Before + After: An Attic Becomes A Light + Airy Guest Bedroom

I'm into tricky spaces at the moment - and love seeing how they can be transformed. Today's make-over sees a cramped attic space in an 1800s farmhouse in the Catskills transformed into a lovely, bright and airy guest bedroom. The house is owned by florist turned writer Lisa Przystup and husband Jonathan Linaberry and used as a weekend retreat; a perfect respite from a more hectic life in Brooklyn, New York. The tools? A lick of paint, a selection of charming furniture and some delightful accessories. In other words - completely cosmetic and not costing the earth either! So, if you've got a spot in your home that's currently full of stuff (don't worry, we all have one!) I think you'll find this hands on DIY make-over truly inspiring!

Before

The attic was already in quite good condition when the couple acquired the house and just needed simple updates like clearing out the clobber, a fresh coat paint on the floor and walls and some pretty pieces! 

Honestly - this is nowhere near the amount of stuff we currently have in our attic - in fact, my husband and I would be congratulating ourselves if our storage looked like this! But still, it's not quite guest bedroom ready! 

After

The pair wanted to keep the backdrop monochromatic to fit the look and feel of the rest of the home. They painted the floors in Tricorn Black and the walls in Extra White by Sherwin-Williams. 

A simple belgian linen blind in oatmeal with a black-out lining adds softness to the space while keeping the sunlight out and a pair of pendant lights have been hung from a single power outlet on the ceiling and hooked to either side of the bed to serve as reading lights (I love this idea - Holly Marder did something similar in this bedroom she designed). Magic Linen is a great source for linen bedding* like this! 

Although pared-back, the bedroom has a lot of charm thanks to the blend of old and new - like this chest-of-drawers left behind by the previous owners and a more contemporary leather and brass chair.  The chest-of-drawers is also perfect for guests staying a little longer, my Mother always says "you've never truly arrived somewhere until you've unpacked."

Every guest room needs a little mirror and side table and these fit perfectly against the central pillar. Feathers and other items found in the Catskills serve as a wonderful reminder of the fantastic nature on their doorstep (I was lucky enough to visit the Catskills for my book The Scandinavian Home and I've been wanting to return ever since, it's a magical place!). 

The room is entered via this beautiful reclaimed door which was already in place when they bought the house. They deliberately left it as it was in order to make it a feature. The folding chairs belonged to one of their grandfathers and serve as extra seating when guests come to stay (source similar vintage ones here*). 

Wow! So simple, yet so lovely! 

I'm already wondering if we should finally do something with our attic space - or even somewhere else in the home. 

Are you feeling inspired too?! 

I first spotted this wonderful make-over on Remodelista (read more about the room and see more pictures here).

If you love a before + after as much as I do, you might also like to brighten up your Monday with these:

A dated 1950's Danish house gets a fabulous make-over

A dingy garage becomes a bright guest house

A dated bathroom becomes a cosy, tranquil oasis

Here's to an inspiring week!

Niki

Photography: Sarah Elliott, shared with kind permission. Design Lisa Przystup

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Before + After: Allie's bedroom make-over

Just as I feel I've got to grips with one stage of my younger daughter's life she suddenly shifts a gear and moves into an entirely new phase! It's Allie's 8th birthday today (happy birthday wonderful girl!), I'm really not sure where the time has gone (this was her at Christmas two years ago)! She suddenly feels so grown-up! Allie's been wanting to update her bedroom for a while now as she's grown tired of her bunk bed and outgrown many of her toys. So, over the past few months we stripped it bear and donated old toys to charity and started all over again. I know I've shared a few snippets on here over the past few weeks, but I thought it'd be fun to run through the complete make-over from start to finish. I hope you enjoy the tour!

Before

The last time we decorated her bedroom was in collaboration with Genevieve Jorn in 2014 - and I still think it has a fresh, vibrant look. Allie had simply grown out of it and wanted something a little calmer and more mature. Gen also gave her fabulous interior design guidance on her new room too.

During

Allie was the cat that got the cream when she got to paint some of the lower sections of the wall (heavily supervised by the ever-concerned man!). We used Jotun Lady 1059 - Complexion on three of the walls (seen here to the left) and Minty Breeze 7163 on the back wall - seen to the right (both kindly gifted by Jotun). Complexion has a subtle pinkish tone to it which was unexpected but creates a lovely, soft feeling the room.

After

The room only came together once the rug and Industriell pendant lamp were in place. It's amazing how that can happen. At night, the lamp fills the room with the warmest light and pretty shadows dance on the ceiling. 

The rug* was handmade by Etsy shop So' Homeso*. it's really soft and made from 100% recycled cotton and fringes of linen. The one thing I haven't done yet is buy an underlay to stop it slipping around. I always forget this but they're so important for a clean finish (and safety!). We've had the wooden blocks for as long as I can remember - they're so simple yet so popular!

I picked up the row of hooks (two combined) from local Malmö shop Geijersgatan 53 (these ash hooks are similar)- I think I've pretty much installed a row of these in every room of the house now! Here is the same set in my  kitchen! The pretty jumper* is from Danish brand Molo this season.

A collaboration with Montana came at the perfect time to swap out the large bunk bed for a single bed and make place for open shelving (Montana Free System Shelving in New White with two Rust panels). I can promise you now, they're not going to stay this tidy! Allie has had the Apple Papple print by Fine Little Day your years - she tells him all her secrets - apparently, he's a great listener!

Allie's always drawing, writing and cutting things out - and now she can pin them onto a cork board - as well as write messages on her pegboard (both from Granit). I was kind of hoping she'd write reminders like 'remember PE kit' - but it looks like that's not gonna happen! 

I can't tell you how many paper fortune tellers the girls make - they're all over the house!

 Allie can't go more than 5 metres without doing a cartwheel. She loves gymnastics! This set of wooden gymnastic rings from Lillagunga were a special request and have been such a hit!

Another hit, is her new rattan bed.  It was originally a daybed (from Nordal), so we added a 105 cm mattress to make it comfy enough to sleep on. In case you missed it, I wrote a post about it here. 

The bed is made with Hanako duvet cover and pillow case from Camomile London. The white linen curtains were made to order by Not Perfect Linen* - I always buy my curtains from them since they are high quality and beautifully made.

And finally, a little place for Allie to sit and write etc (I have to confess she rarely sits at her desk - often preferring the floor instead, but still, I thought she might need it one day!). I was so excited to find the secondhand chair at AB Småland in town. I've seen a load of similar ones here*.

 In case it's been difficult to keep tabs on what's what - here's a quick round-up of the items:

The kit!

From top left: Jotun Lady 1059 - Complexion / Minty Breeze 7163 
/ rust panels from Montana Free System Shelving / green clamp light (Granit) / cork board / pegboard / gymnastic rings / hanako duvet cover & pillow case / Ypperlig mirror (IKEA) /  ash hooks / rattan daybed / rug*

I hope you like Allie's new room as much as my daughter does!

If you're wondering about anything, just give me a shout in the comment section below and I'd be happy to help!

Right, better run. the sun is shining and we've got a birthday to celebrate :)

Have a fabulous weekend!

Vi ses på måndag!

Niki

A special thank you to all the amazing brands that made this bedroom make-over possible and made one little girl super happy! 

Affiliate links marked with *

Photography: Niki Brantmark - My Scandinavian Home. Interior design: Genevieve Jorn. 

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Before + After: A Dated Danish 1950's House Gets A Fabulous Make-Over

I love a 'before and after', don't you? And this 1950's house in Fredericia, Denmark, designed by architect Knud Billund, has gone through quite a transformation! When photographer Mia Mortensen, Martin and their adorable baby boy, Aston first moved in, the space was dated and begging for a little TLC.  Mia and Martin set about painstakingly renovating the 3-storey house to create a fabulous family home which combines contemporary touches with 'functionalist' bones - and lovely, warm accent colours.

Before

The master bedroom (before)

 During the renovation

The pair laid a concrete floor in the kitchen and dining room from Danish brand Conteco.

The kitchen and dining area and upstairs landing are connected by a magnificent 1950's staircase.

The couple were really keen to add a large round table to the dining area, and drew a sketch of the room to ensure there was enough space.

 They settled on a fabulous round table from Traefolk and added a set of chairs which include the Ant*, 7-series Thonet (this one* is similar) and CH88P chair not a bad collection!!

After

The back wall of the dining room has been painted in Burnt Earth by Flugger - and has been used as a gallery wall made up of art from Hein Studio (including the Line Collection No.04* and Line Collection No. 05*) and Nelli Arnth, among others. I also spy a fabulous Verpan Moon Pendant light and the Hans Wegner Shell chair!

 The kitchen tap is by Quooker - and the lights over the work station are from Menu. 

Sometimes it can be hard to get an idea of the layout of a space (I really must be more organised and try to provide this... perhaps when the intern AKA knight in shining armour starts!). From the top of the stairs you can catch a glimpse of Aston's room beyond the dining room and the kitchen is to the left. 

I couldn't resist sharing a before picture of the upstairs landing. The pair re-plastered and painted the walls and ripped up the floor boards and replaced it with beautiful square parquet flooring. 

I always get a little nostalgic when I see this type of flooring as we used to have it in our kitchen as a child.  I used to pick out the individual bricks and use them to build homes for my play people. Not popular, I can tell you!

Window nook before

Window nook after

Borders rug by Ferm Living

What a wonderful, light-filled place! I do love a window nook, don't you? I've got a whole Pinterest board dedicated to them!

The warm accent colour (Terracotta by Jotun) creates an almost cocoon like feel in the bedroom, while the light floor helps to brighten up the room (you can see how it looked before the wood was sanded down and white washed in this film!).

The Crinkle thrown in peach by Hay works so well with the Terracotta wall - and I love the touches of brass (that chair!! *jaw drops*).

The bedroom also doubles up as an office space. Seeing this, I'm kind of tempted to update my own office wall - in terracotta, what do you reckon? I hope the man doesn't read this, he'll go nuts that I'm even considering changing the colour once again! 

And finally, Aston's room has been painted in a rich blue hue and all his teddies look completely at home and tucked up for bed in that cosy Stokke Sleepi cot!

What a truly lovely home! I'm such a huge fan of 1950's architecture and so happy Mia and Martin have given it the full treatment and turned the space into a fantastic family home!

Is there anything about this home that you love in particular?

You can keep up with Mia's latest renovation projects over at her Instagram feed still_sunday and take a peek at her photography here.

Oh, and check out more fabulous before and after make-overs here! 

Have a lovely day!

Niki

Photography by Mia Mortensen, shared with kind permission

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A Dingy 1950's Bungalow Gets A Fab Light-Filled Make-Over

Sometimes I am so in awe of what can be achieved with a little vision. When interior designer and decor shop owner Kirstine and husband Steve acquired their 1950's bungalow in a small lakeside town just outside Toronto, Ontario Canada, it was dark and dingy and in desperate need of TLC. The couple completely gutted the space and spent a year transforming it into a wonderful open-plan, light-filled home on a budget for themselves, two cats and dog. I couldn't resist asking Kirstine a little more about the incredible transformation!

Before

// affiliated links marked with *//

 Original layout

What work have you carried out?
We did most of the renovation ourselves. It was a completely closed off layout until we gutted the entire place, drew up some design plans and converted it to an open concept kitchen / dining / living space with a vaulted ceiling.

Sinnerlig Pentant, Bamboo lights from Etsy*

Were you daunted by the sheer level of work?
I am interior designer and worked in the field for 5 years before I started my own business in decor rentals and running a decor shop. Steve used to work in construction, so we both have experience in renovating and we typically know what we'll find behind the walls. Having said that, it was the craziest most intense thing we've ever done - most people get married and have kids, we did this!!

I can imagine! What was your aim?
We loved the idea of the house being as bright as possible, as before it felt small and dark. Adding windows on the back as well as an exterior sliding door made this all possible.

After

How did you come up with the idea for the shelving?
The room divider was actually an idea I had, we have our cold air return vent in the wall and instead of just having a small half wall, or a tall typical 4" wall, I decided to make it a feature and something we could use. That's where the shelf divider came in. 

There were some erm... quite strong colours when you moved in. What was your approach?

I wanted the entire house white, to really bounce around the natural light flow, with splashes of olour like in the bedroom and office.

 IKEA kitchen cabinets painted in Racoon Fur by Benjamin Moore, KitchenAid hood

Where do you shop?

Most items in here are pieces I have come across while at antique stores or flea markets. Larger pieces, like the sofa are some Article.

Sven Charme Article sofa,  for a similar rug try the Kaya* (among others) from Anthropologie.


How would you describe your style?
I wanted a Scandinavian, bohemian vibe because I love a clean but colourful look.

Kirstine picked up the hutch cabinet at a thrift store. 

 The pair added the wood work detail themselves over the space of weekend. It's been painted in 'Malarca' from Home Depot. Source a similar jute rug here* and vintage swivel chairs here*.

What are you most happy with?

The natural light that flows through here is my favourite thing about this house - and the fact that we did it all ourselves! 

The bedroom has been painted in Simply White with an accent behind the bed in Sherwood Forest, both by Benjamin Moore.

Thank you so much for showing us your fab bungalow Kirstine! I can't even begin to imagine the amount of work that's gone into it - but it was certainly worth it. Truly inspiring!

Can I just say, how cute is that dog?! He looks so happy on that rug too! 

If you'd like to see more of Georgina's latest projects check out her IG feed - or enjoy a browse around her lovely online vintage shop!

I've shown a load of Scandinavian-inspired homes in Canada lately. In case you missed them - take a peek at the lovely home of Émilie Desjarlais,  Lauren's former Monteal apartment (and her latest home across the hallway) and Juli Baker's white and wood cabin. What a dreamy bunch of homes, don't you think?!

I'm on my way to Dover, England first thing tomorrow for a Scandinavian cruise. It sounds wonderful, I know, but just in case the man is reading this -  it's definitely not a jolly - I've been asked to hold two talks about Scandinavian Design! Eeeeek! Feeling the nerves!

To keep my mind off the talks, I'd love to hear if you've done any major renovations in your own home and how you found it?

Sadly I realise I won't have time to create a  blog post tomorrow - sorry! I'll definitely be back on Friday though!

Niki

Photographs courtesy of Georgina / kirsten.diane shared with kind permission. 

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