5 Ways To Turn Your Home Into a Sanctuary

Weekend House by Gafpa architects

Whenever I visit interior fairs, I always intend to take it a little more easy, put my feet up here and there. And then I get there and there's so much to see and feel inspired by I end up running around like crazy and arrive at the press happy hour totally disheveled (and in desperate need of a glass or two!). Perhaps it was ironic then, that my favourite trend forecast at the wonderful Ambiente Fair - which focuses on international consumer goods - in Frankfurt this weekend was 'Quiet Surrounding'. Annetta Palmisano, Cem Bora and Claudia Herk picked this out as one of three 2019 trends alongside 'tasteful residence' and 'joyfilled ambience' - all of which have an underlying theme of sustainability, naturalness and recycling (hurrah!).

Noma restaurant, Copenhagen

So what is 'quiet surrounding' all about?

"Simply beautiful: natural, simple and useful products satisfying a yearning for calm and honesty. They create in soft colours unpretentious havens for everyday life free from stress. Respect for materials and creativity in the use made of them are of great importance here."

Sounds good to me - and something very close to my 'scandinavian heart', how about you? But how do we tap into this trend and create our very own sanctuary far from the stresses and strains of everyday life? Here are 5 simple steps:


1. Colour:
Think about introducing soothing, earthy, muted colours inspired by nature to your home. Walls, textiles and accessories in 'green moss', stormy sea' and rose dawn' are bound to help you lower your pulse and create a dreamy haven!

Pantone 466 C Pantone 16-09460 / Pantone 11-1001 TCX Cream Pink / Pantone 5655 C 16-6307 Agate Grey / Pantone 2177 C - 18-4711 Stormy Sea / Pantone 451 C 17-0636 Green Moss / Pantone 7504 18-1029 Toasted coconut / Pantone 7612 C 16-1522 TCX Rose dawn / Pantone 426 C 19-4006 TCX Caviar

Mark's 'Memories / Bigso notebook 

2. Natural materials:
This season is all about natural, honest, sustainable materials and are "combined with a love of experimentation and traditional handcraft techniques". Furniture and accessories in wood, stone, glass, paper and wool with a handcrafted finish will help you to reconnect with nature.

Uashmama washable paper bags

The beautiful patina from different types of respectful, handcrafted items made from wood tell a story and add to the warm and inviting, ultra cosy feel of the home. Plus they'll just get better with time!

Wooden Hanger by Aveva Design, Serving Boards by Stuff Design

3. Textiles
Linen tea towels, bedding, knitted dishcloths and blankets not only make you feel super comfy so you can relax anywhere in your home - but they also help to dampen noise for a calmer abode! OK, and they look pretty too!

Aspegren dish cloths, LinenMe Tea Towels and Lovely Linen towels

4. Plants and flowers
I always find it incredible how quickly you can be in the moment and unwind when surrounded by nature. Think about the last time you are in a forest, a meadow, the local park or walking along the beach - everyday concerns seem, to disappear (even if for a short time). It makes sense then, that bringing plants and flowers into your home are an instant mood lifter - and an essential part of our 'oasis'!

Climbing plants in the Stockholm home of Karolina Modig

Uashmama paper bag plant pot / Wooden vases by Danish Made By Bent

5. Wildlife
You might be lucky enough to have a wonderful furry friend rocking about the house, but for the rest of us pet-less folk - bringing wildlife indoors can help to complete your oasis! And I'm not talking about the two homing pigeons that made themselves at home in my bedroom last summer (I'm still worrying they'll be back again this year!). Search for beautiful Danish bird-shaped ornaments and nature-inspired art.  Or go a step further with an indoor 'Zwitscherbox' bird house with sensor chip: every time you walk past, the birds start to sing!

Finnish Illustrations by Teemu Järvi / wooden birds by Novoform

I'm feeling pretty inspired by this trend, I have to say - and was so excited to discover some of these items at the fair. I hope some of these ideas will help inspire you to make small changes to create your very own sanctuary at home too! 

Tweet tweet! 

Niki

PS you can hear about other news from Ambiente fair over on their blog here. 

Note: My trip to Ambiente fair was a paid press trip. All words are my own. 

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The Charming Swedish Home of a Plant and Flea Market Enthusiast

Malin Brostad loves gardening. In fact, she loves plants and flowers in general. The borders in the garden of her pretty, classic yellow and white house in Hässelby, Western Stockholm are bursting with fox gloves, ferns, roses and other species hardy enough to withstand the Northern climate. In the winter, more sensitive shrubs are brought inside and rest on shelving, vintage tables and credenzas alongside climbers, monstera and coleus as well as treasures picked up at flea markets. It's hard not to fall in love with Malin's charming home - which she shares with husband Markus and their children Ville (10) and Vidar (7). Välkommen in!

My parents-in-law have had a climber like this around their window for decades - and I appreciate it every time I visit. In Malin's home, it makes a feature of the window - and adds a green feel even when there are no leaves on the trees outside. (See my guide to indoor climbing plants if you're curious to do something similar!).

A classic danish Stoff candleholder* can be glimpsed amid the urban jungle atop a mid-century side table*.  I remember seeing the same candleholder in Karolina Modig's Stockholm home (another plant enthusiast!).

I cheated a little here and am sharing a photo which Malin took at another time (which explains why it's not the same arrangement seen in the photo above it!). I couldn't resist though, as I love the lions head and gallery wall and thought you might too! 

Kim Kardashian is not the only who can break the internet. The incredible coleus seen in the corner of the family dining area (and in Malin's arms below!) caused a stir on instagram in 2018! I can totally see why, how about you?!

In the winter, there's one geranium for every step! 

There's so much to love about Malin's bedroom - the A-frame ceilings, the vintage chair, the plants, the soft teal wall colour (by Jotun), the apricot linen duvet cover*. Isn't it pretty?!

Looking at the exterior of Malin's Swedish home - it's hard not to dream about moving to the suburbs of Stockholm, does anyone else feel the same?!

Failing that, this home has taught me that there's absolutely nothing stopping me from bringing more plants into my homes. I love how a coleus like Malin's adds a burst of colour to the room too - perfect! 

Is there anything that stands out to you? 

See more snaps of Malin's lovely home over on her instagram @malinbrostad - and other Swedish homes with pretty outdoor spaces here, here and here! 

I've just returned from a great weekend in Frankfurt where I attended Ambiente Fair. It was a bit of a flyby tour and I'm feeling sooooo tired this morning (cue - 'kids, can you fix your own breakfast today'?!) but it was super inspiring too! If you'd like to take a peek at the latest trends, I recorded this interview with the Ambiente Facebook Live (eeek!) team on Saturday.  

Have a wonderful start to the week!

Niki

Photography: Malin Brostad, shared with kind permission.

Affiliate links marked with * 

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A White Swedish Home With An Intriguing Hanging Plant!

It's Friday - tjho-hooo! I was hoping too slope off early, after all, it's POETS day - but then I remembered I've got to write an entire article for a magazine by 4pm - eeeeeeek! How did I forget about that?!  More details to follow (if I get round to finishing the piece, that is!). No matter how busy (or disorganised) you know I'd never leave you without a beautiful home tour to enjoy over the weekend though. So I'm nipping in to share this beauty with you. The 89 metre square (957 feet square) apartment is located in the heart of Linnéstaden, Gothenburg and it's waiting for one very lucky person to move in! Think period features, white washed walls, she fabulous furniture and one very intriguing hanging plant!

Menu Carrie lamp*, Source beautiful custom made rustic tables and benches like this here*. 

Vertigo pendant light*

Asplund Palais table

Grey linen bedding*, I'm having a total mental block on the lovely table lamp - help! 

What do you think, could you imagine living here?!

I'm fascinated by the plant arrangement over the bed, I think I might have to explore this more over the weekend - how does it work do you think?! Is it actually a living plant, or cuttings? If real, how would you water it? Questions, questions! It does look pretty fab!

I must say, it feels great to end the week with a Swedish home - especially after I was lamenting only yesterday about heading off somewhere warmer (admittedly I am still dreaming about the waterside cabin in Australia!). Sweden, this is proof that I do love you really - rain or shine!

I hope you found this week on My Scandinavian Home as inspiring as I did.

Wishing you a wonderful weekend!

Niki

Photography: Anders Bergstedt, styling Nouvel Interiör for Entrance 

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Dreamy Holiday Let: A Cosy Waterside Eco Cabin In Australia

I try to stay positive, really I do - but the weather in Malmö right now is so dreadful. It's been somewhere between rain and snow for the best part of a fortnight! BAH! So today, I'm dreaming of warmer climes and charming waterside getaways like The Little Black Shack. Located in Great Mackerel Beach, an hour from Sydney, owners Jamie and Ingrid Kwong first discovered the fisherman's shack over 20 years ago during their many boating trips on Pittwater. In 2013 they noticed it had been put up for sale. Despite the poor condition, they were hooked (and who can blame them?!). With the help of an environmentally conscious builder, the pair spent 18 months recycling, repurposing, reusing and rebuilding the shack- transporting materials by boat and carrying them up to the site by hand. Today the shack has been fully restored into a cosy and charming waterside cabin. And the best news? It's available for short term stays / holiday lets! I've got my eye on that spot by the window - how about you?

Race you there?!

Find out more about staying at The Little Black Shack here.

Other dreamy off-the-beaten-track waterside stays in Australia I've got my eye on include Captain's Rest and this cabin on Satellite Island (both in Tasmania). When I finally make my way down under, I feel like I'm in for a treat!

Can you imagine staying in these places too?!

Niki

Photography: Luisa Brimble / @luisabrimble

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