I was so happy to see so many enjoy yesterday's Danish cabin tour - it really was a beauty and certainly brightened up 'blue Monday'! Speaking of which, I learnt a new phrase yesterday: 'oxenveckorna', A Swedish term meaning 'the ox weeks' - used to describe the long, dark, 'sluggish and heavy' weeks between Twelfth night (epiphany) and Easter in Scandinavia! But it's not all bad, right? After all, homes can feel so cosy this time of year - and after enjoying a little 'friluftsliv' (outdoor life) it's perfectly acceptable to snuggle up on the sofa for hours completely guilt free! I think it's this sentiment which led me to today's home tour. Located just outside Frankfurt, the apartment belongs to Mexican born Alejandra (AKA Alex), her husband and their two children.
What struck me is how the family home is so full of soul. It's awash with warm earthy tones and lovely lights hang from the ceiling. But best of all, we get a glimpse into a children's bedroom with desks and floors strewn with colouring books and toys. Hurrah! Enjoy the tour friends, I hope it helps your load feel a little lighter today!
The 'Blade' ceiling light is from George's store. Alex isn't sure of the name of the colour on the wall since it was already in place when they moved in. However, if you'd like to do something similar, you could try something like Minty Breeze by Jotun (Allie has it in her room and I find it really calm - even if it's not quite the same shade).
I love how some German and Scandinavian apartments have these great big hallways! It's a dream of mine - probably because ours is tiny and has five doors coming off it and like Piccadilly Circus in the mornings! What does your hallway / landing look like?
When I first moved to Sweden, I was baffled by the two single duvets on a double bed. I've since learnt from you guys that this is quite normal across many countries in Europe - and I've grown to love this too!
On her instagram Alex is careful to blend in 'real' pics with more tidy pics. The below pic is inspirational in that I would love my daughters' desks to look as neat as this....
And the lic below gives me a great sense of relief to see that other children have desks as messy as mine (check out the full waste paper basket too - I recognise the creative process!).
Tell me, are your children's desks / your own desk more like exhibit A (top pic) or exhibit b (bottom pic)?
I also love the pics of the children's bedroom on a tidy day, followed by a more 'real' pic of how a children's bedroom tends to look after hours of wonderful, creative play!
On her instagram Alex expresses her internal struggle at letting go of the pressure of having to keep the house neat and tidy with young children: "when they play, I love it, they want to keep the magic for long, leave the toys or their arrangements for days. Whatever they (have) built or created, is OK I say, and I realise how much I have changed."
I recognise this from when I was young - and when my children were young. There's nothing more lovely than listening to a child lost in play!
Hop over to @alessmalpica to see more pictures of Alex's lovely, relaxed home!
Have a lovely, relaxed day friends!
Niki
Photography: @alessmalpica shared with kind permission.
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