Gen's Cosy Sitting Room Make-Over with Bemz!

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Often, when you take a step in a new direction in one room, it has a knock-on effect on the next room - and before you know it you're re-doing the entire place! Have you noticed that too?! When my friend (and interior designer) Genevieve Jorn, renovated her bedroom here in Malmö a few months back, she was thrilled with the results and wanted to continue the look through to her sitting room. Her and husband Kasper, didn't want to invest a huge amount since it's fairly newly renovated, but still wanted to find a simple way to inject similar colours (sand, grey etc) and natural materials such as linen to give their living space a cohesive look. Since they already had a Karlstad sofa and were very happy with it, Bemz* - who make beautiful design covers for IKEA furniture - was the ideal solution to bring more linen into the space. Here's the low down...

 Before

The Design

Sample selection  

You might already be familiar with Bemz* (I've been a partner of theirs for a while and am a huge fan having used their design covers in my sitting room and bedroom). But, just in case you're not - the Swedish brand makes the most beautiful design covers for IKEA sofas and armchairs as well as cushions, curtains and bedroom fabrics (and have over 150 fabrics to choose from - I'm not kidding!).  Such an awesome way to make the most of what you already have and give it a whole new lease of life! 

Gen chose a cover in Simply Linen Graphite Grey which has a craaaazily soft 'peach-skin' finish.  It's also really durable and machine washable making it ideal for saucepan lids (for the non-British out there, that's cockney rhyming slang for ''kids'!).  Side-note: Gen's little girl Olivia is as cute as a button, but even the most angelic of children can leave a fingerprint or too (check-out Olivia's own bedroom here)!

Room design

Gen was keen for the area to feel cosy, personal and warm. She opted for a sandy wall colour (chosen to match her bedroom) as well as warm natural materials in the form of light wood, soft linen and rattan, with the slightest hint of black and grey (get the complete run down on the furniture, wall colours and light fittings here!). 

 After

...be still my beating heart!

The combination of natural textures (which include soft linens, cotton, wood, rattan and paper) and muted, earthy tones have such a calming, cosy effect - which was especially important since it's quite a large open plan room (the dining area is on the other side of the room).  

The majority of the sofa cushions* are also by Bemz. Combining different colours and textures is a perfect way to add warmth and somewhere you want to sink into and chill all day!

Isn't it beautiful?! I seriously could have stayed all evening, perhaps the week (like a true surf coucher!). However, we weren't quite finished with the shoot...

How about Ivy?

As I mentioned, one of the beauties of Bemz is that you can easily update your furniture. I have a spare linen cover for my sitting room sofa so that if something gets spilled (a regular occurrence in our house - bah!), we can whisk off the covers and throw them in the machine.

As a reserve (and an update as the mood takes her!), Gen went for the Loose Fit Urban Brero Lino Ivy. Here it is: same room, same setting:

Isn't it smart?! I love the loose fit urban style and beautiful Ivy hue. It's amazing how each of the colours pick out details in the room, making them more pronounced.

The cushions (covered in the same Pure Linen Brero Lino - Ivy*)  fabric are pretty too as you can really see the texture and piping.

Aaaaaa, such a lovely space. She's managed to achieve that illusive super calm, yet super cosy balance!

Which look do you prefer?

Could you imagine hanging out here watching one too many Netflix series too?

If you'd like to achieve a similar look (even if you don't have an old IKEA sofa or armchair knocking about, you can always pick one up second hand online!) you can find more details here.  Oh and Bemz are offering free shipping exclusively to My Scandinavian Home readers until the end of July with code freeshipmsh (right in time for the mid-season sale too - yay!).

Have a lovely day!

Niki

Photography Niki Brantmark / My Scandinavian Home. Interior Design Genevieve Jorn. 

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. Thank you for supporting the businesses that make My Scandinavian Home possible.

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My Dream Bed (In The Making!)

Post updated:

A psychologist friend of mine told me recently that one of the keys to success in life is self-care. I'm not just brushing your teeth in the morning - really looking after yourself. Taking breaks, putting aside time for the things you love and generally pampering the soul! Do you do enough of this? Having ended 2017 feeling a little run down, I decided to make this the year I am kinder to myself - and the first item on my list was getting a better night's sleep! Thanks to the Swedish luxury brand Carpe Diem Beds - and an instagram stories poll last month (so grateful for all your input!) I have finally decided on a new bed: Sandö.

Sandö is a continental bed named after an island in the beautiful Gothenburg archipelago.  What makes Sandö so comfortable are its three unique interacting spring systems that raise your sleep and ensure you feel like you're sleeping on a cloud. It also includes the patented Carpe Diem Beds Contour System, which looks after the body's contours and its protruding parts, such as shoulders, hips and buttocks. Combined with the depth of the spring system, this gives a feeling of weightlessness that must be experience (read more about the Contour Pocket System here). We're talking Princess and The Pea style comfort here! The question is, will I ever be able to get out of bed in the morning?!

The next step was to build it (each bed is handcrafted which means you get to choose all the details including mattress firmness, fabric, headboard and legs).  As someone into design, I couldn't be happier about this!

Getting Cosy!

According to The Sleep Help Institute, choosing the right firmness plays a huge role in getting a good night's sleep and reducing aches and pains.  

When choosing the firmness, there are several factors to consider including your own personal perception of comfort, your weight (the heavier you are, generally the firmer the mattress and vice versa) and your sleep position (whether you sleep on your back, side or front can have an impact on the firmness you choose - who knew?!). Since mattresses can vary between brands it's best to discuss this at the point of sale / directly with the brand.

Deciding On Fabric

I've never owned a continental bed before and love the idea of being able to choose a fabric that feels good and matches my room! Being a Brit I couldn't resist the fabric designed in collaboration with Designers Guild! I opted for the non-allergic Zaragoza eggshell, a soft chenille that I think will go well with the chestnut and blushing peach tones in my bedroom and adjoining home office.

But what about the headboard? Well, I can't tell you how much I'd LOVE an upholstered headboard (do you have one?) - they always look so comfortable! Alas, with our low bedroom window it just wasn't possible, so I opted for two plump headboard cushions made from the same fabric as the bed (available in store soon!).

And finally the legs - being a nature-lover, this was the easiest choice of all (despite a variety of styles and finishes such as copper and black aluminium) I went for the 13 cm OAK legs.

Something tells me I'm going to be a new person once this one arrives!

Have a cosy day,

Niki

This post is brought to you in collaboration with Carpe Diem Beds, however all words are my own and I only ever work with brands I love and think you will too. You can find out more information about Carpe Diem Beds and their dealers here.

Photography courtesy of Carpe Diem Beds.

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Sitting comfortably?!

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Earlier on in the week I completed my well overdue home office revamp (see the before and after here)- phew! It's been a dream sitting there ever since (I'm not sure why it took me so long, isn't that always the case?!). Even so, there was still one piece of the jigsaw missing. As someone who loves design, I'm often tempted to go for form over function. And one thing I've been compromising on is my office chair. Apparently this is so easy to do when you work from home. And as someone who sits for long hours at a computer - the flea-market wooden chair was just no longer cutting it. The final straw came when I needed physio on my neck - apparently thanks to my beloved chair - gulp! It was time to bring an ergonomic desk chair into the mix!

I was thrown into a slight panic: we all like things to look good in our home, and well, ergonomic chairs are not always synonymous with 'design'.  After a little research I selected the Humanscale Diffrient World Chair, created by iconic industrial designer Niels Diffrient.

The chair has everything my physio listed. Made from an intelligent mesh, it's height adjustable (to find your optimum height, stand in front of your chair and adjust so your seat is just below your knee. In a sitting position, your feet should be flat on the ground and knees bent at a 90 degree angle), features depth, back tilt and arm support, has good lumbar support, and offers all the features needed to encourage posture changes throughout the day: it swivels, rolls on good quality castors and has a back rest that flexes with your body.

In other words it's unbelievably comfortable when I'm sitting around reading magazines all day working - and good for my general well being. Result!

Now, I thought it was just me who thought it looked pretty sleek, but then my Danish artist neighbour Daphne (not to be confused with my other neighbour's dog by the same name!) popped in for a fika (coffee and cake) earlier, spotted the chair and started hopping up and down saying this is exactly what her husband needed to replace his giant-sized monstrosity currently cluttering up a corner of their sitting room AKA the 'home office'! And let me tell you, she has very good taste!

So here I am, happy as Larry (anyone know who Larry actually is?!), tinkering away at my desk - no neck pain in sight.

Although I do need a new monitor.

And I once read in a guide somewhere that you should always keep your feet warm by wearing socks when working from home.

Is there no end to the list of 'office well-being' requirements? Oh well, at least I have the chair now. Baby steps my friends, baby steps!

If you're feeling inspired for your office (home or otherwise) - the Humanscale Diffrient World Chair is available in black, grey and white from Houseology (ships worldwide). You can also see other chairs in the collection here.

Stay comfy!

PS  For those of you who think my office is usually this immaculate - it's not - it's simply because I've just renovated the space (except for the floor which, thanks to the high res image, I can clearly see is also in need of a touch up - although it's quite charming, no?!). I'm certainly going to make the most of it while it lasts though!


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

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For the Love of Linen!

Linen has to be the prettiest fabric, don't you think? I've noticed it's sneaked it's way into all areas of my home - the kitchen, the bedroom and even my sitting room! So, what is it about this fabric? Made from the flax plant, linen has so many great qualities: it keeps it's shape, it's resistant to dust, has non-allergenic qualities, it's durable and feels soft and cool to touch - but best of all perhaps, it looks extra pretty slightly wrinkled so there's no need to get the iron out! Right now, some of the best linen is coming out of Lithuania, a country known for it's skilled craftsmanship. One of my favourites is Iconic Linen who make items from handcrafted, stonewashed linen made from 100% pure flax that's natural and chemical free so it's soft and kind to your skin (and they ship worldwide!). Here's a quick round-up of some of my favourite pieces:

Linen Table Cloths

With summer on it's way, I'm loving the natural and white striped table cloth (it has a true Swedish summer cottage feel about it, don't you think?!). If you prefer a little more colour there are three others to choose from. And they sell linen napkins to match!

Linen Tea Towels

The kitchen range also includes a load of linen tea towels (check out the green one) and linen aprons (I have a linen apron at home and even though I'm hopeless at baking, I feel the part so much more in it than when I'm wearing my ancient, waxed apron with cats (hmmm, funny that!).

Linen bedding

Bed linen is where the 100% European flax comes into play (this is what you want for softness against the skin) and the iconic linen range is stonewashed, carefully handcrafted and super soft. Once again I'm loving the 'Swedish cottage' bed set up - but I'd also take the blue and white striped (seen at the top of this post), white and dusty rose (not at all swayed by that picture of the breakfast in bed... honest!). You can check out the complete range here.

Linen Fabrics by the Metre

And finally, I love that all the Iconic Linen colour ways are available to buy by the metre so you can make your own linen creations.

Small side note: at Christmas we stayed at a friends house who had linen waffle duvet covers -  I've been wondering where to find them ever since. Perhaps I should ask Iconic Linen to whisk up a bespoke pair (remember in Scandinavia it's customary to use two single duvets instead of a double!), what do you think?

Is there anything you are tempted by?

If you'd like to see more, you can check out the complete collection here.

Have a cosy day!


This post is in collaboration with Iconic Linen, however all words are my own and I only ever recommend brands I love and think you will too. Thank you for supporting the brands that make My Scandinavian Home possible.

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3

In Search Of Beauty Sleep!

Did you know it's world sleep day? I've been thinking a lot lately about sleep (and lack of!). Firstly I'm the Mother of two, secondly I'm guilty of going to bed a little too late (I'm looking at you Netflix!) and finally, my husband and I have the worst bed E.V.E.R. Lurking under the beautiful set-up that is my bedroom is a double bed with one side slightly higher than the other and a super soft, 16 year old mattress! I kid you not! Knowing the importance of a great night's sleep (I even wrote about it in my Lagom book!), my new years resolution to look after myself a little better this year and the fact that we spend a third of our lives in bed, why do I put so much effort into creating a beautiful bedroom then scrimp on the most important thing?! Are you guilty of this too? This is my (surprising) journey in search of better sleep:

Now, you know me well. Comfort and good quality is essential, but it has to look pretty too. Which is how I discovered Carpe Diem Beds. After a little research (hey, I've been waiting 16 years, and it is after all, a 'big girl investment') I found that despite being a global brand (available in 20 countries) their beds are handcrafted in beautiful Lysekil in the archipelago North of Gothenburg, which is where my husband and I met! Fate?! A visit to Sweden's West Coast was totally in order (purely for research purposes, of course!).

In between blustery cliff walks, boat rides and the odd sauna, I learned that Carpe Diem Beds was founded by local chiropractor Börje Thuleskär, who was soaking up the sun on a bed of wild heather (found in abundance on the islands) and noticed the flora supported him and moulded to his body. This paved the way for the Contour Pocket System: a unique individually flexible spring system which works to follow the contours of your body and relieve pressure.

The beds are also built using the highest quality materials including frames of Swedish pine, bolsters of cotton and wool and mattresses upholstered with Talalay latex, wool, and cotton. They're also marked with the Nordic 'Swan' eco-label and individually signed by the person who made it! This also means you can decide the fabric, headboard and legs (love that!). 

 By the end of my two days I was sorry to leave (I stayed in a hotel with a Carpe Diem Beds bed and it was like sleeping on a cloud. For the first time in ages I woke up rested - body and soul!). It's absolutely no coincidence that I have since became an extremely proud ambassador.

Which brings me to the most important step in my search for better sleep - which bed to choose (each one is named after a place in the archipelago). Here are a few of my faves:

Malö

Their most popular frame bed, Malö, has an extra-high spring system, giving you a feeling of being weightless (loving the sound of that?!). 

Härmanö

Härmanö is a continental bed with separate spring systems and classic double mattresses for maxing out on the comfort and pressure relief (so tempting!).

Vindö

Set to launch soon, Vindö is designed to look like it's flying and has an app that lets you adjust the beds position, lighting and massage functions! Could. You. Imagine?! Would you ever get out of bed?! Here's their complete range of adjustable beds (just saying!).

So, what do you think? Do you have a favourite? I have mine. And my husband has his. Let's see who wins (to be revealed soon!).

Sleep... I'm coming for you!

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

Photography courtesy of Carpe Diem Beds.

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15

New Gallery Wall in The Window Nook (Plus 25% off!)

Collaboration: There are many elements which help to make a home personal. One of my favourites is art. And despite being so happy with our window nook at home, I realised this was exactly what was missing! I gathered the My Scandinavian Home team for this one since there was paint, prints and one very heavy vintage lamp at stake (and my husband does get jittery when it comes to drilling holes in the wall!). Here's what we did with a little help from prints and frames from Desenio: 

1. Red Bubblegum 2. Let The Light In 3. Legs 4. Dandelion 5. Birds

I'm a big fan of art photography (probably because I love taking photographs!) which is why the selection is made up of this genre. I was also looking for something that reflected my love of light (hey, it's pretty dark in Sweden half of the year - it's hard not to become obsessed!) and nature - but also wanted to add a playful /strong element (hence the Red Bubblegum portrait). I was actually slightly nervous about this piece but it has become my favourite print (and that's saying something as I have many and love them all!).

It's easy to think changes in my home are a spontaneous, quick fix affair. This is sometimes the case, but more often than not there's so much that goes on behind the scenes! For the gallery wall Gen put together a 3D drawing to scale in SketchUp so we could see exactly how the prints might look across the two walls (I love a gallery wall that goes around a corner!). 

Don't worry, you don't need to be a pro at this kind of stuff (I'm certainly not!) - Desenio has a great create your gallery wall tool which is really easy to use and perfect for figuring out which prints and frames go with which and the sizes you'll need to order.

Another great move (which I can recommend!) was to tape paper templates of the prints to the wall to see how they'd look and play around with gaps etc. The beauty of this, is that once you're happy with the layout you can hammer the nails through the paper and then tear it away - and then you're ready to go! Happy wall, happy husband!

So pleased we mixed and matched the Desenio frames (two oak and three black). The wood adds a lot of warmth which is important when the majority of the prints are black and white.

I hope you like the results as much as I do!

If you're looking for art for your walls, the code “myscandinavianhome” gives 25% off posters* at Desenio between Tuesday 13th and Thursday 15th of March, 2018 (bargain!).

*Except on the handpicked / collaboration poster category and frames.

Now all that's left is for me to go and chill in my window nook for a few hours (now, wouldn't that be nice?! Bah! Not going to happen!).

Have a happy day!

Photography: Niki Brantmark / Interior designer: Genevieve Jorn

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9

Gen's Lovely Bedroom Refresh

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A few weeks ago I spent the day at my friend Genevieve Jorn's home. The French Canadian interior designer is a regular contributor here at MSH (I'm soooo lucky!) and lives in the most incredible early 20th century apartment in the centre of Malmö. You might recognise her home from this and this post. Then again you might not. You see, Gen has the propensity to update her apartment even more than I do (and that's really saying something as you know!). The latest room to be given a facelift is her bedroom. With spring just around the corner (yippee!), Gen moved away from slightly darker, moodier notes to a fresh look and feel while keeping the look warm and inviting with a touch of rattan and layers of textiles (love the Nordal cushions and rugs). Enjoy the tour!

Gen's three metre high ceilings and large bedroom is the stuff of dreams. I mean, could you imagine?! Even so, it can be tricky to create a cosy vibe. To compensate, Gen used a mound of soft cushions, throws and rugs (see below for details). The walls have been painted in SPACE by Jotun Lady Pure Colour up to the border which also helps to create a more intimate feel. 

A simple wooden chair works perfectly as a bedside table! Admittedly, mine would have a mountain of stuff on it ("Chairdrobe: Piling clothes on a chair in place of a closet or a dresser") but Gen's one organised lady! Check out this post for more details on the fabulous prints!

Mixing and matching patterns and textures is the way to go for a warm and inviting look - I love how some of the cushions like this one have a bit of of a boho vibe going on too!

 I'm such a big fan of Peacock chairs, there's something decadent yet understated about them - could you imagine having one in your home? Or perhaps you already do (I've got one in my bedroom)!

"I love how the light shines through the chair and casts shadows on the wall." Genevieve Jorn.

Oj oj oj (as they say in Sweden!) what a lovely bedroom! Could you imagine sleeping here? If it were my bedroom I'm not sure if I'd ever leave!

GET THE LOOK:



1. Harlekin Carpet
2. Large Rattan Chair
3. BOHO cushion cover
4. Black Bench
5. Glass Jar
6. Cushion cover

N.B: Nordal ships throughout Europe (webshop stockists here).

Once again, you can find out more info on the prints and a few other details here - and just give me a shout in the comment section below if you're wondering about anything else!

Have a lovely day!

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: Niki Brantmark / Styling Genevieve Jorn.

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