A beautiful, rustic mill on the shores of lake Rinnen, Sweden

I absolutely love this time of year (don't get me wrong - I do get a bit of a winter slump round about January / february time, I promise!) - but as the days get shorter and the leaves turn from yellow to deep red things start to get super cosy. Dark mornings and evenings are transformed under the glow of candlelight. Autumnul pictures of people gathering around a table for a hearty stew or caramelized white chocolate tart start to pop up on my Pinterest feed. And I start to feel hugely inspired by rustic spaces (and hungry!). That's why this beautiful converted mill caught my eye.  After an extensive renovation, the Erlandsson family are embracing their new life in the former flour mill on the shore of lake Rinnen deep in the forest of Värmland, Sweden which includes a beautiful space for year round gatherings. Let's take a peek inside...

Credits: Photography - Carina Olander (shared with kind permission). Styling Anna Truelsen. See the full feature in Hus & Hem 12/201. 

Aaaaaa, just so cosy, don't you think? 

What a perfect room to gather for birthdays, thanksgiving (for you americans and canadians!) and Christmas (in fact I'm pretty sure I could come up with something to celebrate every week of the year, if this were my home, how about you?!). 

We can still create a lovely rustic style at home though - here are a few items I love from the mill : Linen table cloth (or stonewashed linen by the metre), long haired sheepskin throw, chunky knit blanket. I love classic Swedish Skultuna brass candleholders - and have a couple myself - beautiful! Although not featured, this one is lovely too. 

I can imagine the upstairs bedroom looks something like this - can you?! 

Have a cosy day! 

PS  We photographed a few beautiful, rustic homes for my book Modern Pastoral last year and I've been dreaming of a owning a lovely retreat ever since.....one day?!  

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Mid-century sitting room in a converted garage

I was doing so well all week with the wifi and then there was a thunderstorm and it all went caput! Sorry for the radio silence yesterday! Now it's fixed, I thought I'd nip in to spread a little love this weekend with a pic of a fab mid-century sitting room in a converted garage.

Everything except the garage doors (although they do make a great backdrop?!) can be found in this wonderful little Etsy shop I stumbled on earlier on in the week.

Have a lovely weekend and see you Monday (wifi here in Sri Lanka permitting!).


My Scandinavian Home posts feature affiliated links. However, I only ever share pics, business and product info I truly love and think you will too! This is not a sponsored post - I just happen to love the sitting room - it's fab! 

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A magnificent townhouse in a converted school

As soon as I hear the word 'conversion' I know it's going to be good (I'm talking barns, warehouses, even a converted bar). There's something about the word which sings fabulous architecture and cool interior (isn't that so?). And this New York City lower east side townhouse in a former school (found via one of my fave blogs The Style Files) is no different. Designer Labo Design Studio has worked hard to ensure the original structure plays a big part in the three storey family home, which also comprises an art gallery on the ground floor (of course!). The space has been simply furnished with mid-century chairs, natural word and soft textures against a backdrop of white and exposed brick. Oh to have a space like this to play with....

 

Labo Design Studio

Minimalist decor really was the way to go with this space as it allows the architecture of the former school building to shine through (although there are flashes of colour in the space too - as seen in the full tour here). Those vast windows on the top floor are just incredible don't you think? The light!  

Loving the leather mid-century chairs too, you can pick up a similar pair here (no bidding required - love that!).

I've featured several converted schools on here before, including the home of a Swedish artist and Ylva Skarp's wonderful home. There's also a whole host of other conversions in the MSH archives - including factories and vicarages (sorry, you might just have to extend your coffee break....).

Thank you to everyone for entering the give-away to win a signed copy of my book (there's still time!). It's always nerve-racking putting your own work out there and all your words of encouragement are so heart warming.

Have a lovely day!

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A Swedish home in a former shop

I do love a conversion, don't you? I've featured many here before, including a former  barn, garage, bar, artist's atelier, carpenter's workshop, vicarage, schoolhouse and even monk's retreat, and they all have something very special about them. A history. I was therefore thrilled to discover this home in a former shop in Rörjostad / Värnhem here in Malmö today. It belongs to Emma Parkinson - an extremely talented interior designer who I've had the pleasure of meeting a few times.  Emma has successfully turned the 1920's building into a lovely family home. Prying eyes are kepy at bay with a simple film on the lower half of the windows and the walls have been kept fresh white to allow light to bounce around. What a truly lovely space. And it's actually for sale if anyone's tempted?!

Bo-laget . Homeowner: Emma Parkinson

 

What do you think - could you live here?

This is the second time we've seen green in the bathroom in as many weeks (remember this home with the green splashback?). I think the sink looks great against the white tiles with black grouting in this home, how about you?

I love the children's room too - I've used hearts instead of dots on the walls of my little girls room, I also love clouds and raindrops too. They don't have to be kept to kids rooms though- as you can see from this adult bedroom! Such a pretty way to quickly update a room.

I also spy - the mark eden schooey koushi light, Eames RAR rocking chair, Chrome C print, similar spotty cushion, dot wallstickers on children's wall, washi tape and Aesop soap.

Have a lovely day!

PS I can't wait to see what Emma does with her next home! 

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Do you live in a building with a cool history?

This beautiful Stockholm apartment is laid out over two floors of a former piano factory (sounds so romantic don't you think?). It's been completely modernised and houses some fab designer pieces (more on that below) but the beautiful bones of the early 20th century building are still evident and the huge windows flood the space with light even on the darkest of days. I could call this space my home, could you?! perhaps I'd need to add a piano like the one in this home, just for old times sake?!

Stylist: Ida Cederlöf. Photographer: Jessica Silversaga.Fantastic Frank

Stylist: Ida Cederlöf. Photographer: Jessica Silversaga.Fantastic Frank

Stylist: Ida Cederlöf. Photographer: Jessica Silversaga.Fantastic Frank

Stylist: Ida Cederlöf. Photographer: Jessica Silversaga.Fantastic Frank

Stylist: Ida Cederlöf. Photographer: Jessica Silversaga.Fantastic Frank

Stylist: Ida Cederlöf. Photographer: Jessica Silversaga.Fantastic Frank

The kitchen in particular is utterly striking - I could imagine an evening with friends - good food, candles, music, perhaps a little dancing?!

Is there any part of this home you like in particular?

A few items I know and love: Artichoke Suspension Light, String shelving system, Tolix chairs, HAY strap mirror.

I do absolutely love the idea of a conversion don't you? I've seen so many fabulous converted spaces over the years including a converted carpenter's workshop,  bar, monks retreat, barn, garage and garden shed. In other words, you could convert just about anything and make an incredible living space!

Is there a cool history behind your living space?

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A dreamy little space to call home

One of my dreams is to have a a work studio in my (future) garden which doubles as a pretty guest house for friends and family. Do you share a similar dream?  Then I came across this shed conversion on Design Sponge and my idea was immediately brought to life! Over the space of two months designer, stylist and artist Paige Morse converted a shed in her back garden into a stunning Scandinavian inspired black and white retreat. Her goal was to create a space from which she can work, She was so thrilled with the outcome she now actually lives in the 'Casita' and rents out her house to afford the lifestyle she so desires: to work on her creatives full time. What an inspiration?!

Before:

Photos Cody Ulrich. Paige Morse. Via Design Sponge with thanks. 

Be still my beating heart!

This really is the casita of my dreams! The only thing I would add is a turf roof as seen on this and this home. How about you? Could you see yourself working / living here?

You can see the full before and after shots over at Design Sponge and read more about Paige's work here.

Other fantastic, unusual and alternative garden shed conversions here and here.

Have a lovely day!

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The Swedish barn conversion

Last November I featured a fantastic Swedish barn conversion here. I still dream about this home today which is why I was extremely excited to discover more beautiful images of the space shot by Romain Ricard. The yellow in the kitchen makes a wonderful twist on the black and white kitchen we saw yesterday don't you think? And I LOVE that bedroom, so beautiful! Could you sleep there?!

Photography: Romain Ricard. Via Marie Claire Maison &  Style Files with thanks.

This home seriously makes me want to up sticks and move to the Swedish countryside, how about you?!

The oh so beautiful bedroom has prompted my new product pick of the week today. As you know I'm a big fan of Scandinavian design classics and frequently highlight beautiful chairs. lights, and accessories. But one Scandinavian classic I haven't mentioned are the luxury beds by Hästens. For those of you not familiar with the Swedish brand, Hästens is a company steeped in history having 'been crafting sleep since 1852'. And they're not kidding. Each bed is completely handmade using all natural materials and takes around 160 hours to complete! I've got my eye on the limited edition Stockholm White. Imagine the nights sleep? Bliss! A well deserved product pick of the week!

I'm working from a cafe by the sea today and it's pouring with rain outside - so cosy!

Have a lovely day - rain or shine!

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A beautiful converted carpenter's workshop

Good morning Monday! Let's kick off the week with a beautiful conversion (I do love converted spaces how about you?!). This former carpenters workshop is currently for sale here in Skåne (tempted to go and take a look!). It's been carefully decorated to highlight the original features of the space including the exposed brick wall, steel beams and pipes. I love the monochrome colour scheme too, it fits the style of the space perfectly don't you think?

Peter Landgren via Husligheter

Anything that catches your eye?

Other favourite converted spaces include the home of a fashion designer in a converted bar, this former monks retreat and a fabulous barn conversion. I have a dream to live in a converted lighthouse one day (apparently it's quite tricky to decorate with all the rounded walls but imagine the views?!). How about you?

Thank you so much for entering the Rosendahl monkey give-away sponsored by the fab online shop Design 55. I am delighted to announce the winner as Amanda of Amanda takes a trip blog, I think this cheeky chap by Kay Bojesen will make a perfect flatmate for your new apartment!

Have a wonderful Monday!

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