A Serene Cabin Stay in Norway’s Wilderness

Why, hi there friends! I hope you had a wonderfully relaxing weekend. I also hope you have your bags packed, because we're heading off on a virtual trip to the Norwegian wilderness — to visit the newly built wood cabin of Lin Christin Mortensholm!

Now, as we’re enjoying the beautiful spring weather, you might be puzzled by the snowy picture above — but in some parts of Norway, the backcountry ski season is still in full swing.

Designed according to Lin’s philosophy of a "natural, quiet interior, and mindful living", the Scandinavian-style blond wood cabin was the well-deserved winner of "The Year's Cabin Gullfjæren". Naturally, I was keen to find out more — and discovered a beautiful, serene living space where the indoors blend seamlessly with the wild beauty of the outdoors.

Immersed in nature — where the contrasting seasons create an ever-changing series of striking landscapes — the interior has been kept wonderfully simple, allowing the surrounding scenery to take centre stage.

An open-plan design, the striking monochrome interior is furnished with an array of pieces crafted from natural materials like cork, wood and canvas. Freshly picked foliage, such as lupins and bracken, helps to capture the true essence of the season.

Ready to take a tour?

What a wonderful getaway! It's definitely the kind of place where you’d pull up, unpack and feel instantly relaxed, with nothing to do except immerse yourself in the incredible nature — whether walking, skiing, or simply sitting by the fire with a good book.

Can you imagine chilling here this week? Was there anything that caught your eye?

Hop on over to @lysthus_skrim to see more beautiful angles of Lin’s cabin.

It’s no secret that I absolutely LOVE Norway. It’s an incredible country. I’ve visited many times — for holidays, work, and to write travel guides for Simply Scandi magazine. Here are a couple of guides I’ve featured on My Scandinavian Home:

Spectacular Bodø and Lofoten

The Hardanger Fruit Trail

Is there anywhere you've been in Norway that you would recommend? 

Oh, and some beautiful Norwegian homes to feel inspired by: 

A magical rural escape by a Norwegian fjord

A summer fjord side retreat in Norway

A Norwegian house by a fjord

A ski chalet in Hafjell

Have a great start to the week! 

Niki

Photography courtesy of @lysthus_skrim, shared with kind permission. 

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Inside Juni's Oslo Apartment with Creative Paint Trends & Inspiring Art

Good morning, friends! I hope you all had a wonderfully relaxing weekend. I can’t stop daydreaming about the cosy cabin from Friday’s post—oh, how tempting it would be to swap Malmö’s dreary rain for an off-grid retreat in snowy Lapland this week! How about you? Unfortunately, that’ll have to remain a dream for now. But don’t worry, I’ve got something else to brighten up your Monday—a stunning home tour that’s sure to inspire.

Today, we’re stepping into the beautiful apartment of Juni Halseth Strenberg, a talented UX designer based in Grünerløkka, Oslo. Juni and her partner have been lovingly renovating their home, which dates all the way back to 1894. A colour enthusiast, Juni has embraced earthy tones throughout, using them boldly across ceilings, windowsills, and door frames. The result? A chic, contemporary vibe that perfectly complements an eclectic mix of sculptural furniture, rich textures, and playful patterns. Small bursts of colour in the form of lighting, artwork, and accessories bring an extra layer of energy and joy to the space.

Welcome to Juni’s delightful home—let’s take a peek inside!

Paint colours: Classic white on walls, Morning dew 18 on ceiling, Himla  4 on windowsill

Armchairs–Fogia, Pendant–Hay, Floor lamp–Louis Poulsen, Sofa–MeliMeli, Paint–Klint colours, Lobster cushion–Beau Marché

Paint colours: Vide 107 on walls, Olivlund on ceiling

Frame TV–Samsung. Art by: Emma Widell, Ingrid Haukelidsæter, Anette Moi, Maria Murphy, Jane Hupe, Petter Hoen, Isabelle Feliu, Ragnhild Nes

Glass cabinet–Ellos (painted in another shade), art–Maria Murphy. 

On the other side of the dining room: cabinets–IKEA, Snoopy lamp–Flos, art by Usikkerkunstjente,  Leon Seesix, Astrid Wilson

Cabinets–IKEA, pendant lamp–Hay

Paint colours: Honey bee 32 on ceiling, Limon 82 on walls. 

I get such a lovely feeling from Juni's apartment—don’t you?

The use of colour really stands out to me. A few years ago, it was all about the one accent wall, but these days it’s all about going all out—painting absolutely everything: the ceiling, walls, window frames, radiators, you name it. And, I’m here for it! How do you feel about this contemporary use of paint?

I also loved being introduced to so many new artists (I’ve done my best to link to as many as possible).

Was there anything in particular you enjoyed about Juni’s home?

You can check out more corners of her apartment and stay updated with her latest renovation projects here.

Let's take a look at a few more inspiring Oslo homes today: 

At home with the Arctic Gardener

An artist's home in Oslo (captured for my book!)

A stunning Norwegian home in many shades of blue

Have a great start to the week friends! 

Niki

Photography courtesy of @junik, shared with kind permission. 

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Nina's Elegant Norwegian Home with Timeless Festive Touches

Are you up for a little game today? How about I show you eight traditional things you’re likely to find in a Scandinavian home at Christmas—and then you can share in the comments (if you’d like) how many of these you also display in your country?

And what better way to do this than through a tour of the living spaces in the Norwegian home of Nina Holst? Her name might ring a bell, as she’s the founder of Stylizimo, and I featured her previous home at Christmas way back in 2015! Nina lives with her husband and little baby in a beautiful, early 20th century art nouveau villa, and she has a talent for incorporating soothing earthy tones and design classics into her decor. Her Christmas decorations are always elegant and timeless.

Let’s take a look and see what we can discover!

1. Nature makes for the best decorations - whether in drinks, on presents or around the house. I quite fancy one of these gin and tonics tonight, it is lillördag (little saturday) after all. 

2. There's nothing like the sweet scent of hyacinths at Christmas. Scandinavians love to remove the soil, place them in a glass vase and dip the roots into water instead. 

3. With the sun barely lifting over the horizon, a group of candles in mix and match glass and brass candleholders helps to brighten up the darker days. 

4. It wouldn't be 'Jul' without tall amaryllis in either white, red or rose - they're often placed in a vase or the bulb is wrapped in moss. 

5. The Julgran (Christmas tree) is a given. After all 33% of Norway and 68% of Sweden is covered in forest so there are plenty to choose from! This popular variety is a Kungsgran (Nordmann fir). 

6. Beautifully wrapped presents are a go-go - whether carefully done at home or by the in-store gift wrapping service that's widely available. 

7. The adventsljusstake (advent candlestick) placed in the windows of homes, schools and businesses helps to bathe the dark streets with a warm glow and creates a welcoming feel in the cold. 

8. A simple yet pretty homemade wreath is hung on the door, but also indoors on walls, or the chimney of a traditional tiled fireplace. 

Such lovely decorations - ideal for anyone who loves a more simple, natural approach to decorating in wintertime. 

I am guessing you have quite a lot of these decorations in your country too - are there any that stood out as different? Do you bring in the same winter flowers?

If you'd like to see more of Nina's Norwegian home throughout the seasons, head on over to her instagram here. 

After some more winter decorating ideas today? Here are a few features for all tastes and styles: 

5 jolly holly Danish homes at Christmas

A beautiful Copenhagen home full of festive cheer

6 subtle festive ideas to steal from Alexandra's swedish home

And because I'm in the mood for cosiness, check out these wintery cabins: 

A beautiful ski chalet in Hafjell, Norway

6 rustic cabins for a cosy weekend

Have a lovely Wednesday friends!

Niki

Photography courtesy of Nina Holst, shared with kind permission. 

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A Fabulous Walk-in Closet Idea in a Norwegian Home

It might not feel like spring in Southern Sweden yet (it snowed in some parts of Skåne yesterday!) but it's on its way, I can feel it! Can you? One of the biggest joys is preparing the home for a new season - which also means storing away heavy winter clothes and making room for pretty spring and summer clothes!  

In my experience, one of the biggest dilemmas is lack of storage space. In 2023 I made it my mission to create organised storage in our home - building a wardrobe and adding shelves to our attic. And our house definitely feels less cluttered as a result (although not always tidier - but that's a whole other issue!). Even so, I am always on the lookout for more clever ideas. And I instantly fell in love with the smart walk-in closet solution in Caroline's Norwegian apartment! 

Caroline is a journalist and editor for Elle magazine and lives in the beautiful neighbourhood of Grünerløkke in Oslo. Read on to feel inspired by her 57 m2 (613 ft.sq) home and clever storage idea, it might just solve a conundrum for you too!  

Carolina has gone for a wonderful palette of blue, dusty pink and brass in her Norwegian home which adds a feeling decadence. I love that it is also filled with one-off pieces, pattern and quirky touches! A Togo sofa is always a comfy addition! 

In the bedroom, a 'sky' headboard adds a wonderfully fun and unique touch to the space - and the blend of new nordic pieces such as the Flos light beside antique finds adds to the relaxed feel. 

And THIS was what I was talking about in my intro: a fabulous walk-in-wardrobe built into the corner of the bedroom! 

The 'wardrobe' is made up of two glass doors which Caroline designed and had made according to the exact measurements of the space. 

Inside Caroline has used the Décor design from Elfa (which I also used for my storage - the entire system is great as it's really flexible and you can personalise the design to work for your needs and the space you have) to create shelving for her shoes and hanging space for clothes and other items. 

What a clever way to transform the corner of a bedroom into storage - do you agree? The frosted glass doors provide a glimpse of the interior of the wardrobe, without allowing the clothes and shoes from taking over the room and making it feel cluttered. 

I have to say, I'm drooling over her clothes and shoe collection too - so many fabulous items! 

I hope this has filled you with inspiration for the weekend! Or maybe just inspired you to pull out those sparkly shoes and hit the town! Follow Caroline's instagram for more interior and lifestyle inspiration. 

Speaking of which, I don't own many pairs of shoes, but last year I bought a pair of gold sparkly ankle boots, and they really seem to bring out the best in people and put a smile on everyone's face. I always make a point of wearing them on friends' birthdays to add some sparkle! Do you have a favourite pair of shoes too? 

Check out these other ways to get organised at home: 

Divide and conquer - ways to make more out of a room

7 simple steps to a tidy home

16 ways to turn a small room into a practical and organised bedroom

Before and after: our laundry room makeover

That's it from me this week folks. Thank you for stopping by - see you Monday! 

Trevlig helg! 

Niki

Photography: Birgit Fauske

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