Less Is More: A Malmö Apartment That Lets the Details Speak

An exciting new week lies ahead! It’ll be a short one for me as I’m off to London on Wednesday to visit my family — I can’t wait! In the meantime, the sun is shining here in Malmö, and I couldn’t resist sharing this beautiful apartment that’s just come on the market, not far from my studio.

With its high ceilings and large windows, it already has incredible bones, but what really captures my heart in this turn-of-the-century one-bedroom are the details. Read on to discover the little touches that make this home feel so special and full of character.

Note the string shelving on the kitchen wall — a true Swedish classic, and especially beloved in Malmö, since this is where the company is based and where architect Nils Strinning first designed the system back in 1949.

Unlike in some countries, windows in Swedish homes usually open outwards, which frees up the windowsill as a perfect display area — often decorated with plants, lamps (like this Senigallia one), and other small treasures.

Can you believe this orange chair? It feels like a piece of art while adding a bold pop of colour — and yet it’s from IKEA! The design is called SKOLBODA.

The incredible Louisiana Museum in Denmark is only about an hour from Malmö by train. If you’re in the area, it’s well worth a visit — and don’t forget to pick up a memento, like a beautiful print, to take home with you.

Just like me, the apartment owners seem to have a real passion for lighting — I love their choice of the iconic Snoopy lamp alongside a Bauhaus-inspired donut table and wall lamp.

Who needs a bedside table when you can just use a Marshall speaker? We have three in our house, so it's given me an idea! Note the curtains in front of the wardrobe - a simple and soft way to maintain a calm feel in the bedroom while also adding texture.

A bedroom that feels both practical and decorative — simple white chests of drawers and shelving provide plenty of storage while blending into the background, allowing treasured items to take centre stage. I especially like the electric guitar on its stand in the corner; it adds a personal, creative touch and hints at the owner’s love of music.

I love how this home isn’t afraid to mix designer pieces with high street finds — in the hallway, a vintage black-and-chrome Bauhaus chair sits perfectly beside classic IVAR storage from IKEA.

It’s no surprise that the owners of this apartment also have great taste in clothes — the suede loafers by the door are a clear clue, and very much this autumn’s must-have!

I hope you enjoyed the tour! I was struck by how the neutral backdrop — from the white floors to the beige walls — allows the carefully chosen pieces to stand out, showing that with fewer things, the items you do have can be appreciated even more.

I’ve shared my observations, but I’d love to hear yours too — what details caught your eye?

If you’re in the mood for more Scandinavian home inspiration today, why not take a peek at these other beautiful homes:

Take the tour of Malmö upholsterer Carina Grefmar 
A charming Copenhagen loft full of mid-century classics
A dreamy scandi-inspired beach house

Have an 'underbart' start to the week!

Niki

Photography courtesy of Bo-laget, with thanks.

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Scandinavian Design Icons: CH07 Shell Chair

Sponsored by Carl Hansen & Søn, with thanks

One of the things I appreciate most about good Scandinavian design, is the dedication to making furniture that is both practical and aesthetic. Combine this with high quality natural materials and a timeless appeal and you have a masterpiece on your hands that can be loved for generations to come. 

Danish furniture designer Hans J.Wegner was one of the distinguished designers of all, and helped to put Danish design on the world map. His work is widely recognised for its organic functionality and with items such as the Wishbone chair, CH25 Lounge Chair and Elbow Chair part of his portfolio, it's little wonder he's known as the 'King of Chairs'! 

Today I'd like to pay homage to one of his finest designs: the iconic CH07 Shell Chair. 

The three-legged chair was designed in 1963, but despite positive reviews for it's avante-garde look and feel, it was only when Carl Hansen & Søn reintroduced the Shell Chair in 1998 that the general public appreciated its distinct expression. Twenty-five years on it's one of the most well-loved, iconic chairs of our time!  

The Shell chair is instantly recognised by it's wing-like seat and curved backrest which is supported by three arched legs. Its testimony to Wegner's mission to ensure a chair should be beautiful from every angle. 

The chair has been around for sixty years, and to celebrate the occasion Carl Hansen & Søn have launched this 60th anniversary edition of the Shell Chair in rosewood and oak (with the option of adding seat cushions) - available until December 31st 2023. A small brass plate with Hans J.Wegner's signature can be seen back making it a true collector's item! 

Imagine having a piece like this in your home? I've certainly loved looking after this masterpiece in our sitting room these past few days (sadly it's only on loan!). 

It looks mighty fine beside some of my favourite smaller items which include a vase by my dear artist friend Jennifer Idrizi in nearby Lund and two darling figurines by local Malmö artist Simon Vendin - the latter of whom keep a good eye on things when we're not home! 

I hope you enjoyed reading about the magnificent CH07 Shell Chair! If you're curious, read more about it over at Carl Hansen & Søn.

I have had the great privilege of capturing quite a few iconic danish design pieces in my home over the past few years - here are some of my favourites: 

Wishbone chairs in my dining room

The Plico chair in our cabin sitting room

The Windsor chair in our cabin dining room

Do you have a favourite item of furniture that you dream of owning one day? If so, do tell us more below! 

I hope you have a 'trevlig helg' (lovely weekend)! See you Monday!

Niki

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The New Wishbone Chair in Slate in my Home!

Paid partnership with Carl Hansen & Søn, all words are my own and I only work with brands I love and think you will too. This post has been edited with a correction. 

I love chairs. People often think that you need to buy a whole set, and that they're specifically designed to go round a dining table. But in my mind, chairs are like art. Functional art. And they can look just as beautiful and be practical anywhere in the home. Especially when they are as iconic as the Wishbone chair CH24. This classic Danish beauty, designed by  Hans J. Wegner is over 70 years-old, but you'd never know it thanks to its timeless design. 

I of course love the oak version, but I was also very excited to hear about a new collaboration between danish furniture company Carl Hansen & Søn and London-based designer Ilse Crawford. A partnership which resulted in nine new colour variants of the Wishbone Chair which include soothing earthy tones of Pewter, Hollyhock, Barley, Seaweed, Terracotta, Clay, North Sea, Slate and Falu.

This fine specimen in my bedroom is the 'Slate' variation. 

The chairs have then be finished in a translucent, non-toxic, water-based paint for depth to the familiar shape and also to allow the natural grain to shine through. Everything else about the chair remains intact including the FSC certified beech and natural cord (on a recent trip to Copenhagen, I watched the weavers in action and the level of craftsmanship was immense!). 

It's been a while since I've shown this little corner of my home. Per built these shelves over 15 years ago and they are still going strong! They're not very solid though, hence why they only hold a whittled down curated display including clay figures by local artists Simon Vendin and a bowl by Helena Gorne, a piece of drift wood picked up on a volcanic beach in Iceland, art by my children and lots of plants and photos! 

As I mentioned at the beginning of the post, I think chairs can look lovely in pretty much all rooms of the home. Perhaps my favourite spot for this one is simply against the wall in my bedroom (beside the desk). I like that it means you can more clearly see the outline of the shape. 

Until of course, I cover it in clothes - I give it two days! 

I know it would look beautiful by the table too - either as an entire set or one at the end, perhaps one day I'll move it down, we'll see! 

Are you a fan of the wishbone chair too? 

If you're tempted, see the complete collection over at Carl Hansen & Søn. 

It's been ages since I've featured my home here, if you'd like to see more corners, check out my home  although, I'm starting to feel some updates are needed so maybe you're better off looking at my cabin or better still, there are also lots of beautiful home tours to discover in the archive if you'd like some inspiration this weekend! 

I hope you a relaxing couple of days, thank you so much for stopping by.  

Vi ses på måndag! 

Niki

NOTE I previously stated that this was a limited edition collection, which was an error. The nine CH24 Sift collection will be permanent. The post has been corrected accordingly. Sorry for any confusion! 

Photography & styling: Niki Brantmark - My Scandinavian Home. 

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Bringing the Hygge: A New Danish Armchair in Our Little Cabin

Kindly sponsored by Carl Hansen & Søn, all words and pictures are my own.

When you only have a small living space, like our 30 m2 / 322 f2 cabin, every single item needs to be carefully selected. If it takes up too much space or proves to be impractical you've just lost an entire section of your home! It was in this vein I set out to find the perfect armchair!

The answer came in the form of the foldable FK10 Plico Chair. A little background: designed by Jørgen Kastholm in 1963 and relaunched in 2021 by Carl Hansen & Søn, the Plico chair takes up as little space as possible when not in use, while offering supreme comfort thanks to the ergonomic shape, soft upholstery and adjustable neck rest! 

It's one of those items that fell immediately into place and felt like it was meant to be! Not only is it undeniably beautiful, it's also incredibly sturdy and comfortable too! In fact, when Per sat down for the first time he exclaimed: ''Finally, a comfortable armchair in the house!'' And of course, being slim and foldable it's really practical for a small space too. 

It takes its name from the Latin word 'to fold', and true to all good Danish design, it has been carefully crafted with honest materials that will only get better with age, including a certified solid oak frame, leather armrests, brass fittings and a stitched linen canvas seat. 

Needless to say, we absolutely love it -  it's our new favourite piece of furniture. Although, I also am aware that we are not so much as 'owning' it, we are merely taking care of for the next generation!  

While you're here, I am also keen to share a couple of snaps of another lovely Carl Hansen & Søn piece: the RF200 Table Lamp. 

Also known as the petal lamp, it's designed by Rikke Frost and combines warm wood with metal and emits a lovely, mood enhancing ambience. I felt this combination worked best for our cabin, but it's also available in eight other versions! 

All that's missing now is a lit candle and a glass of wine and we're ready for a 'hyggelig' weekend! 

Are you also a fan of iconic Danish design?

***

I have been receiving so many messages about issues with the My Scandinavian Home email subscription. Thank you so much for alerting me to this, I apologise for the issue. Blogger has stopped offering the service (very annoying!) so I am now looking into replacing it with something else and hope to launch a new newsletter as early as Monday. I'll come back to you as soon as it is set up so that you can subscribe and receive email post notifications once again. Thank you so much for your support and stopping by to read my posts, I appreciate it so much!

Have a wonderful weekend!

Niki

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I Found The Perfect Table and Chairs For Our Tiny cabin!

Paid partnership with  Skovby, all words and photos are my own and I only ever work with brands I love

Tjena! I hope you had a great weekend! We spent some time up at our little cabin and I'm really excited to share some snapshots of our new dining area with you. I can't begin to describe the feeling when we all sat down for our first family meal there (take-away pizza, so glam!).  

When it comes to furnishing a small space (30 m2 / 322 ft sq.) I've quickly learned that choosing less and choosing right is key, otherwise the space can quickly become cluttered.

These were the criteria I had in mind for our dining area:

1. The table needed to be small but still easily seat four

2. The table should be round to save space and avoid knocking into the corners

3. The table needed to be extendable for extra guests 

4. There should be extra seating which could be stacked to one side 

Danish brand Skovby has been a My Scandinavian Home partner for many years now - and I've always appreciated the high quality craftsmanship of their Denmark-made furniture (you might recall the glass cabinet, Per's desk, the coffee tables as well as countless other pieces). This little gem of a #120 dining table with white oil oak legs and a black laminate surface was the first to spring to mind for our cabin! 

The round table is a compact 102 cm in diameter and extendable with up to two leaves (available to buy separately), which means you can comfortably seat 6 or 8 people depending on how many leaves you add. Perfect! 

Chair wise, I chose the #807 dining chair in oak white oil. You know me, I love wood, it has such a warm feel, and the shell shape has some flex which makes it comfy. But if you want to go all out on the comfort, this model is available with upholstery for a soft touch, and the #802 version also comes with armrests.

I also picked up some #840 stools (in oak white oil) which can be stacked to the side when not in use (we've also already used them as a bedside table, sofa side table and a footrest!).  

I love that its sustainably made from leftover production wood (I first spotted it during my visit to the Danish Skovby carpenter workshop earlier this spring and picked one up there and then!). 

I hope you like the table and chairs as much as we do! In case you're interested in any of these pieces for your own small space, Skovby is available almost worldwide (find your nearest stockist here).

Incidentally, the table is available in 9 different finishes including oak white oil and white laminate tops - you can see all the variations here. 

In case you're wondering about the ladder, it can be removed and placed elsewhere when needed - but I guess someone could perch there too!

Give me a shout if you have any questions about anything in these pictures -I'd be happy to help! If you'd like to add any small space tips and tricks of your own, I'm all ears as the cabin is far from finished! 

I hope to be able to share a post about our kitchen - including all the details - soon (look closely and you'll see the knobs are missing). Watch this space! 

Wishing you all a great start to the week! 

Niki 

Photography: Niki Brantmark / My Scandinavian Home

Styling: Helen Sturesson

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At Home With The Beautiful OW58 T-Chair From Carl Hansen & Søn

MSH partnership, all words are my own and I only ever work with brands I love and think you will too. 

Trust the Danes to design a chair that's practical, comfortable, unique and above all else beautiful! This fine OW58 T-Chair was originally designed by highly esteemed Ole Wanscher in 1958 and Carl Hansen & Søn has recently relaunched it, while maintaining a deep respect for materials, craftsmanship and function. Last week I received a pair to test out in oiled oak and upholstered in Balboa by Sahco for Kvadrat and I have to say, it's even more exquisite in real life! Read on to take a closer look. 

So, who was Ole Wanscher? Having studied under Kaare Klint, Wanscher was integral to the aesthetic and functionality of modern Danish design. In 1958 the Danish newspaper Politiken wrote:

"Owning a Wanscher chair is an adventure every day, and will be so even several hundred years from now, for this is how long it lasts". 

Wanscher had a passion for sleek, refined shapes and the sculptured T-Chair is instantly recognisable by it's T-Shaped backrest and exquisite carpentry. 

A loyal tribute to the original design, Carl Hansen & Søn have maintained the distinctive expression and beautiful craftsmanship while adjusting the height to provide optimum ergonomics for today's world (we're a lot taller today than we were in the 1950s!). 

One of the distinct features of the chair is the T-shaped backrest which smoothly merges with the back legs, giving it a cool three-legged appearance. 

Over the past week, I've discovered the chair works equally well as an individual piece as it does an entire set, hence why I hogged one all to myself and placed it by my side of the bed! 

Incidentally, if you're incredibly eagle-eyed, you might recognise the spotted top - I wore it the day I visited the CEO and Founder of Carl Hansen & Søn, Knud Erik Hansen at his home: Hellerup Manor in Denmark! Knud Erik made me feel instantly at home and I was always ready with a fascinating and at times humorous story from his extensive experience in the design world. We filmed this tour of Hellerup Manor during my stay.  

Anyway I digress! One of the things I love most about the T-Chair is how it embodies both classic and modern lines. Take a closer look (under my spotty top!!) and you'll notice the smooth joints - the result of careful processing and many, many carpentry hours. 

Isn't it fantastic? I can totally see how this chair could live on for hundreds of years - both in terms of quality and its timeless design. 

The OW58 T-Chair is available in oak or walnut with leather or fabric upholstery. 

Could you imagine having a set of these in your home?  

I'm already dreading the day they're being collected. Maybe I should invest in my own set! 

Right folks, that's it from me this week. I'm all wrapped up in knits at my desk today while the snow falls silently outside. It's pretty - but cold here in Sweden! BRRRR!

Stay warm and have a fabulous, festive weekend! 

Niki

A big thank you to Helen Sturesson for working with me remotely on this shoot. 

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