A Charming Blend of Old and New in a Stockholm Home

It's a school holiday this week in Southern Sweden and I feel like I'm the only one up, tapping away on my laptop in a cafe by the sea. The clocks went back at the weekend which means darker nights - which in turn means the warm glow from lamps, candles and log fires. Further North, snow covers the ground and the birds taken flight to warmer climes. It's a time for cosying up at home by the fire, reading and taking long walks. And I'm all for it! 

This lovely Stockholm apartment is owned by Mina and Carlo, founders of IO Kids Design and is located in 'Söder', a hipster part of town with some of the Swedish capital's best cafes and restaurants. Even so, when the temperatures hit minus, being tucked up under a blanket beside the kakelugn (tiled masonry oven) is the way to go! Keep a look out for personal touches, a blend of antique and designer pieces as well as the beautiful entrance way. 

I hope you find something in this lovely home to inspire you! 

Two tone kitchens are where it's at right now. The apartment owner Carlo Negri - an architect for Sweco, designed this kitchen. I love how the upper cabinets are in wood, adding lots of warmth to the space. 

Carlo also designed the book cases in the sitting room and bedroom. 

Space is limited in the city and many get creative to make space for the entire family. In this aprtment, the children's room is divided into two using a series of closets.

This bunkbed is next level (literally!). I actually haven't seen one like this before. Does anyone have any tips on where it might be from?  UPDATE: it's called the IO Bunk Pod and was designed by Mina and her husband - the owners of this apartment and founders of IO Kids Design!

The other half of the room is small (yet cosy) - with enough space for a charming antique bed! 

I love these grand early 19th century communal entryways you find in Sweden! 

Confused about the layout? Here's the floorplan as shared by Historiska Hem: 

Glossary: sovrum - bedroom, Kakelugn - fireplace, allrum - living room, bad - bathroom, kök - kitchen, Gardrob - wardrobes.

I love the exterior of this property too - classic Stockholm! 

Is there anything that stood out to you about this lovely apartment? 

Why not cosy up for a while and see a few other incredible apartments from the Swedish capital here: 

A charming Stockholm home in wintertime

A lovely Stockholm home where past and present meet

Get the look from the fab Stockholm home of a design hunter

Right folks, the autumn sun is shining and I've got two children (teenagers) here at home waiting to get into action (actually they're still asleep so they don't know that yet, but they will be!). 

Wishing you a great start to the week! 

Niki

Photographs courtesy of Historiska Hem with thanks 

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Autumn touches in our Little Cottage Kitchen

Hello, happy Friday friends! Got any great plans for the weekend?

Last weekend we stole away to the cottage for a couple of days. An hour and a half north of here, the wind was howling and the rain lashed at the windows. Perfect weather for cosying up indoors beside the fire! In Sweden each season is so powerful and in contrast to the one before that I think it's important to embrace each and every one in all its glory! Is it the same where you are? 

Along with our fireside tea, we also made some small Autumn updates to the cottage kitchen - I hope you like them (my favourite was Per's apple pie!). 

Per is definitely the baker of the family. He whipped up this apple and cinnamon pie with apples from our neighbour's garden - it tasted divine! 

I picked up the ceramic bowl at Mölle Krukmakeri in nearby Kullaberg and the candle holder was made by a local ceramicist. 

We recently swapped out the faux brass handles from IKEA for these solid brass knobs (I was fortunate enough that it was part of an instagram collaboration last week). They've made a difference to the entire experience of the kitchen. 

I've noticed that one of the most important investments in the kitchen are the items you touch: handles, taps, utensils etc. Do you agree? 

I love bringing in Autumn foliage! At the back you can see The Little Swedish Kitchen cookbook, which was a present from my Mother. I dip into it all the time! 

Hooks are so useful in the kitchen (these wooden ones are from H&M Home) - the display here is forever changing too.

When we renovated the kitchen, the curtain was the last thing to be installed. My mother-in-law was a bit unsure to begin with but she's really grown to love the way it billows in the wind and creates a sense of drama and privacy even when the door is open. 

We're lucky enough to have a huge stack of firewood in the garage (last winter there was a shortage due to the rising price of electricity!), it's looking the same for this year. 

I hope you like these touches. 

Have you also updated your home for the season? If so, I'd love to hear how!

Feel inspired by other Autumnal homes here: 

Cosy autumn ideas from Laura and Nora's homes

11 autumn ideas to steal from a hyggeligt danish home

5 cosy autumn ideas from a Swedish home

What are you up to this weekend? We're heading to Västerås for Allie's gymnastics competition. I'm so excited as I love to watch her and her team do their gymnastics. I've never been to the Swedish city before either so I hope I'll have some time to explore! 

Trevlig helg! Have a fabulous weekend! 

Niki

// This post is not sponsored. Some of the items seen are press gifts but I was under no obligation to mention them here on the blog. 

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Cici and Locke's Cosy, Relaxed, and Elegant Berlin Home

Boy, do I have a treat in store for you today! There's something so easy, so relaxed, and so beautiful about Cici's apartment, with its lush green views, playful touches and wonderful mix of designer touches, plants, books and blankets. Couple this with the Berlin architecture and warm glow from lighting and you have the perfect autumn home. Lucky Locke (the resident hound!) who gets to share the space. 

Pour yourself a coffee, pull up a seat and enjoy the tour! 

Pendants from IKEA, wishbone chairs, print from Wall of Art.

Two happy residents: Cici and Locke. 

Togo Fireside armchair from Ligne Roset, mood lighting from Artemide.

Panton wired shelving from Montana.

Striped bedding from H&M Home, Rice paper shade from Hay. 

So cosy and elegant. I love this home! 

Did you enjoy the tour of Cici and Locke's home too? 

I think one of my favourite things was all the mood lighting in the form of table lamps. There are so many portable lamps available these days which means you can move them around without having to worry about cables and wall sockets which opens up a world of opportunities! This portable Flowerpot lamp from Danish band &Tradition is one of my favourites. 

See more of Cici's lovely home (including films) here. 

Would you like to tour a few other Berlin apartments today? Take a look at: 

A light-filled Berlin home with a Nordic touch

A lovely, relaxed artists' home

An edgy Berlin home full of contrast

All stunning in their own way! 

Happy mid-week friends! 

Niki

Photography courtesy of Cici / @lockeundcici, shared with kind permission. 

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White and Brown tones in a Serene Swedish Attic Apartment

Tjena! Welcome back to the blog on this bright and sunny Monday! Oh, have I got a lovely Swedish apartment to share with you. but first, allow me to set the scene. 

When I was at Edinburgh university in Scotland, my flatmates and I always rented a top floor flat without a lift. It was what we could afford at the time and our young legs could bound up the four flights morning, noon and night without a problem - although it was infuriating to get to the ground floor only to realise you'd forgotten something. 

This beautiful maisonette in Gothenburg is located on what us Brits would refer to as the 'second floor' (Swedes would say third floor) - which in my mind is way more manageable. Plus, your efforts are really well rewarded thanks to stunning decor! Think dark wood beams, white-washed stonework, charming wood floors and a rooftop terrace high above the streets of Sweden's second largest city! Not only that, but it's been impeccably decorated in a sea of milky, natural tones. Be still, beating heart! 

If my university flats had looked anything like this, I'd still be there today! I hope you feel inspired by this beautifully decorated Swedish apartment too. 

It's all about the curves when it comes to the coffee table, Pacha-style armchair, Lato side table, vase and pendant light (the Nelson is similar). 

Can you spot the TV? 

Look at the layers of texture too - the sheepskin, blankets, wall hanging, curtains all help to add warmth, 

A little nook by the window is used as a home office space - perfect for capitalising on natural light. 

A Best lite, antique desk and In-between chair make a great combination. Sadly, my desk does not look like this today. 

Warm brown tones in the kitchen have been paired with white upper cabinets to ensure a light and airy feel. 

A Ferm Living desert lounge chair in the corner of the kitchen is perfect for a morning coffee!

It's common to have a washing machine in the bathroom in Sweden (unless there's a communal laundry in the basement of the flats).  

I was asked the other day about the lack of clothes in Swedish homes. Looking at the above hallway, it's a valid question! Despite the Scandinavian 'less is more' philosophy, owning one coat, one bag and one pair of shoes is a push for even the most dedicated of minimalists. Trust me, the average swede has way more kit than this! Some of the homes I show, like this one, are on the market and have been styled for sale - which means a whole load of stuff has been removed. One of the thoughts behind this is that removing personal items such as photos and clothes makes it easier for potential buyers to imagine themselves in the property. Makes sense, I think! 

Overall, a really lovely apartment - could you imagine living here? I certainly could! 

Have a great start to the week!

Niki

Photography courtesy of Stadshem with thanks.

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Small-space living: An elegant Swedish 'Ettan'

An ettan (a one) is the word Swedes describe a one room apartment. But just to avoid confusion, this usually means one room plus a kitchen, just like a tvåan (a two) describes a two room flat plus a kitchen and a trean (a three) describes a three room plus kitchen. You get the gist! But what's important, isn't the size, it's the way it's organised, and how it caters for your every need. Plus of course, in true Scandi style, it needs to look beautiful too! 

I stumbled across this light and airy ettan (measuring 39 sq.m / 420 sq.ft) this morning and was immediately captivated by its elegance and charm. I also love how a simple, muted colour scheme can be given an instant lift with layers of texture and a few pretty, patterned cushions and flowers! Students decorating a dorm room - take note! Let's discover what else is at play. 

Rooms with angled walls aren't always easy to furnish. Here, a large round mirror helps to visually widen the narrower section of the room. 

Throws and blankets are essential items to create that all important mys (cosy) factor. Plus, if your bedroom is in the sitting room, a throw is a perfect way to disguise the bed in an instant! 

The chair in the corner serves as a perfect reading spot by the window, but it can also be pulled forward to create a social setting when guests arrive. 

Glass and other see-through items are ideal for small spaces as they have a 'barely there feel' and allow the light to flow through. 

A spot in the hallway doubles up as a home office.

The kitchen is lovely and spacious allowing for a table for up to six! I love the antique style. Dark wood has become hugely popular once again and I've heard rumours that the rich and famous of the USA are snapping up items from the 'Swedish Grace' era - i.e. extremely well-made furniture from the 1920's to the 1950s.  

If you look closely at the worktop immediately beside the oven you'll spot a horizontal wood strip. That's a chopping board which can be pulled out when cooking, and then pushed back in once cleaned and finished with. It's a great space saving hack! 

Notice how there are plants, a lamp and a candlestick on the windowsill - but no curtains or a blind. This is typically Swedish! By day, the plants give the illusion that nature is close by, even in the winter when the plants and trees lie dormant. By night, the lamp and candlestick emit a warm and welcoming feel from the outside - while from the inside they shield the darkness while ensuring you don't feel 'closed-in'. Don't forget that in the far North of Sweden it can be dark almost 24 hours a day in mid-winter - you don't really want your curtains closed for that length of time! 

Here is a floor plan for you so you can make sense of the space: 

Glossary: Entre - entryway, vardagsrum - sitting room, kök - kitchen, uteplats - outdoor space, inre hall, inner hallway. 

I hope you enjoyed the tour! Did anything stand out to you in particular? If so, please do comment below and join the discussion! 

I night add, this lovely apartment in Gothenburg is for sale! Could you be the next owner? 

Looking for more small space inspiration? Check out this archive - it's full of beautiful compact spaces that are big on charm! There's a chance this one. night pop up first, if so, just scroll on down to find the others. 

Have a wonderful weekend! 

Niki

Photography courtesy of Alvhem, with thanks. 

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