markets and antique fairs here in Southern Sweden this weekend... it's something I definitely don't do enough of.

Are you a fan too?

Another thing I'm keen to point out is that this space would actually have been relatively dark had it not been for the skylights, internal glass wall dividers and mirrors - all of which are clever ways to bounce the light around.

Find out more about Les Pénates and book a stay here. There's also a great write-up about the property over at The Socialite Family.

Other French delights:

A relaxed, vintage-inspired home in the French countryside
A charming white and neutral family home in Normandy
A wonderful, relaxed family home in the heart of the Beaujolais wine country

Oh la la!

I hope you enjoyed this tour as much as I did!

Niki

Photograph credits 1,3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 & 11 - The Socialite Family. 2, 9 & 10 Remodelista. 

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The Cosy Vintage-Inspired Home of a Swedish Artist

I love a home that feels truly personal. One of those cribs that has you marvelling at the details, a little like a (very relaxed) museum! I'm a firm believer that creating an entirely unique space takes years. Years of hunting for second hand pieces and offbeat furniture. Years of collecting art and little accessories that touch you in some way. It also takes a yearning to create a nest that's full of history and sometimes a certain artistic talent too. And that's when I stumbled across the home of Swedish artist Michaela Grut. Michaela lives in Lindingö, Stockholm with her two children and little kitten. Her style is very much about "decorating in a way that lasts" - opting for vintage furniture, interior details and art "that feels special, unique and a bit odd." The result is a rather eclectic home which blends colours, patterns and furniture from different moments in time to create a cosy family home in which to build new memories. Let's take a peek! 

A wood and marble vintage piece pops against Pomona wallpaper. 

When Michaela bought her first home she found it hard to find affordable art and began creating her own paintings and sculptures instead. her work immediately became popular among other and her online shop was born (I've just commissioned the sculpture in the above picture - I couldn't resist! Isn't it beautiful?!). 

Michaela's art is inspired by everything around her: "shapes, colours, structures... and the human body is a huge inspiration. I often exaggerate or understate the shapes to make it more interesting."

The children's room has been decorated in pretty Lilja wallpaper. Michaela designed the bunkbed herself and then got someone to build it. 

Take a closer at the 1940s kitchen (painted in Velvet 10246 by Jotun Lady) and you'll spot 'Staffan' a clay figure by Michaela casually perched on the open shelves! 

The sofa is in fact the IKEA Söderhamn wrapped beautifully in a loose fit Rosendal pure washed linen cover* from Bemz. The walls have been painted in Senses 2024 by Jotun lady. 

Both the artwork and clay bust are by Michaela and can be commissioned through her shop (particularly tempted by the bust, how about you?!). You can find all items in her shop or e-mail her directly to commission a piece (you can find her contact here and here). 

In fact, there are just SO many lovely pieces in this home. It makes me want to spend the whole of next weekend scouring flea markets and second hand shops for furniture and art, how about you? 

Other inspiring Scandinavian artist's homes to love today: 

The beautiful home of a Danish artist

The relaxed Oslo home of a Norwegian artist (I visited this home for my second book and still think about it today!).

Although not owned by an artist, this wonderful Copenhagen house is designed for an artist with its North facing windows (and lived in by an industrial designer) - that counts, right?! It's one of those places that never comes on the market, it's just passed down from generation to generation. 

This Stockholm home is also not own by an artist - but Karolina Modig is the author behind two art books so I think that totally counts - I love the way she's hung art really low in her home. 

Have a wonderful start to the week friends!

Niki

Photography: Michaela Grut - shared with kind permission.

*Affiliate links

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