my scandinavian home: swedish home

Inside a Warm and Rustic Swedish Home for Autumn

Skördefest. That’s the Swedish word for harvest festival, and at this time of year there are little signs of the harvest everywhere.

Growing up in England, I remember harvest festival being a big thing at school. We’d sing songs and bring in food from home to donate within the local community. Does anyone else remember this?

My own children haven’t had quite the same tradition here in Sweden, but you certainly know when harvest season has arrived. Farm stalls are dotted around the countryside with sweetcorn, squash and pumpkins, the hedgerows are bursting with blackberries (Per and I picked several kilos last weekend!) and people disappear into the forest with baskets in search of chanterelles, taking great care not to reveal their secret spots!

The owner of this lovely old brygghus in the Swedish countryside describes family as her heart and nature as her peace of mind, and that feeling really comes through in her home. Life here revolves around the farm, animals, growing things, renovating and, of course, family.

Right now, the harvest has made its way indoors too. Onions hang in rows beneath the timber ceiling, while potatoes are spread across the wooden worktop below, practical, but also rather beautiful, don’t you think?

Elsewhere, the home has a wonderfully autumnal feel, with warm wood, linen, amber glass and shades of rust, brown and oatmeal. I love the little dining nook by the window, the old pantry stacked with crockery, and all those worn, treasured pieces that make the space feel so relaxed and lived-in.

It’s a lovely reminder that autumn decorating doesn’t have to mean buying anything new. Sometimes a few things from the garden, a candle or two and the colours of the season are all you need.

Lovely! I love the vibrancy of the exterior of the house, and then the wonderful cosiness that awaits inside. It definitely gets me in the mood for the autumn season ahead!

Will you be changing anything up at home for the new season? If so, I’d love to hear what you have planned. And what did you notice most about this home? For me, it’s the mix of warm wood, amber glass, candlelight and all those beautiful signs of the harvest, so simple, yet so effective.

You can see more of this cosy home over at @lagadalsgard.

And if you’re in the mood for more autumnal inspiration, here are a few more homes to enjoy:

Cosy autumn ideas from Laura and Nora's lovely homes
11 inspiring autumnal ideas to steal from a hyggeligt Danish home
5 cosy autumn ideas to feel inspired by from a Swedish home

Have a cosy day. See you Friday, friends!

Niki

Photography:@lagadalsgard, shared with kind permission,

Sara’s Relaxed Country Home in Österlen, South Sweden

The summer is over in Sweden. Not weather-wise, necessarily, but the majority have returned to work and the children are back at school. On the islands along the east and west coasts, little signs have started to appear in shop, café and restaurant windows: stängt för säsongen - closed for the season. Some will shut their summer cottages up completely, while others will continue to visit at weekends, enjoying the quiet, the changing seasons and the return of deer, seals and other wildlife that dare to venture a little closer once the summer crowds have dispersed.

This is how Sara will enjoy her beautiful, relaxed summer cottage near the village of Simrishamn in southern Sweden. It lies in Österlen, a part of Skåne famous for its rolling farmland, beautiful light and long association with artists and creatives. And Sara's home feels perfectly at ease here.

Inside, there's a wonderfully relaxed, country-style feel, with whitewashed timber walls and floors, old exposed beams and simple, honest materials setting the tone. The kitchen is a lovely example, with its open shelving, mismatched ceramics, rustic wooden worktops and mix of painted and natural wood cabinetry. Elsewhere, vintage finds, botanical prints, books, plants and quirky little treasures have been gathered over time, giving the space warmth and personality.

I especially love the way flashes of colour - a yellow cabinet here, a pale blue pendant there, a sunny paper lantern overhead - lift the otherwise quiet, earthy palette. Sheepskins, worn wood, old rugs and an eclectic mix of furniture add to the sense that this is a home designed for kicking off your shoes and staying awhile rather than worrying about everything being perfect. I can just imagine an autumn weekend here: putting an LP on, lighting a few candles and settling down to a board game while something bubbles away on the stove (we have learnt that Monopoly isn't the best choice though - as things can quickly go south!).

And beyond the windows lie views over the verdant farmland of Österlen - a reminder that although the summer season may be drawing to a close, there are still plenty of beautiful days to be enjoyed here. In fact, could this be the loveliest time of year to have a place like this?

Let's take a closer look!

Yes, to all of this. So relaxed, so down-to-earth, Sara has created the perfect place to kick back!

If you'd like to see more of her lovely home, head on over to @husetvidsimris.

And for more lovely houses to explore in Österlen, don't miss:

Karen's lovely summer house in the South of Sweden.
A charming holiday home in Österlen

Holiday rental: an architect's villa in Österlen

And that folks, is it for me this week. Have a fabulous weekend, and see you early next week!

Niki

Photography @husetvidsimris, shared with kind permission.

FILED UNDER: country styl country style living swedish home

Step Inside Ellen's Beautifully Restored 1920s Swedish Villa

Hello campers! I hope you've had a wonderful summer! We've had such a fantastic time - above all else, those long days with no plans, waking up without an alarm (worth its weight in gold!), swims in the sea and simply spending time together. Bliss! And it's so good to be back here in my favourite little corner of the internet today too!

Let's kick off with the beautiful home of Ellen Ingman. Built in 1923, Ellen has been slowly renovating the villa, restoring it little by little while adding her own modern touches to create a wonderfully warm and relaxed home for her family - cats included!

And there is so much to love. Original details such as the deep door frames, herringbone floors and generous windows have been carefully preserved, while a soft palette of buttery yellow, warm beige, muted green and powder blue brings a gentle sense of colour throughout.

I especially love how Ellen has mixed old and new: an antique workbench takes centre stage in the kitchen, vintage wooden chairs sit alongside contemporary lighting, and traditional wallpaper and joinery are balanced by relaxed linen, rattan and wonderfully tactile rugs. Nothing feels too perfect or overly styled - instead, it has that lovely, collected-over-time feel that makes a home feel truly lived in.

The kitchen might just be my favourite. Those creamy yellow cabinets, stone floor and marble worktop are beautiful in themselves, but it's the old wooden table piled with pots and pans that gives the room so much soul. And how pretty is that little dining nook with the striped pendant?

A little note: This is a shorter version of Ellen's home tour, but I've kept a few of my favourite images here. For more glimpses of her beautiful home, you can find Ellen over on Instagram.

Altogether, it's a home that feels wonderfully respectful of its 1920s roots, without ever feeling stuck in the past. Shall we take a tour?

Oh, so beautiful! I can only imagine how much work has gone into this home over the years - restoring, renovating and building, not to mention choosing the tiles, colours, wallpaper, furniture and even every last light fitting. A true labour of love, which has certainly paid off in the form of a beautiful, warm and personal family home.

Is there anything that particularly stood out to you?

You can keep an eye on Ellen's latest renovation projects over at @galgbergsvillan.

Other Swedish villas to feel inspired by:

Step inside a dreamy Falsterbo beach villa

A beautiful country wedding / party villa (I once had the pleasure of staying here and it was even more fabulous in real life!)

A romantic Swedish art nouveau villa

'Stor kram' from me, happy to be back!

Niki

Photography: Ellen Ingman, shared with kind permission.

FILED UNDER: swedish home

A Light & Lovely Malmö Home to Brighten Your Day

Hej raringar!

We've relocated back to Malmö for a few days (just a little interlude before heading back to our summer cottage since Alice is off to gymnastics camp tomorrow), and with that, I felt a Malmö apartment tour was in order!

This lovely home in the relaxed Möllevången neighbourhood (if you're planning a visit, don't miss my Malmö guide, and more recently: Malmö by the sea!) immediately caught my eye for its wonderfully light, easy-going feel.

I love the soft palette of warm greys, dusty blues and gentle greens, which creates such a calm atmosphere throughout and a wonderfully cool, restful backdrop to life in the heart of the city during summertime. The bedroom is especially lovely. That muted blue wall feels cocooning without being dark (clever how they've painted the IVAR cabinets the same colour), while layers of linen and natural textures keep everything feeling relaxed and effortless.

Elsewhere, it's the little details that really make this apartment sing: a deep windowsill transformed into a cosy spot for a morning coffee and a little people-watching, original doors full of beautiful patina, simple open shelving in the kitchen and carefully chosen artwork that adds personality without making the space feel cluttered. It strikes that wonderful balance between pared-back and cosy.

There's something about these old Malmö apartments that always gets me. Perhaps it's the generous ceiling heights, the original joinery or simply the way they balance history with such an effortlessly relaxed style.

Ready to take a look?

Very nice!

I have to say, I love the old-school look in the bathroom – it's so cool!

I'm also seriously considering painting our guest bedroom a blue like this. It's such a calm, restful shade. Maybe I'll manage it before my sister and her family come to stay in August (Per's ears are probably burning from across the room right now!). Mind you, I'll need to wait for a rainy day first!

An interior designer friend once told me that the danger with adding colour to walls is that you can grow tired of it over time. But I honestly don't think I'd ever tire of this blue. Do you have a wall colour in your home that you've loved for years? I'd love to hear what it is!

Before I head off to help my daughter pack, I thought I'd leave you with a few more Malmö home tours to enjoy:

Step inside a cosy Malmö apartment where old meets new
Tour a Malmö home filled with smart Scandinavian design ideas
An artist's home and studio in a converted Malmö warehouse

I hope you enjoyed today's Malmö tour! Thank you so much for dropping by, and for all your lovely comments and messages; they really do brighten my day. I'll be back later this week with one final post before I disappear for a couple of weeks to soak up the Swedish summer. See you then!

Niki

For sale via Bo-laget.
Photography Pernilla Wästberg

FILED UNDER: swedish home

Designer Notes: At Home with Gabriella Belin

Why hello there!

It's raining here for the first time in weeks and, to be honest, it's so welcome. The humidity is finally lifting, and it means you can actually get a few things done around the house. Even so, I hope it doesn't last too long!

In Gothenburg, I know two children who'll be happy to be staying indoors today, the three daughters of interior stylist Gabriella Belin. Their bedroom is so lovely, with its big desk, open shelving, and playful bed (all of which I would have absolutely loved as a child!).

Signs of Gabriella's talent as an interior stylist shine through in the rest of her home too, with its beautiful earthy tones, clever design solutions, effortless style, designer lighting, and a very cool ceramic shelf, as well as carefully chosen furniture sourced from antique and vintage shops. I also spotted the Gotain Sweet pea fabric in the kitchen once again, it's definitely the curtain of the moment! I'm tempted to follow suit. How about you? I hope you enjoy these lovely corners.

Happy scrolling!