A Calming Pared-back Swedish Country Home

This soothing Swedish country home is like a mid-week breath of fresh air. Located in the county of Småland and dating back to the 19th century,  the house has been carefully renovated by Anna and Kalle - who have a penchant for calming off-white tones and natural materials. 

Much of the furniture - such as the kitchen table and coffee table have been picked up second-hand and then given a new lease of life which a sanding machine and other tricks. And I love how the front door has been painted bright yellow - for a sunny start every day of the week! 

It's hard to imagine that it was an absolute wreck when they bought it. Let's take a peek at some of the corners that Anna and Kalle have captured of their lovely home: 

The gate-leg table was a hand-me-down from Kalle's parents and was meant to be used elsewhere. But the pair felt it was so beautiful that they decided to sand it down and treat it so that they could use it as a family dining table. 

The door has been painted in NCS code S3050-Y20R. 

Much of the wood floor and panelling you see is from Swedish company Baseco. 

Lovely! 

So calming. Which is exactly what I needed today! 

I can appreciate all kinds of interiors, and I find this minimalist, soothing look to be very restorative. Also, it is nice and light which will keep the family in good stead for the long winter ahead. 

Is there anything that stood out to you about Anna and Kalle's home? 

You can see more snapshots as well as some before and after images over at @angagarden. 

Today, I'm in Cologne, Germany for a new fair called Orgatec 2024 which focuses on all the exciting things happening with the work space - if you'd like to follow along and see the latest trends, you can find all the info in my instagram stories. 

Have a happy Wednesday! 

Niki

Photography courtesy of @angagarden, shared with kind permission. 

READ MORE...

19

Carolina's Serene Stockholm Apartment in Creams and Browns

A while ago Swedish photographer Kristofer Johnsson and stylist Pella Hedeby paid a visit to this beautiful 19th century apartment in Sturegatan, Stockholm. The home belonged to Mattias and Carolina Storm. The couple have since moved (a little birdie tells this was their third apartment in four years!). 

Perhaps this information makes me even more intrigued, since the space looks so nicely 'complete' - which is impressive in a short amount of time. I mean, we've lived in our home for 16 years, and I'm still trying to figure out what to put on some of the walls. Are you the same? 

Not only that, but it's beautiful too, with every room in perfect harmony. The colour scheme is similar to Leanne's cottage which I showed on Wednesday - but the look is very different in terms of architecture ad furniture. Here, we witness round organic shapes juxtaposed with triangular forms, fluffy rugs layered with texture and furniture from different eras. Art and mirrors also play an important role - with their 'barely there feel', yet at the same time adding interest at every turn. 

I hope you enjoy the tour! 

Such a serene space! 

I hope I can feature their latest home soon since that is filled with the same timeless pieces but curated in an entirely different way! 

Did anything stand out to you?

And I'm curious to know - is the decor in your home 'finished' or very much a work in progress like mine?  

Since it's Friday, I couldn't resist sharing a few other homes with you - some of which have the same neutral scheme but with a pop of colour, all of them beautiful! 

A vibrant and modern Danish home with art and vintage pieces

Learn 12 simple ways to colour to your home, Danish style

Step inside a calm neutral Swedish home with lovely bones

Have a fabulous weekend friends!

Niki

Photography: Kristofer Johnsson

Styling: Pella Hedeby

Shared with kind permission

READ MORE...

8

A Light Filled Family Home in Berlin with a Nordic Touch

During the Easter school holidays, my daughters and I are heading to Berlin, Germany for a couple of days. It's somewhere I've been saving up for as I've always wanted to take them, it's an amazing city and only 6 hours drive from Malmö! While doing a little research for things to see and do (any tips would be wonderful!), I veered off course (as always), and ended up stumbling across the Berlin home of Judith Schenk - which I had to share it with you guys! 

Judith describes her home as 'Nordic minimalism meets Berlin Altbau' - and the light-filled family apartment is made up of sleek finishes, Scandinavian design, plants and art. Read on to see more pictures and find out about some of the touches Judith has decided on. 

The kitchen is made up of IKEA cabinets with Reform CPH fronts. The countertop is a solid Corian surface. 

The lights are Flowerpot pendants in white.

'Case Study House #10' by Stephanie Kloss hangs over the dining table. A Gubi semi pendant hangs over the table. 

The Model 2065 pendant light by Gino Sarfatti makes a statement in the sitting room. The sofa is from Bolia. 

The plant-filled sun room is bathed in light - a perfect cure for the winter blues (have the leaves come out on the trees where you live yet? Here in Malmö, it's still just twigs - gaaaah!). A desert lounge chair can be glimpsed in the corner. 

Double doors in the living room lead through to the lovely children's room. 

A sofa by Karup Design pulls out into a double bed in the spare room. 

Look at all those beautiful trees - *sigh*, there's nothing like a green view! 

The serene bathroom reminds me a lot of the tones / look I have used in our little cabin bathroom - including brushed / antique brass. The tap is from Grohe. 

The master bedroom is the epitome of calm with walls painted in Portlandstone Pale by Little Greene. Judith has used this shade throughout her apartment: "As we have a super open layout in our flat, this was my approach. Also the paint is so highly pigmented that it always appears different depending on the light and daytime," she says. 

Judith has hung three prints over the bed, including Bleu by Lucrecia Rey Caro*. Arum lights an be seen either side of the bed. 

Absolutely love this home. All the windows certainly help but also Judith has made everything look so effortless and struck the perfect balance between pared-back and personal. 

Did you feel inspired by this tour too? 

See more of Judith's apartment and follow her latest projects over at @kavalierchen. 

Now I'm in Berlin mode, here are a few other tours from the German city: 

A lovely relaxed artist's home full of plants (don't miss this one!)

A bohemian touch in a magnificent Berlin apartment (another favourite!)

The Berlin flat and country home of Nora and Laura

A serene family home in Berlin

And of course, if you're looking for more inspiration this weekend, make sure you look back t the tours I've shared this week, including a Gotland country home (I loved all the discussions about the tiny bath!) and a Stockholm flat worthy of an interior magazine feature - which is currently for sale! 

Have a fabulous weekend friends! 

Niki

Photography courtesy of Judith Schenk, shared with kind permission

READ MORE...

5

Shades of White in a Swedish Country Home on Gotland

In need of a little escape today? Buckle up friends, we're off to a serene country home on the Swedish island of Gotland! 

Julia Khouri lives in the North of the Baltic island with her husband and four children. Her home is a sea

of serenity with milky white shades throughout. "A light and simple look has always appealed to me and gives me a harmonious feeling at home," she explains.

Keep a look out for the mix of materials and texture which help to add interest and cosiness, the tiled masonry ovens and the blend of old and new (that bathroom cabinet!).

Have you noticed fee-standing range-style ovens creeping into Scandinavian homes more and more lately? This one is by Smeg.

The mix and match items - including a Little Petra armchair and antique table in the sitting room are lovely! I really appreciate a combination of old and new. 

It's not always easy to throw objects of different styles and eras together, but it works really well here because they share similar tones. 

You'll spot vintage glass cabinets throughout Julia's home. Not only do they look nice, but they also provide great storage. They are also hot property right now, but if you're prepared to get the paint brush out, you can still find one for a steal! 

I don't feel like I show enough TVs in the home tours - so here is an example! I like it when they are more of a side show than a focal point, as seen here, do you agree?

The master bedroom is also on the ground floor. Notice how Julia has added lace inside the cabinet, which adds a soft, romantic touch and also helps to hide the items inside for a calmer look. 

I really appreciate the way Julia has found furniture to fit all kinds of nooks in her home - seen here in the window (old Gotland homes often have deep walls like this), and also in the bathroom. 

It's no easy feat when you are working with vintage / antique finds. If you're looking for an item in particular for your home, it's important to know the measurements in advance and carry a tape measure with you. Or you can do what I recently did, find something you absolutely love, buy it and THEN work out where to put it. After all, a coveted second-hand item of beauty is not always easy to find, so you have to seize the opportunity when it arrives (if you have the space to store it)!

The bathroom has been renovated in a classic, timeless way. 

I have to say, out of all my years of blogging, I've never seen a bath this small in Scandinavia! I have been in one though - many years ago as a child on a visit to Morzine, France. I found it very relaxing - mainly because I didn't need to share it with my sister for once! It's a great idea if you'd love a bath but don't necessarily have the space. 

I hope you enjoyed the tour of Julia's home as much as I have, and it has left you feeling inspired. 

Is there anything that stood out to you? 

See more country homes today - or if you're looking for urban inspiration, check out the Danish apartment archive - it's one of my favourites! 

Kram! 

Niki

Photography Julia Khouri, shared with kind permission

READ MORE...

15