The Cosy, Small Flat of a Copenhagen Creative and Plant Lover

It was so fun to hear you all loved yesterday's home tour as much as I did. What's not to love about a beautifully restored Swedish country home (and Johanna renovated it to perfection too!). Today, I have something for all the city dwellers amongst us - a cosy, charismatic apartment in Frederiksberg, Copenhagen. Dane Ann-Kristin Løye Hejl shares 'moments of motherhood, knitting and little corners of her home' through her inspiring instagram feed @annkristinlhejl (if you don't follow her already, it's a must!). A keen gardener, the flat is filled with plants and flowers - and on warm summer days, the balcony doors are thrown open so the family can enjoy a little outdoor oasis. Welcome to Ann-Kristin's world! 

 The pink crate-style storage boxes are everywhere right now in Scandinavian homes. You can pick up various colours at Lagerhaus. Now I've pointed them out, you won't be able to 'unsee' it!!! I think I'm going to refer to them as the IT crate from now on!

A vintage cabinet above the dining table adds charm to the dining area in the corner of the sitting room - while adding some extra storage (while leaving floor space free - perfect!).

Spot the IT crate? 

Ann-Kristin's creative projects are never far away. On the table you can catch a glimpse of one of her latest knitting projects (they have their own hashtag on instagram for good reason - I love everything she creates!). 

The pretty bedding is from JUNA Design - a Danish textile brand with strong a sustainable core. 

It's about 27 degrees celsius (80 Fahrenheit) here in Southern Scandinavia today, so I can imagine Ann-Kristine and her family are sitting out on this balcony enjoying a few rays surrounded by the divine scent of blooming summer flowers (I love this pic on her instagram - so cute!).

Here on the Swedish west coast, we're about to wander down to the water for a dip (it'll be the first of around five swims my children will take today!!). Last night, the final swim was at 9.45pm - and the sun was still up!). Swedish summertime at its finest (we need to make the most of it while it lasts!). Do you live near some cool water you can swim in too?

Before I head off with my towel, I'll leave you with some other  of my favourite Copenhagen home tours to feel inspired by:

A cosy Danish loft full of plants and vintage treasures
Johanne and Luka's beautiful Copenhagen townhouse
The timeless Danish home of a jewellery designer

Gotta love the cool, relaxed Danish style, right?

Have a lovely day! I hope the sun is shining where you are too!

Niki

Photography courtesy of Ann-Kristin Løye Hejl - shared with kind permission. 

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A White Danish Home Full Of Art and Scandinavian Design Classics

It's a beautiful sunny day today in Sweden - and I'm dreaming of hopping over the bridge to Copenhagen. The borders are sadly closed (except for those working there), BUT there's no reason why we can't go on a virtual trip, right?! Mathilde Engelund lives in the hip neighbourhood of Vesterbro - one of my favourite parts of town, known for its offbeat shops, art galleries and bars. It's also near the meatpacking district - which is a perfect place to grab a beer in the sunshine (can you tell I'm missing the city?!). Mathilde has a passion for interior design and recycling - which shines through in her choice of art, iconic Scandinavian design classics and eclectic blend of furniture picked up at flea markets, antique fairs and other secondhand sources. As a result, the spacious living space is filled with light and has a wonderful relaxed feel. A perfect family home for Mathilde, her partner and their son Hugo. Velkommen in! 

 

 

 

Oh wow! This home has put a real smile on my face. I love the relaxed vibe, how about you?

Is there anything that caught your eye? 

You can see more pics of Mathilde's lovely home on her Instagram @hjemv. 

It would be kinda rude not to share a few more Danish home tours today don't you think? After all, we've made the effort to take the virtual trip!! Here are a few others I love: 

A cosy danish loft full of plants and other treasures

Johanne's and Lukas' beautiful Danish townhouse

The timeless home of a Danish jeweller and vintage furniture collector

In the words of our Danish friends: Ha en dejlige dag! 

Niki

Photography courtesy of Mathilde Engelund and Another Studio

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Johanne & Lukas' Beautiful Copenhagen Townhouse from 1927

Tjena! How was your weekend? The sun was shining here in the Öresund region which is just what we all needed to keep our spirits up! I say 'Öresund' because that also includes Copenhagen, which is just over the water from where I live - and the subject of today's home tour! Yay! You might recall the feature I wrote about Johanne & Lukas's apartment last year (in case you missed it, take a peek here - it's packed with fab small space ideas!). And now the pair, who are expecting a baby girl in the summer, have moved to a wonderful townhouse. Built in 1927, the property was in major need of renovation and I can't think of a better pair for the job than Johanne and Lukas. Snapshots on their instagram @femte.til.venstre reveal it's starting to take shape beautifully! Here's a sneak peek: 

I love doors with windows that open separately - they're perfect for springtime!

The wall looks very much like my new kitchen wall - I used chalk paint from the small Icelandic company Kalklitir who pretty much worldwide and do some beautiful shades! Plus, they are the nicest people ever! 

I'm such a big fan of this IKEA Gjöra bed - the high bar can be used for clothes, fabric and general customising (no doubt Allie would use it as a gymnastics bar given the chance too!).  It looks really pretty in this bedroom, don't you think? 

Oh, so beautiful - just as expected!

I love all the earthy touches and all the wood in particular, it's so calming. 

Is there anything that stood out to you? 

Excited to hear the baby news this summer, I'll be keeping an eye on their instagram like a hawk! If you're not already following Johanne and Lukas, you can find them at @femte.til.venstre.

How about a little more Danish inspiration this morning?

A cosy Danish loft full of plants and vintage finds
Books, art and golden tones in a Copenhagen apartment
A Copenhagen home full of Scandinavian design treasures

Have a great start to the week!

Niki

Photography: Johanne & Lukas / @femte.til.venstre

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A Fabulous Danish Home In A Plethora of Colours!

So, mina raringar, here's the colourful Danish home I've been telling you about. And I wasn't kidding - colour fiends out there, are going to do a little dance when they see this!! It's fabulous! Located in leafy Frederiksberg, Copenhagen, this colourful bonanza of a home belongs to Cathrine de Lichtenberg, her husband and dog Pedersen. The trio occupy the ground floor and basement of the old Patricia villa which dates back to 1898! I caught up with Cathrine, who works at the fabulous flower design studio Poppykalas and also as an interior stylist, to find out more: 

Brumbury table lamp, Uno form kitchen cabinets, wall colour: Deco Pink 2782

Have you always loved colour?

Yes, in elementary school I would always colour match my belt, bag, socks, t-short and other details! The same with the colours on my bedroom wall - which were everything from pink to mint green- However, as a teenager, I became a little insecure (like most!) and found comfort in dressing like others. - so, I toned it down. But today I mix and match my clothes as I feel fit for the day, and I have a very relaxed approach to paint. If I have a feeling about a new colour, I just do it - it can always be redone! 

Vertigo ceiling light*, Series 7 chair*, Flower field rug from Layered. 

What are your go-to home decorating colours?

I don't think there are any main colours. However blue, light pink and lavender tend to appear in most rooms. 

IKEA stool painted in Dyrup metallic 'Shiny blue' 

Flower Field Wool Rug, sofa from Sofa Company, wall colour: Smooth White 8470

Scandinavian homes are synonymous with being white or monochrome, would you say there's also scope for lots of colour? 

Yes, colours are becoming more and more normal in Scandinavian style. Having said that, I don't think we have a typically Scandinavian style. Ours is a mix of everything we like - no rules! 

Montana storage units

What inspired the colours in your home?

A mood, a feeling, a fruit, a pattern, a photo, a dress, or whatever awakes the feeling in me and drives me to implement it in my home. 

Curtains from &Drape, pale blue bedding*

Do you have any tips for anyone looking to introduce more colour into their home?

Don't think too much, just do it! 

If four walls feel like too much, start with one... and if that still feels like too much, then add pillows and vases in the colour you love the most as a great starting point! 

I love using fruit and vegetables to add colour in the kitchen, and of course flowers! Place them in a colourful bowl on the table - it's an easy way to bring energy to the room. 

Well, well, well, where do I even start?! 

Maybe with Pedersen! Doesn't he look happy in this home? I don't blame him. 

I think the most exciting thing of all about stumbling across Cathrine's home on instagram (@cathdelichtenberg - in case you're curious!) is that it's unlike any Scandinavian home I've seen before. It really has put a spring in my step. 

I love her colour tips too, so simple! 

I'd love to hear what you loved most about this Copenhagen home! Has it tempted you to add more colour too?

In case you're feeling the colour therapy today, here are some other fabulous Scandinavian homes filled with colour:

An artful and relaxed home in Aarhus

Embracing the blues in the Danish home of Michael Schmidt

Spring has sprung in this delightful Copenhagen home

Happy lillördag friends!

Niki

Photography: Cathrine de Lichtenberg

This post contains some affiliate links which means I might make a tiny amount of money if you click on a link marked with * and buy something. 

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Spring has Sprung in This Delightful Copenhagen Home Full of Pastels!

Since living in Sweden, spring has become my favourite season of the year. I can't tell you what a wondrous site it is to see buds on the trees and the vibrant yellow of a trumpeting daffodil! They mark the end of a long, dark winter! Spring also brings with it, the first big event of the year: Påsk (Easter) - in all its pastel glory. If you're a big fan of the season too, you're going to love the Danish home of Melissa Xenia Sandra Gosvig. Nestled in the charming Copenhagen neighbourhood of Amager, Melissa's 80 m2 / 860 ft2 apartment is full of pastel tones - from pale blue, green and pink to bold pops of yellow and electric blue! Interior decorating has been a long-standing passion of Xenia's and her home is full of art, second-hand design pieces and flea market finds. Ready for the tour? Velkommen to Melissa's world!

Above: a Kubus candleholder and iconic Noguchi coffee table* sit atop a Beni Ourain rug*. The fab Planet Lamp is by Please Wait To Be Seated (you might remember it from the hallway in this feature). 

This reading spot in the window with art by Nynne Rosenvinge (check out her shop for other colourful prints!) as well as a lovely bright sunshine yellow velvet cushion* is perfect for a moments pause!

I'd never seen one of these Harlequin mirrors until yesterday and then two come along at once (see yesterday's tour!). It's a sign that I need to pick one up for my own home, what do you think?! 

There's a whole load of mix and match love going on here with different colour Hay chairs and vintage finds. Such a pretty dining space! 

Melissa's kitchen is mini but mighty with striking black cabinet doors, dark wood floors (keep a look out for the darker wood trend this year - it's coming!) and white walls. I can imagine the balcony serves as a perfect spot for a 'kaffe og wienerbrød' (coffee and Danish pastry) in the warm spring sunshine too! 

Another wonderful trend this year: mix and match coloured glassware. And these second-hand ones from Ann-Sofie Munk Hansen are so pretty! Keep an eye out for others on Ann-Sofie's page (there are some great ones up for grabs at the moment). 

What do you think? Does Melissa's home make you want to start bringing a flurry of Easter pastels into your home? I might just get started this afternoon with some 'daffy-down-dillys' as my mother likes to call them! 

If you'd like to see more of Melissa's home - there's a load of pictures on her instagram @mxeniaz. 

In the mood for a little more easter inspiration? You might like:

The Big Easter DIY Edit (some really simple and cute ideas here!)

Five beautifully simple easter DIY ideas

Easter touches in a charming Swedish home

Trend alert: how to rock the pastels

Have a great day!

Niki

PS I was so excited to be featured in the Home section of the London Metro today - there's a short version of the interview online if you fancy a read about how to bring a touch of hygge into your home! 

Credits: 2, 3 and 4 by Klix Kommunikation all others by Melissa Xenia Sandra Gosvig

Affiliate links marked with * which means I might make a tiny amount of money if you click through and buy something. 

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