Brita and Kalle's Charming, Unique and Personal Swedish Country home

Friday calls for something extra special, don't you think? And I have just the home! When Brita Zackari and Kalle Zackari Wahlström first stumbled across the country home south of Stockholm, Sweden, it was love at first site! Since then, the pair have painstakingly renovated the property little by little, slowly transforming it into a unique home where they live full time with children Essa and Björn. 

The pair have done a lot of the work themselves, learning as they go - a process which has been covered on Sweden's popular TV show 'Help, we've bought a farmhouse' (in Swedish). A sustainable approach has been key, choosing for example, egg oil tempura (a matte and full coverage paint made from egg linseed oil emulsion and natural pigments) instead of traditional paint for walls, furniture and storage and furnishing a lot of the living space with vintage finds. 

The result is a charming home where Brita's Danish modern influence from childhood come together with Kalle's traditional Swedish country style. Enjoy the tour, you're in for a treat!

The furniture is a delightful blend of vintage and contemporary. I spy a pond mirror and Hay matin table lamp in the background. Look closely and you'll discover a collection of fascinating unique pieces in the form of vases, candleholders, mobiles and art. 

Don't be afraid to go dark in a small room. Here, deep green walls create a cosy feel while also helping to camouflage much-needed storage. 

Beautiful - and packed with personality! 

I love the earthy hues from the linseed oil - and all the unique touches. 

Is there anything that stands out to you? 

Take a peek inside other Scandinavian country homes this weekend in this archive (if this pops up first, you know the drill - just scroll on past and the others will be lurking below!). 

Have a wonderful weekend! 

Niki

PS If you've been missing my newsletter / not receiving posts directly to your inbox, don't forget to re-subscribe below! 

Photography: Fanny Rådvik

Stylist: Dennis Valencia 

Interior design / homeowner: Brita Zackari / Kalle Zackari Wahlström

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Before & After: An Old Swedish Croft Becomes a Charming Summer Cottage

It's so easy to become 'home blind', don't you think? I find it's only when I come back from holiday or a time away that I see the changes that need to the made to our house (cue - flying about rearranging furniture and adjusting things before we've even unpacked!). That's why I marvelled at the transformation of this Swedish croft. 

Built in the 1900 as a place to house the elderly members of the family and farm workers, the property on Torsö island, lake Vänern has now fallen into the hands of wedding photographer Johanna Carlsson and her husband Vicktor and their dogs Nalle and Doris. Despite growing up with the croft, Johanna had a keen idea of how she wanted the interior to look - and the pair have been renovating it little by little to transform it into a beautiful cottage in which while away the summer. Here are a few pictures (including some before and after):  

The outside has been given a refresh, while keeping the quintessentially Swedish red and white facade intact. 

A porch area doubles up as a sunroom in which to enjoy 'fika' and meals bathed in natural light. 

Kitchen before

Kitchen after

Simple updates such as a new handmade worktop and longer linen curtains have helped to bring this kitchen up to date while maintaining the relaxed traditional feel. 

Sitting room before

Mix and match furniture has its charm, but it's not always the most practical or comfortable. 

Sitting room after

Johanna and Viktor updated the room using wallpaper from Boråstapeter and then furnished it with a comfy sofa (as modelled by Doris) and a handmade table with rustic charm. 

Bedroom before

The pair sleep in what was formerly a children's bedroom with bunkbeds.

I spy stickers - can I get a show of hands for anyone who has spent hours trying to get rid of the residue from doors, beds and other furniture in a children's room? I was scrubbing away on Allie's door just the other week. Mind you, stickers are at least better than slime, there's an outright ban on that stuff in our home! 

Bedroom after

It's hard to imagine that this delightful space is the same room! 

Tulippa wallpaper Boråstapeter adds character to the bedroom while a bedskirt gives the space a traditional touch. 

Outhouse before

Outhouse after

An outhouse on the grounds, previously used for storage, was cleared out and repainted - creating a perfect place for midsummer gatherings.

A simple outdoor shower means the couple can wash under the open-sky and make the most of the long summer days! 

Such a charming summer cottage, don't you think? 

If you'd to keep up to date with Johanna's latest renovation projects, follow along over at @torptokig. 

As you know by the sheer number of pretty red and white Swedish summer cottages I've been featuring lately, I'm not quite ready to let go of summer just yet. But as we near mid-September the autumn feeling is in the air and I'm going to have to concede that summer is over! I'm looking forward to sharing some Scandinavian city apartments with you next week! Stay tuned! 

Before I head off for the weekend, I also wanted to share with you, that as a London girl (who's been living in Sweden for over 18 years), it was with a heavy heart that I heard the news about Queen Elizabeth II yesterday. Her Majesty was a truly remarkable person who has always been there throughout our lives. I particularly admired her professionalism and commitment to duty but also how warm and personable she was, with a wonderful sense of humour. In the words of Paddington Bear: Thank you Ma'am, for everything. 

Wishing you all a lovely weekend, 

Stor kram

Niki

Photography courtesy of Johanna Carlsson, shared with kind permission. 

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Alexandra's Vintage-Inspired Home in The French Countryside

I often think homes are like books: they all have a story to tell. In a library you'll find many genres, and it's the same with living spaces. While some might be akin to romantic novels, others are more playful and colourful - like a comic! Alexandra's home in Chanterelle, central France, is like poetry.

Alexandra has furnished her living space entirely with one-off pieces sourced at vintage and antique markets (how I'd love to visit France purely for the purpose of visiting antique markets.... and maybe the cuisine. OK, the wine too... actually, I could as well soak up some culture while I'm there too!), ensuring every single room is filled with treasures. Subtle, earthy tones, a wonderful stone floor and exposed wood ceiling as well as clever use of paint create a perfect backdrop and add to the overall charm. 

Bienvenue chez Alexandra! 

How beautiful! I almost feel like I'm there, it's a strange sensation. 

Is anyone else now planning to scour flea markets this weekend? Preferably in France, of course!

Incidentally, Alexandra sells a selection of vintage accessories online here (and you can see more of her home over at @milkandhomefamily).

Note the paintwork throughout the house. Using darker shades on architrave, doors, skirting boards and even ceilings is the trend du jour! I think it looks beautiful and in older homes, really helps to enhance period features. 

Would you like to look around a few more French homes this weekend? Here are a few others I love: 

A relaxed, vintage inspired house in the French countryside

The fab home of a French stylist and photographer

Inside the Parisian home of a chef and photographer 

What book genre would you associate your home with? Tricky one actually, I'm looking around mine and currently drawing a blank! 

Have a wonderful weekend friends. À bientôt!

Niki

Photographer courtesy of Alexandra / @milkandhomefamily

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