Books, Art and a Cool Painting Technique in a Swedish Home

It's Fredag (Friday) people! Woohooo! I am going to hazard a guess and say 50% of swedes are working at home today. Basically, anyone who can! It's a day where homes are prepped between meetings in order to have everything ready for 'fredagsmys' (a cosy Friday evening at home involving tacos and a movie), possibly the most important event of the week! 

This fabulous funkis home in Gröndal, Gothenburg measuring 85 m2 (914 ft sq) is just the place I can imagine enjoying 'fredagsmys'. Books galore, musical instruments and art are just a few of the things that stood out to me right away. But take a closer look and there are other great interior elements at play. 

Flexible Elfa shelving (which I have added to Allie's room and also used in the laundry room and attic) is ideal for a large wall of books!  

I also love the classic vintage drop leaf table (source a similar one here*), which adds plenty of charm to the space. 

The living space is entirely open-plan with the dining area, sitting room and home office all in one - meaning everyone can be together yet doing their own thing. 

One of my favourite lamps - a Gubi semi pendant, hangs over the coffee table. 

I love this gallery wall, full of fascinating original paintings. While at the Formland design fair last week, I noticed that there's a strong movement away from posters and prints in glass frames to original artwork on canvas and other fabrics. A welcomed move! 

Plate racks have also become increasingly popular - as seen in Kristin's French kitchen last week, and here in the open shelving. 

Wall racks are a great idea for cookbooks - as seen here, it ensures they are ready to be perused over a morning coffee! 

In the bedroom, the owners have used old fashioned 'stänkmålning' on the walls - a method of flicking paint on the walls with a paintbrush. This was traditionally used by the Swedish lower classes who couldn't afford wallpaper but still wanted to decorate their walls. You often see it in summer cottages. In this room, the splashes have a wonderful contemporary feel! 

Wood abound in the shared children's room - and so much room to create too. 

What a fabulous home with so many interesting details, don't you think?

Are there any ideas which you could imagine applying to your own home? 

Check out more swedish homes this weekend here. 

I hope you have a fabulous few days, see you right back here on Monday, when I'll be sharing a beautiful French chateau!

Niki

Photography: Utsikten foto

Styling: Utsikten home

For sale via Historiska Hem

READ MORE...

4

Marianne's Art-filled Apartment in SOFO, Stockholm

Sweden might be a big country geographically, but the population is small:10 million (the same size of London), which means never more than a few degrees separation from anyone. Interior and graphic designer Marianne Wikner and I first connected when I reached out to feature her beautiful home in Mariefred (which she has since sold). I instantly fell in love with her love of art, sculpture and antique pieces - and a home tour of her and her husband's charming country escape in Österlen, southeast Sweden quickly followed. 

So, you can imagine my excitement when I discovered Marianne has a flat in Stockholm! Located in SOFO (the quarter south of Folkungagatan in the hip neighbourhood of Södermalm), the apartment has all the hallmarks of Marianne's signature style including plenty of antique and vintage finds as well as paintings, busts and figurines, but it also has an air of calm, ensuring it's the perfect oasis to return too after a day in the city. Welcome to Marianne's Stockholm home!

You'll recognise this table from her Mariefred home. This time, Marianne has opted for a soothing beige backdrop as opposed to the striking deep tone seen in her previous dining room area. 

The trick to creating a gallery wall like this is to include a variety of different styles of art (oil painting, illustrations etc), as well as mix and match frames (some without too!). I also like the way Marianne has included objects. 

The entrance hall is wonderfully clutter free - a calm welcome after shutting the door on the buzz and whir of Sweden's capital city! 

The sitting room is made up of a selection of times collected over time including a leather Chesterfield, cane chairs and poufs. 

A collection of well loved coffee table books, sculptures and treasures have been displayed on the table in the corner. 

What a perfect oasis! 

Marianne's interiors have got me so excited about 'Konstrunda' next week. Every easter, it's time for the big art exhibition across Skåne, south Sweden. There are five different tours to choose from, and we usually pick one each year, travelling around the countryside dropping in at the ateliers and galleries of painters, potters and sculptures. It's one of my favourite events of the year. 

Do you have something similar in your area? 

I'm particularly excited about heading to Norrviken to see Sara Bergman's exhibition - I featured her lovely home in Höganäs last year, and her art is wonderful! 

In case you'd like to see more of Marianne's home - check out her instagram here, and take the tour of her Österlen home and former house in Mariefred. 

On another note, I know I usually write posts on Monday, Wednesday and Friday but this afternoon the crazies and I are heading off on a long weekend to Berlin (very exciting!) with my Mother so this post is a little earlier than usual! I hope you have a wonderful weekend, see you Monday! 

Niki

Photography courtesy of Marianne Wikner, shared with kind permission. 

READ MORE...

6

A Vibrant Loft with Splashes of Colour, Art and Playful Touches

Yesterday, someone mentioned I had featured some impeccable homes lately, but all with the same colour palette. I hadn't even noticed, as I was simply picking out beautiful homes as I went along. But when I looked back, there did seem to be a strong theme. So, today, I'm going for a slightly different aesthetic. 

Lilli's home in Liebefeld, north-west Germany is fresh, vibrant and fun. Using white as a backdrop, she and her husband Sascha have created a wonderful home for themselves and their daughters Emma and Laura. Get ready to feel inspired by how splashes of colour, art and quirky touches can transform a home! 

First, here's a snapshot of the blank canvas, i.e. a pure white kitchen! 

And now, look at what happens when you add simple splashes of colour in the form of a sculpted vase, playful rug, art and flowers. 

Kitchen - IKEA, Scultptured vase Motel a Miio, art on floor Vinta Series

The dining area is so vibrant - and a large balcony door fills the space with fresh spring air! 

Similar gym rings here*, sculpture in corner by Karl Manfred Rennertz. 

Yellow and pink chair from sushi restaurant Nihombashi Berlin, Sculpted light Schneid studio. 

Fail art by Eike König, Lips from Studio Job, Samsung The Frame TV on back wall. 

So many fun touches in this home! I especially love all the art and sculptures, they make a huge difference to the overall space. 

Did Lilli's home put a smile on your face too? If so, you might like to follow her over at @kitschcanmakeyourich. 

Those who have been following My Scandinavian Home, might recognise Lilli's home from 2020 - since then she has made subtle changes so I felt it was time to revisit (although I couldn't resist sharing the same picture from the dining space). You can never see this loft too many times! 

See more splashes of colour in these fabulous homes: 

12 playful design trends in Sussie's fabulous Danish home

How to add colour to your home, Danish style

Maria's colourful home will brighten up your day!

A vibrant turn-of-the-century home in Malmö

Snapshots from a vibrant Copenhagen home

Happy mid week friends! 

Niki

Photography courtesy of @kitschcanmakeyourich, shared with kind permission. 

READ MORE...

12

A Bright and Modern Danish Apartment With Art and Vintage Pieces

Why, hello there friends! Happy New Year! It's great to be back blogging again after a break over 'Jul'! If like me, you like a fresh start, you're going to love today's home tour, so let's dive straight in. 

This beautiful old apartment in Randers, a city on the Jutland peninsular, Denmark belongs to Anne Hundborg and her family. Anne had applied fresh light tones to the floors and walls, which serve as a neutral backdrop so her art collection, rugs and vintage furniture can pop! Keep a look out for all the glass cabinets, cool lights and touches of pattern too. Although pared-back, her home is full of fab details! 

Velkommen! 

I was pleasantly surprised to discover the kitchen is from IKEA! Designer items like a tap from Pulcher Denmark and lighting from Nordlux (over island), Verpan and By flou elevate the look.

The large kitchen also has a dining table and sofa as well as a back entrance. 

I love the vintage shoe rack, we could do with sometime like this in our house! 

In the sitting room a mid-century style table from Warm Nordic sits in front of a Hay sofa. 

A second hand cabinet and a wired shelf from Montana serve as storage beside the TV. 

Anne repainted a secondhand cabinet picked up from danish second hand store DBA. The rug is from Benuta and the wall features art such as Vinyl Guy by Jenny o Jens. 

The striped bedspread steals the show in the bedroom (I can't find a source, could it be handmade? I'll follow up with Anne and get back to you!), together with the Point chair from OK Design, rug from Benito (as before) and wall mounted second hand cabinet. I love the laces on her Adidas trainers too (below!). 

A second smaller bedroom features a HAY mega dot bed spread, IKEA cabinet (to the left) and an iconic Fritz Hansen Dot stool. 

What a beautiful apartment. I always think the Danes make it look so effortless to add pops of colour and funky touches to their homes, while still keeping the look calm. It's definitely an art form! 

Is there anything that stood out to you in particular about Anne's home? 

See more and feel inspired over at @by_blogliv. And check out a collection of other fab Danish homes with pops of colour here. 

Have a great start to the week friends, see you Wednesday with a tour of my new attic storage make-over - I'll tell you now, it was a lot of work clearing out the mountains of stuff, but I'm so happy with the results! 

It's good to be back! 

Niki

Photography courtesy of  @by_blogliv, shared with kind permission. 

READ MORE...

7

A Small-ish Swedish Home, That's Big on Character

Tjena! Hur är läget? I'm stopping by to share this funky 46 m2 / 495 m2 Swedish apartment (it's turning into a small-ish living space week!) with you today. Whereas in the Swedish home I shared on Monday, the living room also doubled up as the bedroom and home office, in this charming apartment, the main room serves as a living room, dining room and kitchen. 

Even so, the owners have successfully carved out different zones and added lots of character through a blend off mid-century and modern-day pieces as well as plenty of art! Keep a look out for the bedroom which has been painted in a cosy blue / green, which immediately separates it from the main living area. I hope this home provides you with plenty of inspiration! 

For some reason I'm really drawn to the kitchen, it's really cute! I also love the gallery wall in the sitting room, it adds so much to the space, don't you think?

Is there anything that caught your eye? 

One small detail you may not have noticed is the stool under the round mirror. It's been upholstered with Svenskt Tenn fabric which is having a major moment in Scandinavian homes. You'll likely spot it in on bed headboards, cushions, armchairs and chairs in the coming months! 

Enjoy a load more small spaces in this archive. 

Have a lovely day friends! 

Niki

Photography: Boukari, Styling Copparstad for Historiska Hem. 

READ MORE...

12