A Charming Glimpse into Sophia's Swedish Country Home

A couple of years ago, my family and I enjoyed a wonderful break in Saltsjöbaden, part of the stunning Stockholm archipelago. We have such happy memories from our trip, swimming in the Baltic, kayaking through calm waters and taking long, scenic walks (althogh Per and I probably enjoyed that last activity more than the kids!). So it feels extra special to revisit today, this time in the form of a house tour.

This charming home belongs to Sophia Schyman, who has lovingly restored it with a thoughtful, sustainable touch. The house’s beautiful bones have been enhanced by pretty patterned wallpaper, striped curtains, vintage furniture and elegant tiled floors.

Each room has such an easy charm. I love the warm wood panelling in the dining room and gingham tablecloth; it feels made for long, cosy meals. The bedroom is so calm and inviting, with soft linens and a lovely view of the garden. And even the bathroom has that timeless touch with its chequered floor. 

Ready to be inspired by a few corners of Sophie's charming Swedish country home?

This is just a little snapshot as Sophia continues to renovate the house, room by room. You can follow her projects here.

In the meantime, I hope you enjoyed the tour! Did anything in particular stand out to you?

Would you like to see a few more country homes today? 

A warm, rural Swedish home that combines old and new
From classroom to country retreat
The idyllic thatched cottage of a Danish artist

Wishing you a wonderful start to the week!

Niki

Photography courtesy of Sophia Schyman, shared with kind permission.

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From Classroom to Country Retreat: A Swedish Schoolhouse Turned Artist’s Home

You know how much I love a home with history – especially when it’s had a completely different life before. This one’s lovely: Malmby Gamla Skola, a former schoolhouse dating back to the 1860s. Set along winding country roads and surrounded by greenery, its red facade with white trims is the picture of Swedish charm.

I like to imagine the days when teachers stood at the front of the class, the sound of pencils scratching on paper, and children running out to play in the fields. 

Today, it’s a welcoming family home, now owned by an artist (which makes perfect sense with all that glorious light streaming in through the old mouth-blown windows). Keep an eye out for the quirky rug laid at a diagonal, beautiful wallpaper, a cosy kitchen window nook, and of course, the lovely fireplace – perfect for curling up beside in winter.

The garden has plenty to offer too – a greenhouse, kitchen garden, and space to grow your own vegetables. In summer, you can pick wild strawberries straight from the lawn, and in the evening, there’s a beautiful sunset over the meadows. 

Ready to take a peek inside? 

Did you notice the wavy view you get when you look through mouth-blown glass windows? They are so beautiful and really add to the charm of the house. 

Could you imagine living in a house with a wonderful past like this? Or perhaps you already do? 

I have featured lots of converted homes in the past - including these schools: 

A light-filled Swedish home in a converted school
A Swedish home in former city school from the 1950s

A converted school with flashes of sunny yellow

My friend Louisa's home in a converted school

Colourful, boho and eclectic in a country home

This post is actually very timely as my younger daughter went back to school today - the summer holidays are finally over - even if it is 25 degrees celsius (77 F). 

Happy Wednesday friends!

Niki

Photos courtesy of Historiska Hem

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A Cosy Swedish Home with Vintage Finds & Foraged Charm

To wrap up the week, I’m taking you on a virtual trip to the countryside of Värmland, Sweden—home to Johan Magnussen. Johan has a knack for discovering vintage treasures, filling his home with plants and flowers, and foraging in the nearby forests for whatever seasonal goodness nature has to offer.

His passion is evident in every corner of the house, which feels both peaceful and full of stories. I’m especially taken by the charming period features that whisper of the farmhouse’s history—like the oven fireplace in the kitchen, decorative stucco, wood-panelled ceilings, and exposed brick walls.

As you explore, keep an eye out for antique fabrics draped over side tables and embroidered cushions in the window nook—beautiful comebacks from times gone by.

Johan leans into calming, earthy tones throughout, creating a beautifully serene space—made even more inviting by a cat curled up in blissful slumber on the sofa. Oh, to be that cat!

Fancy a peek around the ground floor? Let’s dive in!

And can we talk about that impressive hoard of chanterelles? I’m quite sure Johan would never reveal where he found them—Swedes are famously tight-lipped about their foraging spots (and rightly so!). Do you like to forage, too? We love going blackberry picking near our cottage. I noticed just this weekend that the first berries are beginning to ripen, so I’ll definitely be out there with my basket!

When I interviewed a friend for my Njuta book, she shared a lovely tradition: she forages throughout the year and then, on New Year’s Eve, she infuses each course of the evening meal with something gathered from a different season—a beautiful homage to the year gone by. How nice is that?

I hope you enjoyed the tour of Johan’s home as much as I did. Was there anything that especially stood out to you?

Let me share a few more lovely country homes with you today: 

A magical Norwegian cottage with a wabi sabi vibe
A very cosy Swedish country home
Ilkka's charming rural retreat in Finland

I hope you all have a lovely, relaxing weekend! 

Niki

Photography: Johan Magnussen, shared with kind permission. 

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Inside a Charming 17th-Century English Farmhouse

Twenty-two years. That's how long I have lived in Sweden. And I can safely say it's home. Having said that, I have always felt I have two homes: England will also be home too. Are any of you living outside the country you grew up in and feel that way too? 

So, after a very Swedish, very beautiful weekend last week where the sun shone on Midsummer's Eve celebrations up and down the country, I am hoping you won't mind indulging me here with a tour of a very traditional English country home. I felt extremely nostalgic the moment I saw it as it reminds me very much of my friend Natalie's home in the South Downs. 

Tucked away in the East Sussex countryside, this beautiful 17th-century farmhouse in Pett is full of character and charm. Original features are everywhere — including the incredible beams — adding to its warmth and deep sense of history. I don’t think there’s a single new piece in the entire house, from the tables and chairs to the wall units and the old pull-chain loo (we used to have those at school along with a very waxy loo paper!).

Known as ‘French Court Farmhouse’, the property’s name actually predates the Norman Conquest. The house itself was built around 1640, with later 18th-century additions - how cool is that? C.S. Lewis even stayed here once, writing about the beauty of the woods and the quiet, grounding pull of rural life. That magic still lingers. 

Ready to take a peek inside? 

So beautiful! I love the garden — it reminds me so much of home (even if it does have a Mediterranean touch). And while the interior is very English, there are also hints of faraway places — objects, perhaps, collected on travels.

I used to visit East Sussex on antique auction hunts with my mum (a proud West Sussex native), and this place feels like the embodiment of everything we were chasing — timeless, peaceful, and gently spellbinding.

Does this farmhouse look quintessentially English to you as well? 

I love how the front lawn has been left largely natural — allowing the grasses and wildflowers to grow freely. In my book Lagom, I talked about how closely cut lawns can be like a desert for insects, and how they truly thrive in longer grass like this. I've been so happy to see rewilding take England by storm — it's become popular in Sweden too!

Was there anything that caught your eye?

Would you like to see a few more country homes to wrap up the week? Head over to the country style archive for beautiful rural homes across Scandinavia and beyond. Such a treat! 

I hope you have a lovely weekend — see you Monday!

Niki

For sale via Inigo (if you lover English country homes this estate agent website is like a glossy copy of House & Home magazine - there are so many incredible homes to look at (and buy!). 

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