Teal Steals the Show in This Hamburg Apartment

Hello there! I hope you had a wonderful weekend and the sun is shining where you are too? I was thinking the other day about how moving abroad means new countries become more accessible. Spending my childhood in South West England, we could visit France over the day (with a little planning!) and living in Malmö, Hamburg is actually nearer than Stockholm (I so wish I'd concentrated in my school German lessons now!). As a result,  I often turn to German homes for inspiration (I'd love to hear about how the countries over your nearest border inspire you!). The latest home to catch my eye is that of Kristina Ahoi. Kristina lives in a magnificent apartment in Hamburg with high ceilings, beautiful period features (those roses!) and an original parquet floor. But the real show stopper is the dramatic teal backdrop in the dining area which seems to makes everything pop! Let's take a peek.

The first question I asked Kristina was 'what is that beautiful paint colour in your dining area'? Possibly even before I'd said "hi". The answer is 'Jägergrün' 04.031.01 from German paint brand SCHÖNER WOHNEN. Isn't it the most perfect shade of teal?Oh and the table is by Hay!

I do love a Marshall bluetooth speaker (I have the same at home, although slightly larger - but I like that this one has a handle and you can carry it with you as you go!). 

I feel warm just looking at the lovely rays of light in this corner of Kristina's home, how about you? 

It's incredible what a difference an injection of colour from the kilim rug makes to the sitting room. This one is from On the Rugs in Hamburg but Loom & Field sell similar and ship worldwide. The sofa is mags by Hay and the pendant light is the Petite Friture (this is a great statement light if you have relatively high ceilings and a fairly large room). 

 All photography © Kristina Ahoi.

The bike mount also caught my eye. I've never seen one like this before. It's basically a height adjustable metal pole that runs from the floor to the ceiling with a bike attachment. I love that it's safely away from the white wall to avoid oil / mud marks. Kristina's even attached a shelf too! What a perfect place for a plant?!

Other examples of bikes being stored in a fab way include the solution in this Swedish home (possibly a little high  / awkward for daily use but perfect for anyone that a) has a very cool bike and b) uses it sporadically) and this danish home (very practical - love Julie's bike too!). Oh, and if you're looking for a similar solution, this round-up of 12 best bike racks is great. 

Is there anything that caught your eye in Kristina's home?

You can see more angles from this lovely space on Kristina's instagram feed here. 

I hope you have a wonderful start to the week!

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My Scandinavian Home Survey / Signed Lagom Book Winners!

Thank you so much to everyone who responded to my first ever blog survey. I received over 1300 responses - amazing! I'm currently reading through every single response and jotting down your feedback - both positive and 'constructive' - all of which is incredibly helpful and will hopefully help to make My Scandinavian Home an even better oasis for us all to visit each day. Please feel free to keep your thoughts and feedback coming through the blog comment section and personal mails. I'm all ears!

What looking through survey responses may have looked like in the days before computer (reminds me of university- does that make me ancient?!)

Oh hang on. Didn't I promise to give-away three signed copies of my lagom book too?! with PLEASURE! Drum roll please....

And the winners are.... *opens envelope*!

Becca Tait Smith
Emma Thun
Sara García

Please drop me a note via e-mail and I'll put your copies in the post! I hope you enjoy it!

Wishing you all a wonderful weekend!

PS I'm sorry this announcement is two days late (red face). To honour the entry requirements I've only included people in the prize draw who responded by midnight 4th April. But thanks to all who have continued to respond, so happy for all input!

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Before + After: A Dingy Garage Becomes a Bright Guest House

Interior designer Kimberlee Gorsline had a dream to transform her 300 foot square (27 metre square) two-car garage behind their house into a cheery Airbnb guest house for the "adventure seeker, the savvy traveler and those who appreciate little design details". In the fourth installment of the mini make-over series in association with Builders Bay (a little black book for all things needed to renovate your home) we take a virtual look at the incredible transformation from dingy garage, to a beautiful, independent living space that helps Kimberlee and her family offset the rising cost of living in Seattle. 

The garage was technically an empty one-room shell - talk about working from scratch! Kimberlee thought hard about who was most likely to stay there and settled on "the millennial crowd looking for a boutique hotel-like experience without the boutique price tag."

The goal: "To make a warm and inviting space that our guests would look forward to coming back to after a full day of exploring the city or gorgeous mountains and trails that define the Pacific Northwest." 

© John Granen

The exterior cladding was painted in fresh white with black details and the sliding garage door was replaced with double glass doors that slip in light. From the outside, it's hard to imagine that this clean, Scandi-style cabin was ever a garage at all!

© John Granen

The interior has been completely transformed into a bright, predominantly white living space with touches of blue, green, pale grey, light wood, and brass details. The studio has been divided up into zones and features a queen sized bed, a charming kitchenette and dining area and a small, spa-like bathroom.

"From a design standpoint, I wanted it to feel light and airy, yet have some really big statements throughout. To achieve this I maximized the floor plan and made the most of every square inch, and selected really unique and fun finishes that really create that wow factor."

© John Granen

A Flanged Edge Upholstered bed and bright cushions from West Elm add a cosy touch to the narrow yet practical bedroom area.

© John Granen

© John Granen

I'm a big fan of shiplap walls, they really add something to the bedroom area of this studio. Not only does a shiplap wall have a clean and classic look, it's also great for adding architectural interest and bringing a space to life without adding clutter. For anyone that's tempted - there's a great DIY tutorial here!

The little wall mounted bed side tables from Etsy were custom made to fit the narrow space between the bed and wall. They even come with a drawer!

© John Granen

Mirror vignettes are a great design trick for small studios: they look pretty (these ones are available here), bounce light around and create the illusion of space. Think about placing mirrors somewhere they will reflect the items you like to look at - like a fiddle-leaf fig!

© John Granen

The fabulous kitchenette was fitted with cabinets painted in Dard Hunter Green by Sherwin Williams and VZAG White Gold tiles from Tile Bar. In a larger kitchen this could start to feel over the top, but the beauty of a tiny kitchen is you can totally get away with a bold style statement - and since it's a small area you'll keep the cost down too.

"I wanted to make a few bold choices, like the hunter green kitchen cabinets or patterned tile, because while a lot of people might be too timid to make those choice for their own home, who doesn't love trying it on for a few days? At the end of the day I am so happy with how it all turned out!"

© John Granen

© John Granen

The mid-century dining space is also gorgeous! The laquer table and Lena chairs are both West Elm and make a perfect setting for tea for two after a day on the trails (OK, who am I kidding... an ice-cool G+T!). 

© John Granen

The Sherwin Williams Naval sink cabinet combined with the Tulum gray and white cement tile from The Cement Tile Shop create a great style statement in the bathroom. I also love the combination of the IKEA Stockholm mirror and metal globe sconce  from Shades of light.  You can source a similar custom-made shower curtain here.

© John Granen

Wow! Isn't this such an incredible transformation? Am I the only one wishing I had a garden shed or dis-used garage in need of some TLC? Or perhaps you have just the spot? Needless to say Kimberlee was thrilled with the results: 

"Seeing it transform from such a utilitarian, dingy garage to a bright and cheery little retreat was so much fun and so rewarding!"

If you're loving the look of this studio and would like to stay, you can check out the listing here.

Thank you so much to Kimberlee for inviting us into her guest house - and also to Apartment Therapy where I first spotted this studio. 

Or if you're already on Builders Bay looking for items for your renovation (who needs a garage anyway?!) you might also feel inspired by a garden shed on a shoestring budget,  a dreamy little place in the garden to call home and although not a tour, Carrie the caravan!

Have a wonderful weekend!

PS Thank you so much for your amazing survey feedback - both positive and 'constructive' - so grateful! I'll be stopping by tomorrow to share the results and announce the winners of the three signed copies of my lagom book.

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A Modern House on Sweden's West Coast

Complete chaos here this morning after coming home on a really late flight from Edinburgh last night. My poor girls were so tired getting off to school (bad parent award) and man flu has hit the house *horror of horrors*! Fortunately, once they were all sorted, I headed off to a wonderful workshop at Summer Will Be Back (great name, beautiful illustrations!) in Copenhagen (more on Insta stories!). And then I hit upon the Swedish home of Karin Boo Wiklander in Gothenburg, Sweden and may day really perked up! Karin is a photographer, stylist and the PR & Inhouse Manager at Boråstapeter, Engblad & Co and Cole & Son. If you love modern architecture, clean aesthetics, concrete floors and muted colours - this house is for you! 

 Carl Hansen Wishbone chairs, Kvist lamp, Paleo vase, Chevron Aluminium Mat

Star 6 lamp

Sectional Glass Cabinet

Söderhamn Sofa Bed Section with Bemz, Tavolo coffee table

Skagerak mirror

Göte ceiling lamp

What a fabulous house? I love the concrete floor (such a big fan!).

Is there anything that caught your eye?

If you fancy seeing a few more angles, there are lots of lovely images of Karin's home over on her blog and instagram!

Right. I'd better get home and tend to my family! I am armed with newly sown seeds from my workshop - do these count as flowers?!

Have a lovely day / evening! 

PS the winner of a TRIWA watch from the spring collection has now been announced here!

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Igor's Happy, Plant-filled Space

Tjena! It's been great to get to know other bloggers over the years. I can go a little stir crazy at home day in day out by myself sometimes and these guys have become an amazing support network. We often get together in person or online to share ideas (and have a laugh). A few months back I met Igor Josifovic (such a great guy!) - creator of the hugely popular Happy Interior Blog and co-author of the best selling book Urban Jungle. Igor recently moved apartments in Munich and has set about turning his new place into one happy home too. I caught up with him earlier this week to find out more about his home and love of all things green (and blue!).




How would you describe your style?
I would say it is a very personal style above all full with details and hints about my character, my interests, my passions. I like to describe it as an eclectic bohemian mix of vintage and contemporary items with a nod to timeless Scandinavian design.




Would you say you are quite thrifty?
I think so as I really enjoy thrifting and finding items for the home with a previous life. But I love to combine - I like to match vintage finds with new items for a more contemporary look.








Where did your love of plants come from?
I think it is something that reaches back to my childhood when my mum had lots of plants in our home. In general I love the nature and anything natural so plants are an obvious obsession. And I enjoy the fact that you can bring in a bit of nature into your home with houseplants. A home without plants feels utterly void to me.



Do you have a favourite plant?
Oh this is like asking a parent if they have a favorite child haha. They are all special and unique in their way and I love them all. I tend to have some inclinations to certain plants or plant families from time to time though. Currently I enjoy my Staghorn fern with its lush and crazy foliage as well as my tropical Philodendron Red Emerald.






Do you have any tips for anyone looking to start their own urban jungle (or simply introducing more plants to their home?
Tip number one is our book Urban Jungle - Living and Styling with Plants. Together with my Urban Jungle Bloggers friend and co-founder Judith I wrote this book for anyone looking to introduce more plants into their homes and lives. I also encourage people to go step by step and refrain from trendy impulse shopping. Give it some thought and inform yourself about the plant in order to keep it happy and thriving and avoid any disappointments. After all a plant is a living thing too and it is great if we manage to keep them alive, right?!






I love the deep blue hues in your home, do you have a go-to paint colour?
I tend to look at the hues offered by Farrow & Ball as well as Kolorat, a young and up-and-coming German paint label. I have opted for two blue hues from Kolorat in my new apartment and I love them - the paint codes are K/74-46-10-59/T in the bedroom (dark blue) and in the kitchen and hallway (medium blue).




All photography: Igor Josifovic / Happy Interior Blog


GET THE LOOK


1. Antique Persian Area Rug
2. Wooden Monkey
3. KALLAX Shelf Unit
4. Velvet Cushion Cover
5. Cotton Velvet Cushion Cover
6. Bommel Korb
7. String Pocket
8. 3-Sitzer Tom Sofa
9. Cotton Tablecloth
10. Rattan Basket Square
11. Kissenhülle T-Bamboo
12. Tabouret pliable
13. Korb • RAUTEN
14. State of Independence
15. Tropical Green Rug
16. Bølling Tray Table

Thanks so much for showing us around your home Igor!

You can follow his latest renovations and projects over on his blog and instagram - and find more urban jungle inspiration in his wonderful best selling book here.

Have a lovely day!

PS I'd love it if you have the time to pop into my blog survey - it only take a few minutes to complete and it would be really helpful to find out your thoughts on My Scandinavian Home and ways I can improve it. As a thank you I'm giving away three signed copies of my Lagom book too!

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