Your very own garden retreat on a shoestring budget

Lately there's been a surge of interest in the garden shed. But not in it's traditional form. Sheds are being transformed into cosy spaces at the end of the garden to call your own. Somewhere to be creative, work or simply enjoy a cup of tea! Personally this type of garden retreat has always been a bit of a dream of mine, so I'm always inspired by people who have created their own. Jeska Hearne of Lobster & Swan recently collaborated with Waltons to create a a pretty space with a vintage-boho feel.  The summerhouse is full of whimsical florals and cheerful pops of colour and furnished almost entirely with flea market and antique finds as well as recycled / upcycled items.

Source: Lobster & Swan

Oh so lovely!

It would also make a great guest house (in the warmer months of the year), don't you think?

If you already have a garden shed you're in luck. If not, this one is a  contemporary summerhouse with side shed. Pick up vintage crates here.  There's always a great selection of mid-century side-tables to be found here.  Buy classic books in lovely new covers here. I love pretty Liberty print fabric in florals (like the ones Jeska's used for the cushions) - but you can use small samples of fabrics you have lying around at home - or search for vintage fabric online. Pick up a recycled blanket (and other items) at Jeska's beautiful online shop The Future Kept.

You can see more pics of this make-over here. 

Other inspiring garden retreats include this fab caravan and a dreamy shed conversion.

Could you imagine having a little space like this to call your own?

Have a lovely day!

PS I'm exploring Helsinki today, so exciting (thank you for all your tips over the last few days - I'm actually in Café Succés enjoying 'the best cinnamon bun in town' and I can testify that it is the best one I've ever tasted - with a bowl of café au lait of course!). I'll be walking around with a small skip in my step as I've just received the news that My Scandinavian Home has been nominated for Best European Interior Blog in the Amara #IBA16 - votes can now be placed here - I'd be so happy if you'd like to vote for me!

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An eclectic Copenhagen apartment with attitude

Hello there! I hope you had a great weekend? I arrived in Finland last night, and am sooo excited  (once again, any Helsinki tips so welcome!). We've got a full on shoot day today but I wanted to check-in, say 'hei' and share a few snaps from the striking Norrman household in Norrebro, Copenhagen. Beautifully captured by Lina Östling and Mari Strengheilm, interior designers Anna and Lars have decorated their home with a cool blend of white, dusty pink and dark grey, striking black marble and an eclectic mix of antique and flea market finds as well as items picked up travels. Their lovely doggy Helium looks right at home on that sofa, and rightly so?! 

Source: Photo Lina Östling. Styling Mari Strengheilm. Sköna Hem. 

What a fabulous home - soooo striking?! Is there anything that stands out to you? I've got my eye on that African juju hat - it looks beautiful framed.

Other items I love: sitting room - Beni Ourain rug. Loom and Field sells beautiful kilim pillows / cushions and rugs like these. Workspace - print: Faux poster collection - x,  wishbone chair. Kitchen - marble tiles, Calabash pendants.

See more pics and a full write-up of Anna and Lars' home over at Sköna Hem here (in Swedish). The duo have a great instagram feed too!

Other lovely homes captured by Lina Östling include the happy home of Johanna Flyckt Gashi (love this), Mari Strengheilm's island home (beautiful) and a Swedish home with a relaxed boho vibe (the colours). 

Right - better get on with the job... have a wonderful start to the week and see you Wednesday*!

*I'm on 'slow blogging' summer time right now while my girls are on their school holiday and posting every other day - bear with me for a couple more weeks and then I'll be back daily again! 

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A Stockholm home full of inspiration

Iiiiiit's le weekend - yay! I'll be packing for my first ever trip to Finland tomorrow - just a flying visit for a two day photo shoot but I'm soooo excited as I've never been before - have you? Tips welcome! Today I'm taking inspiration from this lovely Stockholm space. The entire space is pretty great but it's the details that really caught my eye - namely the DIY light fixture (do you remember a similar one in the lovely home of Valentina Fussell?) wine glass rack (I'd say a necessity, wouldn't you?!), and that kitchen nook. I also love the open hallway storage (spot the beautiful wooden floor), the Swedish masonry oven and pretty much the entire bathroom (the window into the sitting room?!). Yes my list is long! Is there anything that catches your eye?

Source: Alexander White. Photos: Henrik Nero. Styling: Stylingbolaget found via Vosges Paris with thanks.

Could you live here?

Get the look: Chrome wine glass rack (note how I start in order of importance?!) vintage terracotta pots,  No.9 (or Vienna) chairs, glass bell jar. This sheepskin cushion. Brass planters in small and large.

Other spaces I love with window dividers include the fabulous family home of Petra Reger, an artist's home in Stockholm, and reclaimed windows in this home. I'd like an excuse to install some windows in my home, how about you? Racking my brain.....

And a little weekend link lovin':

Clever paint tricks that make a room.

Filling your home with natural textures like this. 

A pink door? Why not!

I need this Helsinki loud speaker in my life! 

Loving the Love Warriors of Sweden blog for inspo and shopping.

Thank you Bloglovin for including me in your list of 10 décor influencers to follow on Instagram right now - what an honour! 

And that, wonderful friends, is that from me this week.  I'm still on 'slow blogging summer time' next week which means I'll be dropping by every other day. Have a fab weekend and see you Monday!

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Beautiful rustic inspiration from Finland

One of the things I love most about coming back from holiday is being able to see your home with fresh eyes (that and my bed!). I always start re-arranging all the furniture, do you?! This time round I've discovered we're missing a lovely armchair and my mind immediately went back to that Finnish shop I linked to earlier on in the week. Casuarina's ethos is 'timeless' interior design - where ethnic meets modern and old meets new and the owners pride themselves on helping you to pick out appropriate products and to design a space that invites you to 'linger and enjoy'.  Needless to say, the inspiration on their website is absolutely beautiful too!

Beautiful, don't you think? And just the type of help I could use right now.

I spy the Z1 cotton lamp and safari daybed - two of my favourite pieces! Source stone washed linen in rose by the metre here. 

A little mid week link love:

Imagine spending your summer at this Danish cabin in Skagen?

The perfect beach towel.

This dark green and brass side cabinet. 

23 wild homes that will make you want to escape civilisation!

A few of my favourite houses (which I snapped in Copenhagen yesterday). 

The perfect Children's room update (with a little tip from me!) - don't forget to use your 15% discount by using the code MSH15 at checkout. 

Have a wonderful couple of days and see you Friday! 

And remember.

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A beautiful and smart tiny one room flat in Finland

The other day a friend and I were puzzling over a small one room cottage with a grey wood floor. We were trying to figure out a way to make it practical and cosy. And then this morning I opened my mail box to find a message from one of my favourite Finnish stylists Laura Seppänen. She's been working on a project with YIT - who have recently launched a new housing solution called 'Smartti' - a flexible solution that combines functionality, adaptability and reasonable prices. Cleverly the apartments have no partition walls, instead dividing the space using cabinets and sliding doors - which provide storage and can be removed according to the owners needs. The Smartti home Laura has been working on is a mere 26 metre square (279 feet square) and - yes you've guessed it - has grey wood floors too - the chances?!  Laura's aim was to decorate the space, on behalf of her client, a local florist, with ecological and organic materials such as wood, cork, rattan and flax and locally sourced items. Green plants bring colour to the otherwise calm tones and neutral surfaces. Perfect inspiration for anyone living in a very small space? Oh and there's a twist to this space too....

Credits: Furnishing and styling - Laura Seppänen / @laurajuulia, photography - Krista Keltanen / @krista_keltanen. Architect - Kanttia for YIT / @yitkoti.

....it's been built inside a shipping container!

Remember this lakeside Finnish cabin made from containers? Incredible!

Get the look - eye eye and atelier CPH prints. Chairs, rug, mirror. Bell jar, AJ floor lamp, string shelves, HAY tray table. Small and large glass water bottle, round chopping board. Shorebird. White linen throw.

If you're looking for more small space inspiration you can always check out my small space archive - who needs a large house when you can do all this in under 30 metres square anyway?!

We're enjoying the last couple of days of our summer holiday here in Sweden (in the rain....*^?&%). and will be back on Wednesday. Until then, have a wonderful couple of days!

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