A Warm Swedish Christmas: Inside Sanna’s Country Home

Hej there! How are you holding up? It's a busy time of year! 

On Friday I shared a few snapshots from my own home this Christmas (along with a little gift!), and today we're spreading our wings a little further afield – to Sanna's beautiful Swedish country home in snowy Dalarna.

Sanna lives here with her husband and two children, and to give you a full tour I went back through her Instagram (with kind permission, of course) so I could gather snapshots from each room – which is why some feel more Christmassy than others. Either way, there's plenty of inspiration to be gleaned!

Built in the early 1900s, Sanna and her husband have been carefully restoring the house with great respect for its original charm. They place a strong focus on re-use and on giving old objects a new life. The home is filled with the kind of quiet, soulful details that make Scandinavian country interiors so inviting. Painted wood panelling in dusty blues and greys gives the kitchen a soft, heritage feel, while worn timber floors and simple rustic stools add a grounded warmth. Natural textures—ceramics, linen curtains, wooden cabinets—soften each room, and fresh flowers appear everywhere, bringing life to the winter light.

In the living areas, I especially love the paper lanterns and pleated lamps, which cast a gentle glow over vintage furniture, creating a layered look that feels both relaxed and personal. Just the house I'd like to come home to, whatever the season. Enjoy the tour! 

So beautiful! 

I actually love that there are pictures from each season here, as it gives you an idea of how it looks and feels over the year. Do you agree? 

It really is such a pretty home, and the views over the fields are magical. 

One thing that stood out to me was the upholstery on the armchairs. I tried (and failed) to find a source. Does anyone know where the fabric comes from? I'll also check with Sanna and update the post once I know. 

Did anything stand out to you in particular?

Just in case you'd like to see a little more Christmas inspiration today, here are a few beautiful home tours and edits I've shared in the past: 

11 festive ideas from Mari's lovely Christmassy home

Scandinavian Christmas crafting ideas (many of which are edible!)

Inspiration from a beautiful Swedish home at Christmas

Har det så fint! 

Niki

Photography courtesy of @sannaprepuk, shared with kind permission. 

READ MORE...

11

Autumn Charm at My Friend Helen’s Cosy Swedish Cottage

I was browsing Pinterest earlier, looking for a little inspiration, when an old photo suddenly popped up and whisked me straight back to the weekend I spent at my friend — interior designer Helen Sturesson’s — cottage in Blekinge. We had such a wonderfully cosy time: shooting beautiful products for clients, eating homemade apple pie, and wandering along the nearby coastline. It all feels like yesterday.

When Helen and her family first took on the cottage, it didn’t have any real heating. They relied almost entirely on the old woodburning stove in the kitchen to warm the space. Once upon a time, a father used that very stove to cook meals for his seven children after their mother sadly passed away — and the entire family slept together in a single bedroom. Can you imagine? Today, things look a little different. Helen now has electric heating, and the stove is mostly used to keep coffee and tea warm while the family potters about.

The sitting room and bedroom each have their own kakelugn too — such beautiful, gentle heat. There’s nothing quite like the soft crackle and glow of a tiled stove on an autumn day.

I couldn’t resist sharing a little tour of her lovely cottage here. Apologies if you’ve seen these photos before, but I’d hate for any new readers to miss out on the magic of this charming little place in the autumn time.

So toasty - and such a perfect weekend. 

The glass candleware in the window is all made by Danish glassblowers Pernille Bülow, who also make the most beautiful Christmas decorations (it is around the corner, after all!). In fact, you might remember the Christmas shoot we did in Helen's cottage - and also my visit to the island Of Bornholm where they have their atelier. 

Is there anything about Helen's cottage that caught your eye? 

Right folks, it's getting late on a Friday and the wine bar just around the corner is beckoning! Thank you as always for stopping by - and for all your wonderful comments. I'm looking forward to catching up and responding this weekend!

 

Trevlig helg! 

Niki

All photography in this post by me! 

READ MORE...

16

Where the Sea Meets Home: A Swedish Coastal Escape

It’s Friday! And if there’s a day for dreaming, this has to be it. Long-time readers will know my biggest dream is to one day live in a little cottage by the sea — listening to the waves crash against the shore, watching treasures wash up with the tide, and breathing in that salty fresh air.

And this lovely little cottage? Well, it’s pretty much spot on! It’s just appeared a few years too early, as my teens aren’t quite ready to trade in their urban lives for the wonderfully quiet rhythm of Sweden’s south coast. Even so, it doesn’t stop me dreaming!

With the sea as your closest neighbour and the gentle sound of the waves as a backdrop, this Ystad cottage feels like a world of its own. Big windows frame the ever-changing horizon, a wrought-iron staircase leads up to a serene master bedroom, and the clean, simple Scandinavian style lets the views take centre stage. A wood-burning stove promises cosy evenings after windswept walks, and a morning dip is only a few footsteps away.

I don’t know about you, but I can just imagine sitting here with a cup of coffee, watching the sun rise over the water. One day, perhaps…

This lovely cottage really is just the ticket — I’ll be storing it in my mind and dreaming about it this weekend. Location aside, I also love the sleek kitchen with its pendant lamps over the worktop, the exposed beams, and that wonderfully simple décor that lets the sea views do all the talking.

What about you — can you imagine living in a place like this, or do you prefer a little more hustle and bustle around you? I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments below.

And if, like me, you enjoy a good coastal daydream, here are a few more homes by the sea that might just steal your heart: 

Coastal living, only cooler - the home of an artist in England
A charming Danish cottage with a coastal vibe
An artist's atelier and cottage by the sea in Cornwall, England

Thank you so much for stopping by and dreaming with me this week, and for all your lovely comments — I’m really looking forward to sitting down with a quiet moment this weekend to read and respond to them.

Wishing you all a wonderful weekend!

Niki

Photography courtesy of Mäklarna Ekström (where it is currently for sale).

READ MORE...

14

A Fairytale Escape on 'Happiness Island', Sweden

Hello good people! I thought I’d end the week on a happy note—literally. This dreamy Swedish cottage sits on its very own island, aptly named Happiness Island. Located in the northern part of Lake Barken, just outside Smedjebacken, Southern Dalarna, it’s like something out of a fairytale. No wonder it’s the most-clicked property on Hemnet, Sweden’s big real estate site. Clearly, we’re not the only ones swooning and daydreaming about a peaceful weekend escape, just a boat ride away from the daily grind.

It’s easy to see the appeal. You arrive at your own jetty, wander through woodland, and find a charming green cottage with light-filled, whitewashed interiors and wood-clad walls. Inside, it’s simply furnished with rag rugs, baskets hanging from the kitchen ceiling, and a cosy spot to put up your feet. What more could a girl need? Get ready to fall in love!

What an absolute dream! 

Could you imagine hopping in a boat there this evening, complete with a fine selection of cheese, maybe a bottle of red, some slippers and a good book? Oh, and don't forget to pack your bathers, it's still warm in the water! 

Let's keep the dream going with a few other cottages on an island: 

Rikka's island cabin in Finland
The stonecutters' farm on the island of Öland
A dreamy summer cottage on Sweden's west coast

I've also written quite a few guides about Scandinavian islands to visit. Take a peek below if you're curious: 

10 beautiful islands to visit in the Gothenburg archipelago

Visit the Skåne island of Hallands Väderö
My guide to Swedish island hopping in the Baltic

I hope this has got you in the mood for a great weekend ahead! Thank you soooo much for stopping by and sharing in my passion for Scandinavian homes, this positive community means so much to me. 

Niki

Photography: Ludvika / Smedjebacken

READ MORE...

25