Inside a Warm and Rustic Swedish Home for Autumn

Skördefest. That’s the Swedish word for harvest festival, and at this time of year there are little signs of the harvest everywhere.

Growing up in England, I remember harvest festival being a big thing at school. We’d sing songs and bring in food from home to donate within the local community. Does anyone else remember this?

My own children haven’t had quite the same tradition here in Sweden, but you certainly know when harvest season has arrived. Farm stalls are dotted around the countryside with sweetcorn, squash and pumpkins, the hedgerows are bursting with blackberries (Per and I picked several kilos last weekend!) and people disappear into the forest with baskets in search of chanterelles, taking great care not to reveal their secret spots!

The owner of this lovely old brygghus in the Swedish countryside describes family as her heart and nature as her peace of mind, and that feeling really comes through in her home. Life here revolves around the farm, animals, growing things, renovating and, of course, family.

Right now, the harvest has made its way indoors too. Onions hang in rows beneath the timber ceiling, while potatoes are spread across the wooden worktop below, practical, but also rather beautiful, don’t you think?

Elsewhere, the home has a wonderfully autumnal feel, with warm wood, linen, amber glass and shades of rust, brown and oatmeal. I love the little dining nook by the window, the old pantry stacked with crockery, and all those worn, treasured pieces that make the space feel so relaxed and lived-in.

It’s a lovely reminder that autumn decorating doesn’t have to mean buying anything new. Sometimes a few things from the garden, a candle or two and the colours of the season are all you need.

Lovely! I love the vibrancy of the exterior of the house, and then the wonderful cosiness that awaits inside. It definitely gets me in the mood for the autumn season ahead!

Will you be changing anything up at home for the new season? If so, I’d love to hear what you have planned. And what did you notice most about this home? For me, it’s the mix of warm wood, amber glass, candlelight and all those beautiful signs of the harvest, so simple, yet so effective.

You can see more of this cosy home over at @lagadalsgard.

And if you’re in the mood for more autumnal inspiration, here are a few more homes to enjoy:

Cosy autumn ideas from Laura and Nora's lovely homes
11 inspiring autumnal ideas to steal from a hyggeligt Danish home
5 cosy autumn ideas to feel inspired by from a Swedish home

Have a cosy day. See you Friday, friends!

Niki

Photography:@lagadalsgard, shared with kind permission,

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A Hudson Valley Farmhouse Full of Soul

A quick note before we begin: I mention a few of my own books in this post, so just to be completely transparent, those references count as advertising for my own work.

I’ve had the great fortune of visiting Upstate New York twice. The first time was to photograph and write about a home for my first book, Modern Pastoral, which was later republished as Relaxed Rustic and is now about to reappear as Naturally Nordic (same book, third title, in case you’re as confused as I am! The title changes are down to the publisher). The second was for a greenhouse makeover with Emily Henderson. Both times, I was completely mesmerised by the nature and picturesque towns. A little shout-out here to my American readers, who are lucky enough to have all this on their doorstep!

It’s also no secret that I love looking at real estate, fuelled by a constant search for my elusive ‘forever home’, and every now and again I like to cast the net, shall we say, a little wider!

So when I stumbled across Fallkill, a late 18th-century farmhouse in the Hudson Valley, surrounded by a large garden with old stone walls, an artist’s studio and an antique barn, all overlooking rolling meadows, a meandering creek and forest, something about it felt familiar, yet completely enchanting.

It helped, too, that the interior has been so thoughtfully renovated in just the way I love: a touch of creativity, carefully sourced and meaningful pieces that hint at past lives, and plenty of the house’s historic charm left intact.

There’s also so much inspiration here for my own home this weekend (rubs hands together... Per starts to panic across town without quite knowing why). I hope you find a few ideas to take away with you too!

Really lovely! I especially love the daybed, with its relaxed layers of cushions and a blanket. It looks like the perfect spot to curl up with a book this weekend, don’t you think?

Is there anything that particularly stood out to you about Fallkill?

You can see more homes from Upstate New York here:

A light-filled barn conversion with fabulous rugs
The beautiful nature-inspired home of a ceramist

Incidentally, I sometimes toy with the idea of writing another book, which would be my fifth after Naturally Nordic, The Scandinavian Home, Lagom and Njuta! If I did, are there any Scandinavian lifestyle topics, interior styles, practical tips or other themes you’d particularly love to read about?

Wishing you all a wonderful weekend. And, as always, thank you so much for stopping by!

Niki

Photos shared with kind permission from The Lillie K. Team at Sotheby's International Realty / Fallkill. 

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Sara’s Relaxed Country Home in Österlen, South Sweden

The summer is over in Sweden. Not weather-wise, necessarily, but the majority have returned to work and the children are back at school. On the islands along the east and west coasts, little signs have started to appear in shop, café and restaurant windows: stängt för säsongen - closed for the season. Some will shut their summer cottages up completely, while others will continue to visit at weekends, enjoying the quiet, the changing seasons and the return of deer, seals and other wildlife that dare to venture a little closer once the summer crowds have dispersed.

This is how Sara will enjoy her beautiful, relaxed summer cottage near the village of Simrishamn in southern Sweden. It lies in Österlen, a part of Skåne famous for its rolling farmland, beautiful light and long association with artists and creatives. And Sara's home feels perfectly at ease here.

Inside, there's a wonderfully relaxed, country-style feel, with whitewashed timber walls and floors, old exposed beams and simple, honest materials setting the tone. The kitchen is a lovely example, with its open shelving, mismatched ceramics, rustic wooden worktops and mix of painted and natural wood cabinetry. Elsewhere, vintage finds, botanical prints, books, plants and quirky little treasures have been gathered over time, giving the space warmth and personality.

I especially love the way flashes of colour - a yellow cabinet here, a pale blue pendant there, a sunny paper lantern overhead - lift the otherwise quiet, earthy palette. Sheepskins, worn wood, old rugs and an eclectic mix of furniture add to the sense that this is a home designed for kicking off your shoes and staying awhile rather than worrying about everything being perfect. I can just imagine an autumn weekend here: putting an LP on, lighting a few candles and settling down to a board game while something bubbles away on the stove (we have learnt that Monopoly isn't the best choice though - as things can quickly go south!). 

And beyond the windows lie views over the verdant farmland of Österlen - a reminder that although the summer season may be drawing to a close, there are still plenty of beautiful days to be enjoyed here. In fact, could this be the loveliest time of year to have a place like this?

Let's take a closer look!

Yes, to all of this. So relaxed, so down-to-earth, Sara has created the perfect place to kick back! 

If you'd like to see more of her lovely home, head on over to @husetvidsimris. 

And for more lovely houses to explore in Österlen, don't miss: 

Karen's lovely summer house in the South of Sweden.
A charming holiday home in Österlen

Holiday rental: an architect's villa in Österlen

And that folks, is it for me this week. Have a fabulous weekend, and see you early next week! 

Niki

Photography @husetvidsimris, shared with kind permission.

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A Dreamy Farmhouse in the Skåne Countryside

Stop the press. This beauty is for sale, and honestly, it’s taking every ounce of restraint not to jump on a train to Ystad and demand a viewing on the spot! If you’re into Scandi noir, you’ll probably recognise the nearest town as the home of detective Wallander. They even keep a table permanently reserved for him at the Grand Hotel. But I assure you, life out here in the countryside is far more about birdsong, long lunches and windswept walks than dramatic crime scenes!

Set among the rolling Skåne countryside near the Hagestad and Backåkra nature reserves, this farmhouse feels wonderfully private. It’s easy to imagine slow mornings here with a cup of tea by the window, watching the landscape shift across the farmland with the changing light and seasons.

Built in 1937, the house has been carefully restored by peeling things back rather than adding more, with the owners allowing its original soul to shine through once again. The moment you step through those sunny yellow doors (tell me, would you actually use the front entrance every day, or do you think there’s a side door everyone naturally gravitates towards instead?) you’re greeted by wonderfully generous rooms with an easy, airy feel. Exposed beams, natural materials and a soft, muted palette create a beautiful balance of rustic charm and understated elegance. 

Ready to enjoy a private viewing right here on MSH? Step this way! 

Such a beautiful home!

I love the architecture, the wonderfully open rooms and the peaceful setting. Although, if I’m honest, my hay fever would probably be completely out of control living here. Such a pity!

Could you imagine living here?

As always, I can’t resist sharing a few more beautiful Swedish country homes for you to enjoy, so don’t disappear just yet. Instead, pour yourself a cuppa and settle in with these fine specimens:

Emilia's laidback Swedish country home
A cosy country home in rural sweden
An idyllic red and white Swedish farmhouse

Oh, and one last thing! In Tuesday’s post, there was plenty of curiosity surrounding the unusual honeycomb-shaped structure in the garden. Thank you so much to everyone who joined in with guesses about what might be hidden inside. A few of you got it absolutely right... it was a sauna! Although I have to say, I also loved Flora’s idea of it being a tiny one-person library. How cosy would that be?

Thank you, as always, for stopping by. I hope you all have a wonderful weekend! 

Trevlig helg! 

Niki

For sale via Erik Olsson, with thanks

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