A Romantic Swedish Country Home in Summertime

There's something very special about July in Sweden. The lush green of the countryside. The flowers in full bloom. The chorus of the birds and insects going about their work. Little wonder Swedes press the pause button for a few weeks to take it all in. 

I felt this country house perfectly captured the essence of the Swedish summer cottage. It's about leading a back-to-basics lifestyle where the days are shaped around a dip in the sea or lake, slow coffee, long lunches and reading a book under a tree. The beauty of the summer cottage interior lies in the imperfection and simplicity, allowing the vibrancy of the surroundings to take centre stage. 

I'd be perfectly happy to sit at any one of the desks in this house in the name of work but more likely simply gaze out of the moth blown windows. Oh, and if you love wallpaper, you're in for a treat too!  Welcome to a lovely country house northeast of Stockholm. 

There's something poetic about this house, don't you think? 

Are there any details that caught your eye? 

There are so many great Swedish wallpaper brands. Two that are worth checking out are Boråstapeter and Sandberg. William Morris is also popular, although not Swedish of course! 

Here are a few more country homes to tour today (just in case I've got you in the mood): 

A dated house transformed into a beautiful country home

A cosy country home in the North of Sweden

An idyllic red and white swedish farmhouse

Do you have a similar style of celebrating summer in the country where you live? 

Have a great start to the week. 

Niki

Photography courtesy of Historiska Hem

READ MORE...

8

Smart ideas for Small Spaces in a Stockholm Flat

A friend of mine recently transformed a tiny outhouse into a living space and asked me about small dining space solutions. I've been on the lookout ever since! And this Stockholm apartment popped up just at the right time - who wouldn't like to enjoy a morning coffee by the window? And then, as I took the tour, I discovered more exciting features which help to make a small space (50 sqm 540 f2) fabulous and practical. Keep a look out for clever tricks such as the use of mirrors, raised beds with storage underneath and a hidden washer-dryer. Välkommen! 

A small table, bench and chair tucked into the corner are all that's needed to carve out a quiet spot for breakfast! 

Carefully placed mirrors can brighten up a darker space and visually enlarged a room. 

A dining table by the window in the sitting room serves as a work and more formal dining space. 

Using the full height of the room is important in small spaces. This wooden shelving system provides open and closed storage. 

In a small space, it's important to keep the home as clutter-free as possible. Hiding appliances such as washers and dryers can help to keep the space looking clean and serene! Plus no one can see your smalls spinning away when they stop by for a visit. Major bonus! 

A raised bed makes way for an entire under-the-bed storage system. 

Loved some of these ideas. And the kitchen too - such a beautiful design! 

Is there anything that stood out to you? 

The sun has returned here after a very stormy week on the west coast, so I'm very keen to head out and enjoy it while it lasts. Plus, I have two girls here waiting to go for a morning dip! 

I hope the sun is shining where you are today and that you have a fabulous weekend!

I'll be back on Monday with a very exciting 'before and after' tour, see you then! 

Niki

Photos: Jockeono Studio

Styling: Studio Rydman

For: Historiska Hem

READ MORE...

7

A Swedish City Apartment That's Pretty and Practical!

I discovered this little gem yesterday evening and was immediately drawn in by the tiles (keep an eye out for the ones in the kitchen and hallway too). The split-level apartment is on one of Gothenburg's most well-loved streets and dates back to the 1920s.

I particularly appreciate how the owners have ensured it's both practical and pretty! Think mid-century furniture, iconic Scandinavian design, oodles of storage and plenty of plants! Ready to take the tour? 

I love climbing plants around windows - especially in the city or in winter time. It adds just the touch of greenery you need! 

I'm also a big fan of curtains in the hallway, they are a great way to keep the draft at bay. And also, if you're not happy with the look of your front door but don't fancy the investment to change it, it's a great way to conceal it when you're tucked up indoors! 

If you look closely, you'll spot lots of smart storage in the hallway, including a wall mounted chest of drawers and a narrow shoe cabinet (from IKEA), as well as open storage such as a low mounted Vitra hang-it-all for children items and a rail by the door for coats. 

All-in-all, lots of lovely ideas! Is there anything that stood out to you? 

I loved reading everyone's comments on the dreamy danish cottage yesterday - so interesting! It seems I need to work on my botanical knowledge - so grateful for all the plant and flower experts out there. 

I'm still dreaming about the outdoor shower! 

Happy Lillördag (little Saturday!) friends!

Niki

Photography: Anders Bergstedt 

Styling: Henrik Linden

For: Alvhem

READ MORE...

2

11 Ways to Bring Nature into Your Home, Danish style!

Did you know adding touches of nature to your home has been proven to boost happiness? And it's something our Scandinavian friends do so well. 

Today I'm taking you on a tour of Tina Abild's idyllic Danish summer cottage on the Kattegat coast which is full of nature-themed touches. Here are 11 ideas to feel inspired by! 

1. Natural materials: wood, rattan, linen all helps to bring texture to a room.

2. Wildflowers: there's nothing like the wonderful scent of flowers cut from the nearby meadow or hedgerow! Forage first thing in the morning to avoid drooping. 

3. Terrarium of foraged items from the beach: display a small selection of items collected from one spot, in this case dried seaweed, driftwood and pebbles from the nearby beach have been displayed a in a glass bell jar. 

4. Art that reflects nature: collect art that is reminiscent of the surrounding environment. I this cottage, a fish serves as a reminder that the Kattegat sea is a short walk away. 

I love the old ironing board used as a side table, so clever!  

5. Dried and pressed flowers: collect your favourite blooms to dry and press and use as art the following year. 

6. Driftwood display: old, gnarled wood from the beach makes for a beautiful display in a glass jar. 

Adding baskets with handles to hooks creates space for yet more storage - for example for small items like gloves, hats and other pieces that are difficult to hang. 

7. Dried flower wreath: when it comes to a second home it's next to impossible to keep plants alive, instead get crafty with flowers and dry them in the shape of wreaths for a decorative display. 

Tina made this pretty lampshade herself - it's a great way of up cycling a vintage Le Klint sax lamp! 

8. Display books about nature: even better if the tome is about the surrounding area! 

9. Hang simple bunches of dried flowers: a simple display of thistles looks pretty hanging from a doorknob. 

10. Use botanical or floral themed textiles: carefully selected curtains, bedspreads and curtains can also serve as a way to draw the natural surroundings indoors. 

Any avid readers of My Scandinavian Home will have noticed lately just how popular these vintage glass cabinets have become - particularly of the wall-mounted variety! Adding curtains is a great way to hide more unsightly items from view! 

11. Line the windowsills: if your windows open outwards, use the sills to showcase stones, shells and wildflowers like cow parsley! 

Another simple, yet pretty idea - using beautiful vintage textiles as makeshift curtains to obscure the bathroom from view! Look how well the details show up in the light. 

Outdoor showers are a summer dream, don't you think? One day we'll build one at our cabin, but in the meantime, I'll admire Tina's shower from a far! 

So many beautiful ideas! I can't wait to take go for a walk by our cabin now so that I can have a little forage. Has Tina's idyllic summer cottage inspired you too? 

See more snapshots and follow Tina's latest projects over at @sommerhus.ved.kattegat.

Would you like to see a few more Danish summer cottages today? Here are some truly inspiring getaways: 

A Danish summer cottage oasis on the north coast of Zealand

A dreamy Danish cottage with an outdoor bathroom

A charming summer cottage on the island of Fejø

Stor kram! 

Niki

Photography: @sommerhus.ved.kattegat shared with kind permission. 

READ MORE...

22