My Scandinavian Home - 2015 round-up

Thank you so much for all your wonderful support this year. I've loved reading your comments on here, Instagram, Pinterest, Twitter and Facebook. It's been a very special year for My Scandinavian Home. Last December I finally took the plunge and left the corporate world after 14 years to focus on My Scandinavian Home. And what a year it's been! Here's a round-up of 2015:

 Top ten home tours of the year*:

A light-filled family home in Sweden

A fabulous home in Fontainbleu France

A fabulous Swedish apartment

The mid-century LA home of Jessica De Ruiter

The colourful Dutch home

Black and navy in an elegant Swedish home

A beautiful Norwegian home in summer time

An incredibly cosy Finnish home

The calm Finnish home of Anna Pirkola

A Swedish apartment on the dark side of life

 *based on number of pageviews. Click on text under each picture for the full tour and credits.

Did you have a favourite?!

Last year I became a recognised 'Pinfluencer' by Pinterest (needless to say I have a slight Pinterest addiction!), it seems you may have too since some pins received over 400 repins! Here's a round-up of the....

Top five Pinterest pins of 2015:

From post: simple yet beautiful Christmas decorations

Anon. Can anyone kindly supply the credit for this beautiful picture?

From the post - Pretty Danish Christmas inspiration

Swedish Semmeltårta

Anon. If you know the credit for this please let me know so I can update this post!

Loving that the cake is in there!!

In January I started using Instagram (so late to the party I know!). In that time I've gained 24,500 new friends, thank you for making it so much fun!

Top five instagram pictures of the year:

Log cabin in the snow 
A bed next to a roaring log fire
A cabin in the Faroe Islands
A Norwegian cabin on an island
My sitting room

It seems you love your cosy log cabins?!

This December I finally received the first copy of my book: Modern Pastoral (out in Feb, 2016). Publishing my first book has been a dream come true, thanks you for all your tremendous support - and to my publisher CICO Books!

And finally, I owe the biggest amount of gratitude to all the photographers, stylists, designers, architects, and other creatives out there (please take time to look through the credits under the last image in each post) who generously give me permission to share their work and also to my fabulous sponsors who make My Scandinavian Home possible.

This year has been exhilarating, terrifying, thrilling, challenging, exhausting and above all inspirational. I wouldn't change a single moment of it!

I'd love to here about your year too in the comment section below.  

Back later with a final 'Merry Christmas' post! Until then....thank you.

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Astrid's Charming Finnish Lakehouse Full of Soul, History, and Vintage Finds

It’s been way too long since I last featured a home from Finland — which is rather shocking, considering how much I adore the country. I visited Helsinki and the Finnish countryside while working on my book The Scandinavian Home*, and fell head over heels. The forests, the lakes, the saunas! It’s such a beautiful, peaceful country.

So, I’m thrilled to take you on a virtual visit today to a truly special home. Perched on the edge of a lake in Ruovesi — a small village near Tampere — this charming house belongs to Astrid Aminoff, her husband Henrik, their two children, and their dog Pablo (who may or may not be the real boss of the house).

The original lakehouse was built in the 1890s, back when its neighbour was none other than Finnish artist Hugo Simberg. It started as a tiny summer cottage, passed down through Henrik’s family. In the 1990s, it got a bit of a boost with an extension, and for the past five years Astrid and Henrik have been slowly and lovingly renovating it to create their dream retreat from which to enjoy the long Finnish summers.

Astrid describes their family as “culturally mixed” — she has British, Scottish, Finnish, and American roots, and Henrik is Finnish-Swedish. This wonderful blend is reflected throughout the home. And the couple has taken a heartfelt, sustainable approach to renovating: reusing old materials, snapping up vintage finds, and working within a tight budget. Think Danish furniture, Finnish Arabia ceramics, some lovely British pieces, and a vinyl collection that brings serious soul.

So without further ado — Tervetuloa (welcome) to Astrid’s charming lakeside house! Let’s step inside...

What a beautiful home — so unique, steeped in family history, and set in the most incredible location. Can you imagine spending your summers gazing out over that peaceful lake? A morning dip, lazy lunches on the terrace, the sound of birds in the trees… absolute bliss!

Did anything catch your eye?

If you’d like to see more glimpses of Astrid’s home and follow their ongoing renovations, pop over to @thefinnishhouse — it’s a real treat.

Fancy diving deeper into Finnish living? These lovely apartments and houses are well worth a peek:

Pia's cosy country home in snowy Finland
Maiju's delightful home Vaasa, Finland
Kaati's rustic 19th century log house 

Wishing you all a happy Wednesday — or as they say in Finnish, Hyvää keskiviikkoa!

Niki

Photography by Astrid / @thefinnishhouse, shared with kind permission

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A Finnish home in a converted factory

It's the weekend - woooop! But before we hit the Friday night bars and restaurants (or take-away and telly?!) - I wanted to squeeze in one more wonderful home tour. 'Projekti Verkaranta' - or for the non speaking Finnish out there - 'Project Verkaranta' documents the transformation of an old factory into a wonderful family home. Jutta K, an upcoming designer, and self-professed lover of details, simple design and passionate 'do-it-yourselfer' has created a family home packed with DIY ideas (the daybed! the rail!), fabulous monochrome spaces (that kitchen) and cosy quarters. Let's take a tour...

Images 1,2,4 and 6: Photography Suvi Kesäläinen Styling Riika Siuluoto for Avotakka. Other photography: Jutta K

What an incredible space! I do love old industrial buildings - they always have the most wonderful natural light. And that kitchen is perfection, don't you think? I also spy a Saana ja Olli cushion (one of my favourite Finnish designs!).

Is there anything that stands out to you about this home?

More fabulous factory conversions here (scroll passed this one). And twenty-seven Finnish home tours to be discovered here (as before...).

Are you up to anything fun this weekend? I'm tempted to go out mushroom picking in the forest again in order to make these oh so yummy slices of home comfort! Perfect autumn nosh. That and celebrating the news that My Scandinavian Home has been shortlisted for 'Best European Interiors Blog' in the Amara Interior Blog Awards!- Thank you so much to everyone who voted for me (and to homeware brand Amara) - you're wonderful!! I'm thrilled!

Have a great start to the weekend!

PS Back tomorrow with a few pictures of a new addition in my home...

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Ilkka's Charming Rural Retreat In Finland

Hei! How are you today? Feel like getting away from it all? Today, I'm whisking you off to rural Finland and the charming bolthole of interior architect Ilkka Mälkiäinen. Acquired 12 years ago as a weekend escape from Helsinki, Ilkka and Janne have carefully renovated the country home to bring it back to its former glory. Think high ceilings, beautiful wood floors and rooms painted in deep charcoal and steel grey. Today, the home is a goldmine of Finnish antiques and vintage finds and packed with charm. Welcome to Ilkka and Janne's age-old country retreat! 

How beautiful! I love the relaxed, eclectic feel of the home. 

Did you have a favourite room? I've always had a real weakness for romantic style bathrooms. Imagine locking up your city apartment, coming out here to the quiet of the countryside and running a candlelit bath. Heaven! 

This takes me back to the day I captured a home for The Scandinavian Home deep in the heart of the Finnish countryside. And there was a moose grazing in the meadows beside the house. 

I've been wanting to return ever since - something for next summer perhaps? Have you ever been to Finland?

If you're after a little more Finnish dreaming today, here are a few other homes to love: 

A warm, modern Finnish home with a touch if the Med

Suvi's modern home on Finland's West coast

A Finnish home in a converted factory

Have a cosy day! 

Credits: Krista Keltanen / Jonna Kivilahti - shared with kind permission

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