my scandinavian home

Lately, I've become more and more intrigued about the large islands that surround Stockholm such as Ekerön and Färingsö but even slightly smaller ones such as Dalarö, in the Stockholm archipelago. The reason? You can enjoy all the peace and tranquillity of island life, yet you're still a short hop away from the capital. My interest was piqued years ago when I featured the dreamy home of Swedish stylist Mari Stengheilm. Old (it dates back to the 1800s), impeccably styled (of course!)and with a view over the islands - it has just about everything a girl (or guy!) could wish for. The living space has changed a lot since then - moving with the times from a whiter, lighter touch to a muted, earthy palette - but the incredible bones remain the same! And guess what? It's for sale. Be still my beating heart! The catch? It's a little, OK, waaaay over my budget. But hey, a girl can dream - and I thought perhaps one of you might be interested...

Check out this floor! I love the addition of the hand painted flowers.

The traditional kitchen has been given a lick of earthy green paint. A series of flat dishes / rattan baskets have been displayed on the wall giving the space a relaxed, homely vibe.

Although muted, the sitting room is alive with textures such as leather, velvet, linen and wood. Mari has used mineral paint, which gives the walls a rich patina.

Mari's home is full of vintage treasures and small treasures gathered from around the world. It's worth mentioning that when a home in Sweden is styled for sale, the owners are generally asked to clear away personal items including photos etc, so that the viewer is more easily able to imagine themselves in the living space. This is why it looks a little sparse.

A clearing at the top of the stairs provides a perfect spot for a home office! The office chair is actually an IKEA piece (I thought I'd share this since nice looking, ergonomic office chairs are hard to find!).

The view!

Naturally, I've shared the pictures of this house with Per - even if it's 500 kilometres away and out of reach! You never know, right?

Well. Actually I do know. It's not going to happen, but it's certainly given my Monday a lift . I hope it has yours too!

Is there anything that stands out to you?

You might be interested in taking a peek at Mari's home back in 2015 here (also captured by Lina Ostling).

And dream away the morning with tours of other inspiring houses and cabins in the Stockholm archipelago:

A beautiful Swedish estate by the sea

An idyllic hideaway on the island of Dalarö

A striking island retreat overlooking the sea

A relaxed, boho cabin by the sea

Gah! Whisk me away there now!

Have a great start to the week!

Niki

Photography by Lina Ostling courtesy of Alexander White.

FILED UNDER: count swedish home

What a week! I feel like we've seen so many different styles - from a rustic Georgian townhouse in London to a magnificent Swedish pool villa and a cosy candlelit cabin deep in the heart of the snowy Norwegian fjords! And not to forget, my bike trip across town to capture Helen Struresson's sitting room, styled two different ways (don't miss the code for the 20% off at Bemz!). It was hard to find something to top such an inspiring week - but I might just have the ticket! Today friends, we're off to Denmark, and the home of interior designer Susanne Rutzou.

It was love at first sight when Susanne first discovered her 1930s apartment in Østerbro. The apartment felt like a woodland clearing in the heart of Copenhagen thanks to the light pouring through the French teak-framed doors and the large windows which overlook a park - so nature is never far away. Designed by architect Vilhelm Lauritzen, the villa was previously owned by Søren Garde, founder of Garde Hvalsøe - a Danish company making bespoke, handcrafted cabinetry - and the handcrafted elm wood kitchen, bathroom, and walk-in wardrobe remain today. Susanne has layered the home with family heirlooms, items picked up on travels, books and art - as well as some of her own designs - to give the house a warm and relaxed soul.

I was actually meant to visit this home last year as part of an organised tour by Garde Halvsøe but unfortunately couldn't make it - I'm still gutted! Fortunately, the lovely Freya August of Scandinavian Standard, who was also part of the tour, snapped these pictures and gave me kind permission to share them today. Ready to take a peek inside?