Jane's Cosy yet Calm Home in Muted Tones

In my teens, I went out with a guy called Luke (these days, he's an award-winning illustrator - he always was always very talented and never without a sketchbook!), and we used to hang out in his family kitchen in London eating doughnuts. It was a small, two up, two down cottage and always felt so cosy. Scrolling through Instagram a few days ago, I came across @teawithruby and Jane Day's cottage in Northeast England and it took me straight back to my teens! 

Jane, Robert and Ruby's house was built in the 1980s and is located in the town of Billingham (which Jane describes as 'not the most glamorous of places, but once we close the door to our space, it's home!'). As with many of us, Jane's style has changed a lot over the years, but she always come back to 'calm and stillness'. Think muted tones, tactile textures such as wood, wool and linen and most importantly, Jane tells me, 'One thing our home has is lots of love!'

Ready to feel inspired? 

What a lovely, homely house! 

I can just imagine the three of them sitting at the table, sipping tea (Jane is making the most of her time left with Ruby at home before she heads off to university). 

For those of you wondering if vintage finds can be a good marriage with a relatively modern build - this is your answer. Absolutely! The muted yet contrasting paint colours do wonders to set the tone. 

For more pictures of Jane's lovely home, check out @teawithruby. 

Now that I'm on a roll going down memory lane, shall we take a peek inside a few other English homes today? 

Before and after: a Victorian house becomes a cosy home

A dreamy cottage to rent in southeast England

And... 

All living spaces in the home of Jessica Hearne! 

Happy Lillördag (little Saturday) friends! 

Niki

Photography: Jane Day / @teawithruby, shared with kind permission

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A Small-ish Swedish Home, That's Big on Character

Tjena! Hur är läget? I'm stopping by to share this funky 46 m2 / 495 m2 Swedish apartment (it's turning into a small-ish living space week!) with you today. Whereas in the Swedish home I shared on Monday, the living room also doubled up as the bedroom and home office, in this charming apartment, the main room serves as a living room, dining room and kitchen. 

Even so, the owners have successfully carved out different zones and added lots of character through a blend off mid-century and modern-day pieces as well as plenty of art! Keep a look out for the bedroom which has been painted in a cosy blue / green, which immediately separates it from the main living area. I hope this home provides you with plenty of inspiration! 

For some reason I'm really drawn to the kitchen, it's really cute! I also love the gallery wall in the sitting room, it adds so much to the space, don't you think?

Is there anything that caught your eye? 

One small detail you may not have noticed is the stool under the round mirror. It's been upholstered with Svenskt Tenn fabric which is having a major moment in Scandinavian homes. You'll likely spot it in on bed headboards, cushions, armchairs and chairs in the coming months! 

Enjoy a load more small spaces in this archive. 

Have a lovely day friends! 

Niki

Photography: Boukari, Styling Copparstad for Historiska Hem. 

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A Calm One Room Swedish Oasis In The Heart the City

On Friday, I promised to move out of summer mode and start to embrace autumn city life once again (cue, a break from all the pretty red and white Swedish country abodes - but I can't promise they won't pop up pretty soon again!). Today's home tour is for everyone who is looking for a solution for a home where the sitting room also doubles up as the bedroom and a home office. In fact, one of the things I think Swedes are masters at is creating rooms within a room. 

This so called 'one room apartment' (which in Swedish estate agent terms means that it's made up of one room plus and kitchen and a bathroom), measures 36 m2 / 388 f2 and occupies a section of a beautiful old apartment block dating back to 1927. The living space is relatively simply decorated, and no doubt styled for sale, even so it shows the power of calming off white walls, fluffy rugs and lots of greenery! Welcome to a flat that encompasses small space living in the heart of Gothenburg. 

In the far corner you can catch a glimpse of the wardrobe / closet. 

There's still lots of space for books and other belongings in this room. I'd have put floor to ceiling shelving  at the end of the bed - and then it could double up as a place for novels etc as well as home office files and folders. 

An ochre wall makes all the difference the kitchen, which could have otherwise looked vary standard.

The floor has been given a lick or two of white paint which helps to brighten up the hallway / entrance. 

In Swedish apartment blocks it's not unusual to find various communal spaces in the basement. For example, they'll usually have a communal laundry room which are a total law unto their own and the subject of many community discussions! Take it from me, you need to book your slot well in advance if you don't want to do your laundry at 7am on a Saturday! 

When I first moved to Sweden, we also lived in an apartment block which had access to a sauna. It was simple and understated and also subject to the same booking system. We loved it! Some apartment blocks also have access to a small apartment / bedroom for guests. And in the post WWII apartments you'll often find a bunker too! 

Do you have something like this in your country? 

Would you like to see a few other small spaces today? Here are some truly inspiring homes: 

Smart compact family living on a budget, Swedish country style

A small-ish city flat with a clever room divider 

A small cosy swedish pad with warm tones

Also: 

7 small space tricks to learn from a light-filled Stockholm family home

15 small space hacks to learn from a beautiful Danish home

10 clever small space tricks to learn from a lovely Swedish apartment

Have a great start to the week friends! 

Niki

Photography courtesy of Kvarteret

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Small Spaces: A Charming Swedish Summer Cottage In The Heart of the City

As you know, I'm a big fan of little kolonistuga - allotment cottages. They don't exist in the UK, I know because I spent copious amounts of time at my parents allotment in London as a child and could have used a space to hang out and play games rather than weeding (the rickety shed full of spiders didn't quite cut it!).  

Here in Malmö there are quite a few allotment communities dotted around the city. In the summer they spring to life with people toiling the soil, relaxing with friends over a fika, or simply taking it easy and enjoying the summer sun. 

As with all Swedish summer cottages, simplicity is the order of the day, and this charming kolonistuga in Gothenburg (which is currently for sale!) strikes the perfect balance. It's pared back, yet cosy, simple, yet warm. There's a lot at play to make this happen, let's take a closer look! 

The emphasis is on relaxation and warmth - and that starts with the glowing string lights and a an inviting ochre front door. 

Inside, the walls and ceilings have been clad in wood panelling - giving the entire space depth and interest. I love my panelling up at the cabin (from Norrlands Trä) - the only problem is, it's so beautiful that I can't bear the thought of nailing up any pictures! 

The kitchen cabinets are simple with a nostalgic traditional touch - both in terms of the design and the handles. 

Vintage touches help to create a relaxed feel. 

How cool is this makeshift wine cellar under the floor? So smart! It's an ideal space for extra storage too. 

The ceiling has been knocked through to reveal the A-frame bones, helping the 26 m2 / 279 f2 open-plan living space to feel way more spacious. 

Mix and match furniture is key to creating a relaxed, lived-in feel. 

A daybed doubles up as a sofa and somewhere to kip! There's also a loft providing just enough space for a cosy double bed. Speaking from experience with our own loft bed up at the cabin, it can really quickly get hot higher up so it's important to have good air flow, a fan or even AC depending on the climate you live in. 

The entrance doubles up as a cosy sun room and living room area. I love how the green floral wallpaper brings nature indoors, so you can get the sense you're outside even on a rainy day! 

In small spaces each piece needs to work harder. I haven't seen a coffee table / basket like this before - have you? So clever! 

Swedes are so clever at creating different zones in the garden. I can see three different places to relax including the deck, a hammock and a dappled dining area under the boughs of a tree. Roll on summer days!

What a perfect urban oasis in which to escape! Even better, you can just hop on your bike when it's time to leave: no planes, trains or buses to catch! 

Tempted to snap this place up as your very own summer oasis? You can find all the details here. 

I'll be back on Monday with a Danish home that features so many of the Danish design trends I spotted at Formland design fair yesterday. Can't wait to tell you more! In the meantime, here are a few other  kolonistugas to enjoy over the weekend:

This little allotment cottage is a true summer oasis

A charming allotment cottage in Malmö

A danish allotment cottage with charming details

Trevlig helg! 

Niki

Photography: Krister Engström

Styling: Martina Mattson

For sale via Kvarteret Mäkleri

Found via Nordroom with thanks 

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