Beautiful Dutch bedroom make-over

Hi, I hope you had a great weekend? Oh how I love a room make-over - especially when it's of the white floor variety! Over the weekend i came across this bedroom re-vamp is the work of Holly Marder, interior stylist, designer and the blogger extraordinaire behind Avenue Lifestyle. I love the entire look - from the light and bright airy feel, the grey bedding, the scissor reading lamp and open wardrobes. What a tremendous make-over?! Duvet day number two here perhaps?!!

Holly Marder, Avenue Lifestyle Blog

If you have a moment you must check out the before and after pictures here - just goes to show what you can do with a lick of paint and an incredible sense of style!

For more of Holly's styling check out this colourful Dutch home, this bright Dutch home and a lovely summer cottage. *Sigh* so fab!

PS loved the comments and discussions on whether you use a double or single duvet - give your two-pennies worth here...

Before I head off (literally - we're embarking on a 1700 km road trip with the girls this afternoon, eeek - wish us luck!!) I am delighted to introduce a new sponsor, Cosette.  Cosette or 'little thing' in French creates  and sells jewellery inspired by minimalism, simplicity and fun geometric shapes. Each piece is handmade and crafted with love by Canadian born Fai who now lives in Japan. I love this ring and these arrow stud earrings ...how about you?!

Have a great start to the week and see you Wednesday!

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A chalet in the Swiss Alps

Hello Friday - woohoo! A dream weekend for me is all about planning great escapes to rural outposts. So this Friday it had to be some kind of cabin tour to celebrate the end of the week. And I've got just the thing. Montagne Altarnative  are farm buildings which have been converted into contemporary living areas in the heart of a medieval village in the Swiss Alps. The renovations have been painstakingly carried out with passion, dedication and openness to integrate harmoniously with the rugged mountains and beautiful nature beyond. Weekend in the Swiss Alps anyone?!

Montagne Alternative as featured in Marie Claire Maison. Via Blissful Blog with thanks

Ooooo, how I could Whisk myself away there....how about you?!

Although I love to ski in the Alps in the winter I've never visited in the summer, have you? It's definitely a dream of mine.

This space reminds me a lot of this dreamy Norwegian cabin by the sea (same look, different nature!). Even if, like me you live far from the mountains, this mountain-themed children's bedroom is proof the mountain can come to the city too!

On Monday we're heading to France for our summer holiday. I'm so excited as I absolutely love France, and we'll be attending my sister's wedding while we're there! Since it will be a bit hectic, I've decided to share posts every other day (rather than every weekday) over the next fortnight starting on Monday, I hope this is OK?

Have a wonderful weekend and see you Monday!

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Suvi's inspirational Finnish sitting room

Morning! Oooo, I feel much better after my duvet day yesterday :) I also loved all the comments and discussions over the single or double duvets. I thought it was only in Scandinavia couples used two single duvets on a double duvet but it seems this is more widespread than I first thought! So interesting! Today I'm turning to North East Scandinavia and am excited to share some shots of the very cool sitting room from the Finnish home of Suvi of Valkoinen Harmaja blog. Everything is so nicely put together but what stands out to me most are the cushions (and how they match the artwork) and the fabulous IKEA tea trolley which Suvi has updated. How about you?

Valkoinen Harmaja with kind permission

I spy so many great pieces: a tea trolley which Suvi has created using an IKEA find (see post here) (similar one by Artek here). Cushions: Svenskt tenn 'elefant print' cushion, Missoni and Flow from By Lassen.  A Tom Dixon Beat Light Fat, Eames Armchair RAR (15% discount with code MYSCAN) and Stokke Tripp Trapp children's chair to name but a few. Am I missing any key items?!

What a great space? Suvi's blog is well worth a look through, not least to see her very cool cat which wonders in and out of shots!

Have a lovely day!

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Duvet day, the perfect bedroom

When I lived in London the agency I worked for allowed us five duvet days a year. This meant we could just be 'off' without any real reason other than that we wanted to crawl back under our duvet for the day and stay there. Years later I still think about that duvet day and the beauty behind the idea. And if I were to take one, it would be here, in this beautiful bedroom. Oh the power of pictures against an all white backdrop. Could you spend a 'duvet day' here?!

Emma Persson Lagerberg. Photography Petra Bindel. 

For more wonderful 'duvet day' inspiration, you might want to check out the bedrooms here, here and here! Oh and here's my bedroom back at home (captured by my great friend Karin who has just had a little baby boy...congratulations! :)

My two favourite beddings: The Fold jersey sheets, duvet covers and pillows from The Beach House Company (trust me, it's like sleeping in your favourite t-shirt) and this linen bedding.

For the cutest children's bedrooms inspiration how about this Finnish bedroom, a girls room in earthy greens and dusty pinks and one of my all time favourites: a vintage inspired little girls bedroom.

Lie-in, relax and have a lovely (duvet?) day!

PS did you know that in Scandinavia it's customary to have two single duvets on a double bed?! 

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Si's serene San Francisco home

Everyone has blogs they go back to time and time again and one of my favourite is French By Design. French born Si has such wonderful taste and always shows inspires me her posts. It's no wonder her own home in San Francisco is absolutely beautiful. I love the neautral tones in monochrome, cognac and wood, it creates such a calm home, don't you agree?

French by Design with kind permission

The home is teeming with fabulous designer pieces. Si has a great post listing where you can find all the items here. I love the rugs....a trip to Morrocco is long overdue now! Perhaps this Autumn?

Thank you so much to Si for allowing me to share the lovely pics of your home!

I could live here, could you?!

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A breathtaking home in Gothenburg

I hope you had a lovely weekend? We're now up at the summer cottage on the West coast of Sweden, it's so relaxing to be here! To kick off the week I thought I'd share this recently sold apartment in Gothenburg (doesn't it seem like Gothenburg is the centre of beautiful spaces?!). I'm taking inspiration from the dining room and sitting room areas - simple yet cool, calm and cosy. What do you think?

Bjurfors via Planete Deco

I could pad around here on a Monday how about you?!

I spy the Alvine ruta rug from IKEA in the dining room, Pirum Parem print and  Zebra cot in the nursery area of the master bedroom. Anything stand out to you?

Bjurfors seem to be the queen of beautiful homes right now! In case you missed them here are a few others I've spotted recently: a small space solution in Malmö, my friend Sofia's lovely home, and a serene home in neutrals.

Have a great start to the week!

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The idyllic Swedish island holiday home

Hello Friday! Yay! Today I'm so excited to share a beautiful home with you that I hope will draw you in to the spirit of the Swedish holidays (if you're not there already!). It's an oh so stunning summer cottage on the island of Gotland belonging to photographer and stylist Amelia Widell of A Beautiful Living blog . It perfectly reflects the essence of the pared-back, relaxed Scandinavian holiday home but with a touch of mediterrenean spirit. I absolutely love the stone walls and simple, pretty way Amelia has decorated it. Summer holiday on Gotland anyone?

Photograohy / styling: Amelia Widell A Beautiful Living with kind permission - Featured in Residence magazine. 

*sigh* so beautiful. I particularly love the last picture of Amelia and her lovely little girl, so sweet!

Gotland is fast becoming one of Europe's hip place to visit. I'm not surprised as it's beautiful and there is just so much to see and do. For more inspirational home-tours from this little island on Sweden's east coast check out this, this and this home. Oh and you can rent this place through Air BnB - ja!!!!

My family and I are also busy packing for a trip to my mother-in-laws cottage on Skåne's west coast for a few days - I can't wait!! But it's all go, go, go so I'd better hurry!

Do you have any great plans for the weekend?

Have a lovely, relaxing couple of days and see you Monday!

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