my scandinavian home: decorating with wood

Warm Woods & Soft Textures: Inside a Gothenburg Oasis

Hej! I’m back from a wonderful few days with family in Cornwall – the rugged south coast of England – all rosy-cheeked and full of way too many Cornish pasties! Thank you so much for your patience while I took a little time off.

The good news is, I have a lovely, calming Swedish home in Gothenburg to share with you. What first drew me in was the kitchen: the mix of warm wood cabinetry with that sleek chrome shelf above – such a distinct and striking combination I haven’t come across before, and bang on trend! But what really makes this space so inviting is the overall softness it radiates. From the fluffy textures and calming neutral tones to the gentle light filtering through sheer curtains, every corner feels thoughtfully designed yet wonderfully pared down. It’s the kind of home that whispers calm and comfort – exactly what we all need midweek.

Here’s to a soothing Wednesday, everyone – enjoy the tour!

I love the textured wall in the bedroom and all those layered, soft materials; they work so beautifully to soften the boxier lines of modern architecture, transforming the space into a true little oasis. It’s a look that feels both calming and inspiring – very much in line with the signature style of Emma Fisher, the talented designer behind this home and one of Gothenburg’s brilliant interior designers.

Did anything in this home catch your eye? Is this your kind of style? I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments below!

Happy mid-week friends!

Niki

Styling: Emma Fisher, Photography: Walti Hösli for Entrance.

A Cosy, Historic Shipbuilder’s Cottage in Tasmania Awaits!

Hej hej! I hope you had a lovely weekend. We've been up at our cabin, and it’s got me in the mood for an extra-cosy home tour today—are you up for the ride?

Great, because we’re heading to Twiss Street in Northern Tasmania!

You might recognize this charming little heritage cottage from a feature I wrote last year. Formerly a shipbuilder's cottage dating back to 1890, this 160-year-old property underwent a major renovation before becoming a cosy Airbnb retreat. And now, it could be your own personal getaway as the owner has decided to sell it!

I love how these pictures reveal new angles, allowing us to appreciate the craftsmanship, unique corners, and details like never before. While the beautiful vintage and antique furnishings are relatively understated, it’s the original hand-sawn local hardwood timber, exposed roof shingles, and wide-plank flooring—salvaged from a ship’s deck—combined with lime-rendered walls and a brick fireplace that give it its striking, unique look and help transform it into the cosy cocoon that it is.

Ready to step into the dark side? Let’s take a peek inside.

So beautiful! I love how the ceiling varies throughout, along with the wood cladding and dark timber floors, which truly bring the property’s heritage to the forefront.

Plus, it seems like every piece of furniture and each painting has its own story, making them fit right in.

Needless to say, the cottage has been featured in numerous magazines and books, including The Poetry of Spaces by Sarah Andrews.

I could easily spend a week cosied up by the fire—how about you?

Is there anything in particular that stands out to you about this cottage?

I have a real soft spot for cottages and cabins in Tassie! Here are a few more of my favourites:

Captain's Cottage - a cosy bolthole in Tasmania

A wabi-sabi getaway in the Bay of Fires

Imagining a weekend at Millington house

Cosy Hide-away: The Butcher's House

I hope this has given you something to dream about for the week!

Niki

Photography courtesy of Circa heritage & Lifestyle, you can see more images over at @twissstreet.

FILED UNDER: cosy homes decorating with wood International homes rural retreats

The Handmade Home of a Danish Architect and Carpenter

Yesterday I was wondering around a DIY (Do-It-Yourself) store in search of a tool and I found myself mulling over how good Scandinavians tend to be at fixing things around the home - and how this has inspired me over the years. The truth is, a lot of things that require attention are relatively simple to fix - and it can feel really empowering to get out a tool box - saving yourself time and money in the process.

But architect Mette Kirk (@kirkarkitektur)and her husband Henrik Balle - a carpenter at Silkeborg Byg go design, have taken DIY to a whole new level. The talented pair have renovated their 1935 house in Aarhus entirely by themselves - even creating the kitchen cabinets, bathroom storage and other units from scratch. Ready to feel inspired?

The entirely unique kitchen cabinets in white and wood were designed by Mette to capitalise on space.

Wall units like this wooden one designed by Mette and built by Henrik have become increasingly popular in Denmark lately. My Copenhagen-based friend Caroline Bahrenscheer recently launched a beautiful version for cups, available here.

The dining space is filled with fab Danish design pieces including wishbone chairs, BT001 pendant lamp, and a Formikami table lamp.

A beautiful parquet floor from Hørning Parket has been laid throughout the house.

This style of built-in cabinetry (made by Henrik) is ideal for small bedrooms as it makes use of every inch.

I love the built-in bedside table nook - such a clever addition! The lamp is the Louis Poulsen Ring Crown.

Henrik also built the wooden bathroom cabinets (look at the detail!) - which add a wonderful warmth to the space as well as gallons of open and closed storage space! The loo is from Ifö and the floor was found at Flisegalleriet.

What an inspiring home.

It would be so useful to be able to whip up incredible cabinets and storage units at whim, don't you think? And of course, Mette's eye for design is simply wonderful too!

Do you have enough storage in your home, or has Mette and Henrik's house inspired you to add more?

Perhaps more importantly, how much do DIY do you do? Are you the type to get out a toolbox if something needs fixing or do you prefer to call a handyman? I've learnt to dabble (although Per does the majority!) - but we're on nowhere near the level of building incredible units like the ones in this home!

Would you like to feel inspired by other architect's homes today? Here are some lovely ones:

A Swedish architect design her own home

The calm home of a Swedish architect

An architects serene home in Copenhagen

Have a great start to the week friends!

Niki

Photography: Mette Kirk, shared with kind permission

FILED UNDER: danish home decorating with wood Storage

A French Photographer's Earthy Home on The Vendée Coast

Kicking off the week with snapshots from the beautiful home of French photographer and director Aurelie Lecuyer, husband Jean-Christophe and their three children in a forest on the Vendée coast. The 1970s house exudes calm thanks to the wonderful warm wood, layers of texture and earthy tones. Think surfaces dotted with lamps and foraged pieces, contemporary lighting, sculpted built-in furniture and shelves laden with artefacts, books and magazines. All the while, the look is clean, calm and relatively contemporary. Be still my beating heart!