A Swedish west coast retreat, family home and studio

Hello Monday! A storm is brewing here in Southern Sweden, and although I don't want to be out in it, I'm looking forward to the prospect of batoning down the hatches, getting out the blankets and lighting a few candles. This definitely calls for a cosy home exposed to the perils of nature. This Swedish retreat by the sea in Frilesas, Halland (not far from here) was originally designed and built by owner Fred, a carpenter. He was looking for a weekend bolthole and decided to keep it small, open-plan, simple and modern. But when he met his partner Lina, a designer, they decided to extend it to create a family home and a studio from which Lina could work. Now Lina and Fred  live here with their 6 month old son Stig and it's undeniably cosy, warm and welcoming. A perfect haven from a storm raging outside!

Lantliv by  Maria Delice  Karlsson with kind permission.

Could you ride out a storm in here?! 

Read more about it here (in Swedish). Or check out other cosy Swedish retreat's here (romantic log cabin anyone?!) and here.

In the last image I spy a sheepskin rug - which leads me to my latest news - I'm very excited to welcome my new sponsor BLACK SHEEP (WHITE LIGHT) purveyor of eco-friendly icelandic sheepskins and other select natural design products. I have my eye on this one in particular! They also ship worldwide - perfect! Thank you for supporting the sponsors that make this blog possible.

PS Oh and the other piece of exciting news is that my home is featured in the November edition of IKEA Family Live! I'm a big fan of IKEA as you know, so it's an honour to be included!

I hope you had a lovely weekend!

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GIVE-AWAY: Win a Ferm Living Candleholder from Nest

I am so excited to announce today's give-away offering you the chance to win a Ferm Living Candleholder String from the fab online interior shop Nest.co.uk. 

The Danish designed Candleholder String comes in beech wood with a leather string and place for four candles. You decide how it all goes together. As the day's get darker with the clocks going back this weekend (here at least!) and Christmas approaching (did I just mention the c word?!) it's the perfect way to light up your home the Scandinavian way - using cosy candlelight. 

For your chance to win a Candleholder String from Nest.co.uk all you need to do is:

1. Visit Nest.co.uk and choose your favourite item. In the comment section below briefly state which one you've chosen and why. 

2. Sign up for the Nest.co.uk newsletter here (bottom left of page).

This give-away is open to everyone worldwide. Be sure to enter latest midnight GMT Sunday, 3rd November. The winner will be announced on Monday, 4th November through My Scandinavian Home blog, Twitter and Facebook, don't forget to leave a way to be contacted too!

Good luck!

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A beautifully renovated Helsingborg home

Hello! I thought we'd head to my husband's home town of Helsingborg, Sweden today and this beautiful home. The house was built in 1928 and was bought from an old lady who'd lived their for 60 years. Josefin and her husband Christian lovingly renovated the house from scratch just in time for the birth of their little baby boy Melker this Summer. And with fantastic results! I love the huge double doors, the touches of mid-century, and the way bold fabrics and textiles add to an otherwise all white room. Oh and spot the flamingo! 

AliceAugusta with kind permission

The house is now for sale as the family are moving to the beautiful island of Öland off Sweden's east coast (next door to Gotland as per yesterday's house tour) to be nearer to Josefin's family. They would love to take their wonderful house with them and I can't blame them but will definitely look for a new renovation project. I can't wait to see what they do next! How about you?

I also love this summer cottage, this rustic hotel and this converted brewery on Gotland (just to give you a flavour of the area!). 

Don't miss tomorrow's give-away, I think you're going to like it....

PS Thank you for the tip on today's home tour Mette x

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A Gotland retreat

If there's one place on my wish list it's the island of Gotland on the East coast of Sweden, it's supposed to be stunning. This summer cottage is situated on a little island called Furillen just off Gotland (even better!). According to Anna of blog La Maison D'Anna G, the space was formerly used as army storage and has been carefully renovated using raw materials as well relics from the original building. The blue accent and sheepskin rugs add a warm element to the cold industrial feel of the concrete and pared-back space. Very original and beautiful. 

Photography: Pia Ulin, Styling Cilla Ramnek for Residence magazine. Via La Maison D'Anna G with thanks

I like the way they have 'opened up' the Hay industrial light - it adds a cool twist, perhaps I should do the same with mine in my bedroom....I see they have the Muuto Wood Table Lamp, one of my favourites! I am also a big fan of sheepskin rugs over chairs - as you can see from my dining room (it actually makes them so comfy too!).

Anything about this home you love?

PS Don't miss my very exciting give-away this Friday just in time for the clocks to go forward  (open worldwide).......Ooooo what could it be?!

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The beautiful on trend sitting room

Morning! Reporing from a very grey London this morning. But if anything can brighten up my day this stunning sitting room created by Danish designer Mette Helena Rasmussen can. The space encompasses the current rose / gold trend perfectly by matching a vintage rose coloured accent wall with a polished brass Tom Dixon Etch Light - how very cool and pretty. Oh and they've added my favourite reading light too the Flos 265 wall light - could this be an option for my sitting room? I spy other bang up to date trends too such as the light grey marble table with pastel legs. What a treat for a grey Tuesday!

Photography: Tia Borgsmidt (with kind permission) for Boligliv via Ministry of Deco with thanks

What do you think? Are you channeling the gold / light grey marble and rose trend?

I've had a few questions about long-haired sheepskin rugs lately - this is a great source!

Oh and you might be interested to know that Mette owns an online shop called Retro Villa which sells the most beautiful items.....could be dangerous!

Have a lovely day!

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child friendly holiday homes in Copenhagen

How was your weekend? Oh how it rained here in Southern Sweden!  It got me thinking about holidays. If you have small children you'll know what a difference it makes to find accommodation that's not only beautiful but caters to your children's needs too. When Kid and Coe contacted me about their wonderful new website offering child friendly holiday homes I was on it. Cue hours of searching through beautiful homes under the disguise of 'vacation planning'! Here are a few pictures taken from the two Copenhagen spaces on the site.

Kid and Coe

Some of my other favourite home tours are this one in Bude, Cornwall and this one in Highgate, London. Thank you also to Gemma who wrote to me with the tip!

Thank you so much for all your comments on Friday both on the post of my sitting room and over at Facebook. You've definitely persuaded me not to paint the stairs white - which also saves me a lot of time and money too - PHEW!! Thanks for all your other tips too, so appreciated.

Happy Monday!

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my home captured by karin: sitting room

Iiiiiit's Friday, woohoo! I'm looking forward to heading home and taking some down time with my little family. Maybe a walk in the forest with my three year old who's going horse riding, or wrapping up warm to take my elder daughter to her ice skating lesson - BRRRR! (I'll be battling with my man over that one!). Since home is definitely where my heart is today I thought it'd be apt to share the next in my mini series of 'my home captured by Karin'. This time it's my open plan sitting room in the spotlight....I hope you like it!

Pictures 1,2,,5,5,6  by Karin Björklund, Picture 3 by me. 

There's so much to do still - for example we'd like to paint the stairs white or light grey - any thoughts? Also we're in need of more light (especially as the days get shorter), I can't see a thing at night! OK, over exaggeration but...tips welcome!

I think Karin's done a sterling job on the photography. Thank you wondrful, talented K! Note though how my styling left a blanket all messy - just goes to show you can't miss a single trick in styling (I once read about someone who did a shoot over an entire day and then realised there was a bright red toy car under the sofa in every shot!).

In case you're interested here are a few tips on where things are from: Sofa, Scandinavian mid-century table and drinks trolley were inherited, black chairs from a flea market, Diamond print, Wasp print, Chair print, Muuto socket suspension light, phone and coloured cushions, Did I miss anything?!

See also my bedroom, my dining area, and my kitchen if you like :) Do you have any photos to share of your home or one you've photographed / styled?

So, the weekend......so exciting! What are you up to?

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Very cool inspiration from OYOY

I'm a big fan of the Danish brand OYOY. Any company who has a vision 'to design functional products in high quality materials with beautiful colours and shapes' has my vote! And they're true to their word. I love the way they have styled these images with items from their Autumn/Winter 2013 collection. If you love accessorising your home with cushions, candle holders etc like I do (my husband has actually put a ban on me buying any more cushions - luckily he's not terribly observant!), you'll love this company.

OYOY via Riazzoli with thanks

If you're on the look out for some cool black and white prints like the ones you see here, Lotta Agaton's webshop is a great source. I also love art by Danish graphic designer Silke Bonde. 

Before I head off into the gloomy Southern Swedish weather this morning I'm extremely excited to introduce my new sponsor The Linen Works.  The Linen Works sells relaxed washed bed and table linen in soft muted tones, as well as kitchen linen and fabric by the metre for creating curtains, blinds etc and the good news is they ship worldwide. I absolutely love high quality linen which only gets softer and more beautiful the more you wash it but I'm having a hard time choosing between the Cassis Rose bed linen and Toulon Grey bed linen for my bedroom what do you reckon? Both?! Ha! A big warm welcome to The Linen Works! 

Have a lovely day - hope it's not pouring with rain where you are too?!

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Cosy sitting room the Norwegian way

There's a distinctive chill in the air here in Southern Sweden (how about where you are?) and I've noticed people are starting to get out their cosy knits BRRRRR! When I feel a nip in the air it always makes me romanticise about long walks in the snow followed by a steaming cup of hot chocolate (with a touch of rum) while thawing feet by the fire. This sitting room from the home of Norwegian blogger and photographer Elisabeth Heier is a firm favourite - just look at that wood burning stove and log storage! 

Elisabeth Heier with kind permission

I love the hall way too - I think that's a House Doctor rug - beautiful! 

I'm a big fan of Elisabeth's styling and photography (as you well know!) and have posted on her home before here and here. So beautiful!

If you're on the look out for wood burning stoves as I am check out these homes....

PS I loved the discussion on Facebook yesterday on 'all white homes' so many different opinions! 

Have a lovely, cosy day!

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