My daybed update

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I love how small updates can make a big impact. Recently I've grown a little tired of the original IKEA cover in pale grey on our Söderhamn chaise longue (in the window nook), plus it was starting to look, well, a bit manky (think foot marks, splashes of hot chocolate, you name it!). So earlier this week I swapped it for a new Bemz Loose Fit Urban slipcover in Rosendal Pure washed Linen - Medium Grey and I'm soooo happy with the result! Not only does it feel extra cosy (I love the darker colour!) it also matches the rest of my sitting room - perfect! 

I already had the Söderhamn chaise longue with a cover, but if you're ordering a new one from IKEA you can buy one without the cover for less and then add the Bemz cover at home (it's so easy to put on!). A quick side-note: I bought the baby's breath wreath at a flower shop in town back in December - it's been in the hall for ages but I think I might just have found a new spot for it, what do you think?

You may remember the touch of chestnut from my bedroom make-over. I think the 40 x 60 cushion in Malmen velvet chestnut adds a lovely warm touch to the window nook too. I love the exposed seams and relaxed look of the Loose Fit Urban - it's what drew me to this style. 

In this last pic you can catch a glimpse of my Chinese Money plant (I love the shape of the leaves!) and my book The Scandinavian Home (not that I sit and read my own book....but I do like to dip and out for inspiration, press interviews etc). After all - there's no such thing as a cosy corner without plants and books, don't you agree?! 

Photography: ©Niki Brantmark / My Scandinavian Home

Aaaaah, so pleased with it! If anyone's looking for me I'll be cosying up here for the rest of the day!

Have a cosy day!


This post is brought to you in collaboration with Bemz, however all words are my own and I only ever work with brands I love and think you will too.

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Embracing the winter blues - Danish style

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Despite not minding the cold - oh how I love to arrive home and put the kettle on! In fact, one of the things I love the most about January and February is a good cuppa (followed by comfort food under candlelight in the evenings!), how about you?! This definitely calls for some beautiful tableware to match the occasion! Danish brand Kähler recently introduced an indigo glaze to their popular Hammershøi tableware collection and it's soooo beautiful! Created by the designer Hans-Christian Bauer, the collection draws inspiration from the original works by Danish painter Svend Hammershøi, created in the Kähler workshop back in the early 20th century. The classic Hammershøi tableware collection in indigo combines beautiful silhouettes with iconic furrows and includes three different sizes of bowl, serving and milk jugs, a teapot, a thermal cup, a mug, a bonbonnière (this would be equally nice on a shelf to store little trinkets), eggcups, salt and pepper shakers and a cruet set as well as spice grinders, oiled oak paper towel holder and two lovely tins! Here's a sneak peek....

Aaaaaaah so pretty. I think afternoon tea would taste even sweeter with these on the table don't you?!

I received the tins just before Christmas (perks of the job!!) and they make the prettiest biscuit tins - I should really have given them away as a present with homemade goodies inside and a ribbon but the family kind of fell in love with them (not just because of what was inside - honest!). Nice idea though?

Are there any pieces in this collection which catch your eye?

All the items are available from the Kähler online shop - perfect!

Have a lovely day!

This post is brought to you in collaboration with Kähler, however all words are my own and I only ever work with brands I love and think you will too.

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Be&Liv: Fika by Candlelight

Sponsored -  I use the word fika a lot! In case you're not familiar with the term, it's a Swedish word meaning to 'take a break and enjoy a hot drink (usually super strength coffee!) and a small sweet treat'. A fika can be enjoyed at anytime of the day and nothing, but nothing gets in the way of a Swede and they're fika! Naturally, I was quick to adopt this cultural ritual (it does sound rather nice, right?!). I especially love them at this time of the year as it always feels so cosy. Lately, I've really stepped up my game in this department thanks to two beautiful items from Be & Liv (a Finnish design brand making beautiful items for the home designed to "bring the poetry back to everyday life" - how lovely?!): the Solo candle holder and Treepot 3D trivet in wood.  While the candle holder in black chrome is a pretty way to bring a warm glow to the table, the wooden Treepot 3D trivet can be used as both a coffee pot stand and a 3D Christmas tree, how fabulous is that?! I've found they go particularly well with a steaming cup of coffee and pepperkaka (ginger thins)! Any excuse.... 

Photography / styling: Niki Brantmark (My Scandinavian Home).  

Ahhhh, and relax!

I was lucky enough to meet the Be & Liv the team on my last trip to Helsinki and they're the loveliest people - truly dedicated to creating beautiful items made from high quality materials. The pieces also arrive flat-packed, which is a more sustainable choice for the environment - love that!

If brass is more your thing -  you may want to take a look at this feature captured in my sitting room. See entire collection here!

What's your favourite treat to munch on your coffee break?


This post is brought to you in collaboration with Be&Liv however all words are my own and I only ever work with brands I love and think you will too.

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Bring a Warm, Minimalist Touch to your Kids Bedroom

Calling all Aussie friends out there looking for fab Scandi-inspired children's furniture (that's gentle on the wallet too - got to love that, right?!)! Fantastic Furniture is a Sydney based sofa and bedding manufacturer with superstores in every major metropolitan city and regional town across Australia. Wander in (or take a look online) and you'll find all kinds of minimalist furniture for your children's bedroom including beds, storage units and desks (how fab is the Cabin Kids Bunk Bed for starters?!). Choose a classic white approach (which I have gone for in my own daughter's room) or warm it up with a natural wood finish. Bedding with colourful fun patterns and bold prints also add to the inviting look and feel - as well as provide a cosy place to curl up under and read bedtime stories together. Look out for my six tips on how to create a lovely Scandinavian style bedroom for your little ones below. In the meantime, here are some inspiring looks from Fantastic Furniture...

My 6 tips on creating a Scandinavian inspired children's bedroom
 
1. A child will enjoy their room if it's practical (and safe). Space permitting, try to ensure it covers all their needs including a zone to sleep, get creative, store and read. Plenty of storage places for all their bits and bobs (trust me - my girls have a lot of tiny little things!!) means that it's easier to keep the room neat and tidy, which in turn means they'll enjoy it more.

2. If you choose furniture with a clean design and neutral colours your little one can keep it for longer as they won't grow out of the look. Think classic pieces that stand the test of time and keep to a simple colour palette of white, black, wood etc.

3. Add a playful touch to the room by adding textiles featuring a pattern motif and colours. By getting your child involved in the process they will feel they have greater control over their environment and will be able to add their personal stamp on the room. Plus, these pieces can easily be exchanged / passed on as they get older and their tastes change.

4. Add your child's favourite colour to the room by creating an accent wall (you may like to paint a half-half wall, go for a playful geometric look. Removable wall stickers are also a great way to add a little colour. They are widely available, but if you feel like getting creative you can create your own using a stencil and tape.

5. Add layers of textiles in the form of cushions, blankets, and rugs to create a super warm and inviting feel to the room. That way you can cosy up together at bedtime.

6. Add plenty of lighting (including a mix of ambient and task) so they can enjoy the room after dark. Black-out blinds are ideal for a great night's sleep but don't forget the night light for little ones who are afraid of a monster lurking under the bed).

Feel free to add your own tips in the comment section below, it's always great to hear new ideas!

GET THE LOOK

1. Cabin Single Bed
2. Aster Corner Desk
3. Cabin 3 Drawer Lowboy
4. Willow Double Bed
5. Jordan Single Bunk
6. Cabin Kids Bunk Bed


Happy shopping!


This post is brought to you in collaboration with Fantastic Furniture, however all words are my own. 

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Going for gold....TRIWA Timepiece (15% Off!)

My home is pretty much gleaming right now! I wish this was because it was tidy (it's not). It's simply because I have so many gold (and brass) elements around. And this week I added a new addition to my 'shiny' collection - a watch! The Dixie Aska from Swedish brand TRIWA to be precise. And I'm thrilled with it - not least because it has arrived just in time for my pre-Christmas (*sharp in-take of breath* - did I just mention the 'C' word in October?) parties! I have to say, it's so much prettier to look at than my phone when checking the time! Love it! Oh and the wonderful TRIWA team are offering you 15% discount off any item until 15th November, 2017 (just type in the code NIKI15 at checkout!).

Photography: Niki Brantmark / My Scandinavian Home

Aaaaa, so pretty, don't you think?

The watch is designed out of TRIWA's Stockholm studio and I love how the pattern on the dial has been interpreted from the fixed positions found on traditional watch indexes - which kind of gives it a unique touch, don't you think? It's still got that contemporary Scandinavian simplicity going on though - which is what stole my heart (of course!). If you're looking for something truly classic, but with the same mesh strap - you'll love this beauty!

You might recall I've got a Blue Aska time-piece too (love the darker feel of it - so cosy for Autumn?!)  - and they've got plenty of other fab watches for men and women up their sleeve, as well as  range of sunglasses- oh yes!

Note - the Dixie Aska is sold in a limited supply of 500 pieces only (available here), oj oj oj as they say in Sweden - if you'd like one (or thinking it could be great pressie for a friend), best to be quick (don't forget the 15% discount too - code NIKI15!)!

Have a lovely day!


This post is brought to you in collaboration with TRIWA. However all words are my own and I only ever work with brands I absolutely love and think you will too! Thank you for supporting the businesses that help make My Scandinavian Home possible. 

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The winner of the Nordal baskets is....

Thank you so much for entering the give-away to win a set of three natural baskets from fab Danish homeware brand Nordal. I'm excited to announce the winner as....Rena of Studio Hear Hear! Congratulations Rena, we hope these baskets will work perfectly with your plants and blankets!

 

Still got your sights set on these beauties?! Check out Nordal's list of dealers here!


This competition is now closed.

Terms & Conditions

You must be age of majority in your country of residence. We are not responsible for any duties, import taxes that you may incur. Only 1 entry per person. 

This post is brought to you in collaboration with Nordal, however all words are my own and I only ever work with brands I love and think you will too. 

Photography and styling: 1 - 3 Niki Brantmark / My Scandinavian Home. 4 Courtesy of Nordal. 

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Getting creative with BOEN hardwood flooring!

If there's one thing synonymous with a Scandinavian home it's wood flooring, right?! And in a region where beautiful forests reign supreme, the Scandinavians are never short of high quality wood! I was recently approached by BOEN, a Norwegian brand selling hardwood flooring in over 40 countries around the world (you can say they're pretty big!). BOEN has collaborated with my talented friend, trends expert Gudy Herder to launch three new beautiful collections this Autumn around the themes; Essential, Drama is the new Black and Pause. The Pause lifestyle trend is all about relaxation and the instinctive need to slow down (I'm feeling more relaxed just hearing about it, how about you?!). As a part of this, BOEN has produced three new oak wood floors which exude calm thanks to their neutral grey shades (mild grey, warm cotton and horizon) and smooth Live Pure finish. The My Scandinavian Home team had a relaxing day (sort of!)  in the studio -  creating a moodboard to reflect this beautiful theme. Here's our take on the Pause trend!

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Photography: Niki Brantmark - My Scandinavan Home. Creation: Genevieve Jorn.

And in case you're curious: here are the three wood floors in action:

1. Oak Mild Grey Live Pure

2. Oak Warm Cotton Live Pure

3.  Oak Horizon Live Pure

Last three photographs courtesy of BOEN.

Find out more about BOEN hardwood flooring and their other product launches this Autumn here!

Back in a couple of hours time with today's home tour (a beautiful, boho Danish apartment - yay!)....
See you then!

In the meantime, take it easy!


***
This post is brought to you in collaboration with BOEN. However, all words are my own and I only ever work with brands I absolutely love and think you will too! Thank you for supporting the businesses that help bring fresh content to your mail box and make My Scandinavian Home possible.

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My new watch from TRIWA, Stockholm

Just occasionally the postman arrives on his bike bearing goodies. This week he delivered my new Blue Aska timepiece from TRIWA  - and I have to admit I did do a little dance. For those of you not familiar with the brand, TRIWA make uber cool watches, straps, sunglasses (loving the Peach Thelma version!) and bracelets out of their creative studio in Stockholm (see the film about the inspiring TRIWA story here!). I particularly love the Blue Aska since it has a lovely abstract symmetry pattern, and is sold as a limited edition of 500 pieces (guys - hurry!). Having worn it non stop since it arrived (how did I ever get by without a timepiece when they make such a perfect piece of jewellery?!), I've now also got my eye on the classic Ivory Klinga and this very cool Midnight Falken - designed to interpret 1950's simplicity (a girl can never have too many watches, agreed?!).  For now though, I'll be enjoying mine over a fika (any excuse!).

Styling / photography: Niki Brantmark - My Scandinavian Home (with a little help from Tess!). 

Ah so beautiful! And who would have thought a watch goes so well with a cinnamon bun?! It must be it's Swedish heritage!

Oh and TRIWA ships worldwide (just saying!).

Have a lovely weekend - see you Monday!

PS Feel inspired by Manon's beautiful home, which artfully combines Kenyan handicrafts with contemporary design!

PPS I'm on my way up to Stockholm for a party tonight - eeeeeeeee!


This post is brought to you in collaboration with TRIWA. However all words are my own and I only ever work with brands I absolutely love and think you will too! Thank you for supporting the businesses that help make My Scandinavian Home possible. 

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My sitting room refresh with Bemz

I'm super excited to reveal my new sitting room today. It's been a long time in the making since I simply couldn't decide which sofa to go for: I've been looking for something our entire family could get cosy on in this Autumn, and of course, a piece that looks beautiful too! The answer came in the form of a marriage between two brands: IKEA and Bemz! Of course, we're all familiar with the first, but have your heard of the latter?! Bemz makes the most beautiful customised, replacement covers for IKEA sofas and armchairs (as well as curtains, cushions and bedroom textiles).  It's such a simple process too. You basically pick out the piece you like from IKEA (or if you're lucky you can find it online second hand), better yet upgrade an existing IKEA piece at home, and then choose from over 250 Bemz colours and patterns, all of which are machine washable and sewn to order in Europe. How great is that?! Here's a sneak peak of what has officially become the most cosy corner in our house... and a little more information about the make-over.

I invited Gen (the wonderful My Scandinavian Home interior designer) over for a brainstorm (any excuse for a coffee and a chat!) and we opted for the SÖDERHAMN three-seat sofa with chaise longue with a Bemz Urban Loose Fit cover in Rosendal Pure Washed Linen in Silver Grey. I have a weakness for relaxed, natural textures and absolutely love the pronounced seams - such a beautiful touch, don't you think?! Not only that, but the Bemz loose fit slipcover completely transforms the look of the original IKEA SÖDERHAMN, giving it an exclusive touch - love that!

The cover was added to the sofa during the assembly process (admittedly I've never been great with an Allen key so I might just have got the man involved at this point!). Of course, while strolling through IKEA I also picked up a few accessories to match - including the Stockholm 2017 chair, GRADVIS vase, VILJESTARK vase, and ARV bowl (hey, the new IKEA catalogue 2018 came out this week, how could I not?!) - but some of the older, more rustic pieces at home fit really nicely with the look too. I hope you like the result as much as I do!

Photography: Niki Brantmark - My Scandinavian Home. Interior design / styling: Genevieve Jorn

Roll on Autumn!

If you fancy giving an IKEA piece a new lease of life at home, it's well worth checking out the Bemz covers and slipcovers - there are some really beautiful ones. The great thing is IKEA sofas are built to last, and the SÖDERHAMN has a 10 year warranty so if you tire of it or spill your espresso martini, it is easy to update the cover - yay!

I think I might go for a headboard next...! 

Have a lovely day!

PS If you're wondering where anything is from, please do ask away in the comment section below!


This post is brought to you in collaboration with Bemz. However, all words are my own and I only ever work with brands I absolutely love and think you will too (#Ilovemyjob!). Thank you for supporting the businesses that help bring fresh content to your mail box and make My Scandinavian Home possible.

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