A 19th Century Swedish Apartment Where Old Meets New

It's a misty morning here in Malmö and I can hear the sound of fog horns drifting across the strait. I love that ever-present reminder of the sea, even if it's in a bit of a mood today. Sweden's capital city further North spans many islands and the water is never far away. Many commuters hop on ferries to get from A to B. 

This has little to do with today's apartment tour, save for the fact that it's located in Södermalm (known locally as 'Söder') one of Stockholm's hottest neighbourhoods which is surrounded by water on all sides. I was immediately drawn to this striking apartment thanks to the contrast. It's a living space where rough meets smooth and old meets new.   

Think contemporary touches in the form of exposed plaster and a pink kitchen nestled beside decorative 19th century masonry ovens and beautiful period features. Small groups of fascinating objects also help to add interest. Plenty of ideas to feel inspired by! 

I'm often asked about TV placement. I really appreciate how the furniture has been placed in a social way and the TV is nestled on a shelf as a side-show rather than as the focal point in the room. 

Many of the magnificent 'kakelugn' (tiled masonry ovens) you see in Swedish homes are still in good working order today. Although incredibly efficient, they serve as a more decorative nod to the past than a source of energy - especially in urban homes! 

Over the years I've observed that Swedes are careful to create a calm vibe in the bedroom, opting for serene whites or soothing blues, greens or greys and keeping the space clutter-free. 

It was a bold move to leave the walls bare in the kitchen and sitting room but I think it makes a strong impact! 

Would you consider doing this in your home? 

See more homes which include exposed elements in the archives:

Brickwork

The storekeeper's house

A fabulous Dutch house in an old tannery

Beams

Before and after, a dreamy home in Montana

A Swedish home where the past meets the present

A relaxed family home with sky high beams!

A bright, light-filled loft with magnificent beams

Plaster: 

An eye-catching plaster wall in a Swedish home

A dreamy Copenhagen home full of books, arts and Danish design

The stunning Bavarian home of a photographer

So many beautiful ways to reveal the history of a home - and add interest! 

Niki

Photography - Tommy Andersson

For sale via Bjurfors

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Step Inside Dave's Light and Airy Munich Home

Is anyone else sweltering today?! I'm back at my desk at home and it's over 30 degrees (86 F) outside - kind of crazy for Sweden! We're soooo not used to this! I love it, of course - but it's so distracting as all I want to do is head down to the sea every five minutes and dive in. It's times like this, that carefully edited, minimalist homes really come into their own, don't you think? Take Dave's home in Munich, Germany. The living space, which Dave shares with his boyfriend Enrico and their golden retriever Bruno, has been carefully edited to include only pieces they truly treasure. There's nothing superfluous to need. No frills. Just simple, beautiful pieces of furniture, each of which are like a work of art. The result is a light and airy home in the heart of the city that oozes cool. I wonder if he'd mind if I pulled up a chair and stayed for a while. Anyone care to join me?

I'm feeling cooler just looking at these pictures, how about you? Although a nice cool drink (did you see the summer herb infused lemonade recipe I shared last week?) on the rattan chair in his garden wouldn't go amiss too!

I particularly love the sitting room with the mid-century credenza (source a similar one here*), jungle wall chart and snoopy lamp* etc. Is there anything that stood out to you? 

Here a few other light and airy homes to keep you cool today: 

A beautiful, simple white Danish cabin

The wonderful playful loft of a furniture designer

Angelina's breezy Munich home (look out for the snoozing pup!)

On that note, I'm off to grab my towel (actually my bath robe - here by the sea where I live in Malmö, us locals wonder down to the waters edge in a robe over our swim gear and no-one bats an eyelid!). 

Have a wonderful start to the week friends, stay well, stay cool! 

Niki

Photography: @daves_home

PS I mentioned a few weeks ago that I was having computer problems (thank you for your commiserations, it really is infuriating!). The good news is that Apple managed to fix my laptop, the bad news is they had to wipe EVERYTHING - baaah! If you spot a few typos in the post it's because I haven't downloaded the Microsoft office (where I spell check my posts). It's on my to do list though, I promise!

PPS I'll be back with a new home tour on Wednesday! The crazies start school next week so I'll finally be back to posting daily again. Thanks so much for bearing with this mamma of two! 

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Mirror, mirror on the wall

It's the weekend, yay! And two exciting things today - firstly, a friend sent me a link to this beautiful loft for sale in Malmö, Southern Sweden through Erik Olsson (again). She thought it would be right up my street with the white walls and floor and the touches of natural wood and the mirrors (oh it is, Malin, it is!). I love the way the mirrors bounce light around the home and create a feeling of space, beautiful! Such great inspiration for the weekend!  What do you think? And the second exciting bit of news is......



Erik Olsson

.......I have a wonderful new sponsor - fab online shop LET LIV in New Zealand. I absolutely love everything they sell and currently have my eye on a Jaipur quilt. It's definitely worth popping over to their shop and having a mooch! They automatically ship to New Zealand and Australia and can ship worldwide on request you just need to send an e-mail to info@letliv.co.nz - yay!

Have an absolutely lovely weekend guys, and see you Monday! x

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This Tiny Swedish Cottage is a Perfect Summer Oasis!

I can never resist a tiny living space - especially when they are this pretty! This cottage is located in Slottsskogskolonien - Sweden's second oldest allotment! It is a mere 19 m2 (204 ft2) but has everything you might need for the weekends and holidays. In the entrance, simple hooks and shelves serve as a makeshift hallway and a dining space is bathed in daylight. Step into the main living room, and an open-plan kitchen and living room offer a place to chill. At night, it's time to climb the ladder to a cosy nest in the rooftop and snuggle up for the night! The owners also have shared access to an onsite communal bathroom. 

At these allotment cottages, the real magic happens outside though. After all, the purpose of them is to provide a garden in the city for those without. The plot provides a place to grow flowers, fruit and vegetables, as well as dine al fresco all summer long surrounded by the sweet scent of lilac! 

Ready to look around? Välkommen! 

High shelves above the windows provide extra storage space for books and other small treasures. 

Built-in seating helps to maximise space - and can also offer more storage underneath. 

Notice how the underside of the table has been painted Klein blue - this seems to be the theme this week (check out Wednesday's Danish home tour!). I love the idea of using paint to bring in the latest trends, it's a sustainable way of keeping your home upon to date! 

A traditional Swedish sofa and two simple wicker chairs ensure a social area in the main living room area, while a little spot under the roof serves as extra storage. 

A simple wooden ladder leads to the sleep loft. 

It took me several goes through these pictures before I noticed the door above! It conceals a storage cupboard. 

I love the use of two-toned wood panelling in the kitchen! Note how this panelling is beaded for a more traditional look. 

How lovely. I could sit in that spot in the garden all weekend, how about you? 

Here's an idea of the layout: 

Glossary: kök - kitchen, stuga - cabin, förråd - storage. 

Speaking of small spaces, Per is headed up to our little cabin this evening, while I travel to Karlshamn in Blekinge (it's a beautiful part of the world which I once covered in this travel guide) for my daughter Liv's swimming gala. Fingers crossed for her - I know she's a little nervous! 

I hope you have some fun plans too! 

In the meantime, I'll leave you with some of these beautiful tours from the small space archive: 

This allotment cottage is a true summer oasis

A charming allotment cottage in Malmö, Sweden

A beautiful allotment cottage in summertime

See you Monday!

Niki

Photography courtesy of Kvarteret Mäkleri - where it is currently for sale! 

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Beautiful Colour Inspiration From 'The Home', Copenhagen

Men hejsan! I hope you had a härlig weekend?! I'm slowly cranking into action - but I am feeling bouyed by the thought of 3 days of design in Copenhagen this week (of which I'm hoping to attend at least one  - let me know if you'll be there too?!). The Danish capital is full of design hot spots (as you can imagine!). One of the ones I'm most excited about right now is 'The Home' by Ferm Living. Created along the same lines as The Apartment, The Loft and Artilleriet studio, the Danish brand has transformed an apartment in a period property in Amagertorv into a beautiful living space featuring rich, sophisticated hues, understated cosiness and of course, the unique, playful yet pared-back flavour of Ferm Living! Abi from These Four Walls (who I had the pleasure of meeting in Malmö a few months ago) snapped these lovely pictures. Enjoy!

Naturally, the home is entirely furnished with items from Ferm Living's range. But it's also a great example of how to introduce rich colours into your home and create that hygge vibe the Danes are so good at! I particularly love the burgundy ceiling (it looks very similar to the Norwegian Wood tone in my home office)- who'd have thought it'd look so great with grey and blue? Food for thought indeed! And I love the way they've continued the tone throughout the space too. 

In the kitchen there are subtle touches of burgundy on the shelves.

And in the office it's present in the form of wainscoting (such a perfect workspace, don't you think?!).

Haze Vitrine, striped box. 

And the burgundy makes an appearance in the candy striped wallpaper, rug and blanket in the master bedroom. 

Side note: I'm considering using the Unfold Room Divider (seen in the corner above) to separate my bedroom from my home office - what do you think?! 

Fruiticana pineapple rug (on wall), palm cushion, double dot blanket, popcorn bolster cushion and rabbit storage box.

And finally, the burgundy is continued into the children's room (another of my favourite corners). This little space is so clever and a real masterclass in how to create a kid's room that's on trend, ties in beautifully with the rest of the home and looks as cute as pie! Love it!

Is there anything that stands out to you? I'd love to hear your thoughts on the colours, furniture or anything else that caught your eye!

In case you're visiting Copenhagen sometime soon, The Home is available to visit by appointment only through Ferm Living (perhaps they're worried we might not ever leave - highly possible from my side!). And you can also see more pictures of it over on Abi's blog here. Don't forget to hop of the bridge to Skåne and say hi too!

If you're in the mood for more beautiful Danish interior inspiration today, take a peek at this archive (this home tour from last week seems to have gone completely viral too, I can understand why!). 

Ha' en god dag!

Photography: Abi Dare / These Four Walls, shared with kind permission. 

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