A Christmassy Swedish Home / Rune's cosy Norwegian home

NOTE Did you come here looking for Rune's Christmassy Norwegian Home? If so - you can find it here! Sorry for the link error in my newsletter! 

Today I'm taking you on a journey to Vendelsö in the suburbs of Stockholm - and the lovely, warm home of interior stylist and set designer Elin Wallin. Long-time readers might recognise glimpses of this living space from a post I shared back in 2018. Since then, Elin, her live-in partner, and daughters Indra (13) and Edda (9) have continued to make this lovely, light and airy open-plan living space their home. 

Think warm brown tones, beautiful dark wood and pretty Christmas decorations as well as some clever room makeovers, vintage up cycling and amazing IKEA hacks - all of which have helped to transform the house into a home. 

The cabinet is a clever IKEA Hack. Elin picked up the Pax cupboard on Facebook marketplace and added the wood corner pieces before painting all the wood in the same tone. A simple twist which makes all the difference! Plus, it was no doubt a bargain to buy! 

I love the pink paper Christmas flower too! 

There's nothing like a roaring fire in wintertime, right?

Beside the fire is yet another IKEA second hand bargain - which Elin bought two for the price of one. They were already 'hacked' when she bought them (someone has stuck vertical strips of wood to the front and then painted the entire unit) for a designer look! Clever. 

Recently Elin replaced the coffee table for a marble one that she picked up second hand. But not without a DIY makeover of course! 

Before

After

It's quite incredible what you can do with someone else's cast offs,  a little vision and some great craftsmanship, don't you think? 

Walk-in-wardrobe before 

I recognise this scene from my own home not long ago (feel so much better now that I have a proper grown-up wardrobe!). Elin took matters into her own hands in her house too - and scoured online second hand sites for Nordli storage from IKEA - before piecing together the different units, lightly sanding them down and painting the same colour (Strand by Alcro). 

The result:

Is it even the same room? What a transformation - and all bought for a song too! 

In the master bedroom, Elin has placed a Fan Shaped rattan headboard against wallpaper from Sandberg and a pretty Table Tropez light. 

Simply lovely - and so inspiring too. Is anyone else dying to get their hands on a second hand IKEA piece now? I might just go on marketplace and see what I can find! 

See more of Elin's home and follow her instagram for all her latest projects. 

Would you like to see a few other ikea hacks today? 

5 Clever IKEA hacks to steal from a Danish home

A Swedish home with a clever ikea hack and small pink bedroom!

Our little cabin kitchen with an ikea hack

Come here for some Scandi Christmas inspiration? There are lots of lovely ideas in the Christmas archive (if this post pops up first just scroll past!). 

Wishing you all a great day! I'll be back on Friday with aa glimpse into the kitchen and dining area of our cabin with 'Jul' touches, hopefully see you then!

Niki

Photography: Elin Wallin, shared with kind permission

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Pattern, Prints and IKEA hacks in a Charming Swedish Cottage

Why, godmorgon! I hope you had a lovely weekend! I was up at the cabin and the light was so beautiful (you can catch a glimpse in this little film). Elsewhere in Sweden, illustrator and creator Kajsa Hagelin was also making the most of the late summer days with her family at their home in the countryside. Kajsa and her family have been renovating their quintessential red and white cottage by hand, sharing the inspiring kitchen transformation, Ikea DIY hacks and choice of wallpaper and textiles on instagram. Look closely and you'll also spot lots of Kajsa's own artwork throughout the house too. Ready to feel inspired?

Kitchen before

I'm not sure when the above 'before' kitchen shot was taken - it looks dated to say the least! Either way, Kajsa and her family decided it was time to strip it away and make space for a new kitchen!

Kitchen after

The pair installed an ikea kitchen themselves, adding custom handles for a traditional touch. 

I love this breakfast scene! 

A gallery wall in the dining room includes some of Kajsa's own work (namely the two top right pieces).  You can find many of her prints at Wall of Art. 

A pair of vintage rattan chairs ensure a relaxed vibe in the sitting room, while the gallery wall (which also includes some of Kajsa's own work) cleverly disguises a Samsung The Frame TV - can you spot it? 

Simple hooks hammered into the side of the staircase create a spot for children's coats and classic Swedish Fjellraven Kånken rucksacks. 

The wallpaper in the children's bedrooms is from Willam & Morris and the bedding above is from Garbo & Friends. But what really steals the show is the hand built wardrobe - made from an ikea Billy bookshelf as well as left over panelling and a wardrobe door. 

In the other children's bedroom, they've also worked their magic with a Billy Bookshelf, this time customising it with colour, knobs and fabric. So clever, don't you think? 

The wallpaper is by William & Morris. 

A less than attractive water boiler gave Kajsa the excuse to add pretty Svenskt Tenn fabric to the upstairs bathroom. Svenskt Tenn is a classic brand in Sweden having been around for nearly a century. Recently their colourful textiles and wallpaper have become really popular among a younger crowd! 

So many lovely ideas in this home, don't you think?  

I particularly love all the textiles, wallpaper and prints  - they add so much character. 

Is there anything that stood out to you? 

See more of Kajsa's home over at @kajsavisual and discover her work as an illustrator and creator here (she's so unbelievably talented!). 

Would you like to take a peek inside a few other creatives homes today? Here are a few to get your started:

The happy home of a Dutch illustrator and ceramicist

The Melbourne home of an illustrator and vintage bargain hunter

The studio and home of a Danish carpenter

Have a happy start to the week! 

Niki

Photographer Kajsa Hagelin, shared with kind permission. 

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Cosy Spring Update in My Sitting Room

Paid partnership with Bemz - all words are my own and I only work with brands I love and think you will too! 

I thought I'd kick off with a question - where's the busiest place in your home? As a family of five, it's the sitting room, more specifically the sofa! There's always someone on it - whether that's my stepson watching football, Liv making her way through Gray's Anatomy, or Allie and her friends hanging out. On the rare occasion there's a free spot, Per and I might just get to squeeze in too! It's just how I imagine our sitting room to be - cosy, comfy and full of people! But it also means our sofa (the Söderhamn from IKEA which we've had for donkeys!) gets SO much wear. Do you find the same in your home?

As we bask in the spring light here in Sweden (no need to talk about the snow yesterday!), I realised it was time for a new cover (that's the beauty of Swedish brand Bemz -  you can keep the IKEA sofa and update the cover - making it feel like an entirely new piece of furniture!). Here's what I chose for spring: 

The fabric

I looked at a number of samples (it's always worth ordering a few samples so you can touch and feel the fabric and see what works best in your room) and  went for the IKEA Söderhamn 3 Seater sofa cover Bouclé ivory and IKEA Söderhamn, Chaise long cover in Bouclé ivory. It's an elegant, classic textile with a lovely tactile feel, plus the wool-blend has lots of texture and added depth (you know me, obsessed with texture!). You can see how it looks when the light catches it below - so beautiful! 

The legs

Incidentally, the Sergel Skinny Wooden Furniture legs are also from Bemz (I got rid the of the stainless steel IKEA original legs a loooong time ago!). For a lower sofa, the Märta oval wooden furniture legs in walnut are a beautiful choice.   

You might notice a few other changes to our sitting room too... 

Other items

We updated the gallery wall with some personal art. Some you might recognise from previous posts, others are new. My favourites are the ones by Helsingborg artist Pearl Wallin, a friend of my Mother-in-law's, I love her work. I picked up the rattan chair in a second hand shop a few weeks ago. And the glass table is on loan from a friend. I'm testing it out and can't decide if I should invest in a glass one or keep the wood bench here. What do you think?  

There's something lighter and fresher about the glass, but will I be forever removing fingerprints and dust? 

I hope you like this sitting room update as much as we do! If anyone's looking for the Brantmarks we'll be right here on the sofa - at least the children will be!

Got an IKEA sofa and feeling inspired to change the cover to something a little more special? My suggestion is to start with the free samples and then go from there. 

If you'd like some more inspiration, here are few different looks I've gone for over the years: 

My sitting room refresh 2017

My sitting room three different ways

My autumn sitting room make-over

I've also updated my bedroom and my Malmö studio with Bemz fabrics! 

Wishing you a great start to the week! 

Niki

Photography: Niki Brantmark / My Scandinavian Home

Styling: Helen Sturesson 

This post is brought to you in paid collaboration with Bemz and contains affiliate links. However, all words are my own and I only ever work with brands I absolutely love and think you will too. Thank you for supporting the Nordic businesses that help bring fresh content to your mail box and make My Scandinavian Home possible.

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5

A Swedish Apartment with a Great IKEA Hack - and a Small Pink Bedroom!

Today I'm taking you on a journey to an apartment dating back to 1900 in the boho district of Södermalm, Stockholm. What caught my eye about this wonderful Swedish space (apartment from the sky-high ceiling and big windows, of course) is a great IKEA hack, the choice of colours - and a cosy, small master bedroom - as well as various other factors! Ready to take a closer look? 

I love the placement of the dining table by the window. In a capital city outdoor space is limited if not non-existent - and I am already imagining the windows thrown open in summertime, giving the illusion of dining alfresco. And in winter, any tasks at the table can be carried out under the natural daylight. Perfect! 

THIS is the IKEA hack I was talking about. I have done exactly the same thing in Liv's bedroom. The IVAR cabinets are from IKEA and have been painted to match the wall and then wall-mounted. So simple and yet so lovely - plus they're nice and narrow so can fit just about any space. 

I love the print too - anyone have any idea who it's by / where it's from? 

A cosy sitting room area has been created further from the window. Notice how the gallery wall helps to create a separate zone. 

The master bedroom may be small - but it's also very cosy. I love how the windowsill doubles up as a bedside table on the far side and the pink hue helps to add a soft, romantic touch. 

A lovely space!

Oh, and it's currently for sale.... just saying! 

Is there anything that stands out to you about this home? Could you imagine going pink in your bedroom? I'd love to hear your thoughts!

Other homes in Södermalm you might love: 

Feel inspired by a stunning Stockholm home

An inviting apartment in warm tones

A small Swedish apartment with a lofted

And for some DIY ideas - 5 IKEA hacks to steal from a Danish home

Niki

Photography: Fredric Boukari 

Styling: Åsa Copparstad

For: Historiska Hem

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