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5 Mysiga Autumn Ideas To Steal From a Mid-century Swedish Home




Tjena! I hope you had a wonderful weekend. We've been enjoying an Indian summer here in southern Sweden - yesterday it was a balmy 23 degrees celsius! The girls and I headed off to play disc golf (AKA golf with a frisbee) in the sun (have you played it before?! We were rubbish and spend more time in the woods searching for our frisbees than actually playing but it was so much fun!). We also knew that we were on borrowed time, and that the temperature could plummet any day. I believe everyone has a season (mine is summer, what's yours?) - but by simply embracing the new season in your home, you can really enjoy each and every season to the full, what do you reckon? Fellow Malmö resident and landscape architect Magdalena has done exactly that in her Funkis (functionalist) apartment. Her beautiful, calm home is full of mid-century finds, Scandinavian design and beautiful warm Autumn tones. I spotted 5 simple ideas we can steal to turn our home into a mysigt (cosy) haven too! 


1. Bring out the blankets: Dig out all your blankets and drape them over the sofa and the backs of chairs, even if you have the best central heating system in the world, covering your feet with something soft and warm and softening up hard chairs makes a world of difference! This waffle one from Granit is now out of stock, but you can source a similar one here*


3. Fire and candlelight: One of the best things about the temperature falling is that you get to light a fire. Don't have a fireplace, or the one you have is out of action? Candles help to add a beautiful warm glow and a little warmth. 


3. Autumn blooms: Dahlias, Sunflowers and other autumn flowers add a wonderful burst of colour. Dried flowers are also ideal for this time of the year since they're low maintenance and embrace the tones of the season. But this autumn it's all about the vase - opt for a ceramic vase with a beautiful rough texture. I love Magdalena's Pillar vase from Swedish brand Cooee (seen below) and I've also been in love with Aura vases ever since I spotted them in this Berlin home

4. Invest in velvet cushions in golden tones: add a pair of ochre velvet pillows* to your bed, for a cosy autumn lie-in!


5. Get crafting: Why not set aside an afternoon or evening and make some 'Snöblomma' (snow flowers) in brown, grey and cream tones. 


I hope this has given you a few ideas for your home this Autumn (for those of you in the Southern hemisphere - a post to archive and come back to in six month's time!). 

There's something incredibly calm about Magdalena's home, don't you think? I can totally see myself plucking a book from her immense library and cosying up on the sofa under a blanket.

Can we magic ourselves to the weekend?! 

Also, let's take a moment to admire every single Scandinavian mid-century item. So many beautifully crafted pieces in one place. You can see more corners of Magdalena's home over at @mittfunkis

Looking for more Autumn ideas? How about: 


Wishing you a wonderful start to the week! 

Niki

Photography courtesy of Magdalena / @mittfunkis

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The Cosy & Eclectic Home of a Swedish Stylist


"FRINALLY"! I heard this a few weeks back and haven't decided if it's annoying or not, but it's best said as you fly through the door on a Friday afternoon, arms raised theatrically in the air.  Give it a whirl and see how it feels! My second favourite day of the week (after Saturday) calls for something special - and real - don't you think? I'm going with the super charming home of Swedish interior stylist Camilla Larsson. Camilla describes her home in an instagram caption as 'a very ordinary Swedish apartment' - but I'm sure you'll agree that there's nothing ordinary about the way she's decorated it. Her ultra-personal and mysigt (cosy) living space is packed with an eclectic blend of furniture and accessories - and there's not a space on the wall or spot on the shelves that doesn't contain something special. So, pour yourself something steamy, make yourself comfy and keep your eyes peeled - there's a lot to see!



Aaaaaaah. It's Friday, I'm in love! This home is just lovely, don't you think? 

I hope it's given you some inspiration for your home - or at the very least, put you in a great mood with which to kick off the weekend! 

I've got a load to do today before I shout FRINALLY - so I'm going to leave you to run back through the home tour a few more times (I promise you'll spot something new each time!). If you'd like to know where anything's from, give me a shout in the comment section below and I promise to stop by over the weekend to see if I can help. 

In the meantime, you might also like to look at Camilla's inspiring feed over at @inasfina and find out more about her home styling and interior projects here

Here are a few other home tours that keep it real: 


Wishing you a wonderful weekend! 

Niki

Photography: Camilla Larsson

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A Swedish Summer Cottage in a Former Mission House

On Friday I shared my love for the Gothenburg archipelago with a feature of my ten favourite islands. But we all know that I also have another favourite island: Gotland! The Baltic paradise captured my heart last summer when we sailed the east coast and not a month goes by when I don't dream about owning a holiday home there! My latest find is this former Mission House in Martebo. When you see the main living space, I have a feeling you might just be dreaming about it too! Despite some modernisation, the wonderful house still features many of the well-preserved original 1930s details and even offers a wood fired sauna! Ready to dream?




Can you also imagine throwing open those big glass doors on a summers day and tucking into breakfast overlooking the fields? 

Little wonder this property is currently in a bidding war between potential buyers, all of whom are willing to renovate the kitchen and bedrooms and transform it into a dreamy holiday home!

Shall we re-visit a few other beautiful houses on Gotland today? 

This rustic cottage with a pool is available to rent via Airbnb (something for next summer?!).

I love how serene and earthy this holiday home is. 

And this bohemian summer house belonging to a fashion photographer has always been a favourite of mine. 

Wishing you all a wonderful start to the week! 

Niki

Photography courtesy of Fastighetsybyrån Gotland. 

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A Warm, Earthy, Vintage-inspired Swedish Home

Forgive me for my slight obsession with Swede Elin Jensdotter right now. Not only do I love her former home (which I featured a few weeks back) and vintage shop (Bodil vintage) - I've also fallen for her new home on the island of Ekerö, West Stockholm. Elin and her husband recently swapped their apartment in the city for this beautiful 17th century house, a rental in a detached wing of a castle. I especially love that it's steeped in history. The ground floor used to serve as a library which housed the love letters between Marie Antoinette and Axel Von Fersen before they were moved to the national archive. And the upstairs served as an art studio. Today, the lovely, warm, earthy house is filled with vintage finds, arranged around a vast fireplace. When the sun comes out, life moves outside to enjoy the rays surrounded by parkland. Welcome to Elin's vintage-inspired world! 







The former art studio still serves as a creative space for Elin and her husband. 


The shelves were built by Elin's husband and were inspired by the beautiful ones in the Topanga Canyon home of Serena Mitnik-Miller. There's a matching set on the other side of the room. I love how shelves like these provide plenty of storage and yet still allow the light to flow through. They also work perfectly in an awkward space. 

The cosy feel in the home is all thanks to the layers of natural textures - such as wood, leather, jute and rattan. Vintage pieces often have a lovely patina too - which adds to the warm vibe. 


I feel so charmed by this. I thought the home was beautiful just by looking at the pictures, and then I read that it was in the detached wing of a castle and I was utterly sold! I'm even wondering if my family and I should exchange our home for a rental somewhere special! Are you tempted too? 

Looking for vintage pieces for your home after seeing this? Check out Elin's store Bodil Vintage. If you can't find what you're looking for, I also find Etsy* a great worldwide source!

Oh, and you can also follow Elin's home updates and see her latest vintage finds over at @longingforlennon.

Other earthy, vintage inspired homes: 


Wishing you a wonderful mid-week friends! 

Niki

Photography: Elin Jensdotter / @longingforlennon
*affiliated links

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The Home And Studio Of Swedish Furniture Upholsterer Carina Grefmar

I moved into my studio in the centre of Malmö exactly one year ago. It was such a relief to leave my home office behind me, I was honestly climbing the walls (for those of you who may have experienced it for the first time this year, I'm sure you can relate!). But the absolute best thing of all was acquiring two new 'colleagues' one off whom, came in the shape of furniture upholsterer and craftsperson extraordinaire Carina Grefmar

I'd met Carina several times before at events around Malmö (loves a party this one!) but it was only chatting and seeing her work on a daily basis that I got to understand her sheer talent for craftsmanship: if you're looking to restore a piece of furniture, Carina's Sweden's finest. 

I decided it was time to put on (another) pot of coffee and quiz Carina about her passion for good design and craftsmanship, her lovely home and vast shoe collection! 

You must have the shortest commute of anyone I know!
I've had my studio for around sixteen years, I love it, it's my safe place - no matter how rocky life gets, it's my one stability. I always dreamt of being my own neighbour, so when the apartment next door came up around five years ago, I jumped at it. 

A vintage Eames armchair rocker, Alf Svensson side cabinet, and the Guariche lamp (one of Carina's favourites) take centre-stage in Carina's bedroom. 

What drew you to the studio and apartment? 
The building dates back to 1895 and has a ceiling height of 3,60 which is really high - I love that! You can put anything in this space and it will look good. 

The Stålhane vase was one of the very first ceramic pieces carina bought. 

Did you make any changes to your rented apartment?
The previous owner had a huge flat TV in the middle of the room, and everything was white. I don't like white, it's not a colour, so that had to change!  

Carina made her patchwork bed spread using scraps from her upholstery work over the years. 

You don't like white? How very un-Scandinavian!
Yes, but like many Scandinavians, I also don't go for bright colours, I appreciate subtle, calm shades like a hint of earthy green.  Some of my pieces of furniture and accessories are colourful but the background is always calm.

An Ax chair by Hvidt & Mølgaard, which Carina has upholstered in non-tanned vegetable leather, sits beside a side-table - a prototype designed by Louise Hederström - which Carina also updated with leather.

Your home is full of vintage design treasures and fun, quirky touches. When did your passion for design begin? 
I've loved well-crafted shoes since I was seven. And then I lived abroad in my late teens and experienced some fantastic, well-made lamps and furniture which I'd never seen before - that's when my passion for collecting design classics began.  

These days, I collect pieces from all over the world. I'm particularly drawn to Scandinavian furniture since I like the clean lines and light wood. I also love classic Italian and French lighting. My home is full of small knick-knacks collected over time, such Swedish ceramics (some of which are made by designer friends) and other pieces I really like and feel a connection to. 

How does your passion for the environment and sustainability translate into the world of design and home decor? 
Today there are so many badly made products on the market. The price-tag may make them seem cheap, but don't be fooled, they're actually very expensive. If you have to buy a new sofa every five years, it makes it expensive. When my grandparents got married, they invested in expensive furniture for their home and they enjoyed them until the day they died. 

Well executed design lasts longer. It makes sense to invest in pieces made from solid, honest materials that can be fixed when they break. Vintage items from the fifties and sixties are particularly well-made!

A pendant lamp by Max Sauze hangs over a Finn Juhl coffee table and a 50s floor lamp by Stilnovo. The bench is by Carina's friend, Malmö designer Louise Hederström.

What are your go-to resources for second-hand / Scandinavian design originals? 
I source items from all over the world both for myself and clients - mainly using online auctions, but also some dealers and contacts I've made in the business over the years. 

Do you have a favourite piece?
I don't have one favourite item - although, I do love my rare porcelain Swedish baby dragons! My lamps and shoes are probably my most treasured pieces. 

Table lamp by Cosack Leuchten 

You have more shoes than anyone else I know! How many pairs do you have?
More than 100! I love how I feel in really well-made shoes. 

Have you ever thought about making shoes? 
Yes, I have! Maybe in the future, who knows?

How did you get into upholstery? 
I had a serious motorbike accident and realised I was living someone else's life. I quit my job in search of something that would ensure I was self-sufficient at the same time as being interesting and fun. I made a list of things I enjoyed and that I was good at - and came to the conclusion that upholstery would be a good idea. I was accepted into upholstery school and have been working as an upholsterer for 22 years. I love it! 

What do you love most about your work?
It's very diverse and involves many different techniques and materials. I am constantly evolving and growing with every piece I rebuild. It's a constant challenge, which I really enjoy.  

What is the hardest thing about your job?
Upholstery is incredibly physical and really takes its toll on your body. It also requires a wide skillset. You need to be a problem-solver, have an eye for what a furniture should look like compared to its current state and also be knowledgeable about furniture design, colour and fabrics. It requires a serious amount of dedication! 

I love seeing the incredible pieces that come into the studio. What is the most memorable item you've refurbished? 
I once refurbished a magnificent AP45 Wegner Wing chair from the 1960s that wasn't in production at that time. I worked from pictures to restore it to its former glory and remodelled it in leather. I was so pleased with the results and was a little sad to say goodbye to it by the end! Recently, I refurbished a set of limited-edition Arne Jacobsen Giraffe chairs, working again from pictures. It was a real challenge, but the client was thrilled with the results! 

You also work with new designs, what's the background to this?  
A few years ago, I was paired up with Swedish designer Louise Hederström to create the Ticka shelves. She knew I was good at strange shapes - and she certainly challenged me! It was a strong partnership from start to finish. I could tell from Louise's sketches what would work and what wouldn't, and she adapted the design accordingly. I then made them by hand here in the studio. Today, the Ticka shelves can be found in the Hostler Burrows galleries in LA and New York - and one even made its way into the home of Robert Downey Junior! Louise and I continue to work together on new products using untreated Swedish vegetable leather under the brand G+H (Grefmar Hederström).

How do you feel your work will pave the way for future upholsterers and craftspeople?  
We often hear the name of the designer behind a piece of furniture, but it's rare to know the craftsperson. I've always felt inspired by Ivan Schlecter whose name was etched on the furniture he made in partnership with big-name Danish designers such as Klint and Kjærholm. In fact, his stamp made the furniture more valuable. And now, after a lot of dedication, my name is starting to appear on the furniture I make. I hope this will inspire other craftspeople, and help them to be recognised for their work. It's important for people to understand the hard work that goes into making furniture - so they appreciate it even more. 

The Spoar bench is a Grefmar + Hederström design. 

I did say Carina's one impressive lady, didn't I?

This has given me so much food for thought, how about you? I particularly appreciate the point about investing in well-made pieces. 

I hope you feel as inspired by this interview, as I feel inspired by Carina on a daily basis! 

Do follow @carinagrefmar on Instagram to see her latest projects and shenanigans! 

Wishing y'all a fabulous Tuesday! 

Niki

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