Angles from a former culture centre

There are two key things I'm drawing inspiration from in this lovely 18th century former culture centre in Stockholm. First, the way the books are piled high and used to add colour in the sitting room. And secondly the rustic workman's bench at the end of the bed. Of course the rest of the space is pretty nice too :)

With kind permission from Johan Sellén, featured in Elle Interiör via DecorDots.

I've actually just ordered two workmen's stools from this fab online vintage shop and patiently (read: anxiously awaiting) their arrival, I can't wait! Perhaps the next item on my list will be a workmen's bench for the end of the bed.

Any ideas you're looking to steal?

Have a lovely day!

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The beautiful bedroom of an interior designer!

Last Sunday I headed over to my friend Genevieve Jorn's apartment in the centre of town. Interior designer Gen, Danish husband Kasper and little daughter Olivia have the most beautiful flat. You may have noticed that I've been photographing it room by room, detail by detail over the past few months (don't miss her office and kitchen!) and today I'm excited to share a tour of their wonderful master bedroom. The spacious room has magnificent bones - with high ceilings, angled walls, period features and an original parquet floor dating back to the early twentieth century. Grey walls serve as a calm backdrop for a blend of furniture - including a beautiful bench, clothes rack and dresser from Danish homeware store Nordal. Could you imagine a duvet day here?!

Photography: Me, Niki Brantmark / My Scandinavian Home). Home-owner / styling: Genevieve Jorn.

So lovely don't you think?! I love the layers of texture, it makes the room so warm and inviting! 

Get the look from Gen's lovely bedroom:

1. Dresser 2. Metal frame hanging 3. Clothes rack 4. black hangers 5. clothes dresser 6. Carpet with fringes 7. Raw wooden stool 8. Black concrete and wood bench.

Give me a shout if you're wondering about anything else in the comment section below and I'll do my best to help! 

Have a lovely day!

This post was created in collaboration with the fab Danish online store Nordal, selling unique furniture and decor. All words are my own and I only ever work with brands I absolutely love and know you will too! Thank you for supporting the brands that enable me to create fresh content for you to enjoy.

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Annika Sahléns Cosy, Calm and Creative Swedish Home

Men, hejsan! I hope you had a fabulous weekend? It's 2pm on Monday and I'm still cranking into action. Not that I haven't done anything today (I've put together an entire advent calendar - to be revealed tomorrow!), it's just that I'm doing everything so slowly! - anyone else feel the same?! I'm in my office in Malmö today but where I'd much rather be is hanging out in the lovely Swedish home of interior designer / stylist Annika Sahlén. Annika has been passionate about interiors for as long as she can remember, and in 2015 she took the plunge and went back to school to re-train before starting her interior business Inreda Bevara. Annika's philosophy is that everyone should feel good at home; after all, it's where you 'umgås' (cosy up / hang out) with friends and family, re-charge your batteries and generally spend a great deal of time. Her own home is testimony to this. The space oozes comfort and calm and is awash with muted, earthy tones, natural textures and interesting works of art. Enjoy the tour!

Above: Lone house print, Söderhamn sofa

Love this magazine stash! Why doesn't mine ever look as neat as this?!

How great is this gallery wall? Annika may have stuck to similar tones but each and every piece is unique.  Annika's husband made the large piece directly over the bench (I love the idea of the bench too). In the back corner you can catch a glimpse of the IKEA PS 2014 corner chair - a limited edition piece which is now available on second hand sites.

The kitchen walls have been painted in Almond Beige by Jotun which contrast with a wooden floor painted in a fresh, matt white. Pick up a fab vintage kilim like this one here*. 

Pholc lamp*

Annika has painted her bedroom wall in Fridhemsgatan by Alcro. A handy long row of hooks have been painted in the same colour. 

I think what strikes me the most about Annika's lovely home is the art - not just the paintings, illustrations and photography but also the sculptures! I do love a bust (ha! that could so easily get misconstrued!). I found the 'mango head' one in the sitting room right here, but sadly it looks like it's sold out. Annika found the clay one at a flea market.

Can anyone recommend a great place to buy sculptures like these? If so. I'd love to hear any tips in the comment section below.

Is there anything you love in particular about Annika's home?

Check out more pics here and find out more about Annika's interior design and styling services at Inreda Bevara here.

Not quite done? Join the club! Why not dig around in the Swedish home archive - there must be over 500 home tours in there these days! Crazy! 

Happy Monday all!

Niki

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Beautiful danish spaces by House Doctor

The more days I go into the new year the more I realise 2014 is going to be great! I feel so inspired by fresh starts at this time of the year. There's also all the new collections starting to appear, and nothing warms my heart more than the first signs of Spring in a home. So today's inspiration comes from the fab danish brand House Doctor and their hot off the press Everyday 2014 collection.

House Doctor via Stil Inspiration

Take home inspiration for me? It's got to be the nautical striped day bench with pale blue cushions. So cute!  How about you?

On Friday I showed a home for those who need a little new year de-clutter inspiration (me). I've become even more inspired by this since reading The Happiness Project (have you read it?) in which de-cluttering the home is seen as the very first step in the path to improved happiness.....pass me the bin bags! Oh and if you need any more prompting  - how about this nautical striped storage bag to match the day bench?!

More Danish inspiration required for a Monday? how about this Danish oasis in Cannes, this home of a Danish stylist or one of the most popular homes I've shown here: A danish home on a hill.

Have a lovely day!

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My Sitting Room Three Different ways

Partnership. The most popular room in our home at this time of the year has to be our sitting room. It's where we chill out, watch TV (yes, there is one hiding in this room somewhere, can you guess where?!), play games and chat into the early hours all winter long.  

In my childhood home, my Mother insisted on two antique chesterfields which looked stunning - but didn't move an inch when you sat down - do you know the type?! God forbid if you were to sit on one of the arms (there'd be an almighty cracking sound!)! In our sitting room we might not benefit from the history that comes with antique sofas - but boy is our IKEA Söderhamn 3-seater, armchair and chaise longues comfy! 

We can also update the furniture whenever it starts to look tired thanks to Bemz (who create custom covers and legs for IKEA furniture in hundreds of high end fabrics that are made to order in Europe (LOVE THAT!). I tried out a few different looks in my sitting room to suss out which cover (and layout) works best for the chilly winter months ahead.  

I'd love to know which of the three you like the most!

Look One: Lovely Linen

The Design 
For the first look I wanted to create something that felt soft, floaty and snug. The Brera Lino linen in Dusk is a soft, middle blue with a very slight green tint to it (Per insists it is green... but then again, he also thinks pink is red sooo....). I liked the idea of combining it with Brera Lino Pebble and brown accents.


The Look

I've been a fan of the Bemz Loose Fit style cover ever since re-arranging my living room in 2017 (remember that look? I've since been through a few more styles including this one last autumn!) - you know me! I love the floaty, relaxed look and the contemporary seams, is this your kind of style too? This time I opted for a Bemz Loose Fit sofa cover in Dusk Brera Lino linen for the IKEA Söderhamn sofa. It was one of those instant matches with with my coffee table (an old workman's bench which I've had for years).  I love it when a plan comes together!

I've always loved the way linen catches the light - and also how it looks equally fine creased as it does flat ironed - perfect for a messy (or maybe I should say, very relaxed?) family like mine! 

I picked up the camel coloured wool and mohair blanket from online Swedish shop Granit.

The sitting room doubles up as a thoroughfare to our back garden which makes it kind of tricky to furnish! It was the first time I've tried a chaise longues in this position (it was Genevieve Jorn's idea) and it just seem to slot into place. Per might wonder where his bar cart has gone, along with the Hendricks - but the girls and I love it in this position! What do you think?

The Ikea Söderhamn chaise longues has been kitted out with a cover in Bemz Loose Fit cover in Pebble Brera Lino. 

When it comes to rugs, I say the fluffier the better at this time of the year, don't you? This Beni Spezial is from from the family-run company Natur Pur in Austria. 

There are so many details in my living room - some of which are fairly new, and others I've had for years. Here's a quick low down:

Get The Look

1. Z1 Cotton Lamp
2. Paris Print by Anna Johansson
3. Bemz Single Curtain panel in Belgian Linen Blend, Unbleached
4. Söderhamn 3 seater in Loose Fit Dusk
5. Colour Print by Maria Leinonen
6. Granit Wool & Mohair Blanket
7. Antique Chinese Bench
8. Söderhamn chaise longue in Pebble
9. Blue Print by Berit Mogensen Lopez
10. Bemz Cushion Cover in Belgian Linen Blend, Unbleached

Look two: Luxurious Velvet

The Design

While the Dusk look is ever so slightly darker than my previous cover, I felt I wanted to go even darker and create a seating area with a really luxurious feel. 

My Mother's infamous (and very lovely, I must say) antique sofas have always been upholstered in dark blue velvet - a look that never fails to make me feel nostalgic. In my own sitting room I wanted to incorporate this and explore a blend of Indigo, camel and soft grey. 

The Look

For this look I covered my Ikea Söderhamn sofa and armchair with a Bemz Regular Fit cover in Indigo Simply Velvet. The fabric has a wonderful soft feel and a sheen that changes with the light - so beautiful! 

I used to have sheer white linen curtains in the sitting room (you can catch a glimpse of them here) - for these two looks I swapped the white linen out for Curtain Panels in Unbleached Belgian Linen. It's a slightly thicker fabric and immediately made the room feel more cosy - it's funny how that can happen, don't you think?

I have to say, this look was so popular with my family (mainly because the sofa is so soft!). I also sent over a few pictures to my Mum and she absolutely loved it too!

Here's a quick round-up of some of the pieces: 

Get The Look

1. Zuiver Shady Iron Wall Lamp

2. Blue print by Berit Mogensen Lopez

3. Paris Print by Anna Johansson

4. Söderhamn 3 seater, regular fit, simply velvet, indigo

5. Sergel skinny Wooden Furniture Leg

6. Stockholm 2017 Rattan Chair

7. Wool & mohair throw

8. Söderhamn 1 seat section cover regular fit, simply velvet, indigo

9. Adoray Print by MiltonStudio

10. House Doctor Shelf

11. Bemz cushion cover, plain seam, simply velvet, Moleskin

Did I miss something? If so, please give me a shout in the comment section below and I'll do my best to help!

Look Three - The Reading Corner

For the final layout we moved the Ikea Söderhamn chaise longue with a Bemz Loose Fit cover in Pebble to the corner to create a reading nook. It's been topped with matching pillows and a cushion cover in Belgian Linen Blend, Unbleached and Spice Linara by Romo. 

If you're looking for me this weekend you might just find me here. 

Or should I keep the velvet look. Or maybe the dusk linen? Hmmm. What to do?! Do you have a favourite? 

If you've got any questions about anything, please do ask away in the comment section below!

In the meantime, I might just go and snuggle up in my new sitting room! 

Have a wonderful weekend! 

Niki

Photography: Niki Brantmark - My Scandinavian Home

Styling: Genevieve Jorn 

This post is brought to you in collaboration with Bemz and contains affiliate links. However, all words are my own and I only ever work with brands I absolutely love and think you will too (#Ilovemyjob!). Thank you for supporting the businesses that help bring fresh content to your mail box and make My Scandinavian Home possible.

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A Beautiful Southern Sweden Home (With An Adorable Pooch!)

I don't know if I've mentioned this before, but Per is from Sweden's eighth largest city - Helsingborg. It's a fairly small town (says the Londoner!) but what it lacks in size it more than makes up for in charm. The town is characterised by pretty squares lined with cafes and restaurants, cobbled streets and wonderful views over the Öresund strait to Kronborg castle in Denmark. It's not often I feature homes from the town, so I was very excited to stumble across Hannes Mauritzson's apartment earlier this week. Hannes lives with his partner Alexander and beloved dog Charlie in a building that dates back to the late 19th century. When Hannes isn't at his desk in a PR firm in Malmö, he's styling and capturing his home for his inspiring Instagram feed @hannesmauritzson. I caught up with my new Nordic friend to find out more about his adorable furry friend, interior design and life in Helsingborg. 

Charlie seems to have captured the hearts of many near and far, can you tell us a little more about him?

He always charms people. Whenever I ask people what they would like me to publish its always more pictures of him! 

I'm not surprised, he's the cutest! What breed is he?

Charlie came into my life about two years ago. he's an Irish soft-coated wheaten terrier with lots of energy, there's no denying that! But I think that's one of the things that makes home so loveable. He greets everyone we cross paths with and sees everyone (including other dogs) as a potential best friend! 

Charlie keeps guard over a rattan and wood bench from HM Home (I've got my eye on this along with the chair!). 

Your home is so beautiful, do you work in the field of interior design?

I work in PR and Digital Growth at a Malmö-based PR firm. When I'm not in the office, I use my time to be as creative as I can. I love interior design and have started appreciating photography more and more. I love spending hours figuring out what to photograph and how to stage a picture to post on Instagram. 

It's fun to peek inside a Helsingborg apartment - can you tell us a little more about it?

Our apartment dates back to the late 19th century and is in a lovely town called Helsinborg, Skåne (Scania), in the southernmost part of Sweden. The city is by the Öresund, the strait which forms the Denmark-Sweden border. Our apartment has four rooms. 

Muuto coffee table*

Did it need a lot of work when you moved in?

It was completely renovated when we moved in. But that didn't stop me from repainting it anyway! I bought about ten different colour samples for the bedroom, but ended up settling on something completely different without even getting a sample.

Ha! Been there done that many times! Which colour did you settle for in the end?

I love the texture and look of whitew3ash, so it as an easy decision to make. I decided on Washed Linen from Jotun, Lady Minerals. The colour turned out to be perfect! 

Cane headboard from Jotux, this brown linen bedding* is similar

What's your approach to decorating? 

When I decorate a room, I usually use colours that make me feel calm, like grey and beige. I try not to over furnish a space in order to create a room that is both visually appealing and healing. For example, I'd rather use one large vase than several smaller details. 

How would you describe your style?

My style follows the traditional Scandinavian household. Recently I've started to buy more antique and second hand items which is both kinder to the environment and my wallet! I feel the perfect mix of old and new contributes to a household that is filled with life. I love items that have a past. 

IKEA Stockholm bench

How do you make your home feel cosy? 

To compliment the neutral base, I decorate with vases, coffee cups, and dried flowers. Dried flowers hang all over my walls at home - it may look weird to some, but for me, it contributes to a home that feels comfortable to live in. 

Finally, can you share your three best tips for anyone visiting Helsingborg?

1. Enjoy a Swedish fika: If you ever decide to take a trip to the charming city of Helsingborg, I highly recommend treating yourself to a cup of coffee and a slice of cake at the lovely cafe Ebbas Fik. They serve a traditional Swedish fika, but with a unique, American-inspired 50s twist. 

2. Take a hike: After your fika, take a long but cosy walk along the strait until you reach Pålsjö forest. The view is spectacular! 

3. Go interior shopping: If you're more interested in interior design, which I totally understand, I suggest you visit Staken & Veken. They sell candles made from scratch in all different shapes, sizes and fragrances. They of course also have a wide variety of antique furniture that's impossible not to fall in love with. 

Thank you so much Hannes. I'm starting to feel like a trip to Helsingborg is in order! 

What a great way to finish off the week! I hope you felt as inspired by Hannes home as I am! 

In case you'd like just a little more inspiration over the weekend here are a few more southern Sweden homes from the archive: 

A charming rustic farmhouse in Skåne

The inspiring Skåne home of a photographer and interior designer

A Malmö apartment with a lovely Autumn feel

A wonderfully relaxed, boho Skåne home

Right, I think that's it from me for the week! Thank you so much for stopping by!

Trevlig helg! 

Niki

Photography: Hannes Mauritzson

Affiliate links marked with *

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