3 Gift Guides: My Pick of Beautiful Danish Glassware for Every Style

Sponsored by Pernille Bülow - all words and photos are my own. I only ever work with brands I love and think you will too. 

Yes, I know it's early November, but 'the early bird catches the morning worm' as they say - and I wanted to make sure you hear about Pernille Bülow's beautiful items in order for them to arrive before Christmas - after all, it could take a little while for the elves in the Baltic sea to craft, pack and send!  

You may recognise the name, Pernille Bülow is a glass atelier on the Danish island of Bornholm producing the most beautiful, sustainable and handmade glassware. I have featured their dinnerware, mouth-blown lighting and Christmas decorations quite a few times over the years as they are one of my favourite Scandinavian ateliers. And last December, I even paid them a visit in Bornholm on a snowy weekend!

This year, I thought I'd create three ultimate gift guides - each capturing a beautiful selection of hand-picked items from their atelier, photographed in my home and studio. I hope you find something special for family and friends - and maybe even a little pressie for yourself! 

Gift guide for those who love Christmas and entertaining

In my mind Christmas ornaments make the best presents. Who doesn't love a tree filled with memories and personal touches? The same goes for glassware! 

From sparkling glass drops and mouth-blown baubles to gleaming Optic plates and vases, here's my round-up of presents that includes everything you or a friend will love for decorating and entertaining for years to come. 

Clockwise from top left: 1. ReUse Christmas ornament 2. Sky Christmas ornament - aubergine 3. ReUse vase optic 4. ReUse optic dish 5. ReUse optic bowl 6. ReUse Christmas drop

Gift guide for those who love handmade

There's something special about items that have been made by hand. Perfectly imperfect, no two items are the same and really give a home a soul. Here is a round-up of six lovely handmade pieces from Pernille Bülow that would make the perfect present:

Clockwise from top left: 1. Velvet glass beige 2. Bird vase rose 3. Round bowl rose 4. Sky lamp - smoke 5. Bubble candlestick 6. Balu clear wine glass

Gift guide for those who love sustainably made pieces

And for my third and final gift guide, it's all about glassware that has been thoughtfully made with the planet in mind. From candlesticks and jugs to beautiful lighting made from recycled glass waste from the pharmaceutical industry - there's something for everyone! 

Clockwise from top left: 1. ReUse jug optic 2. ReUse champagne coupe 3. ReUse vase sand 4. ReUse candlestick 5. ReUse lamp with optics 6. ReUse cocktail glass

I hope these gift guides are helpful - and that you treat yourself - or friends and family to something special.

Is there anything that caught your eye in particular? If so, it's time to drop a few hints to those near and dear ;) 

In case you feel like paying Bornholm a visit one day, here is my winter travel guide guide - filled with Christmas markets, restaurants serving delicious locally grown produce, wintery walks along the coast and as well as where to shop.  It's an incredible island in all seasons! 

If you'd like to see a little more inspiration today, here are a few features I've shown in the past: 

Christmas in Helen Sturesson's cosy Swedish cottage

A summer shoot at my summer cottage with my dear friend Tove (including my favourite drink recipe)

Mouth-blown lamps over my kitchen island

Have a wonderful weekend - I'll be back Monday with a very exciting home tour, see you then! 

Niki

All photography by me (Niki Brantmark), styling by Helen Sturesson

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Step Inside Höda’s Creative Swedish Farmhouse

Earlier this week, I had a delightful surprise: a note from Höda Vestregård arrived in my inbox, complete with a link to her beautiful home just outside Jönköping, Sweden.

Höda, along with her husband, two daughters, and their cat Tiger, represent the seventh generation to live on her family’s farm, having purchased the farmhouse from her grandparents. The property offers plenty of room for the family to spread out and for Höda to pursue her art—some of the larger paintings you see on the walls are her own. But the creativity doesn't stop there. 

"I am an artist with a very creative mind, and I’d rather build something myself than buy it," Höda shared. True to her words, much of the renovation has been done by hand. Höda and her husband built the kitchen themselves, with help from Höda’s father. Just last weekend, she took on the bedroom, adding paneling and using fabric in place of wallpaper.

Throughout the home, there are inviting spots for writing, playing music, and collaborating, reflecting the family’s creative spirit. These spaces are brought to life with unique vintage finds, clever use of wallpaper, and personal, beautiful details that make each corner feel inspiring.

Välkommen to Höda’s charming family home and atelier!

Wait. There's just one picture missing. Say 'hej' to Tiger! 

What a great tour! There's just so much to look at. Did anyone else spot the old wooden clogs? They've no doubt been on the farm for generations. 

Is there anything that stood out to you, or any important details you felt particularly charmed by? If so, please do share below! 

You can see more of Höda's farmhouse and art over on her instagram @fiiint_som_snus. 

Got a little more time today? How about taking a little look around these farmhouses: 

The beautiful white farmhouse of an interior designer

A charming farmhouse in Piteå

Old meets new in a Danish farmhouse with a thatch roof

Happy mid-week friends, thank you for dropping by!

Niki

Photography by Höda Vestregård / @fiiint_som_snus, shared with kind permission.

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A Cosy, Historic Shipbuilder’s Cottage in Tasmania Awaits!

Hej hej! I hope you had a lovely weekend. We've been up at our cabin, and it’s got me in the mood for an extra-cosy home tour today—are you up for the ride?

Great, because we’re heading to Twiss Street in Northern Tasmania!

You might recognize this charming little heritage cottage from a feature I wrote last year. Formerly a shipbuilder's cottage dating back to 1890, this 160-year-old property underwent a major renovation before becoming a cosy Airbnb retreat. And now, it could be your own personal getaway as the owner has decided to sell it!

I love how these pictures reveal new angles, allowing us to appreciate the craftsmanship, unique corners, and details like never before. While the beautiful vintage and antique furnishings are relatively understated, it’s the original hand-sawn local hardwood timber, exposed roof shingles, and wide-plank flooring—salvaged from a ship’s deck—combined with lime-rendered walls and a brick fireplace that give it its striking, unique look and help transform it into the cosy cocoon that it is.

Ready to step into the dark side? Let’s take a peek inside. 

So beautiful! I love how the ceiling varies throughout, along with the wood cladding and dark timber floors, which truly bring the property’s heritage to the forefront.

Plus, it seems like every piece of furniture and each painting has its own story, making them fit right in.

Needless to say, the cottage has been featured in numerous magazines and books, including The Poetry of Spaces by Sarah Andrews.

I could easily spend a week cosied up by the fire—how about you?

Is there anything in particular that stands out to you about this cottage?

I have a real soft spot for cottages and cabins in Tassie! Here are a few more of my favourites:

Captain's Cottage - a cosy bolthole in Tasmania

A wabi-sabi getaway in the Bay of Fires

Imagining a weekend at Millington house

Cosy Hide-away: The Butcher's House

I hope this has given you something to dream about for the week! 

Niki

Photography courtesy of Circa heritage & Lifestyle, you can see more images over at @twissstreet. 

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A Beautiful, Earthy Stockholm Home with Old World Charm

God morgon (good morning!), I'm stopping by today to share a wonderful apartment in Stockholm with you. Despite the usual architecture - high ceilings, wonderfully large windows etc, this one hits a little differently the others I have shown recently thanks to it's dark wood floor - which is unusual in a Scandinavian home! 

The decor has a wonderful old-world charm about it - especially in the kitchen, where a dark wood floor combines with traditional style cabinets and plenty of wall hung pots and pans giving it a cosy feel. 

Note the blue-grey theme throughout the home - seen on the cabinets, skirting boards, door frames and shelves - creating a beautiful, cohesive feel. A closer inspection will also reveal an old wardrobe transformed into bookshelves, a lovely gallery of photos that goes up and around a door as well as some pretty Kilim rugs which add a sense of warmth.

Let's take a look around. 

Beautiful!

I was actually chatting to an interior design friend the other day about re-painting my house with some subtle new colours, and maybe also the door frames. She was enthusiastic but also told me to exercise a little caution: 'you can get tired of colour quite quickly'. For this reason, I'll need to choose VERY carefully and select colours that a) we love and b) aren't too 'in your face' - preferably earthy nature tones. And also, I'm thinking of painting just the areas that are easy to repaint - like walls! But we'll see.

What are your thoughts on this? Do you have a favourite accent colour in your home? 

And is there anything about this charming home that stood out to you? 

I'm looking forward to reading and responding to comments over a coffee this weekend - it's one of my favourite moments.

But before we all head off, would you like to see a couple of other Scandinavian city apartments ? Here are some from the archive to fall in love with all over again: 

A charming blend of old and new in a Stockholm home

A Copenhagen family home full of books and other treasures

A stunning Norwegian home in many shades of blue

I hope you have enjoyed the tours this week. Have a fabulous couple of days! 

See you Monday!

Niki

Photography Copparstad, styling Andersson for Historiska Hem - found via Nordroom with thanks. 

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