my scandinavian home: Search results for autumn

A Quick Cosy Autumn Update in My Sitting Room!

Paid partnership with Bemz (contains affiliate links). All words and photos are my own and I only ever work with the brands I love.

Sweden is a country with very pronounced seasons. From the abundance of light and beautiful warm days in summertime, to the icy cold, dark yet cosy winter - it's a constantly changing landscape. I have long admired the way Swedes adapt to and embrace each season - after all, each one offers something magical.

Autumn is a time for 'mys' (the Swedish version of 'hygge') - and when leaves swirl in the cold wind and the sun lowers in the sky, there's no place like home. My family tends to gather in the sitting room where we relax, watch TV (it's hidden behind the curtain to the right!), play games and read (oh, and eat too - no one is meant too, but I see the crumbs kids, I see them!). With the clocks going backwards in a few week's time, I felt it was time to do like the Swedes and add some cosy touches.

This season I really wanted to up the mys factor, so I've doubled up on candles, blankets, a fluffy rug, books and little foraged touches. But most importantly, I also updated our IKEA Söderhamn sofa with a new Classic Tweed cover in mole brown.

I've been a fan of tweed ever since my University of Edinburgh days, so you can imagine my excitement when Bemz (who make designer slip covers for IKEA sofas) included a Tweed option as part of their new Grounded Heritage collection. To me, tweed conjures up images of walks through the Scottish Highlands followed by a steaming broth and a hearty red wine. The darker shade (there are three to choose between) helped strike just the right mood!

I also went a little wild with the cushions and selected Striped Twill in soft oak (above), Tartan Wool (below), and Melton Wool in stone and birch - all warm, earthy tones and tactile to touch. Lovely!

You'll no doubt recognise my coffee table, I've had my vintage wooden bench for years and it's still going strong. I love that about natural materials, don't you? They just get better with age!

My wall is a forever rotating gallery of prints, paintings and illustrations by the likes of Peytil (black tights), Hilde Mork (who's Norwegian home I featured here) and local artist Pearl Wallin which we've collected over the years. As with all things autumn and winter, good lighting is essential - and we have reading lamps at each end of the sofa for good measure!

And finally, I invested in a new fluffy rug - to keep any drafts at bay!

Right, time to enjoy this corner before everyone gets back from school. Sadly, it won't stay this tidy for long, but at least it'll always feel cosy!

I hope you like this autumn update as much as we do!

If you're looking for a cosy new cover for your IKEA sofa this autumn, I can totally recommend checking out the lovely new Bemz Grounded Heritage Collection. You can order 5 free fabric samples to test out the colour and texture before you decide which one to go for - perfect!

See previous changes I've made to our sitting room and bedroom with Bemz here.

If you're wondering about anything else you see in my sitting room give me a shout below and I'll be happy to help!

Have a toasty weekend friends!

Niki

A Swedish Cottage in the City - In Autumn Time

Many of my Swedish friends tell me that November is their least favourite month. Admittedly, it is very dark. Here in the furthest south the sun will set at 4pm today. And in Kiruna - a city in the far North famous for its ice hotel, the sun will dip below the horizon at a crazy 2pm! Could you imagine? And we still have six weeks until the winter solstice.

But I have always loved November. I love the golden leaves. I love the cosiness of coming home to a warmly lit home and I love steaming stews and apple pie!

This charming cottage is my way of sharing not only the beauty of the fairytale quarter of Högelid in central Stockholm, but also the capital city in all it's Autumn glory! It's also a rare opportunity to take a peek behind the facade of one of the city's historical homes.

Welcome to Sweden in 'höst'!

What a beautiful haven to come home to each day. It's hard to imagine this cottage is in the heart of a city, don't you think?

Did I mention it's for sale? A unique chance if ever there was one!

Incidentally, I have had quite a few questions lately asking if Scandinavians tend to own less stuff. The simple answer is yes! Granted, some of these homes have been decluttered to make them appeal to potential buyers, on the whole, Scandinavians take a 'less is more' approach to decorating. I wrote a load about it in my Lagom book if you'd like to find out more*!

In the mood for some autumn / fall inspiration? Here are some of my favourite sources:

Laura and Nora's home is full of lovely ideas

11 cosy autumn ideas to steal from a Danish home

5 cosy autumn trends, Scandinavian style

Happy mid week!

Niki

Photography: stern interiors

Styling: Olivia Lind

For: Fastighetsbyrån

FILED UNDER: autumn swedish cottage

A Swedish home with a hint of Autumn

Well hello there! I have to confess I'm feeling decidedly fragile this morning after a magical weekend in Stockholm - it's been a while since I danced until 2am - don't tell my physio! (you may remember I snapped my achilles heel back in May and it's still recovering). Let's just say I'm in need of plenty of coffee today. Nothing that a great home can't cure. And I've got a lovely, serene Swedish space with Autumn accents to share with you today. It's a great example of how to update a home for the season using accessories such as bed linen and cushions in rust, brown and creams and of course, plenty of plants and flowers. Enjoy!

Photography: Jonas Berg. Styling: Grey Deco for Stadshem.

So simple, yet so inviting!

A few favourites: Cesca cane chair (seen round the dining table and by the desk) - source vintage ones here, Karin chair (in sitting room) and the ant chairs.

If you're looking to add similar autumn touches - I'm loving this bed linen, a 'natural' linen table cloth and these Belgian linen cushions!

These homes are also great for pure Autumn interior inspiration - the dreamy The Estate Trentham, a Swedish space with touches of Autumn and an elegant white home. Beeeeeautiful!

Have a great start to the week!

PS Instagram feed tip of the day: follow the renovation of a loft apartment in a 1910 water tower outside of Stockholm on @thewatertowerproject - pure inspiration!

FILED UNDER: brown swedish apartment swedish home

Bright ideas: Lighting up our Cabin and a Friend's Bathroom

Paid partnership with Hudson valley Lighting Group, all words and pictures are my own

There's nothing like the autumn and winter darkness to make you realise you don't have enough lighting at home (yelp!). Put simply, you need at least 5 different types of lights in a standard size room (a mix of ambience, overhead and task lighting). Outdoor lighting is also important to extend the alfresco season, brighten up an entrance and create a welcoming vibe! Last week, Per and I headed to the cabin to install two lights in the fading autumn light.

The first one we installed was the District pendant by Troy Lighting which is made from hand blown glass with soft black detail. The cabin has a 4-metre ceiling height, so we borrowed a ladder. Here's me checking the length (for someone who has a slight fear of heights, this was a brave moment!). The light comes with a black ceiling canopy which looks super smart once in place.

As with all handmade pieces, the handblown glass has subtle imperfections which give it a lovely vintage feel. It comes in two different sizes (this is the smaller one measuring 40 cm high x 20.32 cm wide), and three different glass finishes: clear, topaz and smoke. Since it's a fairly small room, I chose the clear glass for a 'barely there' feel.

I love the closed concave bottom - it's not unlike a fine bottle of wine! But more than that, it catches and reflects the light in a lovely way.

Outdoor lighting

Meanwhile, outside it can be pitch black (save for the moon and stars) at this time of year at the cabin.

I've learned good garden lighting is key for three reasons: it means you can still be outside and enjoy mild evenings after the sun goes down, it creates a welcoming feel when you arrive home and finally, there's something unsettling about looking out into a black hole of darkness through the window, and good garden lighting can do wonders to lighten up the outside world - highlighting your deck, a tree or other parts of the garden, helping you to feel less 'closed-in'.

Note: try to steer clear of lights that emit light directly upwards as this can disorientate migrating birds.

For us, the first step was to install a light in the decked area so we can sit outside on autumn evenings (when the weather allows for it of course!). The Atwater Wall Sconce by Troy Lighting caught our eye as we liked the vintage brass finish and the warm glow.

Specifically designed for outdoor use, it's available in three different sizes. This one is 45.72 cm high x 16.51 cm wide.

I particularly like the finish - it's a tone I've used throughout the cabin. I also really appreciate the golden glow, it creates a really welcoming, cosy vibe!

It's so much cosier to sit out here in Autumn now. Maybe we'll invest in a fire pit next, what do you think?

Lighting up my friend's bathroom

And finally, it would be mean spirited of me to keep all these wonderful lights to myself. My friend Ullis (who I've known since I was five and lives a few doors down) has recently completed her bathroom renovation and it's amazing! There was just one piece missing - mood lighting!

Ullis already has spotlights in the ceiling, so the overhead lighting was covered, what was needed was a warm mood light. Which is where this beauty came into the picture!

Made from solid cast brass, the Diggs wall sconce by Hudson Valley Lighting Group is small but fairly weighty (you do need a good, solid wall for this one). It looks great all over the home, but I also love that it can be installed in the bathroom.

It has a hooded design with a handcrafted look and feel which looks equally pretty switched off or on.

It gives off such a lovely warm glow, don't you think? I love it when a plan comes together!

I'm considering installing this in our stairwell too (a dark area of our home that's in need of more light!).

I hope you like these lamps as much as we do. Do you have a favourite?

You can see all the lights have selected from Hudson Valley Lighting Group in the past here, here and here.

This weekend is perfect timing to do a light edit in your home and ensure you have enough each room. Is there somewhere in your home you need to work on?

Have a great weekend friends, vi ses på måndag!

Niki

FILED UNDER: Lighting

Turn Your Outdoor Space Into a Cosy Haven This Autumn / Winter

Studio Joanna Laajisto

Baby, it's cold outside. At least in Sweden! Usually, this would be a cue to move indoors, but there's nothing normal about 2020, right? This autumn it's all about catching up with close friends and family al fresco. Which means it's time to up the backyard / balcony ante! The good news is, the Scandinavians have been pros at this for years. Visit a café or restaurant in Sweden, Denmark and Norway, and you'll find every chair in the outdoor area has been prepped with a fleece blanket. And they don't stop there. Sheepskins, outdoors rugs, string lights, lanterns, candles and fire pits are all pre-requisites to a cosy evening al fresco - no matter the weather! I started to up my backyard game a few weeks back, but I've realised there's a whole lot more I can do. Are you also looking to turn your outdoor space into a cosy haven? Here's a little inspiration to get you started.

Apartment Therapy

Early Autumn nights call for candles, lanterns, a beautiful set of string lights and maybe even the warmth of an open flame. All this, not only to illuminate your outdoor space but also to create a relaxing ambience and the kind of comfort we crave right now!