Old Meets New In a Charming Swedish Country Home

August in Sweden is all about the kräftskiva (crayfish party) - a tradition involving paper hats, tablecloths and lanterns featuring a 'man in the moon'. The parties involve noisy eating (sucking the juice out of the crayfish), snapsvisa (drinking songs) and as Wikipedia puts it "alcohol consumption is often high, especially when compared to the amount of food actually consumed." You're probably wondering where I'm going with this?! Well, one of the key ingredients of a kräftskiva is Västerbotten cheese. And this is where today's charming home is located (the link is tenuous I know, but it was a perfect opportunity to tell you about these crazy parties!!). The North East part of Sweden is also known for it's extensive pine forests and Frida Lundgren's charming house was built in 1937 to accommodate a family working in the forest industry. Today the house is enjoyed by Frida, a pre-school teacher, husband Anders, sons Axel (9) and Viktor (8), cats Dora and Sotis and dog Basse. Let's take a peek inside!

Who says all Swedish homes need to be minimalist? This interior is a perfect blend of old and new, where vintage and contemporary pieces jostle for position.

This rattan chair is similar, pick up a vintage school poster here*. The wallpaper is by Sandberg. 

This rich brown colour is one of the big accent surprises of the year (I just did a search for brown cushions and this one came up - not quite the look I was after! Do you know where the one featured is from? If so give me a shout in the comment section and I can update the post!). I'm actually wearing the same shade today- I love it when a home and outfit comes together!

How great is this DIY update? It looks fairly easy to replicate with a stencil and white paint too!

Benches make great coffee tables (as regular readers will know, I've got one in my sitting room and I love it - it's constantly being moved around the house depending on my needs!).

Ranarp floor lamps, Bergs potter flowerpot

 Why hello there fella! Did you spot him two pictures back? I didn't!

This little boys room is so cute. I love all the antique furniture, pattern, prints and cushions!

What a perfect spot for a kräftskiva (indoors or out!)!

See more of Frida's beautiful home here. 

Is there anything that stood out to you?

If you'd like to see a few more Scandinavian country houses today, it's totally worth checking out this idyllic Swedish country home,  a dreamy Danish house by the sea and a cosy Norwegian home. Guh! All so lovely!

Ha det så bra!

Niki

Photography: Frida Lundgren shared with kind permission.

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10 Interior Styling Tricks To Learn from A Swedish Home

When I first moved to Sweden one of my friends had an apartment exactly like this - I think there was actually a sound when my jaw hit the floor! I learned over time that you can find stunning turn of the19th century flats like this - characterised by their high ceilings, large windows, period features, sweeping double doors and kakelugn (masonry heaters) - in most of Sweden's big cities (how's that for an incentive to move to this Nordic country?! Please come and join our gang!). Of course they all have their individual look and feel - but there are also some common styling tricks which give Swedish homes that enviable calm and balanced aesthetic. Here are ten I spotted here.

 1. Use the full height of a room to create balance: this space has a very high ceiling, yet by installing a Pholc pendant* (thanks for the tip Anthony!) and gallery wall, the eye is drawn upwards. It helps that the room features a beautiful original stone mason oven too, of course!

2. Choose an accent colour and place it throughout the home to create a flow: in this case the owners (stylist?) have used a deep blue, and although subtle, it appears in every corner of the apartment in some shape or form. So pretty!

 3. Use texture to add depth: luscious layers of linen add immediate interest to a monotone space - the more creased the better - got to love that, right?! This bedding* is similar. 

 4. Add warm, natural textures: the odd jute rug*, furniture featuring cane (remember that one in the last pic of yesterday's home tour? I'm still drooling!) and wooden accessories will do wonders to add a little warmth.

 5. Add a warm glow: we all know candles are an essential element of a Swedish home - but how about storing them in a pretty way too? There's a great stash of wooden crates available here*.

 6. Create a focal point: every room needs a star - it's the first place the eyes will fall when you walk in the room - and the perfect axis from which to build the rest of the space. The tapestry in the bedroom is the star here - and what a pretty one too!

 7. Keep it clean: empty space in a room is just as important as used space as it helps a room to breath. Take stock of your shelves and rid them of any superfluous items, you'll be able to see the items you do love more easily.

 8. Add plenty of plants: got to love a little greenery! Dot plant babies all round your home to bring the space to life (and clean the air!). The homes of Hilton, Igor and the Arctic Gardener are perfect for urban jungle inspiration!

9. Embrace your books: my most popular Instagram post of all time was a packed book shelf in Katarina Mattson's home (it reached 205,295 people!). This one's a little neater but there's no colour coding, or inward spines in sight, just the way we like it!

10. Keep it calm: the Swedish bedroom is clean, simple and decorated in earthy, muted tones for a perfect night sleep!

I'm sure there are so many other things to feel inspired by from this home - feel free to add to the list in the comment section below! I'd love to hear your thoughts!

So campers, that's it from me today. It's full steam ahead at home with a photo shoot, Mum and dad arriving from London later and a big birthday to plan for one of the little ladies of the household! Go, go, go!

Vi ses imorgon!

Niki

PS This beautiful apartment is for sale through Alvhem (I know, right?! Amazing! That move to Sweden could be sooner than you think!). Photography by Fredrik Karlsson and styling by Studio Cuvier.

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