Exotic meets boho in a Bali pool villa

Dreaming of a touch of paradise after a long week?  I love the relaxed vibe of this pool villa near the surfers paradise of Batu Bolong beach, Canggu, Bali, Indonesia. Set among palms and lush tropical surroundings, it's been designed so the indoors and out merge into one - with a covered terrace encompassing a sitting room, dining area and an amazing outdoor bathroom. The decor is inspired by 'Mexico and the exotic east' giving the villa a distinct bohemian touch. Aaaaannnd? It's available for rent through Australian swimwear brand Fella - race you to it?

 

Fella Villa

Guh! I'd swap my indoor shower for this beautiful outdoor shower any day of the week.  I once dedicated a post to showering al freso - so wonderful! I also love this outdoor bath and for something more modern, this shower!

Not quite warm enough or not got the outdoor space for bathing al fresco? This, this and this bathroom will make you feel you're bathing outdoors even in the heart of the city - heaven!

A few items I love from this Bali villa: wooden bar stools, pick up a selection of vintage handmade kilim cushions/ pillows here (for brighter colours try this shop), rugs (this one is especially lovely!) and poufs (this one!). I love this mid-century credenza. Rustic ladder. 

A few other lovely holiday home rentals to be browsed- with some of my favourites including a Brazilian escape, an ethereal beach house in St Barths and a vintage inspired home in Australia.  Who needs work anyway?!

Have a wonderful weekend!

Incidentally I'm working on an intensive photo shoot early next week (exciting!). I'm going to do my best to blog but the posts might be a little erratic so bear with me!

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Could you while away summer days in this Swedish garden?

I know it's only Thursday but I'm already gearing up for the weekend and looking forward to some down time in the garden with my family. We've got so much to do to our outdoor space so I've been pouring over inspiration lately (I'd probably do this even if we didn't have anything needed doing...!). Today I'm inspired by this outdoor space. It's a beautiful Swedish which fills me with ideas from the roses over the door, and the hollyhocks lining the wall of the house, the different social areas (cute kid alert) and 'secret garden'. I hope you get some ideas too.

Photography: Jonas Ingerstedt (with kind permission. Sköna Hem. 

Could you while away a summer's day in this garden?

In my (small) garden I've decided the key requirements are: a comfy area for lounging, a social yet relaxed covered (possibly using white linen) dining area, making it as green as possible, beautiful scents wafting from flowers in bloom, the sound of running water, and candle lights. Achievable in 5 metres square? Hmmmm, optimistic. But dream big as they say....

What are your outdoor space essentials?

More garden inspiration can be found on my Alfresco board, as well as previous posts of this beautiful Montreal oasis, eating alfresco and outdoor showers /bathrooms.

Have a lovely day!

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A Cosy Cabin Where the Outdoor Space Takes Centre-stage

I've gone a little off piste this week. OK, majorly off-piste, with not one but TWO cabins Down Under. The first: a garden hideaway, was on Wednesday, and the second - today! But who can blame me when they exude relaxed charm? 

The Woods Ocean Grove is made up of two cosy cabins nestled in the woods in the Ballerine Peninsula, Wadawurring, Australia. With the roar of the ocean and calls from the bush forever present, the property has been designed to embrace the great outdoors with an al fresco dining area, kitchen, bathroom and fire pit. 

Living in Sweden, I understand the allure of embracing the great weather when it arrives - and love the idea of carving out zones in the garden (or even a little balcony). Don't miss the snapshots of the interiors too - full of easy vintage style as well as colours and materials inspired by the ocean and bush beyond, drawing the outside in. 

Lovely inspiration for a balcony. I really like how they've added bar stools and a bar for coffee... wine.... If your balcony is covered, a swinging chair is a great idea too! 

The tiles in this outdoor bathroom give the space a complete look and an air of permanency. And you can never go wrong with a clawfoot tub, right? 

Outdoor curtains add a whimsical, soft touch to spaces which could otherwise come across 'hard'. In this instance, it's a perfect way to ensure privacy in the bathroom too! 

Anyone for tennis?

I actually used to play college tennis (many moons ago)! My serve is so bad these days though I prefer Padel. But I'd be happy to pick up my racket for a swing on this court! 

Could you imagine staying at The Woods Ocean Grove too? Find out more here. 

How great is the outdoor space? I know we don't all have gardens as big as this - but it's still amazing what you can do with a balcony or even a windowseat - and by adding lots of blankets, cushions and oil lamps you can enjoy it long into Autumn, maybe even winter! 

I've also always loved the idea of using colours that reflect your surroundings. Granted that in a city this can be tricky - but there's nothing to stop you from bringing in chestnut browns, rust and burnt orange come autumn, and vibrant green shades in the spring, storing and brining out items is such a quick way to refresh the home and embrace each season - and means you'll appreciate what you have even more. Do you like to update your home for the season? 

Have a fabulous weekend! I'll be back on Monday with a Scandinavian home tour! 

Stor kram! 

Niki

Photography by Marnie Hawson, styling Belle Hemming Bright. Shared with kind permission. Last picture by Nikole Ramsay. 

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A Charming Apartment In Stockholm Where Past And Present Meet

Why, hello there! I hope you had a great weekend! I thought we'd kick off the week with a charming Stockholm home that's full of character and lovely vintage touches (I especially love the loo roll holder!). The space has been captured by Historiska Hem - an estate agent which prides itself on selling homes with a past. And I can totally understand why this one fits the bill. The apartment is housed in the historic Nederland Mindre 9, a property best known as the former home and studio of Swedish artist and sculptor Christian Eriksson. Dating back to the late 17th century, the house has been converted into a series of beautiful apartments where past and present go hand in hand. What a perfect opportunity for anyone looking for their own little slice of history in the heart of Stockholm! Ready to peek inside? 

I love how a narrow wall in the kitchen has been put to good use with a built-in plate-rack, painted the same colour as the cabinets - perfect for extra storage and adding to the cosy feel of the home, don't you think?

Owning a home with a Kakelugn (tiled masonry oven) is a bit of a dream of mine. This one appears to be in great working condition too! The entire 'oven' heats up and emits heat for hours on end, even after the fire dies. Oh, and they're pretty too! 

The bathroom is made up of so many lovely details - including a vintage cabinet. copper pipes, pretty floor tiles and a vintage loo roll holder. 

Sidenote: I am especially taken by the loo roll holder for the simple reason that no one in my family except me, is capable of taking the cardboard roll off the holder once it's finished. They just put the new loo roll on top. I mean. Seriously! How hard can it be?  

I'm thinking if I had one of these bad boys with space for four, it wouldn't bother me so much! What do you reckon? 

While we're on the subject, my Mother-in-law has a vintage loo roll holder in her bathroom at the summer cottage. It has a little built-in drawer and I recently found out that in the olden days, it was used to store a match box.... make of that what you will! 

What a magnificent entrance! 

I love the outdoor space too. You see this outdoor furniture a lot in Sweden, it's made by a classic Swedish brand Grythyttan (just in case you're looking for new outdoor furniture this Autumn / winter). I shared a whole load of 'cosy' outdoor inspiration a few weeks ago (in case you missed it). 

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

Fancy taking a peek inside a few other Stockholm homes today? Here are a few of my faves: 

The incredible Stockholm home of Lovisa Häger

Get the look from the fab home of a design hunter

A beautiful Stockholm home in calming green and grey tones

Wishing you a fabulous start to the week friends!

Niki

Photography: Historiska Hem photo Lina Ostling styling Rymandshem

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An Idyllic Red and White Swedish Farmhouse In The Countryside

Mina damer och herrar (Ladies and gentleman), allow me to introduce you to Ekekullen, an idyllic farmstead in the village of Månstad, West Sweden. When Sara Sjöblom and her family moved in five years ago, they became the fourth generation to take-over the beautiful Falun red and white family home.  Sara and her partner have been renovating the property little by little over time while respecting the original structure, built by Sara's great grandfather. Think earthy tones, vintage and antique pieces and a wonderful, relaxed vibe. A perfect country home which combines and old and new and enjoyed by Sara's family, three cats and a flock of chickens. Välkommen in! 

Sara replaced a window with old doors bought from a friend - which her Father then renovated. "It's really lovely to just walk out of the kitchen into the garden in summertime" she tells me. 

The kitchen cabinets (from HTH) span the entire length of the kitchen and have been topped with concrete which has been impregnated and treated with a warm grey tone. 

These 'kakelugn' (swedish masonry ovens) get to me every time - they are just so beautiful, and the heat they give off is incredible! 

Sara found the chairs in a nearby 'loppis' (flea market) and painted them in 4502-Y from Beckers. 

It's funny how an item can suddenly evoke a memory which has been buried deep in the archives of the mind! Sara's vintage mirror reminds me of the one I saw in the Norwegian home of Tone Krok which I captured for my second book The Scandinavian Home. I had been convinced it was antique, but actually Tone had simply bought a new mirror and left it exposed to the elements in the garden for a couple of years - and it looked just like this one. Now that's a trick worth knowing! 

The grey ball vase* is from popular Swedish brand Cooee. 

A vintage coffee table - a local flea market find - rests in front of a sofa from Decotique.  

In the summertime, life moves outdoors to soak up the midnight sun on rayon chairs from Mio and a handmade table. 

Lounge chairs and a loveseat from Jakobssons (check out their entire outdoor range - so many lovely pieces!) have been arranged around a handmade table for a relaxed outdoor seating area. 

How unbelievably idyllic! It's everything I imagine a Swedish country home to be and more!

I love the outdoor spaces too - some lovely ideas here. Keep an eye out for more outdoor inspiration soon! 

Could you imagine living here? 

If you don't follow Sara on instagram yet, you're missing out! Hop on over to @ekekullen1 for more! 

Fancy taking a peek inside a few other Scandinavian country homes today? How about: 

A cosy country home in rural Norway

A warm rural Swedish country home that combines old and new

A cosy living space in a Swedish country home

Magical! 

Oh, and a total sidenote - Swedish names! In the UK surnames tend to be centred around a trade, for example 'Smith' or 'Taylor'.

I've noticed in Sweden however, many surnames tend to either be family names (Larsson - 'son of Lars') - some of which have become so common that the younger generation are swapping them out for made up names. In my experience it's also not uncommon for a married couple in Sweden to also choose the more unusual surname among the pair. 

But it's also common for surnames to have origins in nature. Sara's surname 'Sjöblom' for example, means 'seaweed'. 'Lindgren' of Astrid Lindgren fame, means 'green woodland' while Bergman (Ingrid Bergman) translates as 'Mountain man' and my own name 'Brantmark' means 'steep ground' (not quite as romantic as the others, I know!). I have always loved this. 

Where dot eh family names in your country originate from? 

Niki

Photography: Sara Sjöblom / Ekekullen

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