A Charming Miner's Cottage Amongst An Acre of Roses!

Do you ever feel like dropping what you're doing and following your dreams? If so, perhaps today's home tour will inspire you to take that step! New Zealand born Sandy McKinley left her career in marketing to pursue her childhood passion for flowers when she moved next door to a renowned and newly retired florist. Soon after she opened a floral studio where she created a successful business growing peonies and crafting events and weddings. When the opportunity arose to purchase 1000 mature heritage rose bushes, Sandy and partner Rob Roy jumped at it! Originally from Melbourne, Rob is not a stranger to flowers and had previous experience in restoring historic homes. He set about renovating their cosy Miner's cottage with the same tenacity he applied to breaking horses: "Hard work but incredibly rewarding to see raw beauty release its potential."  An Acre of Roses - a micro flower farm and luxury wellness accommodation in Trentham, Victoria, Australia - was born. 

The charming Miner's cottage was built in 1860 and has been renovated to maintain the original charm and decorated with the help of interior designer Belle Hemming-Bright. Think earthy tones, natural materials and modern creature comforts such as a cedar hot tub, smoothie bar and state of the art coffee machine. Sounds like my kind of place! Maybe it's important to mention at this stage that it's also available to rent on Airbnb?! Yep, I know!

The cottage is packed with lovely vintage finds, portraits and of course, fresh flowers! The blend gives the living space a wonderful relaxed feel and must smell divine! 

Love the earthy colours in this corner - so pretty! Green is one of my favourite accents - it works especially well in a countryside location, don't you think?

Imagine getting toasty under a blanket by this fire? 

FYI We could use a roaring fire like this in Malmö today - it's 12 degrees Celsius (53 F!) BRRRR! 

 

How beautiful!

Earlier in the summer I was dreaming of an escape to the Californian desert, on Monday I was dreaming of a stay at a cabin in Whispering Pines, and now I feel a trip to Trentham is in order. I can't think of a more beautiful place to relax, rejuvenate - and literally, stop and smell the roses! 

So many places, such little time! 

Could you imagine hanging out at Acre of Roses too?! 

Sandy and Rob take bookings for the Miner's Cottage and the Potting Shed here - just sayin'! Keep an eye out for forthcoming events too! 

Wednesday already, and I feel like I have a week's worth of work left to do. Anyone else feel the same? I could use a calming walk through that rose garden! 

Happy humpday friends!

Niki

Acre of Roses is owned by Sandy McKinley and Rob Roy. The interior was decorated and styled by  Belle Hemming-Bright. Photography by Marnie Hawson. 

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Get The Look From A Fab Stockholm Home of A Design Hunter

A new day, a new dawn AND a new studio in town! I'm so excited as I've been cycling passed this little place for years and always dreamed. about working here (a little like the owners of this cabin in Great Mackerel Beach - which they'd be eyeing up for over 20 years!). Further North, Swedish vintage furniture dealer and interior designer Fredrik Karlsson is also enjoying a turn of the century building. His apartment in Stockholm features achingly high ceilings, beautiful period woodwork and a pristine parquet floor dating back to the time it was built in 1902. Light pours in through French doors, casting a natural spotlight on iconic design pieces, new Nordic items and original artwork. I chatted with Fredrik to find out more about his style, love for design classics and best Stockholm tips!




How would you describe your style?
Scandinavian minimalism meets French industrialism. I like the more minimalistic lines and high quality materials of Scandinavian design but always try to mix it up with some favourite French mid-century design pieces by designers such as Pierre Jeannette, Jean Prouvé and Charlotte Perriand.

Above: Floor lamp by Julius Theodor, coffee table by Axel Einar Hjorth, painting by Emma Bernhard




Do you often blend different looks and styles in your work?
In my job as an interior designer I find it very motivating to blend different styles and work with contrast. In my opinion, contrasts are what make a result more personal and interesting to look at - I follow this in every area of my life including the way I dress, my personality and how I decorate my home!



What inspired your home decorating style?
My inspiration from the beginning was to keep the traditional Swedish style - high ceilings, handmade details, stucco ceiling, parquet flooring etc but add other factors such as French design and marble. My home feels like a little Parisian oasis in the heart of Stockholm - which was my goal!

Chandiogarh project table and chair by Pierre Jeanneret




Where do you find items for your home?
I find most of my furniture in Swedish / Scandinavian auctions as well as international galleries and antique shops. I love looking for a combination of unusual objects and better known iconic pieces in order to achieve a nice balance.

Table by Axel Einar Hjorth, Art by Wolfgang Voegele



I like how your instagram is also dotted with self portraits / fashion. Can you tell us a little more about your personal style? Do you have a favourite Swedish clothing brand?
Our Legacy has been my favourite for many years now and if I buy new, I mostly buy from them. However, I mostly purchase vintage clothes these days (mainly to create a more personal and interesting style). If trends get too popular, I usually go the other way and I think that's where I differ from many Swedes. I enjoy taking a different path.



And finally, do you have any insider restaurant tips for anyone visiting Stockholm?
My favourite places to dine and wine are Riche (a true classic!), Ciccio's and Coquetel Social (a fairly new bar that serves great drinks with phenomenal service!).



Thank you so much for inviting us into your home Fredrik! What a treasure trove! Loved the Stockholm restaurant and bar tips too. I'm looking forward to trying them out next time I'm in town!

In case you're feeling inspired to achieve a similar look to Fredrik's apartment, here's the low down:

GET THE LOOK

1. Gubi Multi-Lite Pendant Lamp*
2. Fredericia J39 chair
3. Ellos Consua Carpet
4. Galerie Patrick Seguin A Passion For Jean Prove
5. Paustian Arctander Chair
6. Zara Home Teak and Rattan Chair
7. Hay Longue sofa 321

Did you spot the cosy, fluffy chair?! Ever since creating this round-up last week, I've been wanting something like this in my own home. I've got a feeling I'd never get near it though, the kids would totally OWN IT!

Is there anything that stood out to you about Fredrik's home?

You can see more pictures and enquire about Fredrik's vintage furniture and interior design services over at @Fredrikkarlssoninteriors.

The week is young, I think we need a little more inspiration today, don't you? Here are a few other fabulous Stockholm homes I think you'll love!

The beautiful Stockholm home of Amelia Widdell
A Stockholm home in pretty colours
The cosy urban home of a macrame artist

Vi ses imorgon!

Niki

Photography courtesy of Fredrik Karlsson, shared with kind permission. Portrait image by Milad Abedi. 

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Before & After: A Dated Cabin Becomes a Dreamy Airbnb Hideaway In The Woods

Have you ever dreamed of owning a little home from home? Somewhere you can escape to at the weekends and completely switch off. Often the cost and effort involved in acquiring and renovating a second home is enough to put most people off. But actually, a fixer upper doesn't need to cost the earth - there's a lot you can do with a small, remote place on a tight budget. Tom and Hope had always dreamed of owning and renovating cabin in the woods. The answer came in the form of The Cobb Haus, a wooden cabin at the end of a track in the quiet rural neighbourhood of Whispering Pines, Cobb, California. The pair closed in February and set about transforming it into a peaceful retreat, a world away from the hustle and bustle of city life. I caught up with the pair to find out more about their wonderful hideaway in the woods - which is also available to rent! 

EXTERIOR BEFORE

How long did it take you to transform your cabin into the lovely hideaway it is today? 

We completed in February and had it finished (I say that loosely as it is a continuous work in progress!) in June.

EXTERIOR AFTER

Wow, that was quick! What type of work did you carry out in that time?

Most of the work we did was purely cosmetic aside from the bathroom which was a complete remodel. 

KITCHEN BEFORE

What was your decorating goal? 

We really wanted to keep the original 40s / 50s charm while adding some modern touches. It's a small space so keeping the decor minimal and well thought out was key. 

KITCHEN AFTER

The upper cabinets were replaced with relaxed open shelving and the lower cabinets were painted in Woodland Lichen by Sherwin Williams. The green was a perfect choice as it draws the surrounding nature indoors. 

BEFORE - WOOD BURNING STOVE / SITTING ROOM

"There is no central heating but there is a wood burning stove and two small space heaters you can move around as needed."

WOOD BURNING STOVE / SITTING ROOM AFTER

The pair painted the wood burning stove with special paint and replaced existing the hearth with tiles from Home Depot. 

The cosy sitting room has been kitted out with poufs and a side cabinet from IKEA and an Article sofa. There green curtains from Target were picked out to match the kitchen cabinets for a cohesive look. 

What inspired the interior style? 

It's hard for me to pinpoint one style as inspiration, but I love to pull from Scandinavian, mid-century and a little boho, while keeping a minimalistic feel. 

DINING AREA BEFORE

DINING ROOM AFTER

I see (with glee!) that you rent out your cabin through Airbnb - did you have this in mind during the renovation?

Ultimately, we wanted it to feel like home for whoever walks in. We wanted it to feel cosy and inviting with a focus on the beautiful views of the surrounding forest. 

BEDROOM BEFORE

BEDROOM AFTER

A lick of white paint on the floors, walls and ceiling have completely transformed the bedroom into a light and airy room. A glimpse of the forest through the window makes a great focal point (almost like art!). 

The side table is from HomeGoods, however, you'd be forgiven for thinking it has been fashioned out of a tree trunk from outside the door. A perfect nod to the surroundings! 

Truly inspiring, don't you think? 

In case it's rekindled your dream of going for that fixer upper you've always dreamed of, here are some budget friendly lessons to learn from this renovation:

6 ways Tom and Hope saved money

1. Carrying out a lot of the renovation themselves
2. Painting existing kitchen cabinets rather than replacing them
3. Working with the existing structure
4. White washing the interior for a fresh feel
5. Furnishing with items from IKEA, Target etc
6. Renting out the cabin via Airbnb to cover running costs

Not quite ready to purchase your own rural hide-away?! The Cobb Haus is available to rent through Airbnb. And word on the street is that you can also order healthy, homemade meals directly to the door! It sounds like a trip to Whispering Pines (beautiful name!) might be in order, don't you think?

Read more about The Cobb Haus here and check out more pics on instagram. 

Other incredible rural retreats to dream about this Monday:  

A magical Norwegian mountain cabin

A rustic Norwegian log cabin

A family retreat on Sweden's west coast

A photographer's charming summer cottage in the woods

Wishing you all a truly inspiring start to the week! Here's to new future projects, big and small!

Niki

Photography courtesy of The Cobb Haus, with kind permission

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The 10 Winners Of Association of German Furniture Industry Global Photography Contest

Sponsored by the German Furniture Industry:

What does #beingathome mean to you? This is the question that formed the basis of an exciting global photography contest held by the Association of German Furniture between 5 - 18 August, 2019. Contestants were asked to submit photographs that depict their favourite place in the home, across ten categories as part of the #zuhausesein / #beingathome initiative. A total of 232 entries were received from 19 countries as far and wide as India, Switzerland and South Africa!

It was an honour to be a part of the jury, and so inspiring to see so many beautiful entries, thank you so much for taking the time to enter!   

Here are the 10 winning photographs: 

1. Outdoor Living

Winner: Silvia Ferrando, Italy 

Copyright / Instagram: Silvia Ferrando @illumino_home_ideas

Category prize: SK 07 Ritual bowl: designed by Stefan Knopp for JANUA

2. Tiny Spaces

Winner: Karst Rauhé, Netherlands

Copyright / Instagram: Karst Rauhé / @krrrrst

Prize: Super Light by Bordbar

3. The Hallway

Winner: Agata Dimmich, Italy

Copyright / Instagram: Agata Dimmich / @passion_shake

Prize: LINE coat rack by Schönbuch

4. Kitchen Lover

Winner: Mike Klar, Germany

Copyright / Instagram: Mike Klar / Mensur Liang, homemade studio / @herrklar

Prize: Fabella light designed by Laura Straßer for Caussa

5. Relaxed Sleeping

Winner: Anastasia Benko, Germany

Copyright / Instagram: Anastasia Benko / @stilzitat

Prize: Pfeife Night Stand designed by Vitamin Design

6. The Living Room

Winner: Roger Lemoyne, Canada

Copyright / Instagram: Roger Lemoyne / @rogerlemoyne

Prize: Rolf Benz 953 footstool / Rolf Benz

7. The Bathroom

Winner: Alex Schälar, Germany

Copyright / Instagram: Alex Schälar @dieartige

Prize: L-Cube shelf element / Duravit AG

8. Living with Children

Winner: Elizabeth Barrett, USA

Copyright / Instagram: Elizabeth Barrett & Kristen Fiore / @kristenelizabethdesign

Prize: Birdy stool from Hülsta 

9. Working at Home

Winner: Vicson Chan Chua, Philippines

Copyright / Instagram: Vicson Chan Chua / @neonvixx

Prize: Cantilever chair / Tojo Möbel GmbH

10. Other Forms of Living

Winner: Pepper Schmidt, Germany

Copyright / Instagram: Pepper Schmidt / @heimatbaum

Prize: S18 side table / Thonet

A huge congratulations to all the winners!  We feel they really captured the essence of #zuhausesein / #beingathome.

In addition to a piece of furniture from a German furniture manufacturer, the winners can look forward to: 

• Integration of your picture in the photo exhibition at IMM Cologne 2020
• Integration of your picture in the German Design Book 2020
• Two tickets and one overnight stay to IMM Cologne 2020 (the VDM will provide a travel allowance of up to €500. The winner is responsible for making the booking which will be refunded by the VDM).

You can find out more information about the #zuhausesein / #beingathome initiative on this website as well as on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. 

Niki

This post is sponsored by the Association of the German Furniture Industry - however, all words are my own and I only ever work with brands I love and think you will too.

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