my scandinavian home: colour

Julie's Playful Yet Elegant Home Features Some of the Big Trends of 2024

Artist Julie Wittrup Pladsbjerg has moved home quite a few times - each time weaving her magic with her unique sense of style. I have featured all three of Julie's Danish homes - starting with her flat in Aarlborg when she was a student (it's hard to forget the purple bike, right?), followed by the flat on the ground floor which she shared with her partner Mads and daughter Vanilla.

And today, I'm excited to feature the family's latest home which Julie and Mads have been transforming into their family 'forever' home with two children in tow.

It's so fun to see the transition over the years, and seeing her style develop and morph into a mature and elegant living space, yet still bearing the signature Julie trademarks: pops of colour, playful touches and an eye for detail.

Let's take a look inside!

In the kitchen, Julie has installed a Reform kitchen (expect to see a lot more dark wood in Scandinavian homes moving forwards) and a beautiful light from NUAD.

One of the big trends I witnessed at the international fairs in Germany last week (Domotex and IMM Cologne) was the mix and matching of different wood. Dark, light, mid wood - combine any way you like!

A popular Valerie Objects wall lamp adds a contemporary touch to the space.

The pair have put in a tremendous amount of work to renovate the house. I couldn't resist sharing the picture below to show how the kitchen looked during the building project.

Compared to how it looks now....

The L-shaped kitchen also includes a dining area. The walls have been decorated with a beige shade from the up and coming danish paint brand Color Stories and sheer pink curtains from curtain.dk.

The table bears a checkered pattern - which has been a big trend in Scandinavia for a while now.

A wicker bench provides a spot for magazine, books, flowers and some of Julie's art.

How cute are the little glass doorknobs by Danish artist Nina Nørgaard? It's such a pretty way to upcycle and personalise a vintage piece! Loving all the handmade ceramic cups too!

The hallway has been decorated with 'Sibylla' wallpaper from UK based company Living Quarters. Wallpaper has been making waves in Scandinavian homes for a while now which is an exciting development I think!

A nook just off the kitchen serves as a spot for Julie to create had upcycled or handknitted art.

A large antique patchwork quilt from Daisy and Beulah fills ones of the walls in the kitchen. At the nordic fair Formland last summer I noticed a lot of patchwork and embroidery, and it's exciting to see it take shape in homes like Julie's - the embroidery in particular is central to Julie's own work.

A fabulous Ekstrem chair by Terje Ekstrøm awaits on the landing.

The brown / light blue colour combination is a big trend right now in the world of interiors - as is pops of green.

A bed by Karup works with the dark wood floor in the master bedroom.

A wall mounted Montana drawer unit and retro Tulip chair make perfect companions in the bedroom!

If you love Julie's style, you'll love her upcycled or handknitted art - here's a glimpse of her studio and one or two of her pieces. All her latest work can be found here.

Julie's home and art have really brightened up a grey snowy day here in Malmö, Sweden. I hope they have also put a spring in your step and got your week off to an inspiring start too!

Is there anything that stood out to you in particular? If so, please do share in the comments below!

Check out the Danish home archive for more Danish home tours today!

Happy Monday friends!

Niki

Photography courtesy of Julie Wittrup Pladsbjerg, shared with kind permission.

A Bright, Light and Playful Swedish Home

Hej allihopa! I felt like sharing something light, playful and different today - and this wonderful house fit the bill perfectly! Featured on instagram as @tegelsnackan the Swedish owners of this red brick house in Helsingland in central Sweden love their blonde wood and pops of colour - all set against a fresh white backdrop. They have also thrown in some fun chequered patterns and a few stripes for good measure.

The result is a light and airy house that lifts the spirits, no matter the time of year, but especially when the winter darkness sets in (with a six weeks to go until the winter solstice, I'd say most parts of Sweden are already there.

I love the uniqueness of this home and hope it feels you with ideas for the week to come!

From the exterior you can already see that the owners have dared to be different with a bright red pergola and red window frames to match!

This red theme is continued throughout the interior.

If I am not wrong, I think this is the Arc vase by Danish brand Hay. The original format was 'mirror' and the owners have painted it fire engine red!

Also, spot the horse on the shelf? This is known as a Dalahäst (Dala horse), and is traditionally carved out of wood before being hand painted. It originates from the county of Dalarna - and has become a popular symbol for Sweden as a whole!

From a distance the checks in the hallway look like tiles, but look closer and you'll see that they have been painted onto a wood floor. This is a trick swedes have used for hundreds of years. Tiles have traditionally been very expensive where as it doesn't cost much to buy paint to create a similar affect. I have always loved this idea!

A lick of yellow around the room ensures the sun is always shining, even if it's grey outside!

Also, check out the IKEA storage used as a wall mounted bedside table - very clever!

Aaaaah, I so enjoyed this tour, did you? It's fun to see something different. Very refreshing!

Are there any ideas here that you can imagine using for your own home?

If you're not already following @tegelsnackan on instagram, hop over right away!

Wishing you a fabulous start to the week!

Niki

Photography courtesy of @tegelsnackan, shared with kind permission.

FILED UNDER: bright colours colour White home

A Cosy Stockholm Flat in Tones of Pink, Ochre and Green

I love it when I stumble across an entirely unique home - full of interesting colours, furniture and details. And this is one of those. Looking at the decor, there are certain clues that tell us the owners love scouring antique and second-hand stores, books and nature. They're also not afraid to break the rules, follow their heart and add playful, personal touches. And that's what I love about this living space.

Third of white and grey? You're going to love this tour!

In Stockholm space is of a premium and you can spend a fortune on even the minuscule of apartments. Swedes therefore get creative with the space they have. In this sitting room, a dummy wall has been put up in order to add more storage. I love the playful arch and also the tone-on-tone shades of pink.

A pair of antique Swedish armchairs and a stool offer a seat in the window for fika!

Old buildings are often blessed with thick stone walls which in turn mean extra wide windowsills. And with the windows opening outwards, they make the perfect place to display plants and other items!

A home office space occupies the corner of the room. Personally, I love the bright red lamp and how it pops against the earthy pink wall!

An antique chest-of-drawers has been fitted with a worktop so that it can double up as a kitchen island.

The dining room is made up of a traditional antique sofa and chairs.

A rail has been fitted to the children's bunkbed in order to create space for clothes. My daughter Allie, who actually turns 13 tomorrow, would love this as she flat lays her clothes every evening!

An earthy green tone, plants and pictures of birds draws nature indoors - long after the leaves have fallen from the trees and the birds have migrated south for winter.

How lovely! Really unique and interesting. Just what I needed to see this Wednesday, how about you?

Are there any details that you loved in particular?

Take a peek inside other Scandinavian homes which have used plenty of colour:

A fabulous Danish home in a plethora of colours

Lessons to learn from a colourful yet calm Norwegian home

The incredible Swedish home of Sofie Izard Høyer

12 playful colour ideas in Sussie's Danish house

I have had the pleasure of meeting two out of four of the above home-owners in person: Sofie and Sussie, and they were truly inspiring!

Happy Wednesday friends. I'll be back on Friday with some really beautiful Autumn inspiration, hopefully see you then!

Niki

Photography: Lina Östling. Styling: Rydman. For Historiska Hem. Found via Nordroom with thanks.

FILED UNDER: books colour VIntage inspired homes

Prints, Splashes of colour and Playful Pattern in a Vibrant Danish Home

The country of Denmark is divided into three main land masses - the mainland (Jutlund), Zealand (the island on which Copenhagen is located) and then Funen - there island tucked in between. And everything is connected by spectacular bridges! I have had the pleasure of visiting Funen on several occasions - probably the most memorable of which was a filming session in the castle belonging to the owner of Carl Hansen & Søn. If I were to return to Funen, I'd love to stop by for a coffee with Ann-Sophie at her beautiful house in Ødense - I can see from the pictures, it would bring an instant smile to my face!

Ann-Sophie Ulka - founder and creative director of Fabrek a fabulous online design and interior shop - shares her home with her partner and their three boys. And in true Danish style, she has filled the house with splashes of colour, prints, pattern, Danish design and playful accessories all the while ensuring a calm feel (the balance is in their genes, I tell you!). The result is a vibrant home with a wonderful, relaxed feel. Let's take a tour!