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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A Charming Swedish Summer Cottage in the Countryside

Last weekend, we headed to our summer cottage for a few days. The tiniest buds were just beginning to appear on the lilac bushes, and a blackbird hopped around the garden, readying itself for spring. Although it was still cold, there was a quiet promise that soon the countryside will burst into life, turning lush and vibrant green. Just like at this beautiful cottage in the countryside, not far from the magical Gothenburg archipelago.

Traditional on the outside and quintessentially Swedish on the inside, the classic ochre, blue and white tones, botanical-themed wallpaper, and charming individual pieces have an air of the Swedish artist Carl Larsson's home.

Although most summer cottages in Sweden do have running water and electricity, it’s not unusual to find some that don’t. One friend of mine has a cottage on an island, and they have to take all their water with them for cooking, washing and drinking. Helen’s cottage has an outdoor loo only (not going to lie, I once stayed there during a two-day photoshoot and it gets so dark outside at night that I sprinted there and back in record time!). And I see this charming old cottage also has an outdoor loo — in fact, you’ll notice there are two side by side. Is it because they’re particularly sociable? Scroll down to discover why!

But prior to that, I hope you enjoy all the details first – the wallpaper, the oil lamps, mirrors, and views over the fields. Let's take a peek inside! 

Have you noticed the doors with the diagonal pattern? It’s something you see a lot of on doors and shutters in the countryside here. I recently got curious about why they’re built that way.

Like many things in Scandinavian design, there’s actually a practical reason. Traditional Swedish cottage doors and shutters often have diagonal wooden braces (sometimes forming a “Z” shape). These braces help keep the door stable, prevent it from sagging, and stop the wood from warping over time.

This construction method is called “ledge and brace,” and apparently it works especially well in climates like ours, where humidity and temperature change a lot throughout the year.

So, the loo or 'utedass' as it's called in Sweden. Just why are there two side by side? It's hardly a place you'd want to sit and chat for a while, right? The reason is actually very practical (as you might have guessed)- it is designed to accommodate different members of the family with a larger hole for adults and a smaller one for children (hence the stool to give the, a 'leg up'! 

I love that the owners have gone to the effort of painting checks on the flor and hanging a picture too! 

Oh, and I thought you might be curious about the wallpapers. The yellow one is 'hiprose' by Borås Tapater, and the one in the dining room is Duro by Gastgivars wallpaper.  

 I love seeing all the lush green - I can't wait to see all the leaves come out here (are they out where you are?). But also I noticed the beautiful old stone wall and steps in the garden. I wonder how long it would take for these took look lovely and aged if you were to add something like this today? I'd love to put something in like this at our little cottage - but not sure if modern-built stone has the same affect?

I'm really keen to here your thoughts about this Swedish country cottage too! 

It's actually for sale right now – maybe something to consider over the weekend? 

Since the weekend is coming up, how about a few more cottages to dream away over? 

A serene Swedish lakeside retreat

From classroom to country retreat
A cosy Swedish summer cottage to explore

Have a wonderful weekend! 

Niki

PS busy getting your outdoor space ready for Spring / Summer? I have written a guide with some nice tips in my latest story for IKEA here, if you fancy a read! 

Photography courtesy of Mäklerhuset with thanks.

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