The inspiring Atelier / summer cottage of Pepa Poch

Hello and happy Monday! I hope you've had a lovely weekend. Since I and much of Sweden (Scandinavia?) is currently in holiday mode I thought I'd get you in the mood too with this beautiful summer house on the Costa Brava. It also acts as atelier to the talented Catalan painter and creator Pepa Poch. How could you not be inspired in a space like this?!

Photographs: Ruben Ortiz, Stylist Katty Schiebeck, Somewhere I would like to live with kind permission.

I'm not sure which part of the home I love the most. Perhaps the bedroom with it's stunning vista? Or the pool? What about you?!

Before I rush off to enjoy the sunshine, I'm excited to announce a new my scandinavian home sponsor: AAVA Helsinki. AAVA Helsinki is a fresh new art gallery with a unique concept and clear mission: to build bridges between artists and art-loving audiences by bringing high quality oil and acrylic paintings to homes at an affordable price. Their unique 'Designed By' concept helps both artists and art lovers to break the age-old barrier surrounding traditional gallery art. What a great concept! Please join me in welcoming them and if you have the time check out their home page here. 

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A pretty Västergötland farmhouse

This is the home of stylist and writer Anna Truelsen, husband Michael and children Johanna, Joel, Jonatan and Joshua in Västergötland, Sweden. They had to wait ten years to buy the farmhouse, but it seems good things come to those who wait! The family spent five years renovating the home and Anna is now converting the barn to create a home office from where she'll write her blog My Lovely Things.

Stylist: Anne Ralf Hållbus Photographer Jonas Lundberg, Lantliv

Such a lovely home, very relaxed with a lovely mix of old and new (I see an injection of modern with Eames chairs throughout - for 15% discount (code MYSCAN) on Eames chairs click here. Yay!)  The key idea I'm going to steal from Anna's home is using a demi john as a vase and simple jam jars on the dining table with wild flowers, so simple yet so pretty!

One of my dreams is to have a lovely gazebo, converted barn or shed in my garden from which to write just like Anna. I'll have to keep an eye on her blog to see the end result, exciting!

That's it for me for the week. It's surprising how great the internet has been here in the (very beautiful) Gothenburg archepelagos. Have you been here? It's one of my favourite places in the world and where I met my husband 9 years ago. If you ever come let me know and I'll send you some tips, I've got so many favourite islands!

Have a lovely weekend and see you Monday!

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The lovely home of a Norwegian blogger

Here are a few pictures from Elisabeth Heier's former home. Elisabeth is an extremely talented Norwegian blogger, interior designer, photographer and mother of two (aka one very busy lady!) . She's recently moved home and starting the renovating process again, I can't wait to see what she does next!

Elisabeth Heier

I particularly love the bedroom. I recently bought similar linen bedding from H&M Home (it gets softer with every wash and perfect for the summer). I also have a very similar rustic stool which I use for a bedside table here which I picked up at Lovely & Co. 

Which space do you like the most?

I'd definitely recommend checking out Elisabeth's beautiful blog here. 

Have a lovely day!

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Clever use of a small space in Sweden

Many of us don't have the luxury of space so it's all about making every single square metre / foot (depending on where you're from!) work. Scandinavian's are known for being practical and you can see this in the way they make the space in their apartments work. This apartment in Gothenburg is 51 metres square, which is fairly small (I'm nervous about writing that as I've done so before and I've got myself in trouble from people saying...'hey, that's not small'! so let's just say fairly small for Gothenburg) but Alvhem have cleverly used every single nook work. And it looks great!

Alvhem

One fine example of doubling up on space is the IKEA shoe storage unit by the door which also works as a shelf to place keys, a plant etc. I've got my eye on this for my own home.

I am also a big fan of exposed brickwork - whether it's left in it's original form or painted white. I love the texture!

Do you have the same space limitations?

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