An Earthy, Calm and Beautiful One Room Studio in Stockholm

Every now and again a home really leaps out at me, and this is one of them. Organic, mature and calm, the one room studio apartment is a perfect oasis in the heart of Swede's capital - and even has a cosy balcony full of Autumn blooms on which to enjoy a morning coffee. 

A mix of grainy woods, earthy 'unpolished' walls, coarse linen - the apartment might be void of bright colour, but it more than makes up for it in rich textures, all of which help the space to come alive. 

Keep an eye out for items that help to add the 'hygge' (cosiness) - such as a Sjöstrand espresso maker (we have one of these in our cabin!), teapots, vintage mugs, and a retro stereo system. And of course, there's the blend of mid-century and antique furniture too. 

So friends, pop the kettle on and curl up, there's plenty to feel inspired by in this beautiful Swedish studio apartment! 

The paint work is lovely - neutral yet lively. There's a good article about different paint finishes and how to achieve them on House Beautiful in case you'd like to create something similar. 

I forgot to mention in my previous small space post that many Swedish apartment blocks have storage in the basement which is perfect for storing out-of-season items. This one is no different. Even so, you can see in the last picture that it there is quite a lot of wardrobe space - and most likely space under the bed for clothes and other bits and bobs too. 

One of the things that really caught my eye in this home were the retro headphones. My wonderful dad, who sadly passed away a couple of years ago, used to love music and spent most of his spare time browsing record shops or going to gigs (when he wasn't ferrying us!). He had a huge record collection which all my friends used to admire (his taste was so down with the kids). He also had a set of headphones just like this! It's funny how a single item can bring back so many memories. I guess it's still quite raw for me as I reflect with sadness - but a wise friend told me that one day I'll be able to look back at my memories of my Dad with a smile and I look forward to that. Sending a big virtual hug out to anyone else who has also lost someone special. 

Did you spot anything in this apartment that you fell in love with or admire? As always, I'd love to hear your thoughts below! 

Wishing you all a happy Wednesday, 

Niki

Photography courtesy of Historiska Hem with thanks

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An Light and Airy Guesthouse in a Former Potting Shed

Hej kompisar! I hope you had a lovely, relaxing weekend. I mentioned last week that I'd been chasing my tail, and it seems this week is set to continue - I arrived in Gothenburg late last night as I'm set to present on stage at Möbelmässan (the Gothenburg furniture fair) this afternoon. Eeeeek! During my research, I've learnt a lot about 2025 interior design trends which I'd love to share with you soon. 

In the meantime, I thought I'd start the blog week with a total reset in the form of a white shed, also known as The Potting Shed. Set in the grounds of Bunya House in Bowral, New South Wales, Australia, I found myself immediately drawn to it today as a) it's far away 2) it's on Airbnb so we can actually book it! 3) it's small - and if you've seen the tour of our tiny cabin, you know I love small and finally 4) it oozes simplicity. 

The shed is made up of one main room with a sink, small table and bed as well as a bathroom. Since it's hard to tell from the pictures - as you walk in the door seen above, the sink is immediately to your right and the table straight ahead. The bed is to the left. 

Ready to take a little tour of this simple, airy guesthouse? 

Could you imagine staying here and filling it with your holiday wardrobe and food picked up at the local market? Perhaps we could meet there: the main house is also available to rent through Airbnb. Now there's an idea for a Monday! I already see a spot for that glass of wine (Australian of course!). 

Is there anything that stood out to you about this little cottage? I'd love to hear below! 

Although I mainly show Scandinavian homes, you'll have noticed I do have a particular penchant for Australian properties (I must visit one day, never been!). You can see all the tours from the past here. 

Right friends, I need to get ready for this talk now, wish me luck and have a fab start to the week. 

Kram

Niki

Photography courtesy of @bunya_house_bowral, shared with kind permission

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A Playful One Room Swedish Apartment With a Golden Glow

Looks like we made it (in the words of Barry Manilow), it's Friday! I'm not going to lie; it's been one of those weeks where I've been chasing my tail and never quite able to catch up. But I still wanted to stop by and share this happy, golden glow of a home. 

Located in Stockholm, it's 40 sqm (430 ft.sq) so somewhat larger than the small space I showed on Wednesday - but still consists of a one room living room space plus kitchen. I felt it therefore presented another fine way to arrange a room designed for living and sleeping (love the way a canopy is used to shield off the bed and create a cosy, safe nook for some shut eye). If you're struggling with storage, keep an eye out for the units in the hallway (which I believe are IKEA) and the drawers under the bed. Closed storage has been used in other areas too and help to keep the home clutter free. 

But there is also more at play here - whoever lives here is into their funky details and takes pride in sourcing one off playful pieces that all come together to create a beautiful and unique home. 

I got such a lovely vibe from this home, did you? It's so full of warmth and personality. 

When I looked back through the pictures a second time, I couldn't help but notice the wall art which included textiles and paintings. Not only that, but the way a picture has been hung over the door to the sitting room - a unique spot, but it works! That and the mix of textures used throughout which add to the playful feel. 

I'd love to hear about what you noticed about this home - and any thoughts you had while looking through the pictures. 

As mentioned above, sadly I'm in a bit of a rush today - but I look forward to reading and responding to your comments over the weekend - maybe over a nice big glass of wine! 

I hope you have a wonderful, relaxing weekend! 

Niki

Photography by Mia Borgelin, styling by Anna van Keppel, courtesy of Historiska Hem with thanks. 

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A Small Stockholm Home with Room for Everything

Just because you live small, doesn't mean you can't have it all. With a little planning and clever thinking, you can organise a living space to cater for all your needs - including have a place to eat, sleep, chill and socialise! In this 26 metres square / 279 ft sq apartment in Stockholm, the owners have capitalised on ceiling height to create their own two-floor apartment - or put more simply, a loft bed! 

The raised solution helps to separate the living and sleep quarters and creates a cosy nook beneath in which to catch up with friends, unwind or scroll through Netflix (have you seen The Perfect Couple with Nicole Kidman? Per and I whipped our way through it in two days, it's such a great series!).  

While we can't all benefit from towering ceilings, it's great to think about how you can carve out zones in your own home - even if it means a subtle transformation of an area from day to night. And also, how to ensure space for everything without it becoming too cluttered. Here, raised bookshelves and the use of a curtains to cover the wardrobe ensures a calm feel without compromising on your belongings! 

Ready to dive in to discover more+ 

The outdoor space almost doubles the living area in summertime - the owner has once again made maximum use of it, carving it up into a little dining spot and sitting room area. 

A lovely little home, don't you think? 

Is there anything you spotted or felt particularly inspired by? 

Would you like to feel inspired by other small homes today? Why not have a scroll through the small spaces archive? This home could pop up first - if so, just hop over. You might also love this Swedish cabin in the wood on wheels and the world's smallest luxury home. 

Thank you so much for all your lovely comments these past few days, it has been so heartwarming! I wish I was more technical so I could find out how to make it easier to comment under a name (I've noticed not everyone is able to) - but alas, I have no idea how! Even so, I love reading each and every one of your comments, they add so much to each post! 

Happy Wednesday!

Niki

Photography courtesy of Historiska Hem, found via Nordroom with thanks. 

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