The Vintage-Inspired Stockholm Home of Elsa Billgren

If you love vintage, you'll love the home of Swedish TV presenter and interior / fashion blogger Elsa Billgren. Elsa lives with her family in Mosebacke, in the hip district of Söder in Stockholm. Despite being in the heart of the capital, Elsa's apartment is a picture of calm thanks to rustic furniture that wouldn't look out of place in a country home, plants around every corner, relaxed piles of books, art and plenty of cushions, sheepskins and blankets! Once into bright colours (see her previous Stockholm home), Elsa has toned down to a more earthy palette over the years - but look closely and you'll spot soft hues of red, green and blue. Ready for the tour? Put your feet up and enjoy! 

The dining area is a made of a blend of vintage pieces including a fabulous rustic farmhouse table with drawers. 

I'm really curious about this table, as I've passed up tables like this in the past due to the bars just above the floor and lower drawers. Maybe I should take another look and see if it's possible after all. Does anyone else have experience with using these types of tables as a dining table? 

Contemporary pieces like the modern art and Valerie Objet number 2 wall lamp make a nice contrast with the older vintage pieces - adding a cool, personal vibe. 

A rustic side bench* provides a perfect spot for plants, books and candles. 

I love the quirky touch with the blue architrave around the door. Notice how Elsa has also added blue cushions on the sofa to balance the look.  

How beautiful! It makes me want to scour the internet for antiques - do you feel the same? 

Is there anything that stood out to you? 

Thank you to Idha Lindhag for the kind permission to share these images. If you'd like to see more of Elsa's home hop on over to instagram. She also has a book Elsas Husdröm 2021 and also a Podcast: Billgren Wood (both in Swedish). 

Have a great start to the week! 

I've just arrived in Oslo, Norway for a few days - very exciting to be out travelling again, even if it's for work! Follow my adventure on Instagram stories if you're curious to see what I get up to! I hope to write a guide here soon too! 

Niki

Photography: Idha Lindhag, shared with kind permission

*This post contains an affiliated link 

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Laura Luoto's Inspiring Second-hand & DIY Helsinki Home

So finally, THAT Finnish apartment I promised to share with you! The beautiful 1950s apartment is nestled in the heart of Helsinki (such a great city - I can't wait to go back one day!) and belongs to interior designer Laura Luoto and her boyfriend Ville. Laura has had a passion for all things second-hand ever since she was a child and the pair have decorated the 43 m2 space using a blend of wonderful flea market finds as well as pieces she has built herself and the odd contemporary piece. I couldn't resist reaching out to Laura to find out more. 

What do you do for a living?

I am an interior designer - with a passion for designing well thought-out homes for my clients. I strive to create high quality, practical spaces with a beautiful aesthetic. It's important to me that a living space feels harmonious so that the mind can rest. 

Can you tell us about your passion for second-hand?

My passion for second hand started when I was very young from when we used to visit flea markets as a family. At that time, I would spend all my money buying clothes from thrift stores but at some point, I started to become more interested in purchasing cool and eclectic items for my own room. When I moved into my own apartment, my budget was small, so buying second-hand allowed me to fill up my apartment with cool finds. 

What's the best thing about buying secondhand things for your home? 

I love the idea that no one has a home like mine since most of the pieces are one-of-a-kind. The uniqueness is what makes this apartment feel like home to me. 

Do you need adjust the pieces you find second-hand?

Absolutely. I love leaving my own mark on pieces - and when I adapt them, I feel even more connected to my home because I've worked hard to make it my own. 

I see from your website that you also make your own furniture occasionally?

Yes, when I can't find something I am looking for within my budget, I sometimes make it myself. For example the coffee table in the first picture is handmade! 

See Laura's instagram highlights for more information on how to make a table like this. 

Lovely home! 

It's also so inspiring to learn that you don't need to spend a fortune to create a beautiful and unique living space. Time to hit those flea markets - and get the toolbox out! 

See more of Laura's home over at @Laura_luoto (there are some great DIY ideas there) and find out more about her work / services as an interior designer here. 

Feel inspired by other second-hand homes here (don't miss Ida's home, a Norwegian cottage with a wabi sabi vibe and a hyggeligt Danish home on Jutland!- or join the Finnish home love fest in this archive! 

That's it from me this week. I've got a photoshoot at home today for Carpe Diem Beds for which I'll be transforming my bedroom into a luxury winter haven. Sounds heavenly, don't you think? It's no coincidence that I've timed the shoot right before the weekend!

Have a great one guys, see you Monday! 

Niki

Photography:  All pictures by Krista Keltanen and Jonna Kivilahti except 2 & 4 which are by Laura Luoto - shared with kind permission

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A Swedish Country Home That's Charming Inside and Out!

Let's go on a trip to Borås, West Sweden today and stop by at the fairy-tale home of  Evelina Lovisa Lind, her husband, two boys and cutest pups Tage and Tore. A photographer, Lovisa takes daily snaps of their home and life in Västra Götaland County while she studies gardening. The family home is a wonderful blend of antique and vintage finds set against a 'moody' backdrop of greys combined with accent walls adorned in William Morris. Evelina has drawn the surrounding landscape indoors using botanical prints, nature inspired wallpaper, climbing plants and fresh flowers from the garden. Keep a special lookout for the beautiful pendant light (I'd love one for my own home!) and the whimsical DIY idea! 

Intercepting the tour to point out the beautiful recycled Tropez pendant lamp - made from paper mâché and inspired by a floppy sunhat! The botanical prints are by Swedish artist Jonna Fransson. 

So beautiful - indoors and out!

Greenhouses are having a real moment in Sweden - popping up left, right and centre and used for everything from traditional gardening to a garden room. Are they popular where you are too? 

And now for the simple, yet pretty DIY idea: a candle wreath wrapped in dried Pearly Everlasting flowers. It's a perfect way to prolong the summer, and it'll stay in place for years!  Here's how: 

1. Pearly Everlasting is known for its excellent dried flowers. To dry them out, cut the stems before the blossoms are fully open and then hang them upside down in a dark place.  

2. Weave the dried flowers around the candle wreath as you would when making any other wreath and keep them in place with a thin wire (see this tutorial for more guidance). make sure you give the candles plenty of space to avoid a fire risk (never leave naked flames unattended). 

Lovely idea!

Is there anything that stood out to you about Evelina's house and garden?

If you'd like to see more snapshots, hop on over to her instagram @lovisalind. 

Ha en bra dag! 

Niki

Photography: Evelina Lovisa Lind shared with kind permission. 

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A Warm and Relaxed Artists Home Full of Vintage Finds

I'm in the mood for some arty / creative inspiration today, how about you? Scrolling through my instagram feed I happened upon Edna's charming home in Rheinland, Germany and it fits the bill perfectly! Edna has always wanted to live in an old house - and was delighted when she moved into the Art Nouveau property - with its high ceilings and wonderful light - dating back to 1911. Edna and her husband are both artists and live in the two lower floors of the property with their children and adopted cats. Their studio occupies the top floor. Edna loves to immerse herself in history and likes to keep the look and feel of her home "bright, natural and unconventional". The furniture is a blend of antiques (matching the date of the house), vintage finds as well as a few handpicked contemporary pieces. The result is a wonderful, relaxed, lived-in feel where no two pieces are the same. Ready to feel inspired? 

Oh, so beautiful! 

I love how distinct and personal this home is, it's truly original. 

That cat ramp! 

Do you feel charmed by this home too? Anything in particular that stood out to you? 

Keep an eye on Edna's email @ednas.house for more inspiration. 

The cosy, vintage inspired home of a Swedish artist

Pretty greens and blues in a Copenhagen home

A danish artists inspiring apartment

The lovely home of a Danish artist

A relaxed artists home in Norway (which I had the pleasure of capturing for my second book)

I also love the low hanging art in the Stockholm home of Karolina Modig. 

When it comes to hanging art, I love the way Edna's has played with scale and space. If you have art to hang but not sure where to start - or you'd like to create a gallery wall, I've shared a fail-safe technique here. 

Wishing you a wonderful Wednesday! 

Niki

Photography: @ednas.house - shared with kind permission.

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