A magnificent Malmö pad which could be yours!

I do love to keep an eye an eye on the Swedish property market (as I'm sure you've noticed!). Occasionally a home will reappear and it's fascinating to see the difference in the way it's been decorated. This fabulous space is one of them. As soon as I spotted the turn-of-the-century apartment on Malmö estate agent site Bo-laget, I instantly recognised it. The magnificent ceilings, tremendous ceiling height, original parquet floor and kakelugn (Swedish masonry oven) were a total give-away! The previous owners went for a relaxed vibe with mid-century and vintage finds (see the tour here). The new owners have kept the space equally minimalist, ensuring the architecture and period features take centre-stage, yet the furniture has a more contemporary feel. And now it's time for someone else to move in!

This apartment is for sale through Bo-laget. 

Could it be you?! If so, welcome to Malmö! 

Oh how I would love to take on this place too. The things I would do!

A few pieces I know and love: Togo sofa, Bertoia diamond armchair, source a similar Beni Ourain rug, Hay tray table, Bertoia side chair.

I'm so proud of the level of creativity in my adopted home town and have featured many, many fabulous homes from this city here in Southern Sweden over the years. Here are 5 of my favourites:

The relaxed family home of an interior designer
A stunning Malmö home
The atmospheric house with an ethnic touch
An elegant Malmö home in calming green
My neighbour's beautiful home!

Is there a style you like in particular?

Have a lovely day!

PS Make sure you stop by and visit us here in Malmö for a long weekend at some point - it's a perfect day trip from Copenhagen too. Just in case you do, here's a quick guide. Part II coming soon!

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A Swedish Architect Designs Her Own Dream Family Home

A while ago I shared this post about our plans to build an attefallshus - a small 30 m2 (322 sq.ft) cabin in the garden of Per's family's summer cottage. We did extensive research into the ready-made cabins available on the market here in Sweden, but in the end, nothing quite fit the bill (you know me, I had quite a specific idea in mind!). And then out of the blue, we came in contact with architect Anela Tahirovic who works for an international firm in Malmö. Anela, her husband and three sons recently moved into their new house - a new build in Gessie, near Malmö which she designed herself. I knew that she was the right person to help us - and I'm so looking forward to sharing our cabin plans with you tomorrow. But first, I'd like to take you on a tour of Anela's fabulous home and allow her to tell you the story of how they found the land, the trials and tribulations of planning permission restrictions - and how they arrived at the final design. 

"We used to live in central Malmö in an apartment dating back to the late 20th century, but as soon as we found out we were expecting twins (we already had a little boy) we knew that we needed to look for a house. So, we looked at several houses but didn’t like what we saw and suddenly one day we found a piece of land for sale online in Gessie village. We bought it 3 hours later. It was a fast, spontaneous buy, but it just felt right". 

"We love the surroundings. The house is situated on the so-called Swedish “Söderslätt” (meaning 'South plain' - an area of Sweden known for its flat landscape). There are wildflowers all around and a lot of cows and horses, yet it's very close to the city of Malmö". 

"We started designing the house immediately. Since I am an architect, we chose to do it ourselves. The masterplan for the site was very strict, and there were many regulations on the choice of material, size, colour, width of the house, height, and type of window. I mean, they were VERY strict down to the last detail. Basically, the planning regulations force you to design a classic“skånelänga” 

Note: A skånelänga is a type of traditional housing in the Southern Swedish county of Skåne made up of a cluster of buildings set around an inner courtyard - which helps to shelter you from the wind. 

"We took inspiration from it but did our own modern version of the “skånelänga”using modern grey brick and black industrial windows with extra large proportions, we also lifted the ceiling. So, from the outside the house looks like a 1,5-floor house, but actually it's laid out over one floor. It is a modern interpretation of the skånelänga".

"The choice of material represents modern Scandinavian style: wood, concrete, white walls, minimalistic with a large space. We decided early on to design one large room with a kitchen, dining area and living area in one (70 sqm / 753 sq.ft in size) with an open roof. We also created a master bedroom, two bedrooms for the boys, a family room, two bathrooms and a laundry room. I love the open space and love that we placed the kitchen at the end of the house with large windows towards nature". 

"I also love the solution in our bedroom with the bathroom behind the bed and walk-in-closets on each side, since you can walk through the bathroom from both sides". 

 

"I also designed our garden using the same principle as the interior. The big wooden deck is divided into 9 squares where the square in the middle is formed as an atrium with a tree. Around it, we have the so-called different “outdoor rooms”: a sofa area, dining area etc. We have 3 pergolas that are connected to each other". 

It's so interesting to hear the story behind the design! Thank you for sharing this with us Anela! I have seen lots of pictures of Anela's home on instagram (@arkihem) but never knew the back story. 

I assumed that she had built the house of her dreams as it looks so great - but actually, it was within the confines of fairly strict planning permission regulations. That's the mastery of great architecture, don't you think?

Would you consider buying a plot of land and building your house from the ground up?

It's a nerve-racking process, but well worth the results. Speaking of which, I am so looking forward to sharing the plans for our tiny cabin with you tomorrow (and a little nervous too!). 

See you then!

Niki

Photography and words courtesy of Anela Tahirovic

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A fresh and light apartment in Malmö

Hej hej! How are you today? It's been a while since I showed a home from here in Malmö - which is a shame since I'm very proud of living in this little corner of the world and being surrounded by so many talented people! This fresh and light apartment belongs to an interior stylist who has selected to soothing grey tones with a hint of warm wood, rattan and bamboo. The owners recently put the apartment up for sale through Bjurfors - and it's waiting for one very lucky new owner!

What a lovely feel this home has, don't you think?! I can feel the warmth of the sunlight seeping in through the windows from here!

I particularly like the corner nook with bamboo benches - what a great use of space! 

Get the look: dining area - string shelves, source a similar typography print from The Poster Club, Thonet chairs. Reading corner - bamboo bench. Bedroom - RANARP wall light from IKEA (love the DIY plyboard headboard too!).

See more pictures of this home over at Bjurfors here. 

I'm often getting mails from people looking for tips on things to do in Malmö. I produced a Malmö City Guide a while back but I'm starting to feel it's time for Guide number two as so many fab shops, cafes and bars have popped up since then! Watch this space!

If you're completely taken with this part of the world (here's hoping!) - come and join us! I've also spotted this charming house in Lund and a country home with sea views on the market too! Guh! Imagine? 

Have a great day!

Thank you to Bjurfors for sponsoring my book launch party a few weeks back - I'm such a fan of the many beautiful houses you sell and the work you do! 

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A Fairy-tale Summer House on the Swedish Baltic Island of Vaxholm

Are you ready for a little Swedish summer house dreaming today? This fairy-tale property is on the island of Vaxholm - a paradise for Stockholmers who flock here by boat in summertime. 

At first glance, I thought it was Hanna Östberg's home - as the pretty shades of green and turret have a similar feel (see also this cottage with a turret!). But alas, no, it's ANOTHER beautiful Swedish century-old property. Granted, the magnificent location with views out over the Baltic might mean the price-tag is a little (OK, a lot) out of reach for many of us mere mortals, there is still plenty of inspiration to be gleaned from the rooms. Here's what I discovered:

A fence with white tips? What a great detail! 

The Bumling light* (I can never truly get used to that name!) is a Swedish 1960s classic - and the perfect task lighting for over a table.. 

Since it's a summer house, it's fairly sparsely decorated (it could also have been cleared out for the sale), but the wall hangings more than make up for this - adding a decorative touch to the walls while also helping to reduce echo. I 'd love to know where this one is from; the tones are so warm and lovely! Any idea?

If you're looking for similar, Ferm Living sell some beautiful textiles that can double up as wall art, and my friend Helena recently bought this cactus one for her living room which looks awesome. To ensure your blanket / textile hangs properly, it's a good idea to get it professionally framed or sew on two wooden bars - on across the top and the other across the bottom before putting it up. 

Elfa shelving has been built up around the TV, creating space for an amplifier, a plant and other items. I can really imagine these shelves being laden with books - a perfect spot for my Njuta tome, just saying! 

Imagine waking up to views over the archipelago in all directions? Gaaah! I really like the classic blue tone on the wall combined with the warm hues in the bedspread. Decorative bedspreads are an ideal way to add an instant lift to a room. 

String lights on a balcony add a magical touch at dusk - and are a great way to lighten up the darkness when looking out come winter. 

Oh, how I love to dream on a Monday morning (this property is for sale!). 

I've actually never been to Vaxholm - one to add to my travel list! Have you seen my other Swedish travel guides? You might like the island hopping on Sweden's West coast, as well as the east coast islands. Inland, I'd recommend a trip to Malmö (of course) and Helsingborg up the road. There's so much to see and do in this beautiful country. 

After more home tours today? Take a look at hundreds of other Scandinavian summer cottages - from the very basic to blowout - all equally beautiful in their own way, in the archives. 

Have a great start to the week!

Niki

Photography courtesy of Sjönära Fastighetsmäklare, with thanks.

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A Charming Little Swedish Cottage in the Heart of Stockholm

In a city where space is limited, owning a cottage is like gold dust and an absolute dream. Even so, you need to ensure that it doesn't feel like a goldfish bowl. And I think this wonderful little abode in the heart of Stockholm offers some perfect privacy solutions - especially when it comes to the outdoor space. 

It also helps that the inside is charming - with an open-plan kitchen, dining area and sitting room downstairs and a cosy bedroom upstairs (look out for the window dressing - great inspiration for anyone dealing with awkward shaped windows!). Ready to take a look and dream of cosy cottage life in the capital? This little 61 sq.m (656 ft.sq) place has it all! 

Note the wood panelling with beading - a cohesive touch that matches the traditional cabinetry and style of the house. Corston is great for traditional antique brass knobs like these. 

The dining area set-up with sofa and chairs lends itself to both a relaxed spot for a cup of tea looking out over the garden, or as a more formal dining setting. 

The open spot at the top of the stairs is often referred to as an 'allrum' in Swedish - which lovely translates as 'family room' or 'space for everyone'. In this 'allure' the owners have added a cosy armchair and a home office space. 

I love the curtain solution in this dormer window! Something to steal if you're in the same conundrum? 

A covered terrace with plenty of climbers not only helps to extend the living space but also ensures you're not overlooked while enjoying your time outdoors! having some kind of canopy also adds a cosy feel to a space, don't you think? 

And finally, if you only have a small outdoor space, making the most of vertical space for plants is a great way to add greenery without cluttering with pots. In our little yard in Malmö we've gone for climbers such as roses, wisteria and clematis. 

Draping sheepskins over the back of chairs is a perfect way to add a little comfort to harder chairs. Sheepskin also has great insulating qualities so it will keep you warm for longer too! 

A small circular heater and a ring of candles amp up the cosiness after dark - and extend the outdoor season (it's pretty short in Sweden)! 

Plants on outdoor tables and shelves also shield the space from those on the same level as you. 

And just in case you need a little sunshine, this lovely cottage has an open area too! 

If you have a back yard that leads into a communal garden, an arch is a nice way to create a boundary / entrance without sealing your space off completely. We have an arch just like this one in our garden too and it looks so pretty when the clematis are in full bloom! 

Could you imagine living in a lovely cottage like this in the heart of the city? A rare find for sure! 

I'm going to take this opportunity to share other rare finds like this one with you! 

This Swedish allotment cottage is a true city oasis

A charming little cottage in the city

A cosy little cottage by the sea in Malmö

Pretty blues and greens in a house in Copenhagen

I hope you have a fabulous weekend and the sun shines for you wherever you are in the world! Here ins Sweden, we're looking forward to a cosy autumn weekend!

Niki

Photography courtesy of Tradition Mäkleri where this is currently for sale! 

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