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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A Touch of Calm: Alisan’s Serene Copenhagen Home

Ready for a midweek breather? This pared-back Copenhagen apartment offers just the respite you might be looking for. Home to Alisan—a Londoner who moved to the Danish capital with her husband and their baby daughter two and a half years ago—this space exudes warmth and calm. I've had the pleasure of meeting Alisan a few times; she is as lovely inside as she is outwardly, and it’s no surprise her home reflects that same beauty.

Located in vibrant Vesterbro, the family’s two-bedroom rental comes with its own creative limitations, meaning they've had to embrace some inventive solutions, like command strips! Still, with its warm natural materials, curated lighting, and mix-and-match furnishings, this oasis feels so welcoming and tranquil in the heart of Copenhagen.

Here are some snapshots of Alisan's home, along with her reflections on creating this haven.

"Being an architect, I love classic, timeless design, so over the years  I've tried to build a collection of pieces I love - mainly in natural materials so they don't date as much. The goal is that they can easily fit anywhere in future homes."

"I love plants, they're a great way to add texture, colour and height to spaces, especially here as our ceilings are so high. We actually moved our cacti here with us from London and now they're huge!"

"I haven't shown much of our baby girl's room as her crib is in our bedroom. We have kept the room neutral and added fun pops of colour. We moved from London with this IKEA daybed and it's been used so much over the years. Firstly as a sofa, then a guest room bed, and now as a spare bed for sleepy parents doing shifts when needed!"

Isn’t it a lovely tour? I think it’s the simplicity of the decor that makes everything feel so naturally “in place.” Calm personified—just what I crave amidst my not-so-calm mind! And seeing her little baby girl brought me right back to when my own girls were small (they’re now 16 and 14—how does time fly by so fast?).

Did Alisan’s home resonate with you, too? Are there any details that caught your eye? If so, I’d love for you to share in the comments! And if you're curious about where any of the pieces are from, feel free to ask—I’ll do my best to help.

You can see more corners of Alisan's home over at @livingroomdanishly. 

And here are a few other Copenhagen homes to enjoy today: 

The Copenhagen home of a stylist and vintage store owner

A stationary designer's lovely Copenhagen home

Sidsel's elegant Copenhagen home with a snoozing dog

Stor kram (or 'klem' as they say in Danish). 

Niki

Photography courtesy of @livingroomdanishly, shared with kind permission. 

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