Emilia's Laid-Back Swedish Country Family Home

Are you in the mood for something cosy today? If so, activate your "do not disturb" - this Swedish country home is as 'mysigt' as can be! 

Emilia Nilsson lives with her family in a characterful early 20th century house with "worn wood floors and lots of laughter" in the Småland, countryside in south Sweden. 

Done up little by little, the house oozes charm from every corner with its beautiful selection of wallpaper, traditional earthy tones and simple array of natural materials. But best of all, the relaxed home is designed to be lived in - and a space where children can play freely, and dogs and cats are invited to lounge. 

Ready to see inside?

Traditional deep red, sage green and off white have been combined on the exterior for a warm look that fits with its surroundings. 

The large porch can be used for potting and lounging rain or shine. 

One of the things I love about Scandinavian furniture is that's designed to for functionality first and looks second. Just as this cat has discovered! 

Furniture built from solid wood will stand the test of time since it can be sanded down and refurbished - so it will never look tatty. 

Candle season has officially begun - with flames adding warmth at breakfast, lunch and supper - as well as all times in between. Please be extra vigilant though - never place a candle near anything flammable and or leave unattended. It's always good to keep the room well aired too. 

The wallpaper from Ulricehamns Tapetfabrik is made in Sweden - so pretty, don't you think? 

The circular window is a real showstopper! I love that Emilia has made it a feature by creating a quiet place to sit and reflect or read a book while looking out over the garden. The wallpaper is from Boråstapeter. 

Emilia has used wallpaper from Ulricehamns Tapetfabrik as a backdrop to sleep and play in the children's bedroom. 

Last summer, Emilia and her friend Clara started a small flower boutique for passersby. I think I got around 5 flowers in total in our summer cottage garden this summer so to have an abundance of flowers to sell like this would be the ultimate dream! 

It looks well manned by the resident kitty too! 

So charming! I love how much soul this home has, it's put me in such a great mood for the start of the week. I hope this tour has given your Monday a lift too! 

You can see more pictures and find out the sources for wallpaper and other items over on Emilia's instagram @millansvilla. 

Is there anything that stood out to you? 

Why not take a peek inside a few other country homes today? I love: 

An idyllic red and white country home in the Swedish countryside

A warm rural swedish country home that combines old and new

Five Danish country homes to love

A charming rural Norwegian cottage by a fjord

Ilkka's rural Finnish retreat

Have a great start to the week! 

Niki

Photography courtesy of @millansvilla, shared with kind permission.

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A Playful One Room Swedish Apartment With a Golden Glow

Looks like we made it (in the words of Barry Manilow), it's Friday! I'm not going to lie; it's been one of those weeks where I've been chasing my tail and never quite able to catch up. But I still wanted to stop by and share this happy, golden glow of a home. 

Located in Stockholm, it's 40 sqm (430 ft.sq) so somewhat larger than the small space I showed on Wednesday - but still consists of a one room living room space plus kitchen. I felt it therefore presented another fine way to arrange a room designed for living and sleeping (love the way a canopy is used to shield off the bed and create a cosy, safe nook for some shut eye). If you're struggling with storage, keep an eye out for the units in the hallway (which I believe are IKEA) and the drawers under the bed. Closed storage has been used in other areas too and help to keep the home clutter free. 

But there is also more at play here - whoever lives here is into their funky details and takes pride in sourcing one off playful pieces that all come together to create a beautiful and unique home. 

I got such a lovely vibe from this home, did you? It's so full of warmth and personality. 

When I looked back through the pictures a second time, I couldn't help but notice the wall art which included textiles and paintings. Not only that, but the way a picture has been hung over the door to the sitting room - a unique spot, but it works! That and the mix of textures used throughout which add to the playful feel. 

I'd love to hear about what you noticed about this home - and any thoughts you had while looking through the pictures. 

As mentioned above, sadly I'm in a bit of a rush today - but I look forward to reading and responding to your comments over the weekend - maybe over a nice big glass of wine! 

I hope you have a wonderful, relaxing weekend! 

Niki

Photography by Mia Borgelin, styling by Anna van Keppel, courtesy of Historiska Hem with thanks. 

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Quirky Touches in a 19th Century Brick House in South Sweden

The other day, someone asked me "I am moving to Sweden and looking for somewhere in the South, with beautiful countryside, beaches and lots of culture, but also that's not far from a village or town." Luckily two different areas popped up in my head - one was Kullaberg - where my parents-in-law live, and a place I covered extensively in this travel guide. And the other was Österlen. 

Famous for its light, Österlen has been a popular destination for artist for hundreds of years and the countryside is absolutely beautiful. This pretty cottage, in Löderup is fairly near Sandhammaren beach, known for it's incredible white sands and clear waters. The quirky interior is testimony to the creative scene you so often find in the area, and yet it also has a serene feel to it thanks to the soft shades not dissimilar from the tones seen in the sand, shells and sea of the nearby beach. 

A few weeks ago we had the pleasure of Beppe taking us around his Swedish family home and today I'll hand over to Snowy (*not his actual name, to be honest, I'm not sure what it is, but he sure is cute) for the tour! 

Thank you so much for the tour Snowy! You've certainly sold it to me.  

I love the quirky touches and the incredible view from the outdoor dining area. Naturally, I couldn't resist looking more into the property, and it's only a 15-minute cycle ride to the beach. Perfect! 

Is there anything that stood out to you about this lovely Swedish house? 

perhaps you'd like to be reminded of some other beautiful homes I've shown from Österlen in the past? Who could forget: 

Karen's charming summer house in the Skåne countryside

A 19th century Swedish cottage where the past meets the present

The dreamy country home of Laura and Nora of Our food Stories (the kitchen!)

Marianne's beautiful country home (you can also find her Stockholm city home here)

We're experiencing a very late summer heatwave here, and aware that it could be the last heat we have for a very long time, everyone is heading outside at every opportunity - myself included! 

I hope it's sunny where you are too! 

Niki

Photography courtesy of Bo-laget, shared with thanks. 

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A Cosy Swedish Family Home Filled with Books

Why, hej! How was your weekend? Ours was a mix of dips in the sea, thunderstorms (not at the same time, thankfully), work (too much on at the mo, and not at all 'lagom' - but thankfully only short term) and life in between (like arguing about who is going to empty the dishwasher). I hope yours was suitably varied, and lovely and relaxing.

So, let's kick off the week with something inspiring, shall we? Like a cosy Stockholm apartment. This home is dedicated to anyone who loves colour, pattern and likes to be surrounded by books (show of hands please?). It's also inspiring for anyone looking for cute ideas for a small space with young children (love the cot in the master bedroom and children's bedroom solution). 

Ready for a nosey? 

Note the climber in the kitchen window - with autumn closing in, it's a great way to create a 'green effect' while the trees lie dormant and create those nature-inducing feel good vibes. 

We're seeing so many statement-painted doors right now and I find them so inspiring. Would you consider painting a door a different colour in your home? 

FYI stripes continue to be a strong trend this autumn and tablecloths and cushions are a great way to add them to the home. 

The colour, the pattern, the warmth - the everything! 

A home for book and LP lovers, so great to see, don't you think? 

Notice how the owners have added pictures, bunting and other small touches to carve out a corner exclusively for the littlest member of the family, while the rest of the room still has a mature feel. 

There's always room for more books!

When space is limited, a desk and raised bed solution is a great way to ensure there is a zone for everything. 

I love this home as the owner's personality shines through. Plus, it's so well kitted out to display and store all their belongings and treasured items. 

I'd love to hear your thoughts and observations below. 

Wishing you an 'underbart' start to the week! 

Niki

Photography Boukari, Styling by Copparstad Interior for Historiska Hem, shared with thanks. 

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