Ylva Skarp's Christmassy home

I seem to be in country mode at the moment as I simply can't stop showing beautiful homes from the Swedish countryside! This converted school house over looking a lake near Leksand in Dalarna was also photographed by Magdalena Björnsdotter for Lantliv. It's the home of Swedish designer and calligrapher Ylva Skarp and her family. Ylva's personal stamp can be seen throughout the house, which is all decked out for a truly cosy Christmas!

Photography: Magdalena Björnsdotter for Lantliv

Such a beautiful home! What do you think?

I know it's only November and the last time I mentioned Christmas everyone panicked (haha!), but this home gets me feeling so Christmassy! I can't wait until the first weekend in December when we'll drive out to a farm in the Skåne countryside and chop down our Christmas tree (a family tradition always accompanied with a steaming mug of glögg (mulled wine). Do you have a Christmas tree tradition in your family?

PS Happy Bonfire Night to all my friends in the UK :)

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A Swedish country-style Christmas

Here in Sweden people general start decorating over the first weekend of advent so I thought we're in need of a little inspiration, what do you reckon? This beautiful Swedish country home of stylist and photographer Marie Delice Karlsson and her family is beautifully decorated using a green and white theme. I love the simplicity of the decorations which include bare-branched Christmas trees (which I'm sure smell divine) - who said you should only have one tree and that it should be in the corner of the sitting room? And I love the demi-john as a candleholder on the table. 

Styling and photography: Marie Delice Karlsson with kind permission. Lantliv

Anything you love about this home in particular?

It's got me thinking about Christmas trees. Here's a picture of our Christmas tree from last year which we cut down from a nearby forest (our annual family tradition!)...and here's a little inspiration on Scandinavian style Christmas trees....or for a more modern Christmas tree. What does your tree look like?

Oh and if you're shopping for advent calendar's this weekend I'm loving this pretty white linen advent calendar from The Linen Works (and their linen tablecloth is perfect for Christmas too!).

Or perhaps you'd like to create your own advert calendar?

Have a lovely weekend!

PS You can see more lovely images and read about this home over at Lantliv.

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A beautifully renovated parsonage in the Swedish countryside

This parsonage from the 1700's and featured in Lantliv had been uninhabited for fifty years. And then Gustaf Willers took it over and gave it a whole new lease of life. I absolutely love that he has stayed faithful to the style and the location but added a modern touch. I dream daily about buying a beautiful old Swedish house and renovating it. Perhaps one day i'll be posting about that? but for now, here's someone else's beauty!

Pictures: Lantliv via Planete Deco Photography: Anna Kern

If you understand Swedish it's worth taking a read of the article. There are so many lovely touches to the renovation, such as Gustaf's mother colouring in the 800 hand-printed flower baskets on the bedroom wallpaper by hand. Now that's dedication!  Makes me think. What can changes can I make in my home just by taking the time to use good old fashioned handiwork?

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A move to the Swedish countryside

Are you drinking your morning cuppa thinking, 'I wish I was a mile away from this desk'? If so, you'll be inspired by this home owner who packed two suitcases and left Stockholm for Båstad, a beautiful village by the sea in Southern Sweden. The former Swedish summer cottage featured in Lantliv has been lovingly renovated with a mix of old and new. I love the original 1930's stove which is now used to display items, sadly suggesting we install a non-working oven into our kitchen may be a bridge to far for my husband?! The VP Globe light above the dining table adds a modern twist among the flea market finds. 

Buy a similar wooden work station table from IKEA.

The dining chairs are Arne Jacobsen 'Grand Prix'. The arm chair is a flea market find and the dining table was handmade. 

Pictures: Lantliv, Photographer: Peter Carlsson

Could this be your new life? Check out Båstad, Skåne, Sweden!

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A rustic retreat on Sweden's west coast

This converted barn and tower in Korslid, near Bottna, on Sweden's west coast is the country home of writer and journalist Kenneth Kauppi, gardener Catherine Thelander and their family. Recently featured in Lantliv, the family have lovingly renovated the farm buildings over 25 years to create a beautiful rustic open living space and studio. The family love to stay in the summer to relax, swim and kayak in the archipelago, explore the great open spaces that surround the house and generally take some downtime. I can certainly see why!

Photographer Patric Johansson with kind permission. Lantliv.

Such a lovely rustic retreat, I especially like the art work what about you? And there's that indoor swing again....

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A Swedish country home at Christmas

As promised, I've got the most beautiful Christmas home tour to share with you today. Located in Vetlanda, Småland, here in southern Sweden, this wonderful turn of the century country house belongs to Sofia, who has been painstakingly renovating it back to its former glory. Think magnificent period features, white floors and walls, a roaring fire and lovely, subtle festive touches including a Christmas tree with pure white candles, paper star lanterns, pine wreaths and the fresh scent of hyacinths. Carina Olander and Anna Truelsen paid a visit and captured these beautiful images for the great Swedish country magazine Lantliv. How magical would it be to spend Christmas here?!

Credits: Photography - Carina Olander. Stylist - Anna Truelsen.  Featured in Lantliv 12/ 2016.

Oh so lovely and cosy, don't you think?

Apart from, well everything, I especially love the coffee table which looks like it's been made from a door?

Is there anything that caught your eye?

A few items from Sofia's house I know and love: porch / conservatory - paper star lantern, woven jute rug. sitting room - this white linen sofa is similar, sheepskin throw, the Z1 pendant is similar.

And before I head off for the weekend, here's a little Christmas link love:

This Swedish country home decorated for Christmas is an old favourite of mine!

9 ways to decorate with eucalyptus (my favourite festive foliage!).

A gentle yet giant DIY Christmas wreath.

Moss hearts. So simple to create, so pretty!
 
This merry garland makes me, er, merry!

Alternative Christmas trees for small spaces.

Looking for a personal pressie? how about entering this give-away to win a Danish typographic poster?

All christmassed out already (or never been into it in the first place)?! How about hanging out (literally) here?!

Have you got any fun plans for the weekend?! P is taking me away somewhere as a birthday surprise and I have no idea where. All I know is that I need a long formal evening gown and we're staying over night somewhere...?! So intriguing! Any guesses?!

I hope you have a great couple of days and see you Monday!

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A Photographer's Charming Swedish Summer Cottage In The Woods

Buoyed by my recent summer cottage kitchen renovation I picked up a copy of Swedish magazine Lantliv (Country Life) a few weeks ago. And, OH WOW, did it have some incredible homes in it - don't you love it when that happens?! I got particularly stuck on this charming summer cottage in the woods of Northern Uppland. A former petrol station dating back to 1930, the building was about to be torn down when photographers Lina Ericsson and Karl Anderson acquired it as a weekend retreat from busy Stockholm life. The pair set about lovingly transforming it into a unique and charming home full of antiques, second hand finds and pieces from Lina's sustainable interior shop Noy Road. The result is everything a Swedish summer cottage should be; simple and relaxed yet warm and cosy and packed with charm: a perfect place for Lina, Karl, daughter Charlie and their Jack Russell Terrier, Vilda to switch off, surrounded by nature.

The kitchen is a mix of freestanding and open shelving from IKEA - giving the space a relaxed vibe. I love how the couple have maximised space by adding a book shelf over the window. 

The six metre (SIX METRE!!!) high ceiling gives the sitting room a lovely light and airy feel. The rattan chairs are from Silka Design and the handmade wool rug is from Noy Road. Source a similar sheepskin here*. 

Vilda has adopted the handmade wool rug as her own - and who can blame her?! The linen cover and cushions on the IKEA sofa are also from Noy Road. 

Sheer curtains in the sitting room help to keep out bugs while slipping in a soft pool of light. On warmer days they can move outside and enjoy the shaded terrace (as demonstrated by Vilda - who's looking super relaxed out there, I must say!). 

Lina and Karl have made a feature of the doors and architraves by painting them a soft green. The hammam and linen towels are from Noy Road. 

The veranda has been given a new lease of life with recycled windows from Umeå Byggnadsvård while the floor was transformed using a linseed oil-based paint. I absolutely love this type of painted chequered floor - it's so easy to achieve and yet so striking! Do you feel tempted to do the same in your home?

The cottage was originally a traditional Falu red but Karl wanted to do something different and opted for green umbra. The garden is packed with homegrown vegetables - one of Lina's passions. 

Just beautiful.

I can't imagine a more idyllic retreat, can you?

Imagine how difficult it would be to close the doors on a Sunday and head back to town! Mind you, you'd feel relaxed knowing that the place is waiting for you come Friday.

Did you spot the DIY clothes line in the main dining room area (first picture)?  - isn't it clever? I found a DIY tutorial here - and you can also pick up a similar one here.

If you're feeling the Swedish summer cottage vibes after this tour, why not pour a coffee, light a candle (hey, we're talking Scandi here, after all!) and check out this Swedish Cottage archive. It's one of my favourites! If this cottage pops up first, you might want to look through the pictures all over again, or simply scroll on passed for more inspiration!

Ha så fint! 

Niki

These photographs were taken by Karl Anderson / @karlandersonphotography and shared with kind permission from Lantliv. 

*affiliate links

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A charming family home in the Finnish countryside

Hej heeej! I have such a beautiful, charming family home to share with you today. Located in the small town of Jacobstad (or 'Pietarsaari') in Ostrobothnia, Finland, the house dates back to the 1700s and has been painstakingly renovated by owners Victoria Snellman (who runs a webshop selling the cutest knitted garments - how adorable is this romper?!) and her husband, Robin. The pair share the home with their two children Sonny Lou and Juno Mae. Touches of rough wood and sheepskin add warmth to an otherwise neutral, monochrome colour scheme, and a swing hangs from a beam for the children to enjoy year round (when they're not busy playing with the family cat!).

These beautiful photos were taken by Carina Olander and styled by Anna Truelsen for Lantliv.

Oh so charming. I absolutely love everything about this home! How about you?!

Get the look: Kitchen: Tolix armchairs, source similar sheepskin throws here,  AGAM junior chair from IKEA. This industrial pendant is similar. Open area - I love this and this butterfly chair, white sheepskin, this rustic swing is similar. Sitting room - leather pouf. Children's room - Lightly sells leather and wood shelves like these (there's also a great DIY guide here). Give chest-of-drawers a new lease of life with a lick of black paint and leather pulls, like in the children's bedroom. 

You can see the full tour of this delightful home in Lantliv 3/2017.

Yesterday I featured a colourful and relaxed Helsinki home, and it's so interesting to see the contrast between the two - both equally charming in their own way, don't you think?

Carina and Anna have such a talent for finding and capturing dreamy country homes - whether high up on a hill over looking the Norwegian fjords, a house in the heart of Småland, Sweden or even Carina's own idyllic summer cottage! Thank you so much for the kind permission to share some of your work!

Have a lovely day!

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