The clean, calm Swedish home

Well hello there! I hope you had a great long weekend? (if it was one where were you were of course, otherwise short is good too....!) - we're busy tidying up here from a hectic, yet really fun couple of days with family and friends who were over to help me celebrate the release of my book (I've learned it's so important to celebrate little things in life, otherwise it's easy to just keep going without stopping to enjoy the moment, don't you think?). Since I'm still dusting down the cobwebs this morning (mostly from my own head!!) - I thought it would be apt to share this beautiful Swedish home. The designer has kept to a combination of white, cream and black throughout for an incredibly clean, calm home - and the perfect place to relax and drink in the natural daylight. Oh how I'd love to be padding about here today, how about you? There's even a cup of tea waiting for u

Credits: photography Jonas Berg, for sale via Stadshem. 

Oj oj oj - as they say in Sweden! What a lovely home!

Note to self - keep it simple.

I love the linen bedding in particular - (this duvet cover and pillow case are similar - and I love this coverlet too!).

How about you?

Get the look: sitting room - Karlstad sofa from ikea, Karin chair - DUX, PJ wall light, Ant chair, kitchen / dining area: Gubi semi pendant light, 'The People's Chair' . Hall - black sheepskin throw. Bedroom - reading lights.

If you're loving this white look, you'll definitely want to settle in for the morning and explore this archive....

Oh and it's an exciting week here on MSH. Look out for the give-away in a few days time in collaboration with Danish brand Nordal. I can't reveal the prize yet - but it'll be one of the items seen in this corner of my home.... oh the suspense!

Have a great day!

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Have a wonderful weekend!

I hope you have some fun plans over the May bank holiday - and above all else get a chance to relax! I'm leaving with you with the serene bedroom of Josephine Ekström here in Southern Sweden - if you look closely, you might catch a glimpse of the waves of the Öresund sea beyond.

Photography: James Gardiner, Styling: Niki Brantmark. From the book The Scandinavian Home
by Niki Brantmark. Published by CICO Books. 

 Have a wonderful couple of days and see you Tuesday!

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The lovely, relaxed home of Amber Friedel

Well hello there! I was going a bit stir crazy at home so I've camped out at my local coffee shop by the sea today. Sometimes all you need is a change of scene, right? And that's exactly how Amber Friedel, owner of Etsy shop MiniRoseCo, and her husband Jesse felt while waiting for their second child. Four years ago, the pair moved from a small apartment to a lovely house in a 'quintessential little place called Geneva, Illinois.' Despite having lovely bones, it was in desperate need of renovation. The pair set about lovingly restoring it. Today the space is full of interesting details, vintage finds, Amber's handmade wall hangings and bursts of colour including blue, blush and green. What a perfect family home?!

Credits: Home-owner - Amber Freidel. Photographer: Renee Higgins. Found via A Beautiful Mess.

What a great space? So personal and unique. I especially love the blue hue, and it ties the entire house together too.

Could you imagine introducing this tone to your home? Or perhaps there's something else that stands out to you?

Get the look: sitting room - cushion,  Pick up a mustard blanket like this at H&M Home (I love this mustard velvet cushion/ pillow too!). Dining room - macrame plant hangings, Amber sells her handmade wall hangings here. Hall - pick up a vintage electric fan here (how lovely is this one?!). Bedroom - Amber sells this copper rail in her shop.

If you'd like to see more snapshots of Amber's home you can always hop on over to her fab Instagram feed.

Oh and if you're loving the blue tone as much as I am you might also want to check out 'decorating with blue' - 26 homes all singing the blues (if this comes up first just skip over) - double coffee time!

Keep shining!

PS how beautiful is this bedroom? I could have crawled under the covers and stayed there all day when we went to photograph it for The Scandinavian Home!

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Snapshots from the dreamy home of a ceramicist

Godmorgon! Do you remember the delicate ceramic wreath in Daniela's beautiful North Germany house, featured on Friday? It's made by French artisan and interior stylist Kat, who runs an online boutique selling her wares here. Not only are her creations a feast for the eyes, I was excited to discover Kat treats Instagram followers to daily snapshots of her beautiful home in Paris which she shares with her husband and four children. Kat loves to 'mix vintage with more contemporary items that are simple and refined' and her fondness for flowers and nature is evident in her ceramic creations which can be seen throughout the apartment. Let's explore!

 

Photography: Kat / @katshandmadewithlove

Kat's handmade ceramics are of course beautiful, but what also struck me is her talent for combining colour.  From milky hues such as whites, creams and dusty pinks to deep blues and ochre, every space is carefully constructed using a variety of subtle nuances.

Is there anything that stands out to you?

Get the look from Kat's home: visit Kat's online boutique for ceramics including wreaths, mobiles and plates and vessels as well as artwork. Pick up a mid-century credenza here. Source mustard coloured linen by the metre here.

I hope Kat's home and instagram feed has inspired you as much as it has me today!

Have a lovely day!

PS It's heartwarming to see The Scandinavian Home appear in so many places - including this feature about 'Lagom' on German TV channel DW-TV, My Domaine and the coffee table of Britt Marie (beautiful instagram feed!). Thank you for all the love!

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Holly's beautiful sitting room make-over

Hej hej! One of my favourite interior designers, Holly Marder, is doing up her house in Delft, Holland bit by bit and I'm glued to her blog Avenue Lifestyle, for updates! It's such a treat every time she completes a room (see Holly's beautiful kitchen, bedroom and studio and you'll know what I mean)! Today I'm excited to reveal Holly's lovely new sitting room where she has used white washed walls and sheer linen curtains (source similar, made to measure ones here) as a neutral backdrop for a beautiful blend of vintage, mid-century, and modern designer pieces as well as handmade ceramics and a selection of artowrk.  Enjoy!

Photography / interior design: Holly Marder - Avenue Lifestyle. 

Such a stunning room, don't you think? Relaxed, calm, interesting and above all else cosy!

Holly is a master at gallery walls (I also love the one she created in a client's bedroom in Amsterdam). Here she's combined oak, walnut and white frames with a mix of contemporary and traditional art including 'dragonfly' by Eile-Ethel Polli, 'nude painting of one minute pose' by Gretchen Kelly, and 'eye eye' by Fine Little Day. Such a lovely combination!

I also like how she has used a mid-century bar cart to fill the gap next to the chimney breast (I still love my bar cart but wondering where to put it right now since acquiring this brass one, I'm sure it'll find a home soon! Thoughts?!). You can source a similar vintage mid-century bar cart here.

Is there anything that stands out to you?

Get the look from Holly's sitting room: Flos pendant light, source a vintage Beni Ourain rug here, the sofa is from the SofaCompany.  These fab vintage mid-century trolleys / bar carts are similar. Flos parentesi light, African Bingan basket, hand turned plates on wall by Julie Alrichem.  Glass coffee table,  white plate from The Fine Store (on table).

The sun's shining here in Malmö so I've promised to take a walk along the beach before starting to write a chapter for my new book - Lagom (a Swedish philosophy meaning not too much, not too little - just right!). It feels apt in today's world where we're all rushing about and connected 24/7. The book is very much about slowing down and finding balance, the Swedish way - whether at home, or through activities like blackberry picking , kayaking, baking bread, swapping your car for a bike or even finding a beautiful old cottage by the sea in which to relax and unwind in the holidays! I hope you'll find it inspiring! 

Have a lovely day!

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