my scandinavian home

Anita's Cosy Little Cottage in the Cotswolds (before and after)

I hope you can humour me by visiting the Cotswolds one more time (after the house in Friday’s post) — after all, it’s such a beautiful part of England! This time, I’m taking you on a tour of Anita Russell’s very cosy little cottage. Anita has been busy renovating the house one room at a time, transforming it into a charming place to snuggle up in during autumn and winter — surrounded by beautiful warm tones, vintage furniture, country accessories, pretty wallpaper, and a roaring fire.

I couldn’t resist sharing some before pictures so you can see the incredible work that has gone into turning this house into a cosy family home - which is as snug as can be in Autumn time.

So, get ready to wrap up, pour yourself a warm drink, and get in the mood for a cosy English cottage!

Kitchen before

Kitchen after

Dining area before

Dining area after

Sitting room before

Sitting room after

Master bedroom before

Master bedroom after

Children's room before

Children's room after

Cosy bathroom

I absolutely love what Anita has created. How about you? Much of the magic comes down to her use of paint, veering away from bright white to create a calmer, cosier feel. The textiles add layers of warmth, and the abundance of wood brings a touch of the countryside indoors, adding both texture and character. By incorporating one-off vintage finds, each with its own story, she’s given the space plenty of soul, while the wainscoting and window dressings soften the lines and add a beautifully traditional touch. Just my two pennies' worth!

Is there anything you spotted that I missed? I’d love to hear your thoughts below!

See more pictures (and find out about the details) over at Anita's lovely instagram @by_anitarussell.

Shall we take a look at a few more cosy cottages this grey autumn day? How about:

A charming little Swedish cottage in the heart of Stockholm
A cosy Swedish cottage with stunning sea views
Helen's cosy Swedish cottage kitchen

Have a cosy start to the week!

Niki

Credits: @by_anitarussell, shared with kind permission.

Exploring a Soulful 18th-Century Cotswolds Home

Veering off course today – hey, it’s Friday! Sharing a home tour outside of Scandinavia is my new rock ’n’ roll, and honestly, it’s about as wild as I get these days (at least that's what I tell my teenagers ;). But this isn’t just any home – oh no. This is the archetypal English dream house.

Set in the rolling hills of Gloucestershire, overlooking the breathtaking Five Valleys region, this beauty lies within the Cotswolds National Park. Built in 1720, it has a magnificent limestone façade – the kind you might expect to see in a Hollywood Christmas film, complete with a dusting of snow and twinkling lights.

One of the first things I noticed – and I don’t know if this is just a British thing or not – is that the main front door of these grand old homes is often purely for show. There’s nearly always a side or back door that sees all the real action. I say this because, firstly, in this house the front door opens straight into the sitting room (with nowhere to hang your coat or kick off your boots!), and secondly, at both my grandparents’ and my parents’ homes we never used the front door. In fact, I’m not even sure we could open my grandma’s front door without a bit of a battle – it was wedged in so tightly!

Anyway, once inside, there are all kinds of delights waiting. Oh, to have those wonderfully higgledy-piggledy floors and walls, with one step up here and another down there! It’s the perfect foundation for a home brimming with soul, brought to life through playful modern touches and little bursts of surprise – think jewel-yellow pendants, a red chair, an orange desk lamp – all of which create a charming juxtaposition against the property's timeless heritage.

So, come on – follow me through the back door, and let’s take a tour!

So lovely!

I absolutely love this home (you know I am a real sucker for old houses), but I also love the dots of colour, which are not overly done, but just enough to add personality, a contemporary twist and interest to each room.

I'd love to hear about your impressions below.

Is it Ok if we complete the week with a tour of a few more beautiful English homes? Why not pour another coffee and check out:

A 17th century english farmhouse

Global soul, english heart in a London townhouse

A cosy cliffside hideaway in Devon

Step inside the cosy world of a collector

A beautiful home in Nottinghamshire

Thank you so much for stopping by this little corner of the web—and for all your comments and emails—always great to read! Have a great weekend!

Niki

Photography courtesy of Inigo, shared with thanks.

Step Inside a Beautiful 1889 Gothenburg Home

It has been a busy one. I managed to visit not one but two cities in two different countries today. I hopped on the train from Malmö, Sweden, to Copenhagen, Denmark, for a meeting, then headed back. I am always amazed by how easy that trip is. You blink and suddenly everyone is speaking Danish!

Both Malmö and Copenhagen are beautiful cities with unique personalities and plenty of Scandinavian design inspiration. But today, on the blog, I am taking you to a third city: Gothenburg. And not just anywhere, but inside this dreamy apartment.

This home stole my heart the moment I saw it. It’s bright, full of character, and has that perfect mix of old charm and thoughtful updates. Built back in 1889, it still has all those gorgeous old details, high ceilings, ornate stucco, tall windows, and even a ceiling rose (always a winner in my book). Together they create a lovely, light-filled atmosphere that’s full of personality.

The hand-painted kitchen, from Swedish brand Kvänum, is another standout. I also love the colours the owners chose for the bedrooms – deep, soothing tones that make the rooms feel calm and cocoon-like. The master is painted a soft blue, and the children’s room is a rich plum that looks amazing with the ochre wall lamp. (And while you’re looking through the photos, don’t miss the wall sculpture and the gallery wall — such a nice touch in the living room).

Ready to take a look around? Välkommen, as they say in Sweden.

Note the double 'hotel' curtains—they are so perfect for city homes. We are adding them to a home in Malmö right now as part of our latest interior design project. The sheer layer helps to maintain privacy during the day while still allowing light to filter through, and the outer curtain is a great blackout for the best night's sleep!