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Glad Midsommar! - And a Pretty Summer Table Setting

This Friday marks Midsummer's Eve, the most significant day in the Swedish calendar. The celebrations begin with the crafting of floral headdresses, followed by dancing around the Maypole, and culminate in a gathering with fun garden games. I've always cherished Swedish Midsummer's Eve – a joyful celebration of light and nature spent with loved ones, accompanied by plenty of Aquavit and singing! Emma Johansson's charming photographs, where even the glasses wear flower crowns, beautifully capture the spirit of the day.


If you'd like to join the festivities, here are some past posts for inspiration: 


Single? Don't forget to pick seven different wildflowers and lay them under your pillow on Midsummer's Eve. Swedish legend has it that you'll dream of the person you are going to marry! 

Glad midsommar! 

Niki

PS I'll be taking a short break over Midsummer - back on Monday! 

Photography: Emma Johansson, shared with kind permission

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A Beautiful Midsummer's Eve Table

On Friday it's time for one of the biggest celebrations in Sweden - Midsummer's Eve. It's an event so entrenched in the Swedish culture that it's considered as important as Christmas. It's become my favourite celebration of the year. Put simply, it's magical. Think crowns weaved from wildflowers, dancing around a maypole and playing silly games. Tables are laden with a spread of pickled herrings, new potatoes, quiches, boiled eggs, sour cream, dill, salmon, strawberries, and crisp bread, washed down with beer and schnapps. It's a day spent outdoors no matter the weather (thankfully it looks like the sun will be shining on Friday!) and a time for friends and families to come together and chat and sing and dance under the midnight sun. 

Why not join the celebrations from afar? Here's a beautiful Midsummer tablescape by Linnea on the Swedish island of Gotland (who's beautiful home I featured recently) to inspire you! 

So pretty! 

Looking to join in the celebrations? Here are 5 simple steps for hosting a Swedish midsummer

Single? Swedish tradition says if you pluck 7 different wild flowers and lay them under your pillow on Midsummers Eve, you'll dream of your true love! 

Glad midsommar! 

Niki

PS since I will be busy doing preparations for the big day on Friday, there'll be no post tomorrow. I look forward to blogging again on Monday. Vi ses!

Photography: @leintosinspiration - shared with kind permission.

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A Vintage Christmas Table Setting in a Swedish Greenhouse

In a time when socialising outdoors in winter has become a thing - there's one particular piece of garden equipment that has exploded in Scandinavia: the greenhouse! Not only are they great for plants (I could really use one for my lemon tree, it's taking over our bedroom like something out of Little Shop of Horrors!), they've become a perfect hybrid setting for indoor / outdoor gatherings! And in wintertime they really come into their own! Just look at this wonderful vintage Christmas setting in Marlene Agemo's garden in Märsta - on a farm just outside Stockholm. The greenhouse is festooned with Christmas cheer with pretty paper flowers (DIY instructions here) hung from string lights, vibrant red touches and an au natural tree. Layers of textiles, candles, and a heater help to keep everyone snug and full of festive cheer while the chickens roam free outside. 

What a beautiful setting! 

I love all the vintage linens (I was excited to find a load of vintage Swedish Christmas linens* and also rolls of farmers linen by the metre* - I love this roll of French sacking* too!) and crockery. 

Could you imagine enjoying a Swedish Christmas fika here? 

You might like to check out Marlene's shop Fru Vintage for ceramics, textiles, clothes and coffee (in Swedish). 


If you have elderly relatives (or others who simply feel more relaxed socialising outside) visiting over the holidays here are a few other ideas: 


I'm actually off to the woods in a minute to go and find a few pretty bits on the forest floor for our home this Christmas (trust me, I'm way behind!). The sun's shining and my thermos is full! 

Wishing you all a lovely day!

Niki

Photography:  Marlene Agemo / Fru Vintage, shared with kind permission 

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A Pretty Scandinavian Christmas Table Scape

Entertaining this December? I discovered this beautiful Scandinavian Christmas table setting earlier and had to share it with you in case you're looking for inspiration! Created by Emelie Sundberg and Emma Johansson for LINUM, it features everything I love: layers of textiles, delicate cocktail glasses, pretty festive touches and of course, plenty of candlelight. 

I love the slim candles (buy in bulk here*!), they look so pretty against the dark, earthy wall. 

Edit: A note on the overhead candles: they've been installed using special candle holder clips which will keep them firmly in place and each candle has been placed firmly away from any branches or anything else flammable. Of course, to do something like this you'd need a really high ceiling and also exercise caution. Never leave candles unattended and always extinguish before leaving the room. But to avoid any doubt, these battery-powered candles would be a better option! 

The use of ribbons add a soft, romantic touch to the setting. If I tied the plates up like this at home I can  just see Per looking at it completely baffled!! But I for one, would appreciate it, and I think my girls would too! I also love how the berries add a delicate touch of colour. 

So pretty!

I hope it has given you a few ideas for your table this December. 

See more beautiful Christmas inspiration here:


Have a cosy evening! 

Niki

Photography and styling: Emelie Sundberg & Emma Johansson

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A Pretty Outdoor Autumn Table Setting

Did you see the beautiful Swedish country home of photographer Mari Magnusson on Monday? I've been dreaming about it ever since and couldn't help pouring through her instagram for more Autumn inspiration. And then I stumbled across this outdoor table setting. What a wonderful way to celebrate the season and make the most of the balmy weather before temperatures force us indoors! 

There are so many pretty elements at play - and I'm sure the authors of the book Curate (see yesterday's post!) would be impressed with the natural elements, small imperfections and vintage flair! 

In case you'd like to create a similar look try these items: Mika plate*,  Mika side plate*, Mika soup bowl* from , glass candleholder*, natural linen napkins*, hand blown wine glasses*. And of course add a fabulous bouquet of flowers. 

A bit too chilly? Greenhouses are popping up left, right and centre in Sweden and are a perfect place to prolong the season while still surrounded by nature. If you are lucky enough to have one, why not clear it out and create space for a party? 

So pretty! 

Table setting inspiration for the weekend perhaps? 

Just add a hearty soup! 

Speaking of country homes, I've set up home for three days in a pretty cottage in Blekinge, south Sweden (you might recognise the name from this guide). The cottage will serve as a backdrop for several Danish homeware brands which I am here to shoot. I can't wait to share the results with you soon!

Ha det så bra!  

Niki

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My Spring Table With Danish Recycled Glassware

Collaboration*
Hej vänner! Everyone ready for the weekend? Before we shoot off, I'm really excited to share some recent pictures I took in my dining room in collaboration with Pernille Bülow. You'll likely recognise the name. I am a huge fan of Pernille Bülow - an atelier on the Danish island of Bornholm, and I am always excited to see their latest collections. And this one is really exceptional! Pernille Bülow prides itself on producing handmade items from glass and other raw materials in their workshop in the small village of Nexø. The new ReUse glassware consists of a drinking glass (in two different sizes), bowl, vase, oil lamp and jar, all of which have been individually mouth blown using waste glass from the pharmaceutical industry. And every single piece is unique. Read on for more! 

I used this little bench in the kitchen for all the 'props' for the shoot, and they looked so pretty I couldn't resist taking some snapshots before the items even made it to the table! 

When you experience the pieces from the ReUse Collection firsthand, it's hard to imagine that it's made from waste glass. Every year, Novo Nordisk has large amounts of excess borosilicate glass from their diabetes drug production, which is then disposed of. And now, Pernille Bülow has found a way to remelt the glass and shape it into beautiful objects. Look closely and you'll see small bubbles - a result of the production and a hallmark of the ReUse Collection. 

The ReUse drinking glasses come in a small and large size. For the table, I used the smaller size because I felt they were a perfect fit with the bowls. People are often cautious about putting handmade glassware in the dishwasher but fear not - these are heat and dishwasher resistant!  

The pretty ReUse jars with cork lid can be used for just about anything, anywhere in the home - but I have to say they do look lovely in the kitchen filled with oil and salt!

The ReUse vases all vary slightly in size (a sign of mouth blown design!) and look equally beautiful alone as they do on the table in a set of three. I used a single stem - which is all it needs! 

For our spring table I combined the ReUse Collection with a white linen tablecloth, striped linen napkins, and simple ceramic plates - for a relaxed, yet formal rustic setting. 

Let's hope the Brantmark table manners can live up to the setting (there's work to be done, I can tell you *rolls eyes*!). Having said that, there is a relaxed feel to the setting too - which gives way to chatting and laughter into the small hours - hygge style!). 

I love antique silverware, how about you? It always reminds me of lunch at my Grandmother's house as a child.  There was something about the slightly tainted, unpolished appearance of this silverware which made it a perfect fit with the ReUse collection (at least that's my excuse for not polishing it! That obvious?). 

The ReUse glass bowl is great for soup, cereal or just about anything really and it matches the drinking glasses perfectly. 


My favourite item in the collection has to be the ReUse oil lamp.  I'm a big fan of oil lamps in general - they've been slowly replacing candles in my home since they're a bit Moore convenient! I particularly the simplicity of this one. It's also SUPER easy to refill and light (as an oil lamp expert, this isn't always the case!). I now have three of these beauties dotted around - because they work absolutely anywhere in the house - on a coffee table, windowsill (well away from the curtains of course), on my desk (in Sweden it's perfectly normal to have a lit candle on your desk on a dark day - something I've been quick to embrace!) - anywhere! 

I showed this beauty to my sister Cas last night over a Zoom call, and she actually paused the call to buy one! Let's hope those mouth blowers can work quickly, I have a feeling these are going to be a big hit! 

It feels like we're all set for Easter now! One month early too! t  

In the meantime, I'll be burning the oil lamps to warm up these chilly Scandinavian evenings and enjoying my granola even more from my glass bowl!

I hope there's something in this collection that has caught your eye too. Pernille Bülow ships worldwide (more info here). 

Would you like to see more from their collection? Take a peek at the SKY Lamp here, here and here in my home and the Pernille Bülow Odin glassware captured at my summer cottage (I have such great memories from that day!), and also the ReUse outdoor light chain in my little back garden. So many lovely things in one place! 

If you have any questions about anything else you see in these pictures please do give me a shout in the comment section below, I'll be happy to help. 

Right friends, I think that's it for the week! 

Wishing you all a wonderful couple of days and see you Monday!

Niki

*This post is a paid partnership with Pernille Bülow. However, all words and images are my own and I only ever work with brands I absolutely love and think you will too! Thank you for supporting the small Nordic businesses and ateliers that make My Scandinavian Home possible.

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Beautiful Danish Glassware and My Favourite Summer Drink!


After a tour of the Swedish West coast (travel guide to follow soon!), it's been wonderful to be back at our summer cottage for a few days. I spent a lovely afternoon with my friend Tove, catching up over a glass of herb infused lemonade. It was one of those afternoons which turned into evening... which turned into night (and may have eventually involved some Prosecco!). I'd invited Tove to come over and help me shoot a set of beautiful mouth blown glassware for Pernille Bülow (the glass workshop on the Danish island of Bornholm where the stunning SKY lamps are also made). And we decided to put the pretty setting and smokey ODIN glassware to good use in the process! Here are a few snapshots - and more details about the glassware, the lemonade and a few other pieces! 

I picked up the chairs at a nearby 'loppis' (flea market) - such a find! The questions is, do I re-paint them or leave them in their naturally dilapidated state? I'd love to hear your thoughts! 

On the table you can catch a glimpse of the handmade ODIN jug and drinking glass in grey, which have been designed in the Pernille Bülow atelier and handmade abroad. As with all their designs, I love how the ODIN glassware has a simple yet strong expression, and perfect for everyday use as well as special events (like catching up with friends!).  

My daughter Allie and I made the mint, dill and basil infused lemonade in the morning. The syrup is super simple to make, tastes really refreshing, and if you make a big batch can last all summer long! Oh and it's perfect for pepping up 'stronger' drinks - just sayin'! Here's the recipe: 

Mint, Dill and Basil Infused Lemonade Squash

Ingredients:

2.5 dl water
300 g sugar
2 tbsp fresh dill  
5 g fresh basil
5 g fresh mint
3.75 dl lemon juice

Method
Combine the sugar and water in a pan, place on medium heat and stir until the sugar is dissolved. Rip up the mint and basil leaves and add to the pan. Add the dill stems. Bring to the boil and cook for 5 minutes. Remove from heat and place mixture in a container in the fridge for 60 minutes. Sieve the mixture to remove herbs. 

To serve: combine the syrup and lemon juice with 18 dl of water and serve on ice with a sprig of mint. 


Tove and I found the jug works perfectly as a vase too! The thistles and ferns are from our cottage garden.

As the sun sank lower in the sky we brought out an ODIN pillar candleholder and tea light holder in grey. There are also two lovely bowls in the range - the small bowl in grey which we used for crabapples and a large bowl



Such a memorable afternoon. I love it when a plan comes together!

You can find out more information about Pernille Bülow ODIN glassware here - and also take a peek at the SKY lamps which I've featured in my home here, here and here.

Thank you to Tove for a great afternoon, and also to my wonderful neighbors for the pretty setting!

Niki

This post is brought to you in collaboration with Pernille Bülow. However, all words are my own and I only ever work with brands I love and think you will too! 

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Simple Easter Table DIY: Bunny Ear Napkins




If you're looking to do something a little extra this Easter but don't have much time - these bunny ear napkins are so easy to make and look super cute on the table!
THE KIT

- Square napkin (any material - even paper works!)
- An egg (you may like to opt for different colours for each place setting). 
- String or ribbon
- Scissors (for cutting string)
- Baby's breath or other pretty flowers (optional!)

THE KNOW-HOW:


And that's it! Five minutes and you'll have an entire table of bunnies!

Here are mine in action on our Easter table.

Wishing you a lovely Easter break!


PS I'll be back here early next week. 

PS Don't forget to enter the spring give-away to win a TRIWA watch!


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My Easter Table with Apple Blossom and Bunny Ears!

There are so many lovely Easter traditions in Sweden - from attaching feathers and eggs to branches to påskkärring (children dressing as bright coloured witches and knocking on the doors in the neighbourhood for treats) and rolling dyed eggs down hills to see who's is the last to break. Sadly we'll miss these this year as we're in London (great to be here all the same!). So before we left we had an impromtu Easter lunch and I couldn't help going that egg-stra (sorry) mile. I hope you like it! 

 I kept it simple in a palette of white and beige and then added a hint of colour with branches of apple blossom and baby's breath. 

These pretty glass eggs also helped to bring a little colour to the table. They are quite a lot heavier than I thought (the clue was in the 'glass'!) so if you're looking to get some for your Easter table - make sure you source sturdy branches first. They look lovely arranged in a bowl too.


These bunny ear napkins are so incredibly easy to make (trust me, I'm not a DIY person at all, just ask my family, and they took me all of 60 seconds to hop to it - (err...) - the girls loved them! In case you'd like to make the same, I created my very first DIY know-how film (told you I'd gone that extra mile!) which I'll share later today.


I hope you like the results! If you're wondering where the items are from - here's a get the look from wonderful Danish homeware brand Nordal*.

Get The Look

1. Glass bottle 2. Stoneware dinner plate and Stoneware cake plate 3. BLACK cutlery 4. Pitcher vase
5. Hanging glass egg 6. T-light holder 7. RETRO redwine glass and RETRO whitewine glass
8. White cotton table cloth

* Nordal ships throughout Europe (sorry friends from further afield). There's a complete list to online stores and retailers here


If you've got any questions, just give me a shout in the comment section below and I'll do my best to help!

Have a lovely day!



This post is in collaboration with Nordal, however all words are my own and I only ever work with brands I love and think you will too.

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