Before & After: A Dated LA House Becomes A Light & Airy Family Home

Why, hello there! I'm in Landskrona today filming and its BAKING (by Sweden standards at least) - but since the film is about natural light, it's all good! I can't wait to share the result with you soon. In the meantime, I thought I'd stop by to share the beautiful home of Molly Madfis. A perfect blend of amber, caramel, cream and white, Molly's style appears completely effortless. But just one glance at the before pictures and you'll see how much effort has gone into making this beautiful home.  Originally from Massachusetts, Molly is a work-at-home Mum and lives in LA with her husband Gideon, son Arlo and their three cats Bodhi, Lucy and Rocky. Molly frequently shares pictures of their home on instagram and her blog Almost Makes Perfect, so called because she feels she's never been able to do anything perfectly. When you see her home though, I'm sure you'll beg to differ! Enjoy the tour!

Sitting Room BEFORE

I couldn't find all the 'before' pictures for this house, but the ones I did find are proof that this home has been given one major refresh! Here's what the sitting room and entrance looked like before the renovation: 

Sitting room AFTER

Check out how deep that sofa from Interior Define is! I'd climb on, curl up and stay there all week if I could, fancy joining me?! 

Also seen: round cushion*, coffee table from cb2

Molly created the artwork over the dining table, and sells a similar print in her shop. 

Playroom BEFORE

This before picture shows how much they had to strip back in order to turn the house into the lovely family home it is today.

Playroom AFTER

Look at Arlo's cheeky grin - *heart melts*.

Someone's very proud of his room (and for good reason, too!).

Ikea cot,  mobile by electric sun creatives.

There are so many lovely things in Molly and Gideon's bedroom - but that Moroccan flatweave rug by Sarah Sherman Samuel (there's also a cushion* to match) and Odara throw have to be my favourites! 

I also spot a Sunset Vibes* print by Loulou Avenue. 

Bathroom BEFORE

Kind of dated, right?! 

Bathroom AFTER

Look closely and you'll see the new waaaay fresher bathroom has the same bones / layout as the original bathroom, but boy does it look different. And so pretty too with the lighter wood and hints of pink, don't you think?

Wall sconce from Triple Seven Home, handmade taps from Watermark Designs, sinks from Nood

I couldn't resist sharing a few pictures of the garden too, mainly because of the children's playhouse. I've never seen one like this before, have you? DIY idea perhaps? 

It's unbelievable how much inspiration can be taken from one home!

I hope you've got some ideas for your own home from this tour. 

Right, better get on with the filming (I need to concentrate, it's in Swedish - gulp!). 

Ha det fint! 

Niki

Photography: Molly Madfis / Almost Makes Perfect shared with kind permission

*affiliate links

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Before and After: Old Stables Become a Beautiful Country Home

Come on, own up! Who frequently fantasises about buying a run-down property / wreck and doing it up? I totally confess to dreaming about this on a monthly basis. Especially when I see some of the incredible transformations out there. And today, I think you're going to feel hugely inspired by the home of Anna-Lena in Lower Saxony, Germany. I think we can all agree that there is such an incredible amount of work that goes on behind-the-scenes of any property renovation. Which is why 'before', 'during' and 'after' pictures are a great reality check, but also inspire. It's quite incredible what vision, hard work and of course, a solid budget can do! Ready to feel inspired? Here are some pictures of Anna-Lena's home - which has slowly been transformed from dilapidated stables into a beautiful, rustic, modern country home! 

Exterior before 

A lot of the exterior was covered in plaster when they first purchased the property. This was carefully removed to reveal the original brickwork.  The entrance has also been modernised and new windows have been installed. 

Main living room - before

Wow! In the above picture you can really get a sense of how the stables looked before the renovation. It was a completely open shell and the stalls are clearly visible. 

The main living space was transformed into a well-insulated living space with a reinforced ceiling to allow for a second floor. 

Main living space - after

The wonderful Clou-Xtra wood-burning stove creates a focal point, while the concrete floor and beautiful wood ceiling add character to the space. 

The darker, clean and contemporary kitchen creates contrast and a sense of drama to the room, while the wood farmhouse table adds warmth and a rustic touch - pertaining to the past. 

Stairs were installed in the back corner of the stables for access to the second floor. 

Master Bedroom with En suite - During! 

Insulation work was carried out on the roof and two VELUX skylights were added to slip in light over the bath. The entire floor was re-constructed and a new wood floor laid. 

Master Bedroom and En suite - After

The beams were preserved to add character to the space and a new wood floor adds a light, modern touch to the space. Natural textures seen in the plant pot and bedding (you can find similar off-white bedlinen here*) help to add depth and warmth to the overall look. The storage is a mix of modern (IVAR from IKEA) and a large vintage wardrobe. 

Bathroom - Before

The room that the second bathroom occupies was non-existent and needed to be created from scratch, which shows the extent of the work put into transforming the building into a liveable space! 

Bathroom - after

The bathroom design is relatively simple yet texture from the wood, the subtle plaster finish behind the washbasin and the beautiful vintage unit help to add interest and warmth to the space.

Hallway / Entrance  - After

A barn door offers a wonderful nod to the history of the building, while the simple, rustic aesthetic is keeping with the rest of the property.

From what I understand from Anna-Lena's instagram, there's a lot more renovation work to be done. And I for one, will be following their journey! 

If you're keen to see what they do next, keep an eye out for updates here: @house.no1. 

Looking for more 'before and after' / renovation inspiration today? Check out these incredible transformations: 

A century old Danish thatched cottage is given a revamp

Two dated apartments are transformed into one beautiful home

A run-down Swedish property becomes a beautiful farmhouse

Could you imagine taking on a project like this? Even if you're not quite ready to take the plunge (or perhaps it's simply to your thing, which is entirely understandable!), I hope seeing these before and after pictures have left you feeling inspired all the same! 

Vi ses imorgon! 

Niki

Photography: Anna-Lena / @houseno.1 shared with kind permission

*This post contains affiliate links

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10 ways To Transform Your Home Into a Sanctuary Like a Dane!

Yesterday I talked about one of the hot (or should I say cool?) colour trends of the year. And today I wanted to share another key trend that's been popping up - which centres around well-being. In my Lagom book I wrote about how, in an age where we're connected 24/7 and constantly feeling a little overwhelmed, it's become important to create a living space where you can find balance, switch off and relax. In essence the home has become our sanctuary. Not quite there with that spa-like feel yet? Don't worry, it's easier than you might thing! I was excited to discover the Danish home of Simone Østergaard which is a great example of how a family living space can be transformed into a calming oasis in 10 simple steps. Ready to dive in? 

1. Declutter: There's a big difference between having a minimalist home and one that is devoid of clutter. The essential aspect of creating a calming home is surrounding yourself with things you love and believe to be useful. Even if you have many! Everything else must go - they'll only make you feel disorganised and stressed. 

2. Texture: Keeping things clean doesn't mean boring. Simone has applied Kalkitir paint in powder form to her walls for a beautiful textured look. 

3. Plants and flowers: maybe a cliché but nature is like balm for the soul. Surrounding yourself with fresh or dried flowers and lots of greenery is an instant mood lifter! 

4. Sheer curtains: Sheer window dressings slip in soft, diffused light for instant calm. Source similar made-to-measure curtains here*. 

5. Candles: Where would a Scandinavian home be without candles?! Don't wait until night fall though - a naked flame in daylight hours is perfect for adding a spa-like feel! Add a beautiful scent to really get the senses going.

6. Natural textures: wood, rattan, sheepskin and other natural materials will instantly make a room feel cosier.

7. Calm bedroom: a bit of an obvious one, but for the best type of beauty sleep, your bedroom should be decluttered, calm and fairly cool. Since living in Scandinavia I've also become a real advocate for single duvets too - being able to choose your own down thickness and sticking a limb out in whichever direction you please are tantamount to a great night sleep! 

8. Cocoon: Children love to be cosy and feel safe. Creating a cocoon over their bed in the form of a canopy will sure to send them into a blissful slumber. 

N.B. make sure anything items you choose to place around a cot are child-safe! 

9. Fluffy towels and dressing gowns: Towels rolled up in a vintage wooden dough bowl* and a soft robe give the bathroom instant spa appeal! 

10. Contain your stuff! It's impossible not to have lots of bits and pieces in the bathroom (if you ask me!). Using trays and pretty containers for hair clips, cotton wool, moisturisers and other bits and bobs will help to create a calmer, more organised space and it'll look prettier too! Hay sells a similar marble tray*. 

I'm feeling more relaxed just looking at these pictures, how about you? 

Is there anything that stood out to you in particular - or anything you might implement in your home? 

The first thing I'd like to do is organise our bathroom so there are more containers for all our stuff! It's out of control right now - and I'd sooooo love it to look like Simone's. I have a feeling that if I rolled up towels like that in our bathroom my 11-year-old daughter would use them all in one afternoon though! Guh! 

You can see more calming snapshots of Simone's home on her blog and instagram. 

Other serene homes to feel inspired by: 

A calm, elegant Stockholm apartment

Get the look from a serene family home in Berlin

A delightful green and white swedish home with a pretty bed nook

Have a relaxing day friends! 

Niki

Photography courtesy of Simone Østergaard with thanks

This post contains affiliate links which means I might make a tiny amount of money if you click through and buy an item from one of the links marked with *

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Bathroom love: GSI Ceramica's Kube X Collection

Sponsored*: 

Hello friends! I hope you had a lovely Christmas, despite the circumstances. Are you ready to look forward to 2021? I sure am! I have a sneaking suspicion this will be the year we finally renovate our bathroom. I know this as I already have my feelers out for the most beautiful designs (It's a sign, surely?). And GSI Ceramica's contemporary Kube X Collection has sent my design heart a flutter! GSI Ceramica prides itself on combining the latest technology with craftsmanship, rooted in the thousand-year-old tradition of the Civita Castellana ceramic district around 60 km from Rome. And the rectangular forms, pared-down lines and slender edges of the Kube X collection are simply divine! 

I also love that the Kube X Collection is massively versatile, offering something for every size bathroom (from smaller sized basins to larger ones) as well as different installation options (wall hung, on a countertop or on a mobile support) - and is available in a white matt, ash and black finish (Bianco, Cenere and Ardesian from the Colour Elements collection).  

Bathrooms can be a bit of a cesspit for bacteria (although looking at these beautiful images, you'd never know it!) - so it's important to think about the technology too. The products in the Kube X Collection are coated with the new Extraglaze® Antibacterial ceramic enamel which is tested and certified for guaranteed 99.99% antibacterial action. Suddenly makes me wonder about our ancient bathroom and what's lurking there, are you wondering the same about yours?

Oh, and other winning factors in case you're curious: the loo (toilet) features Swirlflush® technology (the quietest flushing system in the world), helps to save water (using 4.5 litres instead of the 9 litres of a standard loo), and has a Soft-Close seat. And if you're really into features, you'll be excited to hear it also features a Quick Release installation system which allows the loo cover to be unhooked without tools, and a Soft Close slow closing system to prevent accidental drops.  

In other words, they've got you covered!

Sounds and looks wonderful, don't you think?

Might just approach Per with this post (he's going to love the tech info!). 

You can read more about the Kube X Collection here. 

I'll back back tomorrow to share two colours set to be hot in 2021 - and they might just surprise you (I was  sceptical but having seen the imagery, might just be sold!). 

See you then! 

Niki

This post is sponsored by GSI Ceramica. All words are my own and I only ever work with brands I love and think you will too. Thank you for supporting the wonderful brands that make My Scandinavian Home possible. 

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