A Dutch Home Infused with Warmth and Harmony

Hello Monday! I hope you had a great weekend? It was midsummer here so we're all nursing slight schnapps hangovers (lethal stuff that!). Nothing a double shot of coffee and a beautiful home tour can't fix though, thankfully! And have I got a charming home for you this bright, sunny Monday! Located in Monster (amazing name!), close to the Hague in The Netherlands, Tinta Luhrman's abode has a tremendously calm and harmonic feel thanks to the touches of beautifully crafted wood throughout. It's little wonder the owners have turned woodwork into a successful online business. I caught up with Tinta to find out more about interior design, her love of 'brown' tones and working with wood.

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Who do you live with?
I live with the most special man, Rutger, the most beautiful girl Dieuwertje and the best dog ever, Paxi!

Dining chair*, Era armchair*, Natural linen table cloth*

Selenelion Moon print by Stella Marie Baer, Olly Wood Surf Board


What do you do for a living?
My husband and I design and make furniture and also have a webshop selling handmade products. I am an interior designer and Rutger is a carpenter. After years of working independently, we decided to combine forces and start working together.

What is the essence of Woodchuck? 

Simplicity and natural materials are at the heart of our business. We live and breathe wood, literally ;-). From early on, I was drawn to the colours, smell and look and feel of wood and Rutger loves to work with his hands. Woodchuck is a concept that is 100% us. Everything we sell is created by us and passes through our hands. We love this old school way of working and believe putting that extra bit of love into a product gives it something special - both for us and the clients.

"Design is an ongoing process that keeps growing until it's finished. Nothing is so subject to change as wood and a creative mind."

Mobile by Laine Maison Makes, Art by Lily Nichols

You have a beautifully unique interior, how has this evolved?

Since I was little I have always surrounded myself with natural materials. I've always been into Scandinavian and Japanese style. I don’t follow trends, I've always stayed true to myself. I have a penchant for vintage items but also new designs. Every house needs a uniqueness. I always start with a white canvas and then I let the interior evolve. Every room has a different light and feeling so I use this as my base. The same goes for the colors I use.

"Everyone has his of her own color: brown is mine. It's a hue that brings me a sense of calm and happiness. And I eat chocolate every day ;)" 

 

Woodchuck shelf

Vintage fans*

Do you have any tips for anyone looking to introduce more wood into their home?

I think wood gives your home warmth and the combination of using different kind of wood enhances this. But not every one loves it. Choose the wood you like the most to create your own look.

Bespoke wood wall by Woodchuck, Natural linen bedding*

Do you have any general interior styling tips?

Decorate your home in a way that feels good to you and dare to be different. Stay true to yourself. Surround yourself with beauty and try to have less storage space so you don’t buy a lot of things you don’t use. That’s why we have an open kitchen: we only have things in our kitchen that we use, not a pantry full of things we don’t.

Swedish Linens bed sheet

Thank you for welcoming us into your home Tinta. 

Anyone else tempted to add more wood to their home now? If you're looking for me today I'll be over on the Woodchuck website (or Tinta's instagram feed - looking for inspiration!), see you there?!

I also love the floor in the children's bedroom - I've got such a weakness for painted checks! Is there anything that struck you about this home? 

In case you're feeling inspired by all things wood you might also want to check out a Brooklyn home with reclaimed wood and the lovely home of ÉmilieDesjarlais (in case you missed it last week!) and also this guide to parquet floors.

Oh and this Dutch home features some lovely pieces from Woodchuck too.

Have a great start to the week!

Niki

All photography: Tinta Lurhman / Woodchuck

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5 Ways to Celebrate Midsummer Like a Swede

Elle Decoration France

Midsummer is arguably the most celebrated day in the Swedish calendar - and my all time favourite! As with all Swedish festivities, the Swedes gather the day before on Midsommarafton (Midsummer Eve) for a beautifully rustic affair involving wild flowers, in-seasonal goodies and dancing around a maypole - no matter the weather! Even if you're not in residing in this Nordic land, why not channel the Swedes - wear flowers in your hair, eat, drink and be merry this weekend?! Here's my guide to five Midsummer musts!

1. Create a midsommarkrans - a crown made from wild flowers (or cheat a little and pick up some beautiful fresh blooms from your local florist!). There's a handy step by step guide in my Lagom book and online here!   

Anna Kubel

2. Dine alfresco - no matter the weather (in fact, midsummer weather in Sweden is known for being rainy and blowing a gale - but that never stops the revellry!).

Our Food Stories

3. Tuck into sill o potatis - pickled herring and new potatoes are a midsummer staple - but you could go wild and create an entire Swedish smågårsbord. Extra points if you down your fork once in a while and sing a ditty en masse!

Honestly Yum

4. Eat the largest, juiciest strawberries you can find -  alone, with fresh cream,  in a pie or even dipped in chocolate. As long as they're red and dotty, you're totally on point!

Julicious

5. Drink something on the strong side - preferably homemade Akvavit (schnapps). My father-in-law makes a mean Akvavit, but I still like mine tempered down a little with wild elderflower syrup (that'll be the Brit at the table then...!).

An then the evening is yours to sing, dance and chat under the midnight sun!

Oh and I don't suppose you have a Maypole handy? If you do, it's customary to hop round it like a frog. Yep. Refer to point number 5.

And finally, Swedish tradition dictates that if a single woman gathers seven different types of flowers and places them under her pillow on midsummer day, she'll dream of the man she's going to marry! Well worth a shot, don't you think? It might just be that tall, blonde Swede sitting opposite you at the midsummer table!

Glad Misommar allihoppa! Skål!

Niki

Due to the Swedish holiday I'll be back on Monday, I hope you have a great weekend!

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The Lovely Home of Émilie Desjarlais

Why, hello there! How's your week panning out? Mine seems to be disappearing at a rapid rate, but I did find myself stopping for a very long breather when I stumbled across this beautiful home (take a look below and I'm sure you'll totally understand why!). I also couldn't resist getting in touch with the French Canadian owner Émilie Desjarlais of Brook & Peony to a find out a little more about her wabi-sabi home, which she shares with her adorable little girl. Enjoy the tour!

Where do you live?
In a 700 feet square studio in Saint-Lambert, Canada.

What do you do for a living?

I'm actually trying to figure out what would be the ideal career to have and a healthy balance with my young daughter. I'm currently doing visual content creation and interior styling.

Can you tell us a little more about your home?

I'm renting an apartment in a building from 1900. The owners kept most of the original structure including the claw foot tub, windows and floors. I'm very lucky to live in such a beautiful house and neighborhood. 

How would you describe your style?

My style is very bipolar. I can't stick with one particular style! It's influenced by inspiration, trends and my travels. I would say it's Minimalist/Scandinavian/ Beach shack/ Antique.

Has living in Montreal influenced your style?

Yes because our rents aren't as expensive as the rest of Canada so we can live in a place with a lot of space without going bankrupt! Since I've only lived in old apartments, I have learned how to make the most of what I have. Old apartments don't necessarily mean they're clean and in a good condition. This is actually the first place I haven't had to fix anything. I only need to paint it and change the light fixtures. 

What is important to you when creating a family home?
Since my daughter is very young, making it accessible and safe was my top priority. To keep my sanity I also made our living space very minimalistic. To make it feel like a home, I believe you need to surround yourself with objects and furniture you love and put your heart into it.

Your home has a lovely, organic feel to it. Do you have any tips for anyone looking to create a similar look and feel?

My best advice is to take your time. In August, it will be one year since we moved in and it's only just starting to feel like home. To create an organic feel you have to live somewhere for a while and observe the way you use the space. 

I understand you have a background as an artist, can you tell us a little more about your work?

I haven't created for two years. This is why I have turned my creative energy to content creation. I hope to be able to create again soon. For now Instagram is the best place to follow me.

Which are your go-to instagram accounts for inspiration? 
I'm very lucky to call @kara_bino, @audreyrivet and @oohdearjade my friends. And my favourite Instagram feeds for Scandinavian inspiration are @hej.mia, @mamoesjka_nl and @tintaluhrman. 

And finally, do you have any shopping tips for anyone visiting Montreal? 

I work at @cheznouschezvous a brick and mortage boutique in my town . The owner has a lot to do with my passion for scandinavian interiors! If you're in downtown Montreal you have to stop at @maison_pepin (www.thepepinshop.com), @prunellefurniture and @commedesenfants.

Thank you so much for welcoming us into your beautiful home Émelie! 

If you don't already follow Brook & Peony on instagram - it's an absolute must!!

And for more Canadian inspiration today I absolutely love this studio apartment in Montreal and an idyllic Scandinavian-style cottage overlooking Lake Huron. Guh! I'd so love to visit Canada , it's a dream of mine (and now we've got a whole load of shopping tips for Montreal too!). Have you been?

I'm heading off for a photo shoot on a beach this evening. The sun doesn't set until 10.00pm and it never really gets completely dark right now - as a result the light is absolutely magical! I only hope I can capture it (I've never done a beach shoot before - eeeek - wish me luck!). I'm looking forward to sharing the results with you in few weeks time, in the meantime, feel free to follow along on stories (all tips welcome!).

Have a beautiful evening!

Niki

All photography  © Émilie Desjarlais / Brook & Peony

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A Beautiful, Spanish Style House in California

It's a little grey here in Scandinavia today so I thought I'd escape to Altadena, California for today's home tour - fancy joining me?! This beautifully renovated home is the work of interior designer Rosa Beltran of Homepolish. Rosa told Domino magazine that the "home was a badly done faux Mediterranean 1990's spec house" when she was called in to help. After countless structural changes, interior updates and newly sourced furniture and light fittings, the house has been transformed into a beautiful, light and modern Spanish architectural style house. Let's take a tour.

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The ceilings in the sitting room are 9 metres (30 foot) high - Rosa felt they made such a dramatic statement, the room didn't need many other elements. My eyes are also on that tree in the corner of the room - it's such a clever way to add a little height and draw the eye upwards.

Roost padron chair, Batik cushion*, Moroccan pouf*

The extra wide windowsill also doubles as a lovely nook - and a perfect spot for a morning coffee looking out over the garden. Imagine?!

Layered rugs soften the look of the monochrome stairwell, and the tribal fabrics add an exotic touch to an otherwise classic look.

Jute rug*, Kilim rug*

The high ceilings and spacious design of the bedroom allowed for a wrought iron four-poster bed - a material typically seen in Spanish style houses. I love the way this has been combined with other textural elements including a sculptural pendant lamp, Scandinavian style bench and linen curtains.

 The bathroom was inspired by the hammam experience - and features the most beautiful wall-to-wall mirrors (the patina!), a Moroccan style tiled floor and rustic wood elements.

Rustic wooden bench*, Light grey Clover tiles

Living here would kind of feel like you're permanently on holiday, don't you think?! How fabulous!

I've got a weakness for rustic wood (one of my favourite pieces is my bench / coffee table in my sitting room) and batik so I'll totally be pinning the sitting room and bathroom!

Is there anything that stands out to you?

You can read more more about this renovation and see a few more pics on Domino magazine. Thank you so much to The Style Files too (where I first spotted it).

Things are getting a little crazy around here as the summer holidays are coming up. Sweden pretty much shuts down in July and it's like the whole country is trying to get everything done before they leave - oj oj oj! It doesn't help that this is a short week too as it's midsummer's eve on Friday.

Speaking of which, I've been compiling a midsummer inspiration post which I can't wait to share with you over the next few days! Wild flowers at the ready...

Have a great day!

Niki

Photography Chad Mellon. Shared with kind permission from Domino Magazine.

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Summer News in the MSHB House!

In paid partnership with TRIWA

Hej hej! I added two new additions to the house over the weekend: some beautiful wild flowers (OK, they were from a local flower shop - but they could have been picked from a Swedish meadow had I lived in the countryside - and I'm hoping to pick similar ones for my daughters' midsummer crowns on Friday!). And the other? A new watch for the man about the house. It's called Raven Nevil and it's got a real summer vibe about it (I love the black dials and organically tanned leather strap!).

OK, it's not solely for Per - I like wearing it too as it's kind of over-sized in a cool way - and great with a 'boyfriend' shirt (that's two things I need to to nick from his wardrobe now - poor guy!). 

It's made by Swedish brand TRIWA (if you stop by regularly you'll know the name as I've been a proud ambassador for a while now), everything they do is beautiful and the straps are all made from organically tanner (and there's even a limited edition capsule collection made from recycled plastic!). I've got a small watch collection going and I love dipping in and out of it depending on what I'm wearing. That's not me showing off, it's just, that I don't normally have a collection of anything so I'm super proud - you should see my shoe collection, it's dismal!

No rest for the #husbandofinstagram! Is this picture cheesy? I couldn't decide! If so, it's entirely my fault as I'm way better at photographing interiors than I am people! Even so, he's very happy with his new watch. And he got a nice cup of coffee to go with it too (who says I don't look after him?!). What do you reckon, it kind of suits him, right?!

Oh and you might be wondering what room this is: it's my step sons (remember the make-over a few weeks back?) - when he's not here and we have guests, he's cool with us transforming it into a guest room. I'm still in love with the blue wall!

You can pick up this beauty - AKA the Raven Nevil here - or explore the summer collection here. 

Oh and, excitingly, TRIWA is also launching a new Humanium metal watch which is made from destructed illegal fire arms, to fight violence and poverty.  See the inspiring film, and sign-up to to get your hands on one of the first TRIWA x HUMANIUM watches here. 

Oh, and they offer free world wide shipping. Just saying!

Have a fab Tuesday!

PS I'll be back a little later with a home tour, see you then! 

This post is brought to you in collaboration with TRIWA, however all words are my own and I only ever work with brands I love and think you will too. Thank you for supporting the wonderful businesses that make MSHB possible! 

 

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2

A Danish Home Full of Vintage Treasures

As a London girl - I've always felt comforted by the fact that Copenhagen is just a short hop over the Öresund bridge from Malmö. Not only does it give me that big city feeling I sometimes crave, it also opens up a world of Danish design and vintage finds! It's like living in two cities (and countries) in one! One of my latest finds is Finderi, a secondhand shop owned by Josephine Ilmi Johansen selling a trove of vintage treasures. Josephine also works as an interior designer, stylist and writer, offering her services through Autent. It's little wonder her own home is full of the most amazing finds from across the eras, beautiful artwork and intriguing details.

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"I rarely hunt for anything in particular, so I often end up surprising myself with the objects I'm drawn to."

This little teak side table and original Hans Wegner sofa (that blue velvet is divine) were recently sold through Josephine's shop. Keep an eye out for similar on Etsy*.

These classic Arne Jacobsen Series 7 chairs* are possibly my favourite dining chairs of all time - I especially love the light tan leather! Would you also be quite happy to sit and dine on these bad boys each day?!

"Rather than chasing any certain trend or designer, I tend to just trust my initial gut feeling about a piece of furniture, pottery or art; I reckon that if I love it, It's by definition my style and I don't pay much regard to whether other people 'get it' or not."

How beautiful is the pink and dark teak wood combination in Josephine's kitchen?! I love the brass accent (thanks to a Bumling pendant light* by Anders Pehrson which has been transformed into an extractor hood!) and touches of emerald green velvet too (source similar cushions here*).

"Generally speaking, I'm attracted to round and odd shapes, great handcraft, vibrant colours and objects that seem to have a personality of their own."

And Josephine's tips for adding vintage finds to the home?

"In styling, as in most aspects of life, diversity is key. Combining objects that aren't an obvious match often creates absolute magic and adds a very personal touch. My go-to tips:

1. Incorporate elements from different design eras and movements

2.  Be bold with your styling in terms of mixing materials, colours and shapes."

Quarella worktops are a rising trend in Scandinavian homes and make a refreshing change from light grey marble - it's a super durable surface too!

Aaaaa, I do love this home, it's so personal!  Does it also make you want to head to Copenhagen and go searching for secondhand Danish treasures?

If you do,  make sure you stop by Finderi!

For more Danish home love this bright and sunny Monday - I'm taking a peek around this home and studio of a photographer, the fabulous home of a Danish interior designer and A Danish oasis in Cannes - come and join me in the archive! You can also check out Josephine's feed on instagram here.

Have a great start to the week!

 PS I'm sneaking off early today to watch Sweden in the world cup - heja Sverige!


Photography: 6, 7, 8 Anitta Behrendt for Alt Interior. Remaining by Josephine Ilmi Johansen.

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