The beautiful Stockholm home of a Swedish creative

I hope you're having a great start to the week? It's the Swedish holidays here and I'm writing this from my husband's family's summer cottage (love being here, it's so great to get a change of scenery). I bought several magazines on my way up - The Way We Play (TWWP) - beautiful - and Elle Decoration Sweden (a long term favourite). Online, Swedish interior magazines often host a clutch of fab bloggers, of which Elle Decoration has a great line-up. Their latest recruit is DIY extroadinaire Helena Nord. By way of introduction Helena invited readers into her home in Stockholm, which she shares with her partner and two children. Helena is an artist and designer and partner of En Form av Nord which holds creative workshops in DIY and photography among other things.  Helena's beautiful home is pared-back with soft grey-green tones and a wonderful mix of textures, creating a rich contrast. Let's take a tour....

Source: photography Helena Nord, Elle Decoration.

A few items I love in Helena's home: sitting room - stonewashed white linen bedding, jute rug, I love this and this plant pot. Bedroom- rustic stool, white linen curtain (lovely!). Studio - Beni Ourain rug. Children's room: Helena shows how she created the wall here.

Three DIY tips from Helena (in Swedish but often with a picture guide):

Using newspaper clips for framed art.
DIY art
And one for the kids - how to make an elephant out of loo rolls.

You can also keep up to date with Helena's latest projects on instagram here. 

And a couple of my favourite, incredibly simple DIY ideas from the MSH archives: a cloud doormat, go dotty at home and update a wall in an instant!

What a great way to kick off the week?

PS I am looking for a couple of homes (apartments, houses, cabins) to photograph next week in West Norway and West Finland. If you have any tips at all I'd be so grateful if you could send me a mail - thank you soooo much!

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A soothing grey Swedish apartment with a lovely balcony

My childhood home in Southwest London had huge floor to ceiling windows which looked out over woodland. I have to admit I used to peg it through tow woods on my way back from friends houses in the dark! But by day I absolutely loved the green outlook,  and it has totally shaped the environment I feel most happy in today. Even in the heart of the city, I have always tried to live somewhere I can look out and see a touch of greenery (loving this apartment block). (Did your childhood environment have the same impact? My husband grew up by the sea in Helsingborg and can't stand feeling land locked). I think that's what struck me the most about this lovely Swedish apartment - the sitting room opens out onto a balcony with beautiful views over parkland. And even though the outdoor space is small, it would perfectly serve as an antidote to the stresses and strains of daily life (and most importantly a spot for that all important Friday night drink!). The rest of the apartment has been decorate in soothing shades of grey, made cosy by contrasting textures. Lovely!

This apartment was found via Planete Deco with thanks. Can anyone provide the credits so I can update the post?

Fancy joining me for a drink on that balcony?!

Get the look: sitting room - zig-zag cushion (I also love this and this one!), brass table lamp by House Doctor, linen table cloth. Balcony - sheepskin throw, Askholmen table by IKEA (perfect little table for small balconies).

Weekend link love:

These copper plant stands are such a great DIY idea! Love the pink sofa too.

Art in the bathroom - do or don't?

The world's most beautiful tile floors.

Ice sticks to go with the aforementioned Friday night drink!

That's Saturday's lunch sorted - Mmmm!

Have you seen the latest Lodestars Anthology (an independent magazine-meets-journal for curious travellers who long to be inspired, see the world and meet interesting characters along the road)? It's all about Sweden, which is so exciting!

I'm still dreaming of my summer holiday after yesterday's post (oh and for those asking, I finally found a pic of Ernesto! How cute?!).

Speaking of which, if you could choose, would you go for this type of holiday, or this?!

Have a wonderful weekend and see you Monday!

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