A Relaxed Swedish Family Home, Where Sofa's are Part of the Fun!

What month is considered the height of summer in your country? In Scandinavia it's July - which I always struggle to adjust to considering throughout my childhood in England, it was always about August! While my instagram feed is flooded with summer holiday pics from Europeans, here in Sweden, we're eking out the late summer and sneaking moments outdoors at lunchtime or after work - acutely aware that our summer will aoon be over, and Autumn is just around the corner. 

Perhaps that's why I've been drawn to Swedish villas with pools lately? I even had a dream that my family and I had bought a house with a pool AND a sea view last night (imagine my disappointment when I woke up?)- what does that mean I wonder? 

Alexandra Isaksson and her family are no doubt enjoying their pool in the late summer sun - but their beautiful home in Alingsås, Northeast of Gothenburg is also perfect for cosy autumn days. Natural materials seen in the vintage wood furniture, textiles and stonework help to create a cosy feel and botanical-themed wallpaper ensures that nature, although faded, is never far away. 

I love that in this home, nothing is too precious - true to the Scandinavian design ethos, everything is there to be used and enjoyed. You only have to look at the little children jumping from sofa to sofa (this would never have washed with my Mum and her upholstered antique chesterfields nor with my grandmother where the living room was for special occasions only!). Enjoy the tour! 

Wall mounted shelving like this has made a major comeback in Scandinavia lately and it's a great way to keep everything to hand. Keep a look out for vintage ones at flea markets - they're easy to personalise with paint! Or, do like Kristin Lagerqvist and make your own! 

I have always loved the use of curtains in replace of wardrobe doors, it adds a really soft touch to a space and can be a great quick fix to hide junk!

You might well recognise the sofas - they are the popular Söderhamn from IKEA covered with linen from Bemz - I have changed up my sofa a number of times thanks to the Swedish brand (who sell worldwide) ! 

I have always loved this Flos Gatto Piccolo lamp, it's soft yet makes a statement.

Do you recognise the wallpaper in the little girl's room? I recently used this in the bedroom makeover at our summer cottage. I love how Alexandra has paired it with a pink accent.

The bedroom got a small recent update to include shelves over the desk too - practical and pretty. 

I hope you liked this tour of Alexandra's home today! It's certainly brightened up my mid-week. 

Please do share your observations / comments below - whether about this home or even general stuff (feel free to start your own thread!), I'd love to hear from you. I really enjoyed reading about your childhood nostalgia in Monday's post (and happy you agreed that the little chair I featured is lovely in every way!). 

You can see more pictures from Alexandra's home over on her instagram feed @alexandraeleonor.

Would you like to see a few more homes with wallpaper today? Take a peek at:

A dream-like Swedish family home that's full of inspiring details

Pattern, prints and inspiring hacks in a charming Swedish house

A rundown house becomes a Swedish country home

Stor kram! 

Niki

Photography courtesy of @alexandraeleonor, shared with kind permission

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14

Meet the Danish Classic That Now Comes in a Children's Version!

Kindly sponsored by Carl Hansen & Søn, all words are my own, and I only ever work with brands I love and think you will too.

If you're a fan of Scandinavian design, you'll no doubt be familiar with the Wishbone chair - it's one of the most iconic chairs ever made. You might even be lucky enough to own one (we have a blue version in our dining room). Designed by Hans J. Wegner in 1949, the chair is just as popular today as it was back then because it's beautifully handcrafted, comfortable and it's timeless.  

There's one problem though - it's a little too big for the smallest members of the family. A problem that has now been rectified by Carl Hansen & Søn in honour of Hans J. Wegner's 110th birthday. Ladies and gentlemen, please be upstanding (we wouldn't fit in it anyway) and say 'hej' to the CH24 Children's Wishbone Chair!

It's not often that I get completely over excited by a piece of furniture (Oh, OK then, it is!), but when this little beauty - designed for children aged three plus, appeared fresh out of the box in our little cabin,  myself, Per and my Mother-in-law all oohed and aahed and fell completely and utterly in love! It's the exact replica of CH24 Wishbone Chair in every way, and equally beautifully crafted, just scaled down to perfection - and it's very very cute! 

The frame is made from the same solid oak with just as much care put into the carpentry, and the seat has been handwoven from paper cord - just like its mummy version! One of the things I love about these materials and the good craftsmanship is that it will withstand time and can be passed from one generation to the next. 

Sadly, my children are way too big for it (Liv turned sixteen on Saturday and Alice will be 14 in October), but that doesn't stop me from dreaming about having it around - not only for little visitors like my nieces, but one day for my (whisper it) grandchildren! Just like Ylva had mini wooden chairs on standby in the living room of her Stockholm home. Could you also imagine owning one of these? 

While you can't keep everything from your children's childhood, there are a few items that are close to my heart. These pretty hand painted clogs were Alice's when she was small and this well-loved Elsa Beskow children's book has a permanent space on the bookshelf. Are there items like this that feel particularly nostalgic to you - or perhaps there's something special that your parents saved from your childhood that you cherish? 

Oh, and do you recognise the chair beside it? It's the FK10 Plico chair by Jørgen Kastholm, also from Carl Hansen & Søn - a Danish classic, and probably one of the most precious pieces of furniture I own - although I rarely get to sit in it as it's everyone's favourite! I shared a few more pictures of it in our cabin here, in case you'd like to see! 

For now, I do have it to myself, and I'll happily sip my tea in peace!

What do you think of this CH24 Children's Wishbone Chair? Could you imagine having it in your home for little ones? If so, you can find out more information about it here. 

Looking for more inspiration today? You might like to see a few other Danish classics I've featured in the past including the Windsor Chair in our cabin and a peek behind the facade of Hellerup manor, which I snapped on my visit to film with Knud Erik Hansen, the CEO and grandson of the founder of Carl Hansen & Søn. It's a day that remains etched in my memory as I felt so welcome and Knud Erik is so passionate about furniture and such an interesting man - always with a fascinating story to tell. 

Have a great start to the week all! 

Niki

All photography and styling by me 

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8

Ylva's Lovely Swedish Family Apartment with Blue and Yellow Accents

Final stop for the week: this beautiful family apartment by the harbour in Gröndal, Stockholm - a perfect oasis for Ylva, her husband and their two children Maj and August. 

The pad itself is quite the find. Not only does it occupy a corner in a building dating back to 1913 - meaning light from two sides, it also boasts not one, not two, but three beautiful kakelugn (tiles masonry ovens). While bones are important, what you do with it and how it works for you as a family is crucial, and Ylva's home is full of lovely corners and inspiring details. Let's delve a little deeper. 

The dining area in the kitchen might not be big, but it certainly looks cosy thanks to built in seating and plenty of natural light. 

The cosy sitting room is arranged in a sociable way, with two sofas facing one another and cushions, blankets and a fluffy rug for maximum comfort! Notice the pale yellow and light blue tones which act as a the red thread (refer to my previous post for more info!) throughout the apartment. 

A simple wooden IKEA stool can be painted in whatever colour you like and is a great way to add in an extra touch of your chosen accent colour. 

The rug from Nordic knots is a nice twist on the usual Jute mat. I have this exact blue Flowerpot lamp by &Tradition in my home too! The bench table is from IKEA. 

Baskets are a popular storage choice in Ylva's home - used above to store firewood. I love the addition of the little children's chairs in the sitting room - a sign that are all are welcome and catered for. Keep an eye out for my post soon featuring a wonderful danish design classic which is now available in a children's size. Can you guess which one it is? 

A classic Swedish bumling light in brass can be seen over the dining table and mix and matched chairs create an informal, relaxed touch to the space. 

Bedding is a fantastic way to quickly update a room (look closely and you'll notice two single duvets instead of one double as is customary in a Swedish home - and something I've expanded on in my book: Lagom*). Here, a yellow duvet cover matches the art work over the bed - and ties the room in with the rest of the flat. 

The children's bedrooms are the exact mirror reflection of each other. 

Yellow curtains offer a cheerful, sunny feel even when the sky is grey, and an array of baskets make the ideal storage for bears and other bits and bobs (this type of storage is particularly good as children can just chuck things in - which makes tidying up quick and easy). 

The yellow and blue theme is carried through to the bathroom in the form of paint work and art, while the maroon chequered floor is a wonderful nod to the age of the building. If you look back through the pictures, you'll notice this hue in other rooms too, albeit in very subtle ways. 

All in all, a truly lovely, well thought out home, do you agree? I'd love to hear your thoughts and what you have observed, always so interesting! 

If you'd like to see more of Ylva's home, hop on over to @doneriet on instagram where you'll find a ton more images. 

Right folks, that's it from me! Lot's to do today with work to finish off, a daughter's birthday to plan (Liv turns sweet 16 tomorrow!) and packing for my trip to Denmark for Formland on Sunday. All fun things, but I'll really appreciate that Friday glass of wine (or two) this evening!

Skål to the weekend! 

Niki

Photography: @doneriet, shared with kind permission.

PS Just a heads up that there is only two weeks left to make the most of the Skandinavisk 20% discount (myscandinavianhome20). You can read more about my two of my favourite fragrances for hand soaps, body washes, candles etc and see pics of them in my cabin from this sponsored post here. 

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8

A Creative Swedish Home Filled with Art

Yesterday, I mentioned that I'd feature a Danish home today, but you know how it is, plans change! I promise the feature is still in the pipeline (watch this space). But the good news is, I have another inspiring home to share with you, in the form of this creative Swedish apartment! 

The 44 sqm (473 square foot) apartment caught my eye thanks to its unique style - it's like none other I've seen before! Think walls filled with original art, vibrant cushions, interesting colour combinations, mix and match vintage furniture and plenty of plants! 

Keep your eyes peeled during the tour as there are plenty of small touches to feel inspired by - and also two very clever colour styling tricks. 

Allow me to explain the first. When adding a strong colour to a space it can create a nice element of surprise. However, a random colour on its own can be quite jarring to the eye and ruin the harmony - or even completely take over a space. So, experts often use a rule of three, which simply means, that if you add an accent colour to a space, try to repeat it three times to balance the look. 

The second trick is referred to as the 'rödtråd' in Swedish - which translates to 'the red thread'. The idea is to repeat an accent colour throughout your home to create a flow. In this home for example, you can see the table legs in the kitchen match the pendant lamp in the bedroom. 

 

Such an interesting home! I love the unique touches and homely feel. 

Is there anything that caught your eye? Perhaps you use some design tricks in your home? If so, please do share in the comments below if you'd like! 

Would you like to see a few other creative homes today? How about: 

I also stumbled on this lovely post featuring pictures from creative workspaces! 

The happy home of artist Katie Schelter

The fab creative home and studio of a Brooklyn creative duo

The relaxed creative home of an Antwerp couple

I hope you enjoyed today's tour! 

Niki

Photography: Boukari

Styling: Copparstad

Featured on Historiska Hem

Found via Nordroom with thanks. 

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18

Come and join me at Formland!

Sponsored post

Hooray! It's that time of year again. It's time for Formland - the most inspiring interior, lifestyle and design trade show in the Nordics which takes place between 17th - 19th August. I love my bi-annual trips to Herning in Denmark to catch up on the latest news, trends, talks and general lowdown from industry insiders within the world of interior design. 

A heads up that tickets are free for international visitors, and available here. If you live a little too far away or not in the trade, you are so welcome to follow my instagram stories to get an inside view live from the fair. In the meantime, I'll be back tomorrow with a very exciting Danish home tour to get us all in the mood! 

Niki

Photography courtesy of Poster & Frame, one of the exhibitors at Formland this weekend. 

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