A Family Home With a Breath-taking View of The Austrian Alps

Sometimes it's the home you fall in love with, other times it's the setting. I can imagine that for the Sperrer family, it was both! When blogger, PR consultant and portrait photographer Lisa Sperrer, her husband and  two daughters (7 and 15) went to view this 1970s bungalow in the foothills of the alps back in 2015, they were amazed by the views. They also saw that the house had huge potential - despite the 1970s wallpaper! They set about transforming it into the light and airy living space it is today. I chatted with Lisa to find out a little more about the renovation, the inspiration behind the neutral scheme and THAT breath-taking view!

What was the house like when you bought it?
It was fresh out of the 70s - with outdated wallpapers, carpets and furniture. Everything was in good condition, so we were able to sell a lot of it, keeping a few special things.

Did you need to make any bigger changes too?

We stripped the wallpaper and carpets, laid solid wood floorboards and renovated the bathroom and the rest room. The house was designed with huge windows, which we loved, but we replaced the existing windows with wooden ones. We're honestly not finished yet, and I don't think we ever will be - there's always something to do and I love that! This week, for example, we got new doors. 

Was it love at first sight?

When I first stepped into the house, we immediately fell in love with the view. We love our window seat - it's like an ever changing painting. The mountain in front of our house is called 'kremsmauer' - and we have a lot of other mountains nearby. We love to hike with our daughter (meanwhile the teenie has different hobbies!!), we also love mountain biking. 

What is important to you when it comes to decorating? 

My husband and I fortunately share the same taste. We love the combination of white and solid wood, and the mix of old and new. For the last few years I've been focusing a lot on sustainability - with regards to food, clothes lifestyle and furniture.  

What inspires you?

I get inspired by a lot of things! Firstly, nature! Most of my ideas come to me while out walking in the woods. I also love to travel and soak up the culture and style of other countries. I like to look at old interior books from the mid-century. And last but not least, Instagram and Pinterest - there are so many creative people out there! 

I spy lots of designer pieces in your home - do you have a favourite piece? 

We have some classics from Vitra, Iittala, Fritz Hansen and Thonet but also items from new designers. I really love my shelves from Konstantin Slawinski - they are modular, so you can easily arrange them however you like - perfect for interior lovers who always like to change everything in their homes! We also have some IKEA furniture - like our kitchen and the solid wood items in my daughter's bedroom. 

Thank you so much for inviting us into your home this Monday Lisa - those views are just incredible! 

If you'd like to see more of Lisa's lovely home hop on over to her instagram feed: @wohnprojekt and blog: Wohn Projekt (I see she's also shared a great star / snowflake DIY!). 

This isn't the first Austrian house I've shown - a quick check in the archives revealed this fabulous ski chalet (which makes me so excited about our ski trip to the Austrian Alps in February! Have you been to Austria? If not, it's definitely one for the bucket list! 

Have a great start to the week friends! 

Niki

PS Did you stop by for Christmas inspiration? If so, head on over the Christmas and Christmas decoration archives - there are so many inspiring ideas waiting for you! 

Photography: Lisa Sperrer

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Japandi Style In An Inspiring 'Second-Hand' Home In New Zealand

Even though this home in Hamilton, New Zealand couldn't be further from Scandinavia -  you'd be forgiven for thinking it was at least within the vicinity! But there's something strikingly different about it too - perhaps it's the subtle Japanese influence, or it could be the unique collection of second hand furniture. Erena Te Paa juggles her time between being a Mother to her two little boys Sol (1) and Costa (3) and working as a freelance stylist and Airbnb host. Erena and her husband Joe bought their home two years ago. Designed by well-known New Zealand architect Rod Smith in the 1960s, the house had fallen into disrepair and the pair have set about renovating it one room at a time. The result is a beautiful, Japandi-style home in warm neutral tones and furnished throughout with sculpted furniture - and clever DIY ideas. Welcome inside! 

Above: the kitchen wall can easily be adapted thanks to the pegboard wall. See this DIY for similar. 

"Interior styling is cathartic for me so I am always rearranging furniture," Erena tells me. 

"I almost forget that most of the things I find to fill my spaces are second hand. I am incredibly passionate about reusing and restoring furniture and that, I believe, has influenced by personal style."

Sinnerlig lamp, Flos brass table lamp*

A lot of the bedroom furniture was sourced second hand, including the bed. "I found pieces over a period of time. I tend to give myself a bit of lead time so I'm not rushing. It's an enjoyable process not knowing what I'll find."

"I find neutral tones very grounding and tend to lean towards them. I would describe my style as somewhat Japanese-inspired with a modernist, mid-century twist, though, honestly I think someone observing might be able to describe my style better!" 

I'm feeling so inspired by this home, especially with regards to the second hand finds. It can be a tricky business scouring second hand sites - but Erena's home is proof that you'll be truly rewarded! 

On her Instagram, Erena has this to say about it:

"I often forget that most of the things I find to fill my space are second hand. And I don't say this in a sustainability warrior-princess kind of way (which there is nothing wrong with BTW!) but a) I would not be worthy of the title and b) it was at first unintentional. 

What started as a quest for 'champagne taste on beer budget' has become an enjoyable and reliable way for me to express my interior style and it has become second nature. But buying second hand is not everyone's cup of tea. It has its own set of obstacles, like the fact that it's not easy to find what you're looking for (some may say it's near impossible!) and there's the fact that some things are just better (and more reliable) bought new. 

But what I am most definitely staunch about is considered purchases. Taking that little bit longer to work out if what you are about to buy is really what you need and then taking the time to hunt or save for it. 

So if there is one thing I would say when it comes to purchasing anything, it would be to consider all your options before going out and buying old or new. How we buy is one way to buy smarter (greener) but how we choose is just as important as the what."

You can see more of Erena's home and find out more about her latest projects on instagram and her website. 

I actually thought this is the first ever home I've shown from New Zealand but looking through the archives I realised that isn't the case at all! I have also featured this home with a warm, boho vibe and less we forget Waterfall Bay House and the home and showroom of Father Rabbit! 

Thank you for all the inspiration today Erena / New Zealand! 

Oh, and speaking of far away places - we've just arrived on the beautiful Swedish island of Gotland. It feels like and extra special achievement as it has taken us AGES to get here, battling against the elements by sailboat (it's right out in the Baltic) - I'm particularly proud of my girls who were so patient on the way here! Gotland is somewhere I've dreamed of visiting for years and it exceeds all of my wildest expectations! 

Saying that, Per and the girls are standing over my shoulder waiting for me to finish this post so we can go and explore so I'd better head off! I hope you have a wonderful start to the week too!

Niki

Photography courtesy of Erena Te Paa

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Relaxed Southern Style Meets Scandinavian Minimalism in a Florida Home

I had such a hectic journey home from Transylvania last night. The flight was cancelled due to bad weather. I finally landed in Copenhagen at midnight along with Fredrik, Crown Prince of Denmark - I kid you not!! He got whisked away in a limo straight off the plane, I on the other hand, had a slightly longer journey out of the airport! Anyhow, it was so nice to wake up in my own bed this morning - I felt a great sense of calm wash over me as I wondered down for my morning coffee. In fact, the vibe in the white and wood home of Carla Natalia Thompson perfectly captures my mood. Originally from Puerto Rico, the home stylist lives in a beautiful, 1920s craftsman home in Florida with her husband Justin and son Atticus Rhys. Their understated family home is a sea of white and wood, while plants and vintage finds help to add a calm and relaxed, bohemian vibe.  Enjoy the tour!

Pinnoockio chairs, Seno table

Crosley Cruiser record player*, 

Carla Natalie covered her IKEA sofa with a leather slip from Comfort Works. Brass lamp from Target.

Bed from West Elm, source white linen bedding here*

This small round straw bag* is similar.

How serene! I particularly love the lack of clutter, how about you?  

BTW, I picked up the same white string basket seen in the bathroom at IKEA last week. I use mine for vegetables in our kitchen - but I'm liking the idea of using it for loo rolls too! Artilleriet do one with a nice brown leather strap and I also saw a fabulous crochet and leather Chanel one in Vogue UK  - but that was a WHOLE other budget (and I'm guessing waaaay to good for veggies and loo rolls - even if it was called a 'shopper').  

You can see more of Carla Natalia's delightful home on her eponymous blog and instagram and there's always the bohemian style archive for a ton more relaxed homes. 

Have a wonderful day friends!

Niki

Photography: Carla Natalia Thompson

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Snapshots From a Serene, Light Family Home in Normandy

There's so much to love about Cecile Fossey's calm oasis just outside Le Havre in Normandy, France (yes, the French streak continues - if I carry on like this I'll need to change the name to 'My French Home'! - does that have a nice ring to it?!). It's a house which would make Marie Kondo proud (have you seen her Netflix series?). Items are whittled down to a minimum and carefully selected to fit with the calm nature of the space - which is a perfect blend of white and light wood. Rattan, seagrass, wicker and other natural materials add to the warmth, while soft blue accents offer a homely feel. It's time to sit back and lower your pulse. Enjoy the tour!

In a relatively small space, building a half-wall helps to provide space for extra kitchen units and much needed workspace. The simple wooden beams make a nice change from glass window dividers and add warmth.

IKEA kitchen cabinets, brass light from Leroy Merlin (this Frama light is similar)

 

Just look art that fireplace! Isn't it incredible?! 

Smaller items of furniture like this cute junior rattan chair cater for the younger members of the family Capucine and Gustave. 

Juju hat*, Grönadal rocking chair

Tiles from Mosaic del Sur (look out for the tile edit this weekend!)

Light pink linen bedding*, mobile (pretty shop alert!)

As mentioned in yesterday's home tour, cane furniture is set to be big this year.  I see there's currently a vintage chest-of-drawers* like this one on Etsy right now - but you'd need to be quick! 

Raphael wallpaper / Sandberg (also seen in this 2019 colour trend round-up), rocking lamb 

Natural seagrass belly basket*, Cam Cam organic swan rattle

Such a lovely space - I wish I could whittle my home down to slightly less items too.

Having said that, fear not friends. These are mere snapshots of sections of Cecile's home and it's highly likely there are plenty of items just around the corner.

See Cecilie's instagram @Octobre_et_mai and shop away at her pretty Sunday Shop (I've got my eye on the wall hanging!).

For more serene white and light wood spaces I'm loving a dutch home infused with warmth and harmony, the beautiful white farmhouse of an interior designer and a wonderful white and wood holiday home.

Tomorrow I have a whole day workshop at an atelier just outside Gothenburg where we're kicking off a VERY exciting project. I CAN'T WAIT to reveal more (hopefully next week!!). It's something I've been thinking about launching for a while and feel really passionate about - I hope you'll be just as excited as I am! The only problem is, I've run out of time to create a Friday post- guh! But I'll try to stop by on Saturday instead.

Importantly though FRIDAY NIGHT is only 24 hours away - we got this! Do you have any plans?!

Whatever you do, I hope it sparkles!

See ya'll Saturday!

Niki

// Photography: Cecilie Fossey shared with kind permission

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A Delightful Dutch Home Defined By Slow Living

Hejsan hoppsan (says no one in Sweden. Ever!). Only a few hours to the weekend friends - weeeee! Are you ready for it?  Oh yes! I thought I'd finish the week on a high. Welcome to the charming world of Tessa Hop, partner Menno, their three boys and little girl in The Netherlands. The family live in a self-designed contemporary wood and glass house surrounded by nature. The interior transports you to a world where natural textures and earthy colours reign supreme. Think muted tones, concrete floors, rattan, stone, and dried flowers in a calming oasis in which to enjoy a slower way of life.

// affiliate links marked with *//

Gold mobile*, Wood lamp, Floating Leaves by Paper Collective* is similar to these prints

I love the idea of using dead space behind a sofa as a place for a children's table and a pair of Ercol stacking chairs* - such a clever use of space.  Source wooden toys like these from Wooden Story.

 Muuto dots*, round basket bag* (love this!), Ercol love seat

Look at all those happy faces! 

And how amazing is that bath? I'm trying to get some info about it from Tessa, if I hear anything I'll let you know!). I also really like the idea of using a simple wood rail for storage (a DIY idea for the weekend perhaps?!).

This children's room is so pretty. I recently added a rattan day bed from Nordal in my daughters room (tour to follow soon!). This one from Anthropologie* is similar if you live outside Europe).

What a home! I especially loved the bathroom (probably because I'm looking for ideas for my own bathroom).

Is there anything that stood out to you?

So folks. I do believe that's a wrap!

If you'd like to check-out a little more Dutch inspiration this weekend take a peek in this archive (hop over this home if it pops up first).

Have a fabulous couple of days - and see you Monday!

Niki

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