A Dreamy White Vintage-filled Cottage in California

I am often asked how I find homes for this blog. The answer is hours and hours of scrolling instagram, Pinterest, and interior magazines. But sometimes, I home just lands in my lap - and I was very excited when this beautiful cottage appeared in my inbox this weekend! 

The cottage is located in central Vacaville, California - a short drive to the Napa Valley and with the Sierra Mountains less than 2 hours away. It belongs to Colette Miller and her husband who have been busy renovating it to restore it to its former glory and add her own 'California Casual' vibe to the space. 

If you love light and airy homes, white wood panelling and plenty of lovely vintage finds, today's tour is for you! Oh, and it also features a romantic rustic sunroom and even a shed! Read on to hear more about this dreamy property in Colette's own words - and a load of beautiful pictures captured by Lynda Kennedy. 

"We downsized to this little cottage on a tree lined street 10 years ago. It is 1200 sq. ft (111 sq.m) with a detached garage and shed."

"The kitchen is on the to-do list, but I'm OK waiting. I call it the 'unfitted look'- I think when I do remodel it there won't be any drastic changes... maybe a Smeg fridge though!" 

"The previous owners had remodelled and took out the vintage wood paned windows and the wood floors were covered with wall-to-wall carpeting. All of the windows and had been replaced as well, so we found vintage windows and doors that we thought the home was probably outfitted with when it was built in the early 1940s." 

"We raised the ceiling in the living room and added two skylights to really let all the light in and it immediately felt so much more spacious." 

"We replaced the pot belly stove for a 60's Malm stove for the vibe we were going for."

"If someone were to ask my "vibe" I wouldn't really know how to answer. I don't really fit in one box, but if I had to put a name, I'd like to think it's 'California Casual". 

The back porch was open when we moved in. I knew the moment I saw it that it needed to be a sunroom. I had 6 old windows that we used to partially enclose and its my favourite space just off our master bedroom for morning coffee! 

"I love our little shed in the backyard too. It's been a gardening shed, an art shed, a sit-in shed when rain is pitter-pattering on the tin roof. And now that I have grandkids, I have made it into a playhouse for them to play in."

What a dream!

It feels like this property has fallen into exactly the right hands! I love that old windows and doors have been refitted - and also that a sunroom has been made from vintage finds, I'd be so happy sitting there, sipping coffee while the rain patters on the windows, how about you? 

You can see more pictures of Colette's pretty cottage and follow her latest home updates over at @colettemiller. 

Is there anything that stood out to you about Colette's home? If so, please do share in the comments below, I love to hear your thoughts, observations and reflections! 

The interior reminded me a little of Leanne Ford's woodsy cabin and also some of the properties by Australian Lynda Gardner (especially her Daylesford property) - two interior designers I admire. And I think the sun room holds similarities to romantic Camellas Lloret - somewhere I've always wanted to stay! 

I am busy packing as I am heading off to Norway tomorrow for a week. I'll be heading to Bodø and then the Lofoten islands for a travel piece for Simply Scandi magazine, and I am SO excited! If you'd like a virtual trip, do follow along on my instagram!

Have a wonderful start to the week! 

Niki

PS Don't forget to make the most of the 20% discount at Skandinavisk with code myscandinavianhome20 - I love their FJORD fragrance, they've managed to captured the scent of the Norwegian fjords beautifully! 

Credits: interior design - Colette Miller, photography - Lynda Kennedy, shared with kind permission. 

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An Inspiring, Serene Home in Napa Valley, California

Hello and Gott Nytt År! (Happy New Year!). I hope you had a wonderful time over the holidays? I totally managed to switch off thanks to a snowy ski trip to Hemsedal in Norway. I love up there and I'm feeling so revived now! The only problem is, I'm feeling sooo slow this morning.  Do you feel the same?! I'm on my third coffee (no 'buck wheat' New Year's resolution for this girl!) and there's no sign of any movement yet! But the good news is I've got a fabulous home tour to share with you! Yay! Captured by Thayer Gowdy for Domino, the house in question belongs to Minted founder and CEO Mariam Naficy. Located in Napa Valley, Mariam's home is absolutely perfect inspiration if you're looking to add texture to your home: think large fluffy rugs, knotted wallhangings, rustic beams and doors and fluffy sheepskins. It's also both colourful, yet calm, contemporary yet relaxed and full of items collected on travels far and wide. Keep a look out for the fabulous wall art which includes prints, wall-hangings, masks and murals too!

What a beautiful home! And all that wine on her doorstep too! *Bliss*!

Is there anything that stands out to you?

You can read more about Mariam's home and where items are from over at Domino here. Thanks also to Victoria of SF Girl By Home where I first spotted this space!

I'm a big fan of Minted, who sell art created by independent artists. I've been working with them since last summer. You can see some examples of our collaborations here, here and here. Definitely a great source for lovely pieces for your walls!

Oh and one more thing. Victoria noted that the mural above the bed was a perfect way to avoid hanging art over the bed in an area at risk of earthquakes. Smart! I also love the idea of a trump l'oeil - there's a beautiful example in the Danish home of Karen Maj Kornum (I saw it in real life when we photographed it for The Scandinavian Home and it was mesmerising!).

Not quite ready to crack on with mundane Monday tasks? You could always check out other beautiful California homes instead. I love this relaxed, boho-style in Orange County,  a beautiful Spanish style house in California and a 1920s storybook home in Oakland Hills.

Have a great start to the week - and here's to a fabulous 2019 friends!

Niki

Photography: Thayer Gowdy for Domino

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California Meets Scandinavia In A Cosy LA Home

We did it friends, it's POETS day! Yay! Friday calls for something pretty fabulous right?! And I'm thinking the home of Sophie Carpenter would be an absolutely perfect way to round off the week! Built in 1928, Sophie's 'sepia' LA home is a feast for the eyes. Think brown, brass, beige, cream and milky white tones in a living space that flows beautifully from one room to the next (let's not ignore that rather fabulous arch!). Look closely and you'll see Scandinavian design pieces beside funky pieces picked up in LA - as well as lots of arty details. Sophie, who works with production accounting on TV shows, describes her style as 'Scandifornian' - a totally new term to me, and I'm absolutely loving it. Welcome to her bright, comfortable and super cosy LA home! 

Another day, another rug! The Sarah Sherman Samuel Iconic Stripe Rug to be precise (little surprise that this fabulous rug is already sold out - but they are taking pre-orders for the next batch!), I also love the Santa Barbara Pendant Light and Wishbone chairs

That's Sophie's dog 'Rascal' flying in through the door. Insert your own caption in the comments below! It's definitely either dinner or walkies, what do you reckon? 

Triangular shelving from Spaulding Company, Sven sofa from Article

Absolutely love the bathroom! After a quick snoop on Sophie's instagram I discovered the wall sconces are from Cedar & Moss, the mirror is from Rejuvenation and the cabinets are Spaulding Company. Total perfection! 

Oh wow! This tour really put a smile on my face, how about you?! Rascal, of course, stole the show by sweeping into the kitchen, all four paws off the ground! But once I got passed him, I couldn't help noticing all the details (and the fabulous rugs!). What a wonderful haven!

Is there anything that stood out to you? 

See more pictures of Sophie's lovely home on her instagram and home page. 

Here are a few more 'Scandifornian' homes to enjoy from the archives (I've got a feeling I'll be using that term a lot moving forwards!): 

An inspiring home in Napa Valley

Relaxed, Boho style in Orange County

A Jewel in the Suburbs of LA

A Beautiful Spanish-Style House in California

Kind of wish I was spending the weekend there - but I do have a fun one planned all the same here in Sweden as my sister Cas is coming over from London with my little nieces (who are 1 and 3) - I CAN'T WAIT!!! 

What are you up to this weekend?

I hope you have a brilliant couple of days, see you Monday!

Niki

Photography: Sophie Carpenter / bathroom shot with mirror: Lily Glass for Glitter Guide

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A cosy 1920's storybook home in Oakland Hills

Tjoho! So it's official. Blue sofa's are trending, and aren't they fab? They always remind me of my parents house (my parents have had a pair of blue chesterfields combined with a kilim rug in the sitting room for as long as I can remember - I  must take a pic next time I'm in London!). In Kate Davison's beautifully renovated 1920s storybook home in Oakland Hills, California, it's not the blue sofa that stands out though (as lovely as it is) - it's a whole combination of things: the architect, the original flooring, the exposed brick, and the lovely details - all of which add up to a minimal yet cosy, modern home with spectacular views. Step inside....

Interior design / styling: Kate Davison Photography: Colin Price 

What a lovely home? It would be so amazing to live in a house with so much design history (loving the storybook architecture and the house is thought to have featured in Architectural Digest back in the 1930's!).

Is there anything that stands out to you about Kate's home?

Get the look: sitting room - sofa from Funky Furniture, this shag pile rug is similar dining area - framed watercolour, wishbone chairs, Tulip table.  Bedroom - this knit throw in mustard is similar.

You can see more pics of Kate's home and keep up to date with her latest projects here and read more about the home here.

A few other Cali homes I love: an eclectic home in sunny california,  a relaxed family loft in Oakland and a charming home in less than 20 metres square! All so different yet inspiring in their own way, don't you think?

Have a lovely day!

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