A stunning Dutch home blending old and new. And give-away winner....

Hello! I hope you had a wonderful weekend? I ended last week with a Dutch home tour and this week I'll start with one too (talk about going Dutch!). This one hundred year old farmhouse owned by Rosemarijn van Zandvoort of Skattejakt (check out her beautiful shop and blog) has been carefully restored using a blend of old and new. I think the old world rustic charm of the beams and wooden floor against the Scandinavian blonde wood and white walls (and a touch of poured concrete) looks truly fantastic, how about you?

Photography: Margriet Hoekstra with kind permission. Styling: Rosemarijn van Zandvoort Barbara Natzijl, VT Wonen Via The Style Files with thanks

l often look around my open plan sitting room and dining room area and think I have thrown together to many different types of wood. But when I see Rosemarijn's home it gives me confidence that everything doesn't need to match. How about you?

Try here for stunning aged / reclaimed wood floors.

Thank you so much for all the wonderful entries into last week's give-away to win a Ferm Living Candleholder String from Nest. I wish you all could have won, it was so much fun reading your lovely comments. I am excited to announce the winner: Bene Artuphel please send me a mail with your address so we can organise the shipment.

Have a lovely Monday!

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Cheerful Dutch interior spaces to brighten up your day

I do love a home which puts a smile on my face and brightens up my day, don't you? And it seems Dutch photographer Hans Mossel is an expert in finding them. Each of these spaces from Hans' photography portfolio ooze the 'cheerful family home' vibe. Pure inspiration for adding a touch of colour to the home! I can't work out which room I love the most? Can you?

Hans Mossel, inspired by a post seen on Decor8 with thanks

Any favourites? I think the pink in the bathroom and hall is pretty fabulous!

I also love the rustic wooden benches which appear in a number of pictures. I found the rustic workman's benches I use as a bedside table in my bedroom here.

My daughter has the little yellow Fjäll Räven rucksack (backpack) you see hanging in the hall. It's a real, Swedish design classic and amazingly practical too. It's exciting to see them starting to appear on the backs of people in London too! You can buy them here.

More cheerful Dutch home tour inspiration here, here and here.

Have a lovely day and see you tomorrow!

PS My husband and I are planning on going for a weekend away sans children this autumn- yay! Any tips on wonderful, unique, quirky or simply beautiful places to stay in Europe? Tips very welcome!

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The 7 most popular (and fabulous) home tours

Thank you for your tremendous support and engaging comments this year and a big hello to all new readers too. I've been looking back over 2014 and feel so proud of what My Scandinavian Home has achieved.  But which posts did you enjoy the most? I took a look through the archives to find the 7 most popular posts of all time (links to each post under the pictures). Do you agree?

The fabulous home of a Dutch designer

Christmas touches in a Finnish home

A beautiful Dutch stylists home ready for Christmas

The cool home of a Norwegian Blogger

Beautiful Dutch bedroom make-over

The Danish home on a hill

A Touch of Scandinavian Christmas

I have to say, some of these posts are my favourite too (I love the Finnish and Norwegian blogger homes). Are there any in particular you enjoyed?

These posts were incredibly popular on Pinterest too.

We're heading off to my husband's family today to celebrate our Swedish Christmas - so excited! I'm a big fan of the Swedish julbord! Do you have any great plans for today?

I'll be back tomorrow with a post before the holidays begin, until then, I hope you have a lovely day!

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The bright and happy home of a Dutch blogger

I love a unique home. One where you can immediately tell something about the owner when you walk in (or see the home tour in a post!).  That's why I love the home of Dutch blogger Marlous Snijder (also founder of Oh Marie! magazine),  shot by Holly Marder for her 'Homes with Heart' column on Decor8. This home certainly has heart, and bags of it. I love the pops of colour, the quirky touches, and the slightly bohemian feel. I could hang out here all day drinking tea. How about you?! 

Home Marlous Snijder. Photography: Holly Marder. Decor8. 

How cute is the 'This morning, with her, having coffee, Johnny Cash' art?! One to get custom made through Geek Chic Prints?!

I think what I love most about this home are the bright bursts of yellow, such a cheerful colour to add to a home don't you think? One day I'll be brave enough to add a pop of yellow to my own home and when I do I'll also be taking my inspiration from this and this home. 

A SMEG fridge always goes down well too...!

Is there anything you love in particular about this home? 

More wonderful Dutch homes here, here and here (in case you missed them!). 

Have a lovely day!

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An Inspiring Dutch Home With Colourful Accents

Hejsan hoppsan! My family and I are staying in Torekov this week, a little fishing village on Sweden's West coast where we're on eat, sleep, repeat mode with a little beach life thrown in for good measure (just how summer days should be spent, don't you think?!). Let's hope the sun shine's on Sweden's football team this afternoon for their world cup bid too (heja Sverige!). Even so, I thought we'd venture to Leeuwarden Holland today and a take a tour of the lovely home of Marrit de Lang. Marrit is a photographer, blogger and mum to little Mia and has decorated her house in a mix of design pieces and high street finds against a back drop of earthy tones including plum, powder, grey and blue. Welkom!

// affiliate links marked with *//

Ligne Roset Togo chair, DLM table*

Louis Poulsen Panthella Floor lamp*,  Hay Tray Table*, wall colour from Little Greene Paint Company

 Eames bird*, Flos 265 wall lamp*, Series / chair in rose*

Ferm Living Socket Pendant, Belly baskets*, Portrait H print* by Gurilla (I have the same one in my office!)

IKEA kitchen
 

Upstairs landing: rug from West wing. 

Upstairs sitting room: Dutch bone lamp, macrame plant hanger*, picture by Amber Devreng

 

Such an inspiring home, I particularly love the colours!

Is there anything that stood out to you?

See more of Marrit's home on her blog: Done By Myself and Instagram. And a lorry load of beautiful Dutch homes in this archive.

I'd love to linger and I did promise to share a few more shots from Gen's sitting room today as well as a round-up of all the details - but I have two little girls standing next to me in their bathing suits, towels slung over their shoulders, eagerly waiting to head to the beach! Better go!

Have a lovely, bright, sunshiny day!

Niki

Photography: Marrit de Lang /  @sabine_buro_binnenhuis and @hansmossel

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A bright, white and airy Dutch home

Happy new year! I hope you had a fantastic end to 2013 and have recovered from new year's eve?...nothing cleared out the cobwebs better than a trip to kallbadhus sauna pier yesterday. I feel I'm all ready for the year ahead now and I'm so happy my blog is getting back to normal after the break (I've missed it!). So, as promised, here's the first home tour (of many) for 2014. It's the beautiful Dutch home of Nancy Berendsen photographed by Holly Marder in all it's white and pastel glory. 

Holly Marder

What do you think? I love the tones, it's very pretty and relaxed with just enough colour for my taste.

More pastel home inspiration can be found here and here. And do you remember this other Dutch home and children's room photographed by Holly  - she never fails to find a fab house!

You can see lots more of this beautiful, bright and airy home here.

If you're in need of a 2014 wall calendar don't forget you can always download the My Scandinavian Home one here.

Have a lovely day!

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Beautiful Dutch bedroom make-over

Hi, I hope you had a great weekend? Oh how I love a room make-over - especially when it's of the white floor variety! Over the weekend i came across this bedroom re-vamp is the work of Holly Marder, interior stylist, designer and the blogger extraordinaire behind Avenue Lifestyle. I love the entire look - from the light and bright airy feel, the grey bedding, the scissor reading lamp and open wardrobes. What a tremendous make-over?! Duvet day number two here perhaps?!!

Holly Marder, Avenue Lifestyle Blog

If you have a moment you must check out the before and after pictures here - just goes to show what you can do with a lick of paint and an incredible sense of style!

For more of Holly's styling check out this colourful Dutch home, this bright Dutch home and a lovely summer cottage. *Sigh* so fab!

PS loved the comments and discussions on whether you use a double or single duvet - give your two-pennies worth here...

Before I head off (literally - we're embarking on a 1700 km road trip with the girls this afternoon, eeek - wish us luck!!) I am delighted to introduce a new sponsor, Cosette.  Cosette or 'little thing' in French creates  and sells jewellery inspired by minimalism, simplicity and fun geometric shapes. Each piece is handmade and crafted with love by Canadian born Fai who now lives in Japan. I love this ring and these arrow stud earrings ...how about you?!

Have a great start to the week and see you Wednesday!

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