Gen's Lovely Bedroom Refresh

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A few weeks ago I spent the day at my friend Genevieve Jorn's home. The French Canadian interior designer is a regular contributor here at MSH (I'm soooo lucky!) and lives in the most incredible early 20th century apartment in the centre of Malmö. You might recognise her home from this and this post. Then again you might not. You see, Gen has the propensity to update her apartment even more than I do (and that's really saying something as you know!). The latest room to be given a facelift is her bedroom. With spring just around the corner (yippee!), Gen moved away from slightly darker, moodier notes to a fresh look and feel while keeping the look warm and inviting with a touch of rattan and layers of textiles (love the Nordal cushions and rugs). Enjoy the tour!

Gen's three metre high ceilings and large bedroom is the stuff of dreams. I mean, could you imagine?! Even so, it can be tricky to create a cosy vibe. To compensate, Gen used a mound of soft cushions, throws and rugs (see below for details). The walls have been painted in SPACE by Jotun Lady Pure Colour up to the border which also helps to create a more intimate feel. 

A simple wooden chair works perfectly as a bedside table! Admittedly, mine would have a mountain of stuff on it ("Chairdrobe: Piling clothes on a chair in place of a closet or a dresser") but Gen's one organised lady! Check out this post for more details on the fabulous prints!

Mixing and matching patterns and textures is the way to go for a warm and inviting look - I love how some of the cushions like this one have a bit of of a boho vibe going on too!

 I'm such a big fan of Peacock chairs, there's something decadent yet understated about them - could you imagine having one in your home? Or perhaps you already do (I've got one in my bedroom)!

"I love how the light shines through the chair and casts shadows on the wall." Genevieve Jorn.

Oj oj oj (as they say in Sweden!) what a lovely bedroom! Could you imagine sleeping here? If it were my bedroom I'm not sure if I'd ever leave!

GET THE LOOK:



1. Harlekin Carpet
2. Large Rattan Chair
3. BOHO cushion cover
4. Black Bench
5. Glass Jar
6. Cushion cover

N.B: Nordal ships throughout Europe (webshop stockists here).

Once again, you can find out more info on the prints and a few other details here - and just give me a shout in the comment section below if you're wondering about anything else!

Have a lovely day!

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

Photography: Niki Brantmark / Styling Genevieve Jorn.

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My Scandinavian Home: Best of 2017

I can't believe the year has almost come to an end! Is it just me or did 2017 whizz by? It's been a strange twelve months, with many disturbing happenings throughout the world. I like to think of My Scandinavian Home as a little bubble in which to escape each day: somewhere you can pour yourself a cup of super strength coffee (got to get into the spirits of the Scandinavians after all!), put your feet up and transport yourself into a world of interiors - and hopefully walk away with a few new ideas too! I hope you experience this! Here's a round-up of the top 5 My Scandinavian Home blog, Instagram, and Pinterest posts of 2017 - as well as a few other highlights.....



1. A magnificent family home in Amsterdam

2. My sitting room make-over

Photo - Niki Brantmark Styling Genevieve Jorn

3.  My dream holiday home (and garden room) - and yours too it seems!

Photo - Marnie Hawson

Holly's inspiring sitting room make-over

Holly Marder

5. Lovely blues and greens in a Swedish home

Photo: Anders Bergstedt. Home-owner/ stying: Caroline Ulkner /  Entrance.

I used to dabble in it a little, but if there's one thing that's truly taken me by surprise this year - it's just how much I've fallen in love with Instagram (do you have an ever so slight obsession too?!). I was thrilled to reach over 115,000 friends this year - thank you for making it such a fun place to be, and for all your interesting and passionate comments (and to Vogue UK for including my feed in the top 12 interior instagram feeds to follow (*strikes a very happy pose*). Here are the top 5 My Scandinavian Home instagram posts of 2017:

***

1. Living room in a magical mountain cabin
I'm so happy to see a corner of the living room from Marianne Vigtel Holland's magical mountain cabin which James Gardiner and I had the pleasure of capturing for The Scandinavian Home book.  Marianne made so many items for her cabin it was crazy! In this picture alone she knitted the chair cover, sewed together the cushion covers, created the art on the wall and crafted the side table out of tree trunks - I'm not kidding! Check out the full tour of her beautiful cabin here.



2. Josi's hallway in Berlin
Aaaah, how I love this hallway (the bench is available here - just saying!). In fact, I love everything about Josi's entire Berlin home, it's so charming and relaxed - don't miss the full tour here.

3. Sitting room with a boho vibe
The modern bohemian vibe captured our hearts and minds in 2017 (once again)- and this Polish home designed by Magdalena Milejska was up there with the most inspiring! Take the full tour here. PS is this is totally you're kind of style don't miss the bohemian home archive (goooorgeous spaces).



4. Credenza and books
A wall bursting with books, a beautiful mid-century credenza, layered rugs. What's not to love about the relaxed, boho home of Madewell's lead designer - Joyce Lee! See the drool-worthy tour here.



5. Put a ring on it (see what I did there?)
A beautifully wrapped gift by Finnish blogger Local Artisan in all its crinkled paper and pine wreath glory has already racked up over 7000 likes in the last 24 hours! In fact, it's so pretty that I'd be happy to receive this without a gift inside, how about you? (Note to man - don't take this last sentence too literally). If you haven't wrapped your pressies yet - see our complete round-up of beautiful nature inspired gift wrapping ideas!

Aaaah, Pinterest you'll always be my go-to for moodboards and styling inspiration (if only I could actually tear myself away to do any work - do you find this too?!). Here are the top 5 My Scandinavian Home pins of 2017:

1. This cosy bedroom from a charming Swedish apartment decorated in white and wood
has totally captured pinners hearts having appeared on Pinterest over 590,290 times. How crazy is that? Then again there is so much to love about this little space, right?

Photo: Maria Sahlander Styling: Emma Fischer for Bjurfors.

Rember that green sofa we all fell in love with in a sitting room in Yeabridge House? Combine it with a fabulous mix of old and new and you get the top My Scandinavian Home *power pin* of 2017 (yes, this really is a thing - it's measured in terms of clicks and saves in case you're curious!). Whatever you do, don't miss the full tour here - it was one of my favourites!

Photo - Benjamin Edwards Home-owner - Mark Homewood

While green sofas are always fab, greige is a bit of a safer bet  - which is why this elegant Swedish sitting room created by H&M Home was hugely popular! Get the complete look and feel here. 

Stylist: Lotta Agaton

The relaxed dining space in the Norwegian home of Maja Hattvang appealed to many - which makes me so happy as I love her edgy and relaxed style! See the full tour here (if you don't already follow Maja on instagram, you must!).

Maja Hattvang

And finally, I was so happy to see the delightfully simple bedroom in the Copenhagen home of Karen Maj Kornum of Another Ballroom - captured by James Gardiner and myself for The Scandinavian Home book! You can see a full tour of her home in the book and here and here (that's how much i love Karen Maj's home!).   

Photo: James Gardiner.  Stylist: Niki Brantmark. Featured in The Scandinavian Home book published by CICO.

I am so grateful for the support of businessed big and small without whom My Scandinavian Home wouldn't be possible (you can see a list of many of my partners and the different types of collaborations we offer here).  It's been a year of fun and inspiring partnerships - but I have to say I do have a little penchant for make-overs! Here are the top 3 from 2017:

Greenhouse makeover with Samsung and The Frame

Oh how I loved working on this make-over in a little greenhouse in Upstate New York with Emily Henderson and the Barbarian creative team. A special thanks also to Brady Tolbert for your amazing organization skills and interior design eye and Agata Helena for hair and make-up. See more pictures (and films) of the make-over here and here.

My sitting room make-over with Bemz

Photo by me, styling by Genevieve Jorn. See more here!

My new window nook with Nordal  

Photo by me, styling by Genevieve Jorn. See the full tour here!

I've been writing a way in my little corner of the world and was so happy to launch not one but two new books this year (still not sure how I did it, but it was a wonderful feeling to get them in my hands!) - Lagom: The Swedish Art of Living a Balanced, Happy Life launched in September and is available in English US, English UK, French and Portuguese with 4 more languages to follow in 2018 - weeeeee! And The Scandinavian Home launched back in the spring!

Photo: Niki Brantmark.

Photo by Karin Björklund

Aaaah. it's been so much fun looking back over this year. Do you have any favourites from everything I've shared? Or perhaps you have some personal highlights you'd like to share - if so, I'd love to hear from you in the comment section below!! And please do also take it as an opportunity to let us know if there's anything you'd like to see more of in 2018.

Before we head off to enjoy the holidays I just wanted to say a few words of thanks.

I am constantly amazed by the incredible pool of creative talent in the online communities - not only among the professional interior designers and photographers, but also writers, artists, designers etc, all of whom contribute in some way and are kind enough to allow me to share their work. These 'creators' dare to put themselves out there for the world to critique (a scary prospect, I can tell you!) - and I thank each and every one of you who inspires us every day!

I'd also like to say a HUGE thanks to the wonderful team behind My Scandinavian Home - including my right hand gal Ana Degeneer ( a whizz at graphic design, picture research, writing and everything in between - she can even code - isn't that b*d *ss?!!). If you're thinking of starting a blog in 2018 (go for it!), Ana sells the most stunning blog design templates through her shop alongside her book '30 days to minimal blogging'.

I've also been lucky enough to work with the talented interior designer Genevieve Jorn - (we always have such a laugh and no photo shoot is complete without a chicken pasta from my local deli!) as well as the fabulous Sarah Brooks-Wilson who moved to Malmö earlier this year and is the speediest interior stylist I know (and always arrives with a smile and wearing the most fabulous outfit)! So happy to have you guys on board!

And finally - to all of you, who come here each day and make My Scandinavian Home a happy place - none of this would happen without you. Thank you for all your amazing support this year and making this little space on the web such a pleasure each day. Here's to a fabulous 2018!

Niki

PS those of you who like to reminisce might enjoy looking back at the 2016 and 2015 round-ups (so interesting to see how interior style has evolved!!).

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A fascinating, small studio where interests dictate

Hej hej! You know that feeling when you know your computer is about to die but you can't be bothered to move nearer the power socket? Well, I'm on borrowed time here. The truth is, I'm curled up under a blanket in the corner of our sail boat feeling all cosy with a steaming cup of coffee. Everyone else is still asleep and it's sooo lovely and quiet! I know that if I get up to charge my laptop there's a chance I might stir one of the members of my beloved family and my golden hour of peace will be over! I'd better get on with today's tour quickly! Although there's no 'quick' about the way this beautiful studio has been decorated. The lovely home of Ann Stephenson and Lori Scacco (who oversees Donzella) in Manhattan's East Village has a wonderful nostalgic feel to it. The 370 square foot (34 square metres) studio is brimming with fascinating art, antiques, books and trinkets, evidence of a home dictated by passions and interests rather than trends. Photographer Genevieve Garruppo
has truly captured the essence of the space.

Photography Genevieve Garruppo Prop styling: Kaylei McGaw

What a fascinating home? I love how Ann and Lori haven't let a limited space prevent them from surrounding themselves with all the things they love. It's also wonderful to see an old world feel in the heart of a big city!

Is there anything that catches your eye?

Get the look from Ann and Lori's studio: source a vintage black leather sofa here, this dining chair is similar, buy beautiful cushions / pillows here. I love these vintage industrial wall lamps. Pick up a beautifully faded, vintage kilim rug here. This is a lovely iron bed frame.

See more pictures of this lovely home over at the wonderful Lonny magazine (while you're there you must check out Lonny's ideas and home tour pages - full of inspiration!).

And if you're looking for more inspiration on ways to decorate a small space, you might also want to check out this archive.  So many clever ideas?!

Trevlig helg! Have a wonderful weekend - see you Monday! 

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The beautiful workspace of an interior designer

The beauty of blogging is that it often takes me to new and wonderful places. Last week I found myself in the home office of interior designer Genevieve Jorn (see her previous apartment here). Originally from Canada, Gen lives with her Danish husband Kasper and cute little daughter Olivia in an old apartment in the centre of Malmö, Sweden. As you can imagine, the space was so inspiring with high ceilings, a dark green accent wall and double french doors leading out to a roof terrace (imagine?!).  Gen agreed it would be the perfect room to add some pieces from Nordal - a wonderful Danish online shop offering a unique range of furniture and decor 'with attitude' (remember this feature from my own dining room?). Here's the result....

Credits: Photos- Niki Brantmark (My Scandinavian Home) / Home-owner- styling- Genevieve Jorn. 

Oh how I'd love to work here, how about you?

Get the look from Gen's office:

1. Chest of 9 drawers 2. Candle holder  3. Downtown chair  4. Canvas carpet 5. Old school table lamp

For more work space inspiration you might want to check out the creative studio of Katrin Bååth, Holly Marder's workspace and the Brooklyn home and studio of a creative duo. Yes, people work in spaces like these! Guh! 

Do you have a beautiful home office too? If so, you must get in touch! 


Have a lovely day!

Sponsored post: This post was made possible by Nordal. All words, thoughts and content are my own. I only ever work with products and services I love and think you will too. Thank you for supporting the brands that make My Scandinavian Home possible.

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