My New Reading Corner!

My Scandinavian Home partnership: 

Do you have a 'lost corner', in your home? A place that doesn't really add any value?! The corner of our sitting room is not strictly 'lost' - it does serve as a nice spot for binge-watching Netflix - but that's really about it - it's too dark for anything else! With the imminent arrival of Autumn (there's already a crispness in the air in Sweden - eeek!) and the days getting shorter (nooo) I finally decided to create a cosy spot that can also work as a reading corner.

Say hello to the Zuiver Shady Double wall Lamp from Houseology. I didn't choose it just for the fabulous brass and grey powder coated steel finish (honest!) - I also love that the lamp heads tilt so it can be used for reading and putting pretty things in the spotlight such as the dried flowers or one of my prints.

I also added this little Zuiver side table (after all - it's imperative to have somewhere to place your coffee / tea / glass of wine while you read, right?!). It was a tricky selection process since our sitting room is fairly monotone and that corner in particular is very tight. In the end, I was taken with the Carrara marble top and cast iron legs on this little table - both of which add texture in a pretty, yet subtle way.

How beautiful is that grey marble?! FYI for those of you who prefer a lighter look, it's also available in white.

Now that it's all in place, I'm wondering why on earth I didn't do this ages ago! Isn't that always the case? I owe a big thanks to the online interior design store Houseology - who recently added the Scandinavian-style Dutch brand to their fabulous list of brands.  Tack!

I hope this inspires you to transform that lost corner of your home too!

In the meantime, if anyone's looking for me this weekend, I'll be right here with a book!

Have a wonderful couple of days friends, see you Monday!

Niki

PS if you're wondering where anything else is from, check out this post or give me a shout in the comment section below! 



This post is brought to you in collaboration with Houseology,  however all words are my own and I only ever work with brands I love and think you will too.

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10

How About Lolling About At The Chalet, Byron Bay?

I had a discussion with someone the other day about baths in the bedroom. What's your take? For those of you who are less than keen, perhaps a simple curtain could be the perfect compromise. I for one, would be quite happy to return to this beautiful bedroom / bathroom at the The Chalet each day. It helps that it's in beautiful Byron Bay, of course, too! Oh, and there's a lovely living space and pool to enjoy too. I know. I know. 

I love the pool area - the white cladding, cactus, fabulous parasol - everything!

Could you imagine lolling about here for a few days?!

More holiday homes here - and more about The Chalet here.

Have a fabulous day!

Niki

Photography courtesy of Byron Beach Abodes

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A Scandinavian Lakeside Cabin in Warm Ochre and Neutral Hues

I'm sure you know (I do talk about it ad nauseam after all - bah!), my dream is to have a home overlooking the water one day. Do you share the same vision? If so, perhaps something like this incredible Scandinavian cabin in Alingsås would do? I stumbled upon it thanks to Jotex - a Swedish brand who used the retreat as a backdrop for their 'minimal desert' AW18 collection. The pared-back space has been sparsely furnished with beautiful pieces and decorated in rich ochre, chestnut and cream tones against a backdrop of wood and stone. Oh and did I mention it has magnificent views over a lake and slips in the most wonderful dappled light?!

Oh I could be happy rocking about on my weekends here. So happy. How about you?!

It's so interesting to see a Scandinavian take on the desert theme, I think it works beautifully, how about you?

If you'd like to see a few more Cabins / weekend retreats today, put the kettle on and scroll through the log cabin archive - there are some real goodies in there! If this one pops up first just go on passed it (unless of course you want to admire it all over again!).

What does your dream cabin look like?

Have a lovely day!

Niki

PS many of the items featured are available at Jotex (of course!).

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7

An Idyllic Swedish Summer Cottage (and Caravan) on Gotland

Every summer, Swedish journalist, blogger and writer Emma Sundh and her family swap their busy Stockholm lives for a slower pace on the beautiful island of Gotland. Long summer days are spent relaxing at their cottage, ambling along to the nearby beach or entertaining on their big pink bus (yes, really!). Welcome to Emma's delightful vintage world! 

// affiliated links marked with *//

 The Swedish summer cottage is known for being pared-back and understated. A clutch of simple wild flowers, a vintage jug and oil lamp is all this pretty table setting needs!

Pick up a vintage oil lamp here* - or for a more modern take, I'm a big fan of the Klong*!

The lavender garland is so pretty - yet so simple to make, plus you could create one to match any season!

Emma added the larder using the same materials and paint for a seamless fit with the traditional style kitchen. A Smeg fridge freezer also makes a great retro addition!  

I love this little vintage mirror, it's a perfect way to brighten up a hallway (it helps to bounce light around) and the shelf creates just enough space for a vase of wild flowers!

Who needs a coffee table when you can use two vintage suitcases* (with built-in storage too!).

 The bedroom has been simply decorated in a white, green (the shade looks similar to 'Restful Le Havre') and dark wood scheme - flowers add a lovely pop of colour!

One of the children's bedrooms has been decorated in the same colour.

Pick up a similar vintage school poster here*.

Emma has covered one wall in the top bedroom with the super pretty Carnation Garden wallpaper from BoråsTapater.

There's additional space for guests in a fab retro caravan. And supper is sometimes served on Emma's pink bus!

What a beautiful way to spend the summer!

Pink bus anyone?!

Check out more truly lovely Gotland cottages here:

A charming 19th century house
A Pared-back Swedish summer home
The bohemian holiday home of a Swedish photographer

And keep an eye on Emma's blog Emma's Vintage and instagram feed for snapshots from her life on Gotland and Sweden's capital city.

Have a dreamy day friends!

Niki

Photography: 1 & 6 Therese / Studio Plåthus the rest by Emma Sundh, shared with kind permission.

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3

Small Spaces: Grandma Style Meets Urban Jungle in a Berlin Rental Decorated on a Shoe-string

Hej hej! I hope you had a fabulous weekend?! Mine was just what I needed - hanging out, swimming in the sea, relaxing. And it was during one of these moments, a friend made a comment while  browsing an interior magazine: 'the homes and items in this magazine are so exclusive and out of my reach that it all feels completely irrelevant." Do you feel like that sometimes too? You're not alone, my 'small spaces' archive is the most popular and viewer figures sky rocket when I feature a low budget home. And this is what inspired today's tour!

Joana Gericke is an environmental engineer masters student and lives in Berlin with her boyfriend (also a student) and two cats (does everyone in Berlin have a cat?!). The pair have decorated their delightful 56 square metre (602 square feet) rental apartment almost entirely with secondhand and handmade items. Joana shares her tips on how to create a beautiful home on a shoe-string budget - and enjoy a  ore sustainable lifestyle as a result!

This striped linen table cloth* is similar, glass storage jars*, source vintage basket* and scales*

"My home is a mix of Grandma style and urban jungle - very few pieces are new" Joana told me. "I like my home to feel personal, cosy and full of memories."

A dark blue accent wall in the kitchen helps to create impact and a vintage ladder provides extra storage without having to drill into the walls of the rental apartment. 

A stove top kettle helps to free up counter space in the galley kitchen (I so need to get one for my own kitchen - I've got my eye on one of these vintage beauties*!).

Dried flowers are a big trend this year - and of course, they last forever! Perfect!

"If you are on a tight budget, go to flea markets, especially those that aren't crowded with tourists," advises Joana. "This is a problem in Berlin - so called 'vintage markets' are expensive. I'd recommend going to smaller ones in suburban areas. I also like eBay Kleinanzeigen where you can buy and sell low cost items. I don't know if there is something similar in your country but I think so."

"If there is something you can't find second hand, think about making it yourself - there's often an easy way and it'll feel more personal and can fit your needs and style."

"If there's something you want but don't need right away, it's better to wait until you can afford it rather than buy a cheaper version that is not quite right,"  advises Joana.

 The bed is on a raised platform so that the room can double up as an office.

Isn't this space charming? There are so many lovely ideas to steal! 

It's quite incredible what an impact vintage items and plants can make to a space - and it's amazing what you can find for a song if you're smart about it. 

Is there anything you love in particular about Joana's home? 

Joana finds inspiration at: @friederikchen, @becausethereisnoplanetb_ and @doitbutdoitnow

(among others) and of course, there's always Joana's own inspiring feed! 

Check out more small spaces here and two beautiful homes decorated on a shoe-string budget here and here!

Have a great start to the week!

Niki

Photography: Joana Gericke

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