The bright and happy home of a Dutch blogger

I love a unique home. One where you can immediately tell something about the owner when you walk in (or see the home tour in a post!).  That's why I love the home of Dutch blogger Marlous Snijder (also founder of Oh Marie! magazine),  shot by Holly Marder for her 'Homes with Heart' column on Decor8. This home certainly has heart, and bags of it. I love the pops of colour, the quirky touches, and the slightly bohemian feel. I could hang out here all day drinking tea. How about you?! 

Home Marlous Snijder. Photography: Holly Marder. Decor8. 

How cute is the 'This morning, with her, having coffee, Johnny Cash' art?! One to get custom made through Geek Chic Prints?!

I think what I love most about this home are the bright bursts of yellow, such a cheerful colour to add to a home don't you think? One day I'll be brave enough to add a pop of yellow to my own home and when I do I'll also be taking my inspiration from this and this home. 

A SMEG fridge always goes down well too...!

Is there anything you love in particular about this home? 

More wonderful Dutch homes here, here and here (in case you missed them!). 

Have a lovely day!

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A Malmö apartment with a mid-century touch

Well hello there Monday! I hope you had a great weekend?! It's half term here in Southern Sweden so I'm gearing up for a trip to London later this week - sooo excited! Are you up to anything fun? Today I'd like to share this lovely apartment here in Malmö with you. There's just something about it I love - could it be the mid-century touches? Most likely! But also the elements of surprise such as the bright floral printed cushion against the green harlequin wallpaper in the hall or the pom poms in the bedroom. So pretty! What do you love about this home?

Bo-laget

Could you live here? If so, you're in luck, it's actually for sale! Come join the Malmö massive!

A few items I know and love: Prints: apple papple, pirum parum, Martin Lannering insect alphabet. String shelves. Hay industrial lamp. 

I know it sounds crazy but my family and I are already talking about what to do next summer! I think it's because the days are getting so short. A few weeks ago I received a mail about Villa Pia in Lippiano, between Tuscany and Umbria in Italy. I immediately started dreaming about sipping a cappuccino while looking out over the olive groves, vineyards and a 10th century castle in the distance. And Villa Pia sounds totally family friendly too. The 5 acre grounds offer two swimming pools, play areas and a trampoline. And children are welcome to join cookery and art classes (my girls would be in heaven!). And for us adults they offer cookery classes, pilates and wine tasting (I guess not all at the same time!) among other things. Could I have found my summer vacation 2015?!

I hope you have a lovely day! 

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The striking monochrome home of a Swedish photographer

It's the weeeekend. woohoo! As you know I love to go for a striking home tour to celebrate.  This monochrome home, which I think totally fits the bill,  is in stark contrast to the colourful spaces I showed in yesterday's post. You won't be surprised to hear that this beautiful black and white home is owned by a creative duo: talented Swedish photographer Magdalena Björnsdotter and her husband Eric who's passionately into music. The country home was built as a farmhouse in the 1920's and has been carefully restored into a modern graphical home.  I've featured over 100  black and white homes here over the years and love how each and every one is unique. And this one is no exception. I love how they've draped fabrics over furniture,  the cool artwork throughout and interestingly displayed photography. What do you love about this home?

Magdelena Björnsdotter. Boligliv

Is this your kind of space? Are you more a black and white or a pops of colour interior person?

A couple of items I know and love: White Tolix chairs, Women: Annie Leibovitz coffee table book, Svenskt tenn elephant cushion and textile on the piano seat. Magnetic herb tins and seat cushions on bench by Granit.

More beautiful interiors shot by Magdalena include Ylva Skarp's Christmassy home and  a rustic farmhouse in Skåne.  Oh so fabulous!

I hope you have a fantastic weekend! 

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Cheerful Dutch interior spaces to brighten up your day

I do love a home which puts a smile on my face and brightens up my day, don't you? And it seems Dutch photographer Hans Mossel is an expert in finding them. Each of these spaces from Hans' photography portfolio ooze the 'cheerful family home' vibe. Pure inspiration for adding a touch of colour to the home! I can't work out which room I love the most? Can you?

Hans Mossel, inspired by a post seen on Decor8 with thanks

Any favourites? I think the pink in the bathroom and hall is pretty fabulous!

I also love the rustic wooden benches which appear in a number of pictures. I found the rustic workman's benches I use as a bedside table in my bedroom here.

My daughter has the little yellow Fjäll Räven rucksack (backpack) you see hanging in the hall. It's a real, Swedish design classic and amazingly practical too. It's exciting to see them starting to appear on the backs of people in London too! You can buy them here.

More cheerful Dutch home tour inspiration here, here and here.

Have a lovely day and see you tomorrow!

PS My husband and I are planning on going for a weekend away sans children this autumn- yay! Any tips on wonderful, unique, quirky or simply beautiful places to stay in Europe? Tips very welcome!

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A dreamy little space to call home

One of my dreams is to have a a work studio in my (future) garden which doubles as a pretty guest house for friends and family. Do you share a similar dream?  Then I came across this shed conversion on Design Sponge and my idea was immediately brought to life! Over the space of two months designer, stylist and artist Paige Morse converted a shed in her back garden into a stunning Scandinavian inspired black and white retreat. Her goal was to create a space from which she can work, She was so thrilled with the outcome she now actually lives in the 'Casita' and rents out her house to afford the lifestyle she so desires: to work on her creatives full time. What an inspiration?!

Before:

Photos Cody Ulrich. Paige Morse. Via Design Sponge with thanks. 

Be still my beating heart!

This really is the casita of my dreams! The only thing I would add is a turf roof as seen on this and this home. How about you? Could you see yourself working / living here?

You can see the full before and after shots over at Design Sponge and read more about Paige's work here.

Other fantastic, unusual and alternative garden shed conversions here and here.

Have a lovely day!

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A monochrome Gothenburg apartment

Hello! How's your week going?! Mine's going great - thanks to a surprise parcel in the post yesterday. Firstly I love receiving surprise packages don't you? And secondly it contained a beautiful interior coffee table book called Modern Rustic (pictures here)- double happy! Today's home tour of a newly renovated Gothenburg apartment is anything but modern rustic, but it is lovely all the same. There's no stopping the black kitchen cabinets right now, it's definitely the hottest design trend in Scandinavia right now, that I see anyway?! Enjoy the tour....

Alvhem

A few items I recognise: String shelves, Tripp Trapp chair, Eames side chair and Elihu the Elephant clock. Muuto shelving, Eames house bird, IKEA striped Stockholm rug. 

Anything you love in particular about this home?

One hundred and three Scandinavian inspired black and white home tours here, you're welcome!

Have a lovely day! 

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Shades of grey in a small living space

Good morning, and happy Monday!! I hope you had a great weekend? It's finally stopped raining here (it's been raining for a week). Guh! It's still grey though so I thought, why not embrace it? After all, there's something kind of cosy about bringing the grey interiors, don't you think? This Swedish space has been decorated using shades of grey and a touch of black and white. It's actually quite incredible as it's only 38 metres square in total. The use of the space is so impressive. I often get questions asking where the storage is in the homes I show. Not here, look at that wardrobe! I also love the use of windows to divide up the different living areas. Great inspiration for anyone that's tight on space!

Skandia Mäklarna via Trendenser and Anna Gillar

A few items I know and love. Flos 265 wall light, HAY tray table, chunky moss knit blanket, sheepskin throw, Eames side chair. Dark grey bedding, black Muuto dot coat hooks.

Small space take-aways from this apartment: The same task light can be used for the sitting area and the dining area since it can be easily be swung round. The dining table is extendable for when they have guests. The coffee tables can also be used as side tables. Closed cupboard doors means the space looks less cluttered. The use of windows instead of doors to divide rooms means that light still filters through. a curtain in the bedroom can be drawn across for privacy / hide an unmade bed! The same colour theme throughout (greys and brass) give the space coherence, Anything else you notice?

What do you think of grey?

Have a lovely day!

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