Tiny Home Inspiration: A Beautiful Swedish Studio With A Great Storage Solution

A tiny, one room studio apartment with lots of storage and a beautiful aesthetic? Yes, it IS possible! if you're dealing with 28 square metres / 300 square feet or less and struggling to find a place for all your things, I have a feeling you'll find this beautiful Gothenburg apartment truly inspiring - and I couldn't resist adding a few more ideas to the mix too. Oh, and I added the floor plan at the end a first from my side, but I felt it could be useful (courtesy of Entrance). Don't live in a confined space? Lots of homes have compact spaces such as a box room - so I have a feeling this tour will come in handy for most of us! 

Unless you're a true minimalist, there's no going for the trendy 'no upper cabinets' look that's so hot right now. Instead, it's all about maximising height and wall space - and in my humble opinion, upper cabinets can look just as good! If you have a lot of kitchen utensils, opt for closed cabinets for a less cluttered look.  

This kitchen could have looked a little cold had it not been for the beautiful warm natural textures seen in the stone worktop and wood dining chairs. 

The stylist behind this apartment hasn't utilised under-the-sofa storage here, but if you need the space, opt for sofas and coffee tables with built-in storage. 

Again, not seen here, but if you are a book lover or would love to display personal items, the enclave in the picture above to the right of the wardrobe (where there painting is) would be a perfect spot for narrow vertical shelling that extends the full height. See this beautiful Stockholm family home for some great 'small space' bookshelf inspiration! 

No matter your ceiling height, the vertical space in a small apartment is one of your greatest assets - use to  the full by ensuring wardrobes extend all the way to the ceiling. You can always hang a ladder on the wall to the side for access. 

The space under the bed is another great place for extra storage. For a neater look, add a bed skirt - it will add a soft touch to the bedroom area and cover up whatever is underneath. 

Wall-mounted furniture and accessories: if your walls allow it, hang lights and other furniture on the wall to clear floor space. 

And in case you're curious - here's the 27 square metre floor plan: 

I hope this has been helpful. A special thanks to all of those who have e-mailed me /  requested inspiration for living spaces smaller than 30 square metres! Please do feel free to email me anytime with ideas and requests, it's really helpful! 

Oh, and for another serene smallish space - did you see Sarah's Copenhagen home yesterday? So serene! And of course, there's always the archive too! 

Wishing you all a great day!

Niki

Photography courtesy of Entrance 

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This Charming 19th Century Swedish Villa Could Be Yours!

Up for a little Swedish house hunting today? I spotted this 19th century yellow and white villa in Norrtälje, just North of Stockholm this morning and it really is what dreams are made of! Think incredible bones, large spacious rooms (the kitchen in particular is beautiful!) and SEVERAL pretty outdoor spaces. Plus, you'd have space for all your creative activities (keep an eye out for the sewing room!), a music quarter and a magical garden in which to prune the roses and barbecue all summer long. Gaaaah! Is it too much to demand my family pack up and move 600 km? I guess so. But, perhaps one of you can snap this up on my behalf? After seeing the tour, you might just be as tempted as I am! 

Can you spot the knäckebröd (crisp bread) in this picture? I love that this kitchen works to keep the tradition of making your own crisp bread alive! 

Oh, how lovely. Seeing all the flowers in the garden has me dreaming of summer days, how about you?

Could you imagine living here too? 

I love that you might just have space to call your own - and do whatever you like with. If you had access to a 'hobby room' what would you use it for? Music? Sewing? Painting? I guess my favourite hobby is photography. Or perhaps I'd use it to write another book. Either way, I'm sure I'd find a use for it!

See the entire tour and find out all the details (including floorplan etc) here. 

Ha det så trevligt!

Niki

Photography: Courtesy of Historiska Hem, with thanks

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5 Ways To Rock The Blue And Beige Look - Swedish Style!

Tjena! I hope you had a fabulous weekend! Today in Malmö, we've woken up to blue skies and sunshine - these days are few and far between AND such a blessing when they arrive. Cue: people you haven't seen all winter, suddenly outdoors, all smiles, with faces tilted up towards the sun! Yep, there's no sign of the winter blues today. Which got me thinking. Why is blue so often associated with melancholy and 'cold'. I actually think it can be such a lovely, warm and yet serene accent in the home, do you? Swedish stylist Emma Fischer has combined a dark blue accent with brown, beige and white in this Gothenburg home - and the result is beautiful! Plus, if you're looking to add an accent to your home and use it to create a cohesive look, this is a great example. Here are 5 ways Emma has used blue to create a 'red thread': 

1. Kitchen cabinets - if you're looking to change the colour of your kitchen cabinets without replacing them the best way is to either to paint them yourself (if you like the slightly more brush stroke, rustic look) or take them to a professional spray painter. I'm for the latter since the colour will be more even and long lasting, but it is a personal preference! 

2. Accessories - the chances are, you've chosen your accent colour because you love it - and therefore naturally drawn to it when acquiring new items for your home. Even so, it's good to think about picking up small items such as textiles, mugs (seen in the first picture), and trinkets for your home in your accent colours. Details can make a big difference to the overall look! Notice how Emma has added a tea towel in deep blue and a lovely linen tablecloth in beige / natural (I love this vintage one*), both of which help to strengthen the theme. 

I love this corner by the window! The vintage piece looks similar to the Karin chair - I wonder what it's called? Anyone know? Otherwise, I'll have a little dig around and see if I can find out. 

3. Paint the walls: Bit of an obvious one this, but the absolute easiest way to add an accent is to paint your walls. in this home, Emma has used popular Jotun St Pauls Blue (NCS 6108-B08G) in the bedroom, and an off white Jotun Antikgrå hue in the living room, which complement each other beautifully. Notice how, in the past it was popular to pick out one wall, but these days colour blocking the entire space (walls, wardrobes and all) is the way to go for a bang up to date look! 

4. Bedding: there's a huge amount of beautiful bedding out there right now and you can pick up pretty much any colour under the sun! In this room, Emma has layered soft off-white /natural linen. If the room had beige walls, dark blue bedding mixed with browns and beiges would also have been a great option. Try Bea Linen* for similar. 

5. Art: whether you use the colours in art to inspire the room or feel naturally drawn to art with your favourite accent shades - prints and paintings are a perfect way to help create a cohesive look (as seen with  the blue and beige tones in the 'Copenhagen' print by Astrid Wilson the sitting room below!). 

Beautiful use of colour, don't you think?

What accent colours do you have in your home? 

I've realised, after looking at this, that my home is a little all over the shop. I guess that's OK, after all, I do love to break the rules. Even so, I can't help thinking it might feel a little more harmonious if I applied the 'red thread' idea. Hmmm. 

It doesn't help that my home feels a total mess right now due to the school holidays (half term!). Thinking it might need to be a short week of blogging before the house completely transcends into chaos!!! Hope that's OK with you!

Have you also not quite established that cohesive look you're after? Here are some tips: 

8 ways to create a cohesive home, Danish style

5 lessons to learn about adding an accent colour to your home

Or, if you're still deciding on a colour, the beautiful homes in these archives might help: 

Decorating with blue

Decorating with green

Pretty in pink

Bright colours

Decorating with pastels

Wishing you a great start to the week! 

Niki

Photography Anders Bergstedt 

Styling: Emma Fischer

Mäklare: Alvhem

*This post contains affiliate links which means I might make a very tiny amount of money if you click on something and buy it - at no extra cost to you. Thank you for supporting My Scandinavian Home. 

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Hanna's Swedish Log Cabin in the Woods of Georgia

You can take a girl out of Scandinavia, but you can't take Scandinavia out of the girl. And this is certainly the case for Hanna Söderström - originally from the Far North of Sweden, just three hours from the Arctic Circle, and now living near Atlanta, Georgia. Hanna and her Swedish husband found their wonderful country home by studying Google Earth. Since acquiring the keys, they've carried out extensive work - transforming it from a dated 80's look to a Scandinavian oasis in the heart of the woods. I caught up with Hanna to chat Scandinavian design, texture, DIY and the roll nature plays in her home.   

How did you end up in Georgia?

I moved to Georgia in 1999 to play soccer as an exchange student while I studied business at Uppsala. I ended up getting an internship for Swedish American Chamber of Commerce in Georgia and thereafter worked in marketing for a Swedish company here in Atlanta. Later, I met my husband who is also Swedish. His family moved here when he was three. 

How did you find this beautiful property? It's so special! 

We were looking for the greenest spot on Google Earth within 45 minutes of Atlanta, that would never be developed on. We bought this house in 2010, a traditional log cabin that backs on to lake Allatoona and miles of hiking trails. 

It sounds like you found a magical spot - and true to your Swedish heritage - close to nature! I am guessing the cabin didn't look like this when you moved in? 

We have slowly updated the cabin into a rustic modern Scandinavian style living space, while still keeping the elements that make it unique: the stove, log walls, beams and front porch. In 2019 we added another 2000 square feet to the home, including the kitchen, back porch, master suite, finished basement and garage. 

You described the look as Scandinavian modern rustic; can you tell us more about this style and how you achieved it?

Cosy Scandinavian to me, is lighter wood tones and real, natural materials like stone, linen or cotton fabrics, wool and metals. I have applied matt earthy colours and textured walls and collected authentic farmhouse antiques that have a patina, which add to the cosy, relaxed feel. When we first moved in everything was orange and felt very 80s. I painted the ceiling and whitewashed the log walls and we installed lighter oak floors finished with a matt sealer. 

For a more modern Scandinavian feel, I like to contrast all the vintage and antique pieces with modern light fixtures and surprising decor elements. I have a real weakness for designer lights! For me, antiques and vintage need contrasting elements in order to stand out even more. 

You have some beautiful pieces in your home, including the antique Swedish chair that opens up into a table (see above - genius!). Where do you find furniture for your home?

Most of our furniture is inherited or vintage. We brought a sea freight container over from Sweden with all our belongings and furniture. Really, the only things that are new in our home are the textiles, upholstery, lights and some of the art. 

I love all the DIY ideas and hacks you share on your instagram (like the bed - see below). I have always been impressed by how good Scandinavians are at DIY. Would you stay this is part of your heritage? 

It's definitely part of my heritage. I grew up in the far North of Sweden, just three hours from the Arctic circle. There, you're kind of forced to know how to do things yourself, and if you don't know how to do things, you ask your neighbour! That's kinda my mentality. Also, my dad is a skilled carpenter and works with restoring properties. My mum was great at sewing and knitting. 

I love woodwork, painting, sewing and took classes in upholstery. But most of all, I like to learn while doing. I'm not an expert in any area but not afraid to try. That's what's fun and exciting. I like to encourage others (especially women) to try DIY. Usually, it's not as hard as it seems - and that's kind of my motto! 

Before

After

Hanna painted the bed in Annie Sloan French Linen, which works perfectly with the Dry Ground lime wash walls. 

 

I love that your home is so close to nature, and love how you've drawn the surroundings in, was this intentional? 

I feel brining nature inside is inherently Scandinavian. Branches, foraged flowers, pine contes, stones etc. I don't do much seasonal decor, instead we live with the season and let nature decide the accents. It's also important to us to make our food from scratch and pick and preserve mushrooms and berries. 

Hanna and her husband added antique doors throughout out the cabin. The ceiling lights in the bedroom are from American contemporary lighting manufacturer RBW. 

You've created a true Scandinavian oasis! A house like this is really 'finished' but more a process that constantly evolves over time. What's next? 

This has been my dream ever since we moved, and all the details have been played out in my head daily for years. Having this much space is a dream come true and I feel so lucky to have pursued my passion of transforming spaces here - and also for others. There are several areas of our home that still need to be renovated. We have a long journey ahead! 

Beautiful - and so inspiring!

I can't wait for the 'loppis' (flea markets) to re-open. In the meantime, seeing that bed has inspired me to scroll online for vintage and antique pieces that might not be the right tone, but have a beautiful shape. More often than not, you can personalise them to be exactly as you wish! 

Oh, and how amazing is the master suite!

Is there anything that stands out to you?

Take a look at Hanna's instagram @homeathand to follow her latest projects - or contact her directly to find out more about her interior design services. 

If you'd like to see some other inspiration over the weekend - why not take a scroll through the country homes archive - there are some really dreamy Scandinavian homes in there (plus some from further afield too!). 

I hope you've felt inspired by the posts this week on the blog! 

Hands up who's ready for the weekend (both hands shoot up). I've been eying up a book and my new chair for several days now!

Wishing you all a great couple of days, see you Monday!

Niki

Photography: Hanna Söderström @homeathand

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