From Dated to Dreamy: Jennie-Ann's Swedish Farmhouse Renovation

One of the things I’ve always marvelled at is just how great my Swedish friends are at DIY. There’s no task too daunting for them (although, thankfully, they’ll call in an expert for electrics!). It certainly helps that absolutely everyone learns how to sew, work with wood, and generally run a home (even budgeting!) at school. But anything that hasn’t been covered "can be conquered with the help of YouTube" (or so they tell me!).

Jennie-Ann is a prime example of this. She and her partner have lovingly transformed an old Swedish farmhouse in Larv, taking it from a dated and rundown building to a beautiful home that stays true to its original character. Jennie-Ann is also the founder of Lin & Lera, which includes an onsite boutique offering everything you might need to renovate your home sustainably, a salvage yard, and workshops to help with every aspect of updating and caring for your home and garden.

If the beautiful natural materials, colours, and details in Jennie-Ann’s home are anything to go by, I think the farm could be well worth a visit if we're ever passing by! In the meantime, let’s appreciate her beautiful and unique house. 

First, let me just give you a glimpse of how the kitchen looked before they started. It’s a great marker to see just how much they’ve accomplished since moving in.

Are you ready to see the results? Varsågod:

Note that the lower kitchen cabinets were salvaged from the original kitchen. Jennie-Ann sells an array of earthy-toned linseed oil paint colours in her boutique - many of which feature throughout her home. She is also a pro at making her only paint colours from clay! 

Look extra carefully at the details and you'll spot traditional Swedish pendant lamps, tables and rugs.  

Mid-blue and ochre make for a beautiful combination and create a calm feel in the bedroom. 

The bathroom is potentially my favourite room of all - it's filled with nostalgia while also providing all the modern amenities you need to feel comfortable. 

Needless to say, locals flock to Lin & Lera to discover what's in store - and for exciting events. I hope I can be a part of the crowd one day! 

Keep an eye on Lin & Lera for one of Jennie-Ann's upcoming workshops (sometimes held in the barn seen below) which include themes such as 'how to make your own colour from clay', 'how to cultivate your own forest garden' and 'basic courses in window renovation' as well as many more! 

Truly inspiring! 

Does this give you the boost you need to get a paint brush out or dabble in a little DIY this weekend? 

Feel inspired by Jenni-Ann's latest renovation projects over at @lin.o.lera and find out more about her boutique and workshops here. 

Would you like to see more homes that have been lovingly restored with sustainability in mind? Check out Emma Sundh's country home (one of the most popular tours of 2024) and also Anna Swain's charming cottage on Lamb Island, Australia. 

Wishing you all a great Wednesday! 

Niki

Photography: @lin.o.lera, pictures 12 & 13 Daniel Strandroth 

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Happy New Year! / Step inside a Cosy Malmö Apartment: Where Old Meets New

Well, hello there, friends! Happy New Year! I’ve got a good feeling about 2025—how about you? Here on the blog, I’m excited to bring you all my latest discoveries from the world of Scandinavian interiors!

Today in Malmö, it’s pretty bleak—snow, rain, and a howling gale. Needless to say, everyone is hunkering down at home, wrapped in blankets with candles glowing! Meanwhile, across town, interior designer Natalie Cécile Coquand is likely enjoying a cosy bank holiday with her family in their lovely apartment.

Natalie’s work is all about creating spaces that tell a story, and this is beautifully reflected in their Malmö city apartment, which she and her husband have been thoughtfully renovating. After recently moving from the Skåne countryside to embrace city life, traces of their rural roots still shine through in their new home, where old and new come together in perfect harmony.

Ready for the first tour of the year?

Natalie was particularly drawn to the kitchen with all it's natural light and character. Notice how a dark red larder to the left helps to break-up the grey/ green and creates a wonderful contrast. 

Colours: kitchen cabinet - Kulladal nr 100, walls - Farrow & Ball all white and drop cloth, larder - deep reddish brown. 

A ground-floor flat, the kitchen door leads straight out to the courtyard for a cup of coffee in the sunshine (although today, this door is likely firmly shut!). 

A separate dining room with a window nook can be used for more formal dinners, and game nights! Note the two toned paint work with darker door frames and skirting boards - a great way to show-off the turn-of-the-century details. 

Colours: walls and trim - school house white and drop cloth

In the sitting room, IKEA shelving helps set the scene for a lovely library. 

I love how Natalie has made a feature of the wardrobe doors in her bedroom - painting them in a different tone and adding pretty curtains. 

Colour: wardrobe doors - light blue

Traditional fabric helps to cover up storage in the hallway and adds a cosy feel. 

So lovely!

I hope you enjoyed this peek behind the scenes in sleepy Malmö today.

Is there anything that has given you inspiration for a new year project at home? Or perhaps a detail that stood out in particular? 

You can see lots more of Natalie's charming home over at @nataliecoquand. 

Up for a few more Malmö home tours? Click through to these:

An artist's home in a former workshop

A Malmö home full of design classics and art

The wood and white home of a Malmö creative

You might also like to see my travel guide featuring 20 things to do in Malmö in wintertime. I hope you pay a visit some day, I'm very proud of this vibrant city! 

Thank you so much for all your lovely comments on my final post of 2024 (before Christmas) - I've loved reading them and looking forward to responding this evening. 

Here's to a great year ahead! 

Niki

Photography courtesy of @nataliecoquand, shared with kind permission. 

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