7 Small Space Tricks To Learn From A Light-Filled Stockholm Family Home

Unless you're completely minted, you usually need to compromise somewhere on a property - whether that's location, size, outdoor space, aesthetics or layout. For this family in Stockholm, living in the hippest neighbourhood in town - South of Folkungagatan, Söderhamn (SoFo), an area buzzing with independent shops, quirky cafes and lively restaurants - meant compromising on living space. But despite measuring 44 m2 (473 f2)  - the occupants have made maximum use of every inch - carving out a kitchen, dining room, sitting room, master bedroom, children's room and even a library! So how do you create a charming family home in a small space? Here are 7 great tricks: 

1. Use the height: In small spaces it's important to think vertically and use every inch. In this home, bookshelves have been mounted above the dining area creating a family dining space and library in one! And it looks super cosy too, don't you think?

2. Leave a little breathing space! The blank space between the dining table and chairs and the bookshelves makes the space feel less cluttered even though there's a lot going on. 

3. Go wall to wall: built-in benches in dining rooms, kitchens and sitting rooms are perfect for small spaces since they help to maximise space, eke out a little extra seating and provide extra storage. 

4. Let the light flow: small spaces can be starved of light - widening doorways between rooms helps natural light to flow into even the darkest of corners! 

5. Use curtains for privacy: Sometimes there simply aren't enough bedrooms to accommodate every member of the family. In this lovely home, the living room doubles up as a master bedroom. A curtain helps to carve out a separate sleeping zone while still allowing the light to flow from the window. 

6. Internal windows: The little kitchen in this Stockholm home wouldn't have received any natural light had it not been for the glass room divider. At night, a curtain can help to shield the children's bedroom from lighting (we all know how important it is not to wake the crazies!). 

7. Create storage wherever you can: In this tiny bathroom, the tank top doubles up as storage and an extra freestanding unit has been installed for shampoo bottles, shower gel etc. 

I had another look through the pictures to see if I could establish where they keep clothes - and there are two storage cupboards in the hallway (not featured) - I wonder if they've stashed items in other unseen places too, like under the bed? 

Either way, there are so a many great ideas to steal from this home, don't you think?

Other small spaces providing great inspiration:

10 small space tricks to learn from a Swedish apartment

Small spaces, a dreamy Swedish pad!

16 ways to transform a tiny room into a dreamy, practical bedroom

Is your home small? What do you find the hardest thing about living in a small space? Have you got any space-saving tips? I'd love to hear your thoughts!

I'm excited to be winding my way up to Stockholm by train today to visit the Stockholm Furniture Fair. This post has taken me way longer than usual to write as the snowy scenery flashing passed the train window is simply stunning! If you're curious to follow my journey / time in Stockholm I'll be sharing away on Instagram stories. 

Ha det fint! 

Niki

This home is for sale through Historiska Hem. Photography: Anna Malmberg

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Before + After: A Dated Danish 1950's House Gets A Fabulous Make-Over

I love a 'before and after', don't you? And this 1950's house in Fredericia, Denmark, designed by architect Knud Billund, has gone through quite a transformation! When photographer Mia Mortensen, Martin and their adorable baby boy, Aston first moved in, the space was dated and begging for a little TLC.  Mia and Martin set about painstakingly renovating the 3-storey house to create a fabulous family home which combines contemporary touches with 'functionalist' bones - and lovely, warm accent colours.

Before

The master bedroom (before)

 During the renovation

The pair laid a concrete floor in the kitchen and dining room from Danish brand Conteco.

The kitchen and dining area and upstairs landing are connected by a magnificent 1950's staircase.

The couple were really keen to add a large round table to the dining area, and drew a sketch of the room to ensure there was enough space.

 They settled on a fabulous round table from Traefolk and added a set of chairs which include the Ant*, 7-series Thonet (this one* is similar) and CH88P chair not a bad collection!!

After

The back wall of the dining room has been painted in Burnt Earth by Flugger - and has been used as a gallery wall made up of art from Hein Studio (including the Line Collection No.04* and Line Collection No. 05*) and Nelli Arnth, among others. I also spy a fabulous Verpan Moon Pendant light and the Hans Wegner Shell chair!

 The kitchen tap is by Quooker - and the lights over the work station are from Menu. 

Sometimes it can be hard to get an idea of the layout of a space (I really must be more organised and try to provide this... perhaps when the intern AKA knight in shining armour starts!). From the top of the stairs you can catch a glimpse of Aston's room beyond the dining room and the kitchen is to the left. 

I couldn't resist sharing a before picture of the upstairs landing. The pair re-plastered and painted the walls and ripped up the floor boards and replaced it with beautiful square parquet flooring. 

I always get a little nostalgic when I see this type of flooring as we used to have it in our kitchen as a child.  I used to pick out the individual bricks and use them to build homes for my play people. Not popular, I can tell you!

Window nook before

Window nook after

Borders rug by Ferm Living

What a wonderful, light-filled place! I do love a window nook, don't you? I've got a whole Pinterest board dedicated to them!

The warm accent colour (Terracotta by Jotun) creates an almost cocoon like feel in the bedroom, while the light floor helps to brighten up the room (you can see how it looked before the wood was sanded down and white washed in this film!).

The Crinkle thrown in peach by Hay works so well with the Terracotta wall - and I love the touches of brass (that chair!! *jaw drops*).

The bedroom also doubles up as an office space. Seeing this, I'm kind of tempted to update my own office wall - in terracotta, what do you reckon? I hope the man doesn't read this, he'll go nuts that I'm even considering changing the colour once again! 

And finally, Aston's room has been painted in a rich blue hue and all his teddies look completely at home and tucked up for bed in that cosy Stokke Sleepi cot!

What a truly lovely home! I'm such a huge fan of 1950's architecture and so happy Mia and Martin have given it the full treatment and turned the space into a fantastic family home!

Is there anything about this home that you love in particular?

You can keep up with Mia's latest renovation projects over at her Instagram feed still_sunday and take a peek at her photography here.

Oh, and check out more fabulous before and after make-overs here! 

Have a lovely day!

Niki

Photography by Mia Mortensen, shared with kind permission

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Celebrating Skovby Anniversary Edition Chairs at my Cabin!

Paid partnership with Skovby, all words are my own and I only ever work with brands I love! 

Hello from the cabin! I have to say I love an excuse to come up here and this time, I had the perfect reason: to capture a fine pair of iconic #825 dining chairs. And not just any  - these fine specimens are a special Skovby 90-year Anniversary Edition!

You'll likely recognise the name Skovby as I've been a proud ambassador for the Danish furniture brand for many years, and have had the pleasure of capturing items such as the display cabinet, coffee tables, desk and many more items in my home over the past few years. 

It's incredible to think the brand has been handcrafting beautiful pieces for 90 years in their workshop in Denmark. To mark the event,  Skovby is launching some exciting new anniversary edition pieces.  

Skovby finds a great deal of inspiration in nature and the iconic #825 chair already comes in 12 different wood finishes and a choice of over 50 covers yes FIFTY! - see the oak and black leather version in my dining room), and now they have launched two special anniversary editions in nutmeg and green. 

I had the pleasure of capturing the soothing, warm nutmeg version here at the cabin. 

Side-note: I'm so happy warmer days have arrived and we can throw the doors open (at least here and there!), it makes our little cabin feel so much bigger and brighter. 

The chair draws inspiration from mid-century furniture and yet also has a light, Scandinavian touch. I love a comfy dining chair - and this one has a gentle curved back and comes with a choice of over 50 covers for the seat. You can even choose your own customisable fabric! 

So lovely, don't you think? 

Sadly these chairs are only on loan up here - but the #120 extendable dining table and little #840 stool (made from leftover wood) are a permanent fixture at the cabin! See more pictures and read more about why I chose them here (you won't believe how far it can extend, we've held some great parties around it!). 

In addition to the chairs, Skovby has also launched a special anniversary edition of the iconic #33 dining table in four exciting combinations which combine the nutmeg and green shades with either oak white oil or walnut natural oil - read more about it here.

If you love what you see and would like to find out more, Skovby has stockists all over the globe. Find your nearest store here.

Sadly, it's time to close the doors here at the cabin and head back to the city again. I hope I'll be back soon!

In case you're curious about anything else you see at my little cabin, you might find what you're looking for in my Cabin kitchen post - or the cabin archive in general. Otherwise please do give me a shout below and I'll do my best to help! 

Have a great start to the week! 

Niki

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A Danish Family Home in a Former Jam Factory In London

You can take a girl out of Denmark, but you can't take Denmark out of the girl. And this incredible apartment in London is proof! Originally from Copenhagen, Christina Thaisen lives in a former jam factory just off Bermondsey Street with her boyfriend and son. Formerly a fairly run-down industrial area, Bermondsey is a vibrant little village in London where a hip crowd mingles in cosy pubs and independent eateries. I chatted with interior designer and shop owner Christina to find out more about life in London, the inspiration behind her beautiful home and online interior shop NABO.

What took you to London?
I moved from Copenhagen to London 5.5 years ago. I moved here to live with my Danish boyfriend, who moved to London for work. I used to think it was only for a short period of time but now we both call London home and we wanted to start a family here.

Above; "Our dining chairs are Ant Chairs by Arne Jacobsen, dating back to the 1970s and my son is now the 4th generation eating dinner on them! The Lamp over our dining table is a PH Limited edition in copper and the bar wagon is designed by Herbert Hirche. Our dining table is designed by Egon Eiermann." 

What do you like most about living in Bermondsey?
I love living in Bermondsey: there are independent shops, great restaurants, cosy coffee shops and lots of different markets - basically, everything you need! Our area has a local feel to it, which makes it really homely.

Your apartment has incredible bones, can you tell us more about the architecture?
The jam factory is known for being one of the most outstanding industrial conversions to be completed in London in recent years. It was converted by Ian Simpson Architects in 2002, but the building originally dates from 1902 when it was constructed as a factory by Sir William Hartley's famous jam company.

Your home is beautiful! Do you work with design?
I have an MA in Art & Visual Culture. I work with interior design through NABO but also on interior projects for private clients. I focus on creating homes where design is not a mere object for display, but a combination of quality, function and aesthetics.

What is the story behind NABO?

When I moved to the UK I was shocked at how much replica furniture I saw in firms, private homes - and even in interior design studios. I found that people focused more on getting a 'certain look' than finding furniture that functions in their daily lives, stands the test of time and reflects who they are. I started helping people by sourcing original Danish vintage furniture (both classics and less known names which are more affordable) and focusing on new designers and brands that weren't already available in the UK. This is how I came to open NABO. 

Above: Christina inherited the daybed from her grandparents and the pendant is the Circle Lamp by Frama.

I love the sense of contrast in your home, can you tell us more about the colours? 

The grey walls and shelves in our living room and hallway have been painted in Down Pipe by Farrow & Ball. Down Pipe complements the industrial building brilliantly! The green tiles in the kitchen create a calm atmosphere for dining. 

You have a beautiful mix of furniture in your home, can you tell us more about it?

The daybed is from the 1960s and is an heirloom from my Grandmother. The piece itself is teak and very minimalist - it's something we'll keep forever, I'm sure - but I've added a blue seat cushion to make it a little more unusual. In fact, I love heirlooms in general. As well as the daybed, we have lamps, dining chairs and a coffee table from our grandparents on both sides, and I love the personality that things which have been in the family for generations give to a space. Whenever I buy something new for our home, I ask myself if it's something I would want to pass on to my children. 

  

5 quick questions!

What do you miss most about Denmark? The snow in winter time. There's something magical about it and it's very rare to see snow in London.

Favourite Danish word? 'Velbekomme' is a good word! It's used when telling someone to enjoy their meal. There isn't a word for it in English, so the English have adopted 'bon appetite' from France, I would say the Danish equivalent is just as good!

Danish open sandwich or British sarnie? Danish open sandwich. No doubt about that one!

Mid-century or modern day? Oh, that's a tough one because I love the mix! If I have to choose, I would say modern day as I think it's important to support new designers instead of putting old designs back in production again (which makes it very hard for new designers to break through).

Secret London design tip? The New Craftsmen is a design gallery showcasing unique objects that are rooted in craftsmanship. Everything in there is made by UK artisans. Definitely worth a visit!

Thank you so much for welcoming us into your home and telling us more about your life as a Dane in London Christina!

*

I love the emphasis on items made with care and built to last throughout Christina's home. What a great approach, don't you think?

Is there anything that stood out to you in Christina's lovely home?

If you'd like to see more hop over to her instagram or to pick up something for your home, NABO is a wonderful shop!

There's a ton more Great Dane home tours to be found here.

Only a day left until the weekend - we're nearly there guys!

Niki

PS If you haven't already, I'd be so grateful if you could take a moment to answer my survey about a new project I'm working on, it only takes a minute and I'd love to hear your thoughts!

Photography courtesy of Christina Thaisen

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Our Dining Area With New 'Soft Blue' Wishbone Chairs!

It's been a while since I shared a snapshot of my own home - in fact I think this is the first time this year! So, I thought I'd complete the blog week by sharing some pictures of my dining area that I took in collaboration with Carl Hansen & Søn along with interior designer Helen Sturesson. 

I'm sure you instantly recognise these chairs as the CH24 Wishbone Chair- a true Scandinavian design classic. Except with a twist; Carl Hansen & Søn recently launched this 'Soft Blue' version, which is simply divine!

It was so lovely to see the table all dressed up and circled with these iconic beauties. Our dining area has been the hub of the home over the past year and a place for crazy family dinners, homework, my office - and even maths lessons (Per set-up a white board against the back wall and taught his sixth form college students crazy formulas I'd never have the hope of solving!). Never a dull moment in the Brantmark family! 

I was so happy to see that it can still scrub up well when required! 

At 3 days Of Design I visited the Carl Hansen & Søn showroom in Copenhagen (a must if you're ever in town) and watched a craftsman weave the seat of a wishbone chair (it takes around one hour, using 120 metres of cord!). It was so cool to see the guy in action, and a great reminder that these chairs are mostly handcrafted. 

I hope you enjoyed this little peek inside my home - and my shots of Carl Hansen & Søn's latest offering (more info here). 

I wish I could have kept the entire set, but alas, I reluctantly (and diligently) sent them back over the bridge - baaaah! At least I've got these pics to prove that these beauties were in my possession! 

This evening our dining room is back to its normal self - and ready for a Friday take-away! So rock 'n' roll these days, right? What's your Friday tradition (right now)? 

I'm hoping we can get out on the snow and ice this weekend. 

I hope you have some fun outdoor plans for the weekend too!

Wishing you all a wonderful couple of days - see you Monday!  

Niki

PS Carl Hansen & Søn didn't sponsor this blog post (it was a social media collaboration only) - I just thought it would be fun to share the shots with you! 

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