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11/06
Hei hei, as they say in Norway! Friday calls for an escape, don't you think? And this lovely cabin in Aust-Agder, southern Norway, looks like just the place to get away from it all!Sissel Bjerga and her family fell in love with this beautiful spot and decided to buy the cabin during the pandemic. They then set about designing a new addition, joining it to the old cabin already on the plot. And what a lovely place they've created! With warm wood, huge windows and views over the lake and forest, it must be such a wonderful place to escape to.
Inside, they've kept things lovely and simple, mixing old and new pieces, including a rustic gateleg table and a big comfy sofa (an absolute must for a cabin, don't you think?). And really, with views like these, you don't need much else!
When they're not curled up indoors, there's plenty to enjoy outside too, from wandering through the forest and picking mushrooms to taking a dip in the lake.
Here are a few glimpses inside, with a mix of beautiful photographs by Mint Agency and relaxed snapshots of everyday cabin life taken by Sissel herself.
Lovely!It actually reminds me a little of our own cabin (although ours is a bit smaller, and we certainly don't have those magnificent views!). I can definitely imagine hanging out here this weekend, how about you?One of the things I love most about these little getaways is that you really don't need much. A crackling fire, a cosy sofa and somewhere to cook up something delicious. There's something so relaxing about the simplicity of it all, don't you think?
You can see more of Sissel's beautiful cabin over at @snuppedupp.
And can we just take a moment to appreciate the Norwegian wilderness? If you've never been, it's hard to describe the incredible light, the solitude and the sheer drama of the landscape. It's truly breathtaking, and a dream country to escape to!
Speaking of which, shall we take a peek inside a few more Norwegian cabins? I think you'll love these:
A serene cabin stay in the Norwegian wilderness
A fjordside Norwegian retreat
A beautiful ski chalet in Hafjell, NorwayThank you so much for all your lovely comments and emails about the new blog design, and for helping me celebrate My Scandinavian Home turning 15 – a true teenager now! I was amazed to hear that some of you have been following along since the very beginning. How wonderful is that? It really means so much!
I hope you all have a lovely, relaxing weekend, whatever you have planned. And as always, thank you for stopping by!
NikiPS My latest piece for IKEA is out if you fancy a read here - and this time it's all about the IKEA museum, which I had the pleasure of visiting a few weeks ago in Älmhult. I learnt so much about Swedish culture, it was quite incredible!Credits Mint Agency & Sissel Bjerga, shared with kind permission.
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04/24
From a home on the coast of West Denmark on Tuesday to the Norwegian capital today, it’s been a very Scandinavian week here on the blog. While the coastal property was set among the dunes and awash with soothing pale blues, this beautiful light-filled flat in Old Oslo is flooded with golden sunshine that highlights touches of red, burgundy, yellow — and even light blue (which appears to be a favourite right now!).The flat belongs to Juni Halseth Strenberg, who recently moved from this vibrant home. Granted, the renovation of her new home is still a work in progress, but I love seeing how her furniture has settled right in.
There are many things I love about Juni’s unique style, but what really caught my eye were the bedrooms. They are narrow, yes, but they make a true statement, with the ceilings becoming a design feature in themselves, while also helping to visually bring down the height of the rooms. I also love the patterned window dressings! And of course, there's that spotty sofa too!
Ready to take a look? Velkommen inn!
I thought you might be curious about some of the colour codes in the bedroom, so here they are:Single bedroomWindow frame and skirting boards: 'Light' from JotunWalls: 'Soul' from JotunCeiling: code S2005-BCurtains: Sweet pea dove blueDouble bedroomWindow frames and skirting boards: 'Light' from JotunCurtains: sweet pea burgundy from GotainI have to say, I love all the curtains, they really bring together the rooms! Are there any details that caught your eye?Follow @junik to keep an eye on her latest home updates - I see the kitchen will be ready soon!Have a fantastic weekend all! Thank you, as always for stopping by, it really means so much!NikiPhotography by @junik, shared with kind permission. -
04/14
Today I have a little treat for you. Not only are we heading to the beautiful district of St. Hanshaugen, an area of Oslo, Norway known for its elegant apartment buildings, leafy namesake park, and sweeping hilltop views across Oslo and the fjord, we’re also being given a tour of an apartment by a hound - an Australian Cobberdog named Oliver, to be precise.Monica Flatland’s lovely home is blessed with high ceilings, beautiful cornicing and large windows that let in plenty of light. She has cleverly accentuated the height and architectural details by using subtly different paint colours on the walls ('kalk' by Jotun can be seen in the kitchen and living room). I’m especially loving the blue ceiling in the bedroom!
I also love her kitchen, featuring mainly lower cabinets, which enhances the bright and airy feel. But the real star of the show is her beautiful doggy, of course, while the dog-themed art by Monica’s boyfriend (available here) is pretty cute too.
Ready to take a look? Here's Oliver to give you a tour.
Simply beautiful! Granted, Olivier really did steal the show and seems very happy with his home (who wouldn’t?), but I still enjoyed looking at all the details behind him. There’s a wonderful ease about the space.
Could you imagine living here?
Do you have a theme with your art? Looking around my home, people and the human form feature highly in my art, purely subconsciously. I wonder why that is?
Shall we take a quick look at some other Oslo homes today?
Inside Juni's Oslo apartment with cool paint colours
At home with the Arctic gardener
A relaxed artist's home in Oslo (I loved my day capturing this home!)Happy mid-week friends!
Niki
Photography courtesy of Monica Flatland, shared with kind permission.
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03/10
Naturally, with any creative outlet, whether fashion or interiors, there will always be trends. But one thing I remain firm about is creating an environment with just the right feeling. A home that helps you thrive really is essential, don’t you think?I can appreciate more maximalist homes bursting with items and colour. They can be wonderful to look at. But when it comes to my own home, I like things to feel calm. Somewhere I can breathe and truly unwind. How about you? Do you prefer a home that feels busy and layered, or one that feels quiet and soothing? I really believe there is no right or wrong way.
That is why I love Norwegian Tone Trollbu’s service, 'Interior Therapy'. Tone combines interior design with her background in psychology to help clients create a home that truly suits them. Isn’t that such a thoughtful idea?
It helps that Tone also has a wonderful eye for design. You can see this clearly in her own home just outside of Oslo, which balances calm, soft colours with just a touch of edginess to give it personality. Think wavy mirrors, a delicious combination of pink, buttercup yellow, lime green, a hint of terracotta and soft milky tones. There are also so many individual pieces that make the space feel truly personal.
I hope you feel inspired by the tour!
Beautiful.Did you notice all the art and sculptures? And the mural in the bathroom is such a lovely touch, don't you think?
Was there anything that particularly stood out to you?
If you have the time today, do stop by Tone’s Instagram feed. And if you understand Norwegian, you might also enjoy listening to her podcast, where she interviews experts from the interior industry.
Shall we take a look at a few more Norwegian homes today? How about:
A charming rural cottage by a Norwegian fjord
Inside Juni's creative Oslo apartment
A simple, yet cosy Norwegian cabin
A magical, rural Norwegian escapeHappy Tuesday friends!
Niki
Photography courtesy of Tone Trollbu, shared with kind permission.
