An elegant and calm Stockholm apartment

In need of a sanctuary? A calm and collected oasis in which to switch off from the world, if only for a few minutes?! If so, why not pour yourself a freshly brewed coffee and follow me, I've got a  beautiful apartment in Vasastan, Stockholm to show you! Think spacious, airy rooms, the flow of light through double doors, the parquet flooring underfoot and above all else a cosy sitting room in which to curl up and reflect under the warm glow of firelight. I think I might just stay here all week, how about you?!

Credits: Alexander White, found via Seventeen Doors with thanks.

What a calm, elegant space, don't you think?!

Actually, you can make this dreamy space a reality as it's for sale right now through Alexander White. Guh, imagine?!

A couple of items I know and love: kitchen - linen cushions,  sitting room - sinnerlig lamp, this grey marble and brass coffee table is similar, Iittala Nappula candleholders, (lovely) dark grey throw.

A few more beautiful, calm spaces to visit today: the Zen home of a LA fashion designer and boutique owner, a calm swedish space in neutrals, or for something truly cosy and away from it all: this rustic Norwegian cabin!

I'm in the final stages of writing my second book so there's so much to do around here right now - go go go! But I'm so looking forward to starting my 'link love' again next week. In the meantime, I've got a great reader offer coming your way this evening and a wonderful, toasty home tour lined up for you tomorrow.....Oooo the suspense!

Have a lovely day!

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A calm green, grey and white Swedish space

Well hello there! I hope you had a great weekend? It seems Sweden's starting to wake up from the summer holidays....Stadshem has started selling again. Yay! This home in Gothenburg, Sweden is full of calm green and grey tones mixed in with natural materials in the form of rattan (got my eye on that Tine K chair) and plants. Perfect inspiration for a Monday, don't you think?!    

Stadshem. Stylist: Emma Fischer. Photographer: Anders Bergstedt

What a calm home? I think it's the green tones (according to research people naturally associate green with lush pastures, trees and forests, evoking the feeling of peace and tranquility).  Do you have any green in your home? I recently started to introduce it as an accent colour in my own home (loving my green vintage scissor lamp found on Etsy), I think it works so well in a monochrome backdrop. 

Items I know and love from this Swedish space: various prints found at The Poster Club. Chairs: Rattan, Menu, Thonet 214.  Tulip table, Z1 pendant light in bedroom. Lohals rug.

Quick fix of the day: love how they've brought in a simple bunch of cow parsely from outside for the table decoration. 

Is there anything you love in particular about this home?

More calm homes with just the right amount of green include this english style house in Sweden, and pops of green in a Skåne family home.

Have a lovely, calm start to the week.

PS Don't forget to enter the fabulous children's design give-away - only one day left!

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A calm Swedish space high up in the rooftops

I had a bit of an eye watering start today - my alarm went off at 5.30am.  Three coffees down and I'm still wishing I was back in bed. Or at least cosying up on the sofa in this lovely apartment nestled high up in the rooftops of Gothenburg, Sweden.  Exposed beams, arched windows, soft linens, neutral tones - there's something incredibly calm about the space. I love the black chalk wall in the kitchen too. I could definitely see myself padding around here today, how about you?

Stadshem. Photographer: Jonas Berg. Stylist: Emma Fischer

It's like a little oasis of calm! And despite the low, sloped ceilings it still looks light and airy thanks to the white washed ceilings, walls and beams.

A pile of magos and a simple tray has made a great bedside table for the low-lying bed. Also loving these spaces with low beds...here, here and here (love the white-washed pallets!). Perfect for a loft / attic conversion. 

I spy a Marshall speaker - I've got my eye on one of these for my sitting room. Love them!
Other items I know and love: sitting room - IKEA floor lamp, thonet 209 chair, this chunky knit cushion from H&M, LOHALS rug, Berlingske poster r, find similar blankets at lo+behold. Dining area: Ant chairs, chopping board. Bedroom: linen bedding, The Kinfolk Table book, I love the Nur tray.

Right...time for another coffee (or matchsticks..?).

Have a lovely, calm day!

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An Interior Designer's Beautiful, Calm Open-Plan Living Space

How about something calm to complete the week? No one does soothing colours and materials like Holly Marder, an interior designer and co-founder of Avenue Design Studio. I once had the pleasure of meeting Holly when she came to photograph my home in Malmö many moons ago - and I've been following her work ever since. In 2019, Holly and her husband completely gutted the ground floor of their 1920s house in Delft, and set about renovating it with an aim to add "light, flow and functionality". The pair opted for a minimalistic palette inspired by nature in order to convey "a sense of calm and cohesiveness" throughout the down stairs living area. An eclectic yet muted array of furniture, mid-century art and ceramics collections complete the lovely space. Welcome to Holly's world - as with all her projects, you're in for a treat! 

Beautiful!

I always find muted colour schemes like this so calming and the wood adds so much warmth, don't you think?

I've shared so many of Holly's fab projects in the past - curious to take a look? Here are some of my favourites:

Holly's beautiful sitting room make-over
Take a tour of a calm, natural kitchen

Holly's former studio in the attic (and how she transformed it into a lovely guest room)

The crazies FINALLY go back to school on Monday and I'm looking forward to writing my daily posts again. Next week I've got a few exciting things lined up including some BEAUTIFUL home tours and also the final reveal of my new wood floor!

Wishing you a wonderful weekend - I hope the sun shines for you!

Niki

Photographs: Holly Marder / Avenue Design Studio

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Duvet day in this calm danish bedroom?

I got up at the crack of dawn this morning and writing this on the train with match sticks holding open my eyes (almost!). Oh how I long to go back to bed, preferably in a beautiful light-filled, airy bedroom like Tine & Jacob's, founders of Tine K Home (did you see the complete home tour  tour on Tuesday?). I love the boho, relaxed vibe and the calm and uncluttered feel - note, no screens! And that connected, walk-in wardrobe?…oh yes!  I could get an extra 40 winks, or simply pad about here all morning, how about you?!

Homeowner: Tine Kjeldsen, Tine K Home (with kind permission). Stylist: Tone Kroken, photographer: Yvonne Wilhelmsen

Many of the items you see in this room can be found at Tine K Home, I especially love the rugs! There's also a fab rug give-away here right now).

Top tips for creating a calm bedroom I try to live by in my room: no screens, open windows regularly for fresh air, add greenery and keep the room cool. Decorate with calm colours. Use black-out blinds or thick curtains to make the room as dark as possible. Choose artwork carefully (imagery can be powerful). Do you have any tips?

Other bedroom tours I love include this, this and this one. Or why not go for a dark, cocoon-like feel like in this bedroom or all out crazy like this one?!  Do you have a favorite?

Fab children's bedroom inspiration here and here (including my girls recently renovated bedroom).

Have a lovely day! 

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A simply stunning and calm Swedish space

Sometimes, not very often though, I search and search for the perfect home to post and simply can't find anything. From experience, I know that often this is when the most beautiful home tours of all pop up. And today is one of those days. For me, this home is the epitome of calm, Swedish pared-back simplicity. It has just the right balance of traditional (beautiful period features and architecture, antique and vintage furniture) and modern (brass fittings, grey marble worktop, industrial lights, classic design furniture...) and a wonderful use of natural materials throughout. Beautiful styling by the team at Sarah Widman and definitely worth the wait, don't you think?!

Alvhem Mäklari. Styling: Team Sarah Widman.

To me this is one of those homes in which you could never feel anything but calm. Just what I needed on a rather hectic Thursday!

Could you live here?

Other lovely spaces for a touch of calm today include this striking danish home (cue: music from that piano), a lovely white and grey Swedish space and the serene home of a Swedish singer here in Malmö. Or perhaps a duvet day in this Danish bedroom could do the trick?!

Have a lovely, relaxed day!

PS If you find some time this weekend,  I'll be holding a fabulous give-away with a very cool, coveted Finnish design prize. I'm sooo excited as I think you're going to love it! Watch this space....

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