A Beautiful Swedish Country Home With Touches of Autumn

Tjena! Hur är läget? Has Autumn kicked in where you are? Here in southern Sweden the edges of the leaves are starting to turn yellow and soon we'll experience nature's fiery last dance. I love to watch the Swedes embrace the season by drawing nature indoors. Just Northwest of Stockholm, 'höst' is a step ahead and interior photographer Mari Magnusson has added vibrant colours to her charming country home. Think dahlia and chrysanthemum in shades of yellow, orange, red, purple and brown, foraged leaves, and pumpkins set against a backdrop of soothing white. This home tour is a total joy!

Absolutely beautiful! What a country dream!

It makes me want to head out to the nearest park or nature reserve to forage for the fruits of Autumn. Do you feel the same?

Wait until you see how Mari decorates her home at Christmas - I can't wait to share some pictures! 

In the meantime, if you're not already following Mari on instagram, head to @anangelinmyhome!

There's also plenty more Scandinavian-style Autumn decorating ideas to be found here:  

11 Autumn updates to steal from a hyggelig Danish home

5 Mysiga Autumn Ideas for the home - Swedish style

A Norwegian home with a cosy Autumn vibe

Time to get foraging and light those candles! 

Niki

Photography courtesy of Mari Magnusson, shared with kind permission

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Scandi Cool Meets Mediterranean Warmth in a Beautiful Mallorcan Finca

Have you ever been on holiday and dreamt of staying? For one Swede, this is exactly what happened! Annsofie Stendahl booked a one-month holiday to Mallorca in the Spanish Balearic Islands over 22 years ago. With the long, dark, cold Scandinavian winter looming, Annsofie couldn't bear to leave - and when her friends packed their bags, she made a spur of the decision moment to stay.  

Annsofie found an incredible finca in the countryside. Once a vineyard and farmhouse, the house had been lying dormant for over 70 years and required a huge amount of work. Annsofie rolled up her sleeves and set about transforming it into a wonderful oasis, which is also enjoyed by her husband Viking and son Loke. 

Today, the once derelict garden features a wonderful covered social area with bespoke corner seating built by a local carpenter and cushions from IKEA). The family also enjoy a lush pool and outdoor bar (because, why not?).  

There are lots of beautiful rattan lamps like these available here*. The table was picked up in Thailand. 

Inside, a fresh white Scandi cool palette meets the warmth of the Med. The living space is sparsely furnished with wonderful vintage pieces, many of which have been purchased in nearby Palma. 

I love the cool linens in the master bedroom - try Bemz for an identical white linen bed skirt* (available in different sizes), I've got this one in my bedroom and it's wonderful! 

The beautiful stone walls have been left exposed around the windows and other parts of the house, adding a load of texture and warmth and ensuring the Mallorca character shines through. 

Annsofie transformed a former wine cellar into an atelier from where she can paint and create ceramics. 

How wonderful! What a life they've made for themselves!

Could you imagine moving abroad? 

Many Scandinavians have made the island their home - a few of which I've featured in the past. Here are a few other wonderful homes to dream about today: 

A relaxed oasis in Mallorca - with a Finnish touch

Scandinavia meets the Med in a beautiful Mallorca Finca

A wonderful townhouse in Palma - owned by a Swede

I've mentioned many times before that my older sister lives in Mallorca, and whenever I visit, I'm always tempted to stay! We haven't been able to visit for over three years now, so I'm super excited that we're going to visit in a few weeks. Since we're a bit of a rowdy crowd (!) we decided to book our own villa in the same village rather than inflict ourselves on Charlie et al for an entire week! I can't wait to see them all as well and discover more of the island. I'm also excited about visiting some of the vintage stores in Palma. I think Per's praying I don't stumble across a huge ceramic pot or other large item to bring back home. Trust me, it happens! 

I feel there's a bit of a theme forming this week already (did you see yesterdays holiday home in Kefalonia?). I'm curious to see whether it continues... (you may have noticed this blog is very unplanned, I simply share what inspires me day to day!). 

Niki

Photography: Anna Malmberg 

Styling: Mari Strenghielm

Shared with kind permission. 

*affiliate links

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An Incredible 19th century Stockholm Home (With a Fascinating Treasure!)

You might have a bone to pick with me. I promised a Finnish home tour today. And then time ran away with me and I haven't been able to give that blog post the attention it deserves - so please bear with me, I promise to share it on Thursday. The good news is, I have another fine apartment up my sleeve - and I'm sure you won't be disappointed! Located in central Stockholm, the majestic property dates back to 1885 features large airy rooms and a fantastic ornate wood ceiling as well as parquet floors. The owners just happen to have fantastic taste too, filling the rooms with unique design pieces and small treasures. How they can bear to part with it is beyond me, but it's now on the market and waiting for a new owner. Could it be you? 

The star of the show: an incredible 'Vril skål' (burl bowl). I only discovered these recently via my good friend Sofie who just returned from a trip to North Sweden. I thought they were so beautiful I ordered two online immediately. They are handmade by North Swedish craftsmen using burl - a woody growth found on the trunk of a spruce, birch or other tree.  

It almost pains me to share the details as I love how unique they are at present (does that sound terrible?), but since we're all friends, I'll let you in on a secret.... you can source them online here* and here - although you'd need to be quick they are vintage one-offs! Otherwise keep an eye on Etsy for the latest birch burl bowl listings*.  Just don't tell anyone! 

The sofa is by Melimeli - the founder of whom's home I once featured here. 

A hot trend right now - painting ceilings a darker tone - like this! I love the lamps in this room, including a pair of Panthella* and a Snoopy. I also spy a fabulous Dora Maar vase* by Jonathan Adler and an iconic Karin armchair! 

All in all, such an incredible space! Oh, the things I could do with this place if it were mine. 

Could you imagine transforming this into your home? And what did you think of the Birch Burl bowl? 

Wishing you all a great day! 

Niki

Photography courtesy of Historiska Hem with thanks.

*This post includes affiliate links.

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12 Ideas To Steal From A Small Swedish Home With a Castle-like Turret!

"Rapunzal, Rapunzel, let down your hair". Actually, scrap that! You wouldn't need rescuing if you lived in a turret like this - the space is a dream! Small it may be (33 m2 / 355 f2), but awkward angles don't need to spell cramped. This stylish Swedish space has made full use of every nook and cranny to create a beautiful oasis high up over the rooftops of Gothenburg. And there are so many ideas to steal too! Here are 11 to feel inspired by. 

1. Ribbed wood walls are having moment - and they're a great way to add interest and warmth to a space, as well as dampen sound. 

2. A long mirror bounces natural light from the balcony to lighten up the space. 

3. Skylights are ideal for rooftop living - and now they come with built in blinds to shield from sunlight on warm days. 

4. Darker stone surfaces have taken over in the kitchen and add a wonderful, natural, textured feel. 

5. Wood and stone / ceramic accessories are everything right now - the more artisanal / imperfect the better. Expect to see a growing number of wood accessories such as bowls, jugs and pots this autumn / winter too! 

6. The shades might be earthy, but the combination of wood, exposed brick and stone - as well as the black contact ensures plenty of interest. 

7. A kitchen on one side, a hallway on the other - you can't get quicker to the fridge than that. Plus, it capitalises on space! 

8. In a small space like this with lots of angles, white is a great shade for keeping the look bright and airy. 

9. Trailing plants add so much greenery, plus they are often so much easier to keep alive than standard plants (as least in MHO). Take a look here to feel inspired! 

10. Check out the mix of textures: 'teddy' / boucle, linen, shaggy wool, stone etc. If you like a minimalist look but still want things to happen - this is the way forward! 

9. Arched mirrors - remember those from my Autumn trend post? Here, round / curved edges help to break up the angular shape of the room. 

10. A slither of exposed brick helps to connect the bedroom with eh kitchen, giving the home a cohesive look and feel. 

11. Remember that discussion the other day? I hadn't realised that the unmade / crumpled bed look was a Scandinavian (potentially European?) style trend! OK, the styling here is a little excessive, but in general I'm all for the creased / messy linen look, I mean no ironing? Winner! Thoughts?

12. For limited spaces, a small wall mounted desk is ideal! Plus it's perfectly positioned under the window to maximise natural light. The Arum lamp* is from Ferm living, I have the wall version in my bedroom and L.O.V.E it (Canadian friends - I noticed your comments the other day, the good news is it appears Ferm Living is available for you through The Modern Shop) and the Afteroom chair* is from Menu. 

I totally get that it's unlikely you live in a turret shaped home - but many of us do live in small spaces / have teeny rooms to decorate, so I hope this has given you a few ideas for your home! 

For more small space ideas check out this archive. 

Right friends, that's it from me this week! There's a storm brewing in Malmö with gale warnings so I need to get on my bike and peddle home as fast as possible before it arrives. I hope you have better weather! 

Have a wonderful weekend and see you Monday! 

Niki

Photography: this home is for sale courtesy of Alvhem 

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One Swedish Apartment, Two IKEA hacks!

Hejsan! One thing I've learned over the years, is never walk around a flea market (or IKEA for that matter) and see everything at face value. Instead, see it for its potential! Love the shape of a cabinet but not sure about the wood? Paint it. Love the legs of a table but dislike the top? Change it. There is SO much you can do! Just look at the bed in the home of Hanna Söderström. Hanna loved the shape of a second-hand bed frame but wasn't keen on the heavy, dark wood, so she painted it in a wonderful grey to blend in with the walls - and it gave the piece a whole new lease of life in the process! 

For a more simple approach, take the IVAR cabinet from IKEA. It's become one of the most hacked items in the collection, and you rarely see a Swedish home without it. In this lovely open-plan Gothenburg apartment, it pops up twice, can you see where? Enjoy the tour, there are plenty of other ideas to steal too! 

I love the layout of this open-plan living space - it has a zone for everything! Pay special attention to the lamps too, which include the Formakami pendant* and Panthella table lamp* - both fabulous! 

It's amazing what a single branch from the garden / surrounding area can do for a space - plus it's free!

Styling tip: it's hard to find really tall indoor plants without paying through the roof. Place larger plants on stools to give the illusion of height and keep it from marking the floor (at least, until you've lovingly nurtured it to grow to the ceiling!). This teak round stool* is similar.  

IKEA IVAR cabinet hack number one: the exterior has been painted in a fab salmon pink to add a touch of colour to the children's bedroom. The shade also helps to tie the bedroom in with the hallway. It's also been given new legs (available from companies such as Pretty Pegs). 

IVAR cabinet hack number two: in the hallway the same cabinet has been adapted with a ribbed front and new pine legs. If you're a bit of a dab hand, you can easily recreate this look with wood from your local DIY store. If not, try companies such as Superfront - who make cabinet doors, handles, knobs and legs for IKEA furniture. 

Sidenote: I updated an IVAR cabinet in Liv's room. Note that it was originally designed to be wall mounted and can be unsteady when you attach legs so make sure you fasten it to the wall to avoid injury to yourselves and objects! 

Styling tip: Sometimes hallways are just too narrow / small to add a load of furniture and can feel a bit bare if painted one shade. Wallpaper like this one, helps to add interest without cluttering up the space. 

Do you like to hack furniture? If so, please do share your tips / favourite hacks in the comment section and inspire us! 

I loved hearing the debate on wrinkled / non-wrinkled bedding in the comment section on Friday! What are your thoughts on this? 

I'm about to shoot off to photograph a beautiful autumn piece in my sitting room (keep an eye on instagram tomorrow to see what it is!) - but before I leave, here are a couple of other homes you might like: 

A delightful, small danish apartment in calm, earthy tones

The golden, vintage-inspired home of Sarah Shabacon

Keeping it real in a family home in the heart of Copenhagen

Vi ses imorgon! 

Niki

This home is for sale via Alvhem. Photography: Henrik Linden, Styling: Grey Deco Interiors

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