A Tiny Danish Home That's Big On (Handmade) Design!

I was scratching around for something to post today. My criteria was to find something a little different from the other spaces I've shown this week. And since I went all white yesterday, I was thinking a pop or two of colour would be nice too. Little did I know my search would lead me to this beauty in the heart of Copenhagen! Measuring a tiny 44 m2 (474 f2), this little apartment in the Nørrebro neighbourhood serves as a pied-à-terre for Puk Sjelden, her husband Jake and their 17 year old twin daughters. The apartment is made up of two rooms: an open-plan kitchen / dining area and one double bedroom and has been renovated to incorporate clever design ideas, pops of colour and a series of fun DIY hacks.  Welcome to Puk's mini but mighty Danish world! 

The stripy stool is an IKEA DIY hack (check out the DIY highlights on Puk's instagram for the know-how) - and the built in bench and mattress are also handmade. The dining room wall has been painted in Sand from Jotun. 

Did you carry out the renovation yourselves? You seem very handy!
"We (or Jake!) are really handy and we do a lot of the minor details ourselves - like the blue shelves. However, we used a contractor for the larger renovations so that we didn't have to coordinate all the craftsmen. We were very involved in all the details throughout the process."

Puk and Jake have created two recessed shelves using electric blue paint ('Sadolin' code: U9.48.19) and light wood. 

How did you come up with the idea for the recessed shelving?  

There was a hole in the kitchen wall when we took over the apartment, so instead of covering it up we decided to turn it into a feature. The blue shelves came about because I wanted a change. They used to be a covered cabinet and I wanted to bring more dynamics to the room. The colour turned the shelving into more of an installation which I really like! It adds a bit of edge to the room. 

Print by danish artist Sini Salminen.

Can you tell me more about the pops of colour? 

It's funny because I used to be super afraid of colour! I always went for monochrome. But then a Danish design company inspired me to create the blue shelves - and now I can't get enough of colour! It can change the entire feeling of a room. 

What do you like most about your apartment?

I really enjoy the kitchen and the nook, it has a good feeling and it's so cosy hanging out here alone, together or with good friends. 

A Hay mega dot throw adds a sunshine feel to the bedroom. while simple crates provide as extra storage. A simple Pujo coat rack is perfect as a makeshift wardrobe! 

Isn't this space wonderful?

If you love this pad as much as I do you'll be excited to hear that it's also available to rent through Airbnb! Perfect little over nighter! I know where I'll be staying next time I'm in Copenhagen!

You can see more pictures here. 

Other small spaces to feel inspired by: 

A beautiful two room Swedish apartment

A mini but mighty Stockholm apartment

15 small space hacks to learn from a lovely Danish home

Anyone else dreaming of having a little pied-à-terre in town in which to hang out with friends and rent on airbnb? Such fun! 

Niki

Photography: Puk Sjelden / @poppelgade

A special thank you to my good friend Mette at @monstercircus for the tip!

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Getaway From it all at a Lakeside Cottage in Sweden

A few weeks ago I featured Anna Starrén's wonderfully unique, floating cottage, built on a lake in the Swedish countryside by her husband Martin. Since then, Anna and I realised we have a good mutual friend in common (Sweden is so small sometimes!). But, more interestingly to you, I also discovered Anna runs an airbnb!

Yep, you can actually stay at her lakeside paradise in the village of Sjötofta, Västra Götaland county. The red, white and yellow guesthouse is setback from the main cottage and has it's own terrace overlooking the woods. The charming, simple interior has everything you might need for a weekend away and in the morning you can look forward to freshly laid eggs  - and a dip in the lake. Oh, and there's also a hot tub and sauna to enjoy. 

Time to clear the calendar? Here's what's in store: 

Just my kind of getaway! Could you imagine chilling here too? 

More info / booking details on Airbnb. And you can see more of Anna's lovely life over at @annastarren and find out more about her workshops, events and floristry here. 

Keen to discover other cottages available to rent in Sweden? Here are a couple I've featured in the past: 

Enjoy a stay at a former schoolhouse by a lake

A rustic cottage on the island of Gotland

Or why not book yourself into Stedsans? Another list you might find handy if you're planning a visit is my feature on 20 instagrammable places to stay in Sweden. 

While I'm at it, I could as well share my Swedish travel guides: 

20 things to do in Malmö in wintertime

4 day tour to Helsingborg, Helsingør and Kullaberg

10 islands to visit on Sweden's west coast

A guide to Swedish island hopping in the Baltic

Right, that's it from me this week. 

Trevlig helg! See you Monday! 

Niki

Photography courtesy of Anna Starrén, sheered with kind permission. 

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Two Idyllic Cottages To Rent In Denmark This Summer

It's going to reach a high of 12 degrees Celsius (53 degrees Fahrenheit) here in southern Sweden tomorrow and we're seriously excited (we've been waiting 6 months for this, I kid you not!). If you walk through Malmö tomorrow, you'll see people outside cafes in droves, with faces tilted towards the sun. With warmer weather finally on its way, my thoughts are drifting to the summer holidays and carefree days by the sea. If you haven't been to this part of the world in summertime, it's an absolute must. In case you're wondering where to stay, I stumbled across these two idyllic coastal cabins on Airbnb last week while planning my day by the Danish coast. Both are located in beautiful holiday destinations on the Danish coast and are a relatively short hop from Copenhagen!

1. Liseleje
Danes flock to Liseleje on the Danish riviera in the summer time to enjoy the authentic fishing village, al fresco dining on the quay and the long, golden stretch of sand. This charming white washed cottage sleeps 6 and is a mere 600 metres from the beach - and the interior is as pretty as can be!

2. Rørvig

About a one hour and a quarter drive from the Danish capital, this rustic log cabin is surrounded by woodland and situated near Rørvig harbour which is lined with quayside restaurants, cafes and shops. The area is also great for hikes. I'm loving the rustic vibe! Oh and it sleeps 6.  

Could you imagine spending your summer holidays at one of these lovely cottages?

I certainly could!

For more Danish summer cottage inspiration, I'm also loving these homes (although they're sadly not available to rent!):

A charming cottage on the island of Fejø
An idyllic Danish summer cottage
A Danish retreat

Wishing you a wonderful weekend friends.

Roll on the Danish summer!

Niki

Photography courtesy of Airbnb with thanks

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Your Very Own Dreamy Beach Front Hideaway

I've only been home in Malmö for five minutes and I'm already thinking about travelling to faraway places. Don't get me wrong, I love this city, I've even penned several travel guides about it. But when you see the views from this 1960s beachfront property, you'll understand why! This quirky cottage, known as Arku House, is nestled on the shores of Sisters Beach, Tasmania and completely engulfed by nature. Airbnb guests are invited to relax with a book surrounded by a simple, soothing mediterranean inspired interior. In the winter, a wood burning stove helps to warm the cockles after a blustery walk along the beach. Ready to dream about falling asleep to the sound of the waves and waking up to magical sunrises over the ocean? Enjoy the tour! 

 

See what I mean?

I think one of my favourite touches is the little makeshift bar by the beach - it epitomises the simplicity and reflects the raw nature of the beautiful surroundings. You don't need much more than that! 

Although the space is very simple, it still feels cosy, in a beachy kinda way, thanks to all the texture which includes woven materials, rough stone, rustic wood and linen. 

It actually looks like a perfect writer's cabin.... and a great excuse for a fourth book. I could definitely imagine hiding away here over the Swedish winter! Could you imagine hanging out here too? That bar seat has your name on it! 

Here's the link to Arku House on Airbnb. Just saying!

There are many more beautiful properties in 'Tas' in my archives. Take a look and dream away here. 

Have a great start to the week friends! 

Niki

Interior designer / owner: Emma / @arkuhouse. Photography: Lean Timms

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A Rustic Summer Cottage On The Swedish Island of Gotland

Thank you for sharing all your thoughts on Thursday. I've been thinking about you all and also how to approach all of this here on MSH. After some thought, I've decided to do what I (hope I) do best: provide somewhere where we can all come each day, pour a coffee, put our feet up and feel inspired - even if just for a few moments at a time. What do you think? 

With that in mind, today we're heading on a virtual trip to the Swedish island of Gotland. I paid my first visit during our Baltic sailing trip last summer (you can read / see pictures of our trip here) and I've been dreaming about it ever since. Located off the east coast of Sweden, the island offers everything you can possibly imagine: breath-taking scenery, rolling hills, great swathes of deserted sandy beaches, roads lined with banks of wildflowers, hundreds of ateliers, galleries and farm shops, you name it! It's a truly magical place! 

Tempted to add this to your 'future holidays' file? If so, this traditional limestone cottage with pretty blue window frames is waiting for you! It sleeps 8 and made up of a main house and guest house both of which have been decorated in a charming pared-down, rustic way. Oh, and it has a heated pool (after all, the Swedish summer can be highly suspect at times!). Ready for the tour? 

Beautiful!

This is EXACTLY my type of holiday home! Could you imagine staying here too?

Have you been to Gotland? If not I can highly recommend it, and when you do, this place is available to rent through Airbnb (totally one to add to your list!).

In the meantime, here is some more beautiful inspiration from the island:

A charming 19th century house on Gotland
A relaxed Swedish summer cabin by the sea
Your island retreat on the island of Gotland
A pared back Swedish summer house on Gotland
A Beautiful Gotland home in soothing shades of grey

And if you'd like to add one thing to your own home to get a taste of the island - and feel that little more cosy, it's a Gotland sheepskin throw*. I've had mine for 5 years and it's invaluable!

Think I might just go back and look through my pictures of our trip to the Blekinge archipelago and Gotland again and re live it!

Nothing like starting the week with a little dreaming, don't you think?

Niki

Photographs courtesy of Airbnb. 
*Affiliate link

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