An Incredible 19th century Stockholm Home (With a Fascinating Treasure!)

You might have a bone to pick with me. I promised a Finnish home tour today. And then time ran away with me and I haven't been able to give that blog post the attention it deserves - so please bear with me, I promise to share it on Thursday. The good news is, I have another fine apartment up my sleeve - and I'm sure you won't be disappointed! Located in central Stockholm, the majestic property dates back to 1885 features large airy rooms and a fantastic ornate wood ceiling as well as parquet floors. The owners just happen to have fantastic taste too, filling the rooms with unique design pieces and small treasures. How they can bear to part with it is beyond me, but it's now on the market and waiting for a new owner. Could it be you? 

The star of the show: an incredible 'Vril skål' (burl bowl). I only discovered these recently via my good friend Sofie who just returned from a trip to North Sweden. I thought they were so beautiful I ordered two online immediately. They are handmade by North Swedish craftsmen using burl - a woody growth found on the trunk of a spruce, birch or other tree.  

It almost pains me to share the details as I love how unique they are at present (does that sound terrible?), but since we're all friends, I'll let you in on a secret.... you can source them online here* and here - although you'd need to be quick they are vintage one-offs! Otherwise keep an eye on Etsy for the latest birch burl bowl listings*.  Just don't tell anyone! 

The sofa is by Melimeli - the founder of whom's home I once featured here. 

A hot trend right now - painting ceilings a darker tone - like this! I love the lamps in this room, including a pair of Panthella* and a Snoopy. I also spy a fabulous Dora Maar vase* by Jonathan Adler and an iconic Karin armchair! 

All in all, such an incredible space! Oh, the things I could do with this place if it were mine. 

Could you imagine transforming this into your home? And what did you think of the Birch Burl bowl? 

Wishing you all a great day! 

Niki

Photography courtesy of Historiska Hem with thanks.

*This post includes affiliate links.

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The Beautiful, Earthy Home of a Swedish Florist

This über cool early 20th century Malmö apartment popped up in my feed yesterday via real estate agent Bo-laget - and I've been wondering who lives there ever since. And now, I think I might just have figured it out, super sleuth that I am! Remember this cosy vintage-inspired apartment of a Malmö Florist? Well, since then Sofie has been busy turning this beautiful apartment in the Rörsjöstaden area of town into her new  home. At least, I think so, as many of the fabulous pieces of furniture, lighting fixtures and art photography remain the same. I'm a big fan of Sofie's unique style which oozes texture and a warm earthy touch - you should see the bouquets and floral displays she creates! Ready to see what she's done with this 122 m2 (1313 f2) apartment? 

I love this mix of open and closed storage. One of my Danish friends Caroline Birk Bahrenscheer has developed beautiful shelving for mugs which has totally taken off and would also look nice here. 

I'm so curious about this table and bench, I've never seen this design before. Can anyone shed any light on the brand? Or perhaps it's handmade? Maybe, I'll reach out to Sofie and ask her - I promise to come back to you if I find out! 

I love the casual look of the gallery wall and piled books - it adds a wonderfully relaxed feel to the dining space (dining rooms can feel so stiff and formal sometimes, don't you think?). 

You often see old brass candlestick holders like these in Swedish homes! I have one from Skultuna which has aged really nicely. But I can also recommend looking on Etsy for similar sets*. 

Textures galore!

If I had an old home like this, I'd definitely consider painting the doors, skirting boards and arbitraging in a dramatic colour, I think it looks awesome and adds so much drama and interest to a space. Are you a fan of this look too? 

How lovely! It's fun to see a space with such eclectic furniture. Sofie has clearly taken their time to search for unique pieces. 

Is there anything that stood out to you about her home?

I really do hope it is her home now, or I'll be so embarrassed! 

Take a peek inside other Malmö homes here - I'm so proud to live in such a creative city.

On a completely separate note, have you seen The Father with Olivia Coleman and Anthony Hopkins? Per and I went to see it at my favourite Art Deco cinema on Friday (i's called 'Spegeln' and has armchairs and a little bar in the actual saloon!). For the first half of the film, I sat mesmerised by the set - the apartment was just so beautifully decorated, and I was fascinated by how the decor played a central role in the storyline. 

The entire film was incredibly moving, and really struck a chord with me as my own beloved Father passed away a month ago after a year-long battle with brain cancer (Glioblastoma Multiforme GBM). This is the first time I've mentioned it here, I guess I just haven't really been ready to talk about it before. I have to say, it's been heart-breaking seeing someone so close and with such a brilliant mind - so clever, funny and kind, slowly decline. I do take some comfort that he is at peace now, even so I miss him every single day. In honour of my dad, this is probably the only time I'll mention it - he hated a fuss and loved to keep things upbeat, I think that's why he was such a huge fan of my blog and all my books! He's always been my number one fan! 

My heart goes out to anyone of you currently dealing with someone with ill health in your family or who have also suffered a loss. I hope this blog brings a little bubble of escape to you each day!

Niki

Photography courtesy of Bo-laget with thanks.

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12 Ideas To Steal From A Small Swedish Home With a Castle-like Turret!

"Rapunzal, Rapunzel, let down your hair". Actually, scrap that! You wouldn't need rescuing if you lived in a turret like this - the space is a dream! Small it may be (33 m2 / 355 f2), but awkward angles don't need to spell cramped. This stylish Swedish space has made full use of every nook and cranny to create a beautiful oasis high up over the rooftops of Gothenburg. And there are so many ideas to steal too! Here are 11 to feel inspired by. 

1. Ribbed wood walls are having moment - and they're a great way to add interest and warmth to a space, as well as dampen sound. 

2. A long mirror bounces natural light from the balcony to lighten up the space. 

3. Skylights are ideal for rooftop living - and now they come with built in blinds to shield from sunlight on warm days. 

4. Darker stone surfaces have taken over in the kitchen and add a wonderful, natural, textured feel. 

5. Wood and stone / ceramic accessories are everything right now - the more artisanal / imperfect the better. Expect to see a growing number of wood accessories such as bowls, jugs and pots this autumn / winter too! 

6. The shades might be earthy, but the combination of wood, exposed brick and stone - as well as the black contact ensures plenty of interest. 

7. A kitchen on one side, a hallway on the other - you can't get quicker to the fridge than that. Plus, it capitalises on space! 

8. In a small space like this with lots of angles, white is a great shade for keeping the look bright and airy. 

9. Trailing plants add so much greenery, plus they are often so much easier to keep alive than standard plants (as least in MHO). Take a look here to feel inspired! 

10. Check out the mix of textures: 'teddy' / boucle, linen, shaggy wool, stone etc. If you like a minimalist look but still want things to happen - this is the way forward! 

9. Arched mirrors - remember those from my Autumn trend post? Here, round / curved edges help to break up the angular shape of the room. 

10. A slither of exposed brick helps to connect the bedroom with eh kitchen, giving the home a cohesive look and feel. 

11. Remember that discussion the other day? I hadn't realised that the unmade / crumpled bed look was a Scandinavian (potentially European?) style trend! OK, the styling here is a little excessive, but in general I'm all for the creased / messy linen look, I mean no ironing? Winner! Thoughts?

12. For limited spaces, a small wall mounted desk is ideal! Plus it's perfectly positioned under the window to maximise natural light. The Arum lamp* is from Ferm living, I have the wall version in my bedroom and L.O.V.E it (Canadian friends - I noticed your comments the other day, the good news is it appears Ferm Living is available for you through The Modern Shop) and the Afteroom chair* is from Menu. 

I totally get that it's unlikely you live in a turret shaped home - but many of us do live in small spaces / have teeny rooms to decorate, so I hope this has given you a few ideas for your home! 

For more small space ideas check out this archive. 

Right friends, that's it from me this week! There's a storm brewing in Malmö with gale warnings so I need to get on my bike and peddle home as fast as possible before it arrives. I hope you have better weather! 

Have a wonderful weekend and see you Monday! 

Niki

Photography: this home is for sale courtesy of Alvhem 

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One Swedish Apartment, Two IKEA hacks!

Hejsan! One thing I've learned over the years, is never walk around a flea market (or IKEA for that matter) and see everything at face value. Instead, see it for its potential! Love the shape of a cabinet but not sure about the wood? Paint it. Love the legs of a table but dislike the top? Change it. There is SO much you can do! Just look at the bed in the home of Hanna Söderström. Hanna loved the shape of a second-hand bed frame but wasn't keen on the heavy, dark wood, so she painted it in a wonderful grey to blend in with the walls - and it gave the piece a whole new lease of life in the process! 

For a more simple approach, take the IVAR cabinet from IKEA. It's become one of the most hacked items in the collection, and you rarely see a Swedish home without it. In this lovely open-plan Gothenburg apartment, it pops up twice, can you see where? Enjoy the tour, there are plenty of other ideas to steal too! 

I love the layout of this open-plan living space - it has a zone for everything! Pay special attention to the lamps too, which include the Formakami pendant* and Panthella table lamp* - both fabulous! 

It's amazing what a single branch from the garden / surrounding area can do for a space - plus it's free!

Styling tip: it's hard to find really tall indoor plants without paying through the roof. Place larger plants on stools to give the illusion of height and keep it from marking the floor (at least, until you've lovingly nurtured it to grow to the ceiling!). This teak round stool* is similar.  

IKEA IVAR cabinet hack number one: the exterior has been painted in a fab salmon pink to add a touch of colour to the children's bedroom. The shade also helps to tie the bedroom in with the hallway. It's also been given new legs (available from companies such as Pretty Pegs). 

IVAR cabinet hack number two: in the hallway the same cabinet has been adapted with a ribbed front and new pine legs. If you're a bit of a dab hand, you can easily recreate this look with wood from your local DIY store. If not, try companies such as Superfront - who make cabinet doors, handles, knobs and legs for IKEA furniture. 

Sidenote: I updated an IVAR cabinet in Liv's room. Note that it was originally designed to be wall mounted and can be unsteady when you attach legs so make sure you fasten it to the wall to avoid injury to yourselves and objects! 

Styling tip: Sometimes hallways are just too narrow / small to add a load of furniture and can feel a bit bare if painted one shade. Wallpaper like this one, helps to add interest without cluttering up the space. 

Do you like to hack furniture? If so, please do share your tips / favourite hacks in the comment section and inspire us! 

I loved hearing the debate on wrinkled / non-wrinkled bedding in the comment section on Friday! What are your thoughts on this? 

I'm about to shoot off to photograph a beautiful autumn piece in my sitting room (keep an eye on instagram tomorrow to see what it is!) - but before I leave, here are a couple of other homes you might like: 

A delightful, small danish apartment in calm, earthy tones

The golden, vintage-inspired home of Sarah Shabacon

Keeping it real in a family home in the heart of Copenhagen

Vi ses imorgon! 

Niki

This home is for sale via Alvhem. Photography: Henrik Linden, Styling: Grey Deco Interiors

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7 Styling Tricks To Learn From a Serene Swedish Apartment

While yesterday's home tour was all about colour and playful elements, this Swedish apartment is all about serenity. When I pour over the pictures of the milky white tones, minimalist decor and soft touches of light wood I feel my shoulders instantly relax. So, what's the trick to creating an oasis of calm for one? Here are seven clever styling elements at play: 

1. Keeping key furniture white helps to keep the look uncluttered, while mixing and matching different designs helps to keep the look interesting. 

2. A very large white fluffy, shag-pile rug adds texture and warmth as well as helps to dampen sound. 

3. Playing with scale immediately adds interest to a space. In the main living room / bedroom a large pendant lamp floats in the centre. 

4. Elfa storage is hugely popular in Sweden as it's really practical and can be tailored to the space you have. These shelves maximise storage by extending all the way up to the ceiling. And great storage also means a clutter-free room. I'd love to see a little more this space, preferably with some closed storage to hide a load of stuff! 

5. A mirror doubles up as a 'looking glass' but also as a tool to reflect light inwards, visually enlarging the room 

'You' print by Sofia Lind*

6. Bucket storage is ideal for storing books and magazines (I also love to use it in children's rooms as it's so easy to find what you're looking for!). This one is the Douve by Bloomingville*. 

7. Soft earthy colours help to break up the white look while keeping the aesthetic calm and natural. 

Arum wall lamp* by Ferm Living (I have the same one in my bedroom but in beige). 

Beautiful! I could totally imagine rocking about here, could you? 

It's a bit small for my family, but if you're interested, it's for sale here. 

On a different note - I'm not sure if you noticed my announcement the other day - but I'll be blogging four days a week for the time being, with Fridays off. So on this note - I'll leave you to have a fabulous weekend and see you on Monday! 

Niki

Photography: Alvhem

*This post contains affiliate links.

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