my scandinavian home

White & Faded: Touring Janet Parrella-van den Berg’s Tuscan Sanctuary

Borta är bra, hemma bäst (away is good, but home is best) - so the Swedish saying goes. And really, there’s no place like home. It’s our very own personal space where we can control the environment and simply be ourselves. When it comes to decorating, there’s no “right” or “wrong” way — it’s all down to personal taste.

Some love to fill their home with joyful colours and a riot of patterns to maximise energy. Others prefer nostalgia, surrounding themselves with treasures collected over time. And then there are those who long for calm minimalism, creating an oasis in which to clear the mind from the noise of the outside world and recuperate in quiet.

The latter is the path Janet Parrella-van den Berg has chosen for her home. An abstract artist and author of White & Faded, Janet — together with her husband, Dino — is the creative force behind the UK-based brand White & Faded, as well as a beautiful property in Lucca, Tuscany, just half an hour from Pisa. Their focus is on restoring old homes and furniture, breathing new life into everything they touch while inspiring clients and followers to embrace stylish, sustainable living.

Now, we’re invited to step inside their Tuscan retreat — an Italian country house full of history, lovingly pared back to reveal its timeless charm. Here, Janet has created a sanctuary painted almost entirely in white. The soft palette enhances natural light, highlights the building's original character, and sets the stage for her philosophy of calm, understated elegance. As she explains: “I couldn’t think of any better colour than white in my home — feared by so many, but loved at the same time.”

Let's take a peek inside.

It’s been a long time since we’ve seen a home so dedicated to white on here.I can certainly see the white and the faded — true to Janet's signature style. The result is a perfect source of inspiration for anyone who loves to keep things minimal, fresh, and timeless.

Are you a fan of white in your own home, or do you prefer to admire it in the spaces of others?

If you are feeling inspired, here are few tips on the best way to work with white in your home:

Layer your whites. Mix warm and cool tones (ivory, cream, chalk, linen) to add depth and avoid a flat, clinical look.
Play with texture. Use natural materials like linen, wood, stone, and wool to bring warmth and interest to a white room.
Let light do the work. White walls reflect natural light beautifully, so keep windows uncluttered to maximise brightness.
Balance with accents. A hint of greenery, rustic wood, or black iron details can anchor the space and make the white feel even fresher.
Keep it practical. Washable slipcovers, matte finishes, and wipeable paints make living with white much easier.

Would you like to see a few more homes with a white theme? I love:

Leanne Ford's beautiful white guest house
A beautiful Swedish home as white as it's snowy surroundings

50 shades of white in a serene Swedish home

Happy Wednesday!

Niki

Photography: Janet Parella-van den Berg, shared with kind permission.

Small Space Living: A Stockholm Home Full of Colour and Creativity

Hejsan hoppsan! The weekend whizzed by in a blur—am I the only one? Today in Malmö, the skies have darkened, and the lights are on. So when I stumbled across this fifth-floor apartment in Stockholm, with its cheerful colours, playful patterns, and fun accessories, I knew it was just the place to brighten up a grey day!

Measuring a fairly compact 35 m² (377 ft²), what it lacks in size, it more than makes up for in personality. The apartment exudes a young and vibrant vibe, with light pink curtains, a sunny yellow parasol and cushions on the balcony, and a bedroom dressed in deep pink and ochre. Even the wardrobe and entrance have been given their very own bold hues, which add to the home’s sense of warmth and character.

Keep your eyes peeled for sculptural ceramics—everything from small details like cups, vases and items hung on the wall to larger pieces like a bedside table. Could there be a ceramicist living here? I’m willing to bet there is! Oh, and they sure do love plants too - even giving each one a very cool plinth (is that a ceramic shelf I see?).

Välkommen, as they say in Sweden!

This is so much fun! The more you look, the more you discover—wavy mirrors, crocheted bags, funky lamps... every piece in the home feels like art in itself!

Did you spot something cool too?

I hope this apartment has brought a little sunshine to your day.

And in honour of this lovely home, I thought you might like to take a look at a few other homes with fun touches today - these ones are sure to raise a smile or two:

12 playful designs in Sussi's Danish home (those pink stairs!)
A vibrant, light-filled loft with fun touches
Lisa's playful and relaxed Berlin home
Gen's playful summer cottage in Sweden

I hope you have a happy start to the week!

Niki

Credits: Styling - Lindholm, photography - Boukari, for Historiska Hem, found via Nordroom with thanks.

A Bromma Treasure: Touring a 1909 Lakeside Cottage

It’s funny how family and friends can take you to places you’d never normally get to. It might be something big, like someone marrying into another country and settling there, or small — like your child competing in a sporting event somewhere you’d never have thought to visit, but are glad you did.

That’s how I came to know Bromma, through my brother-in-law Johan, who lived here for many years. We’d often visit, and I came to love its setting: nestled by the water, with coastal forest trails winding along the cliffs, and dotted with pretty cottages — some tucked inland, others opening out to glorious views of Lake Mälaren.

One of those special houses is this gem from 1909, a rare survivor from Bromma’s early days as a summer retreat. Back then, families would arrive by steamboat, long before there were roads or trams, and build villas along the shoreline. Stepping inside, you can still feel that history in the tiled stoves, the open fireplace, and the craftsmanship that’s lasted over a century.

Today, thoughtful updates bring that charm into the present. I love the pretty botanical wallpaper, the classic checked floor (a pattern you so often find in old Swedish houses), as well as the smaller details: the vintage scales in the bathroom (fingers crossed the needle underestimates!) and the clever doormats lining each shelf of the hall’s shoe rack. What a great hack!

Ready to feel inspired?

What a pretty house!

I’m not sure if it was initially meant as a summer house or a year-round home — but I, for one, could easily picture coming back here in the evenings after a day in the capital. So peaceful!

Could you imagine living in a charming old cottage like this, too? And did you spot that Kermit-the-Frog green in the sunroom? I loved it — so unexpected and cheerful. What details caught your eye?

Would you like to dream about more Scandinavian summer houses today?

A Danish summer house by Lammefjorden
A charming summer house in the Finnish countryside
A fairytale summerhouse on the Swedish island of Vaxholm

And that, friends, is it from me this week! I hope you've enjoyed all the inspiration and that you have a fantastic weekend!

Stor kram!

Niki

Photography courtesy of Mäklarhuset - where this property is currently listed for sale.

FILED UNDER: Summer cottage swedish home

Inside Elsa Billgren’s Dreamy Södermalm Home

I’ve been following the work of author and podcaster Elsa Billgren for years, for so many reasons. First and foremost, I simply adore her style — it has a signature touch that’s instantly recognisable, yet always evolving. I also love her podcast with cookbook author Sofia Wood (who's magnificent home I featured here), and, of course, her incredible homes. Each one I’ve featured over the years — from one of her very first apartments to her more recent place, and even her dreamy summer cottage on Gotland — carries her unmistakable essence: a passion for vintage, fashion, playfulness, and a grounding calmness.

Her latest home in Södermalm, Stockholm is no exception. It’s filled with her signature charm, yet has its own spirited uniqueness and a wonderfully relaxed nature. What makes this space especially captivating is the softness and light that flow through it — sheer curtains, floaty textiles, and pools of sunshine that shift throughout the day. Keep a lookout for bold touches, such as the artwork in the kitchen, the wavy Udiso mirror, and how an item of clothing can work as decoration in the bedroom. The Swedish tiled masonry oven is also beautiful!

Ready to step inside?