An Art-Filled Industrial Apartment in Gothenburg

Finally Friday. The sun is shining and Malmö is a cacophony of horns, whistles, pumping music and students cheering as they graduate from high school, sailor hats perched proudly on their heads with their names emblazoned across the front. Do you have a similar tradition in your country?

Meanwhile, inside this wonderful apartment in one of Linnéstaden's oldest buildings in Gothenburg, a rather different atmosphere prevails. Once an industrial premises, the space is a beautiful blend of raw character and relaxed style. Exposed brickwork, hefty timber beams, original doors and soaring three-metre ceilings provide the backdrop, while a curated gallery wall, vintage furniture and splashes of cobalt blue add warmth and personality.

I love how the owners have embraced the building's history rather than trying to hide it. The result is a home with soul and full of character, creativity and charm. Welcome inside!

Such an inspiring home, don't you think?

Personally, I loved the play with scale, from the low shelving topped with oversized, bold artwork to the floor-to-ceiling gallery wall, as well as all the remnants of the property's industrial past. Wonderful!

Was there anything that caught your eye?

I feel this is the perfect excuse to share a few more fabulous homes with an industrial touch (it's been a while!):

Industrial meets cosy rustic in a Swedish home
The fabulous industrial style atelier of a creative
An artist's home in a former factory

And in case you missed it, I also shared a local guide to Malmö by the sea earlier this week, ideal if you're looking for vacation inspiration!

Wishing you all an underbar weekend!

Niki

Photography courtesy of Alvhem, with thanks.

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A Dreamy Farmhouse in the Skåne Countryside

Stop the press. This beauty is for sale, and honestly, it’s taking every ounce of restraint not to jump on a train to Ystad and demand a viewing on the spot! If you’re into Scandi noir, you’ll probably recognise the nearest town as the home of detective Wallander. They even keep a table permanently reserved for him at the Grand Hotel. But I assure you, life out here in the countryside is far more about birdsong, long lunches and windswept walks than dramatic crime scenes!

Set among the rolling Skåne countryside near the Hagestad and Backåkra nature reserves, this farmhouse feels wonderfully private. It’s easy to imagine slow mornings here with a cup of tea by the window, watching the landscape shift across the farmland with the changing light and seasons.

Built in 1937, the house has been carefully restored by peeling things back rather than adding more, with the owners allowing its original soul to shine through once again. The moment you step through those sunny yellow doors (tell me, would you actually use the front entrance every day, or do you think there’s a side door everyone naturally gravitates towards instead?) you’re greeted by wonderfully generous rooms with an easy, airy feel. Exposed beams, natural materials and a soft, muted palette create a beautiful balance of rustic charm and understated elegance. 

Ready to enjoy a private viewing right here on MSH? Step this way! 

Such a beautiful home!

I love the architecture, the wonderfully open rooms and the peaceful setting. Although, if I’m honest, my hay fever would probably be completely out of control living here. Such a pity!

Could you imagine living here?

As always, I can’t resist sharing a few more beautiful Swedish country homes for you to enjoy, so don’t disappear just yet. Instead, pour yourself a cuppa and settle in with these fine specimens:

Emilia's laidback Swedish country home
A cosy country home in rural sweden
An idyllic red and white Swedish farmhouse

Oh, and one last thing! In Tuesday’s post, there was plenty of curiosity surrounding the unusual honeycomb-shaped structure in the garden. Thank you so much to everyone who joined in with guesses about what might be hidden inside. A few of you got it absolutely right... it was a sauna! Although I have to say, I also loved Flora’s idea of it being a tiny one-person library. How cosy would that be?

Thank you, as always, for stopping by. I hope you all have a wonderful weekend! 

Trevlig helg! 

Niki

Photography courtesy of Eric Olsson, with thanks

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Fall in love with Lisa's calming Swedish home

Hej kompisar! I hope you had a lovely Easter break – and that the sun is shining for you like it is here in Sweden (despite the tail end of Storm David, which we could probably do without!). While the storm might be raging outside, inside Lisa's Swedish home, it's an entirely different story – it's as calm as can be.

Soft, nature-inspired tones wrap around each space, with muted greens, warm woods and creamy whites creating a quiet kind of harmony that feels grounding. The kitchen, in particular, draws you in – can you imagine starting your morning here, coffee in hand, sunlight catching the glass jars and simple ceramics on the shelves? Nothing feels forced or over-styled, and that’s exactly the beauty of it. 

And then there are all those little corners… a traditional Swedish bench with striped cushions, a softly lit dining table with a Le Klint lamp overhead and the candles flickering in the bathroom. Wait, is that TWO baths side by side? We actually just got rid of our bath - but this is making me wish we hadn't!

All in all, there’s something so inspiring about how effortlessly this home balances function and feeling, simplicity and warmth. The perfect tour to start the week after the holidays. Step this way! 

So calming, don’t you think? I’d love to hear the story behind those two bathtubs – I’m not sure I’ve ever seen anything like this indoors. Have you? My sister and I would have loved this when we were little.

It actually reminded me of the most unusual bath setting I’ve ever come across – a little varmbadhus (warm bath house) in the fishing village where we have our summer cottage. Sadly the establishment burnt down a few years ago, but it was such a beautiful old place. Each room had a clawfoot tub filled with seaweed, and you’d be gently scrubbed with it, leaving your skin feeling incredibly silky smooth. Have you ever tried a seaweed bath?

I also love the soothing greens running throughout Lisa’s home – they bring everything together so effortlessly and add to that sense of calm. 

Here’s a little aside: this doesn’t happen very often (thankfully!), but while putting this post together, I started to recognise a few of the rooms… and realised I’ve actually featured Lisa’s home before (I didn't notice at first since she has changed her instagram handle), many moons ago! Even so, since I'd started, and Lisa's made quite a few inspiring changes, I couldn’t resist sharing it again – some homes are simply too lovely not to revisit. I hope you feel the same! 

Wishing you a happy mid-week! 

Niki

Photography by @lisasarkiv, shared with kind permission. 

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Jessica's Beautiful Nature Inspired Swedish Home

Jessica Berglund describes herself as a photographer, visual storyteller, knitter, potter, and mother, and you can see hints of all of these throughout her beautiful country home in Ulricehamn, Sweden. What she doesn’t explicitly say, though, is that nature inspires everything she turns her hand to.

From strawberry-themed ceramics and home-baked bread delicately decorated with flowers, to botanical wallpaper, fresh and dried flowers and subtle touches of green paint throughout the house, her connection to the natural world is everywhere. 

Keep a special eye out for the gentle hints of Easter, spotted in the daffodils just beginning to bloom here, even if these ones are charmingly made from paper, and the “semlor”: traditional Swedish soft cardamom-spiced buns filled with almond paste and whipped cream, typically enjoyed in the lead-up to Lent. They are so delicious! I am looking forward to enjoying some myself in the next few days.

And of course, you might catch a glimpse of their dog, Flora, and their fabulous cat, both of whom look completely at home in Jessica's cosy home. 

Välkommen in! 

Beautiful! I absolutely love homes inspired by nature, which is perhaps no surprise since I wrote an entire book about it!

I also found myself completely in awe of the arched cabinetry. It has such a soft, handcrafted feel to it, and I can’t help but wonder if it might have been a DIY project. Are you a fan too? 

There is so much to take in, but what really stood out to me was the way every detail feels intentional yet effortless. Jessica’s home manages to be both creative and calming at the same time, which is no easy balance to strike.

Is there anything that stood out to you in particular? 

On another note...

Here in Sweden, the sun is shining today and we are up at our little cabin. My mother arrives from London tomorrow and we are hoping to enjoy some simple traditions together, including the “konstrundan”. This is a much-loved Swedish Easter tradition where local artists open up their studios and homes to visitors. You can wander from place to place, discovering artwork, meeting the creators, and enjoying the spring atmosphere. It is such a lovely way to celebrate creativity and the spring sunshine (although the weather forecast might say otherwise!). 

Since I am running out of time this week, this will sadly need to be my only post. However, I will leave you with some pretty Easter decorating ideas in case you feel like adding a few Scandinavian “påsk” touches to your home:

Swedish easter traditions including feathers and hags
Pretty and fun easter decoration ideas
8 pretty Easter decorating ideas 

If you'd like to give the semla buns a go - you can find a recipe here.

And there's so much more Easter inspiration in the archives here!

Glad Påsk! See you next week!

Niki

Photography by Jessica Berglund / @fruohlson

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