Dream Airbnb Stay: A Swedish Weatherboard Cottage In South Australia

"She who comes here, finds what's lost." This is the opening line on the 'about' page of My Sister & the Sea'. And looking at the pictures of this beautiful white weatherboard cottage and its surroundings, I can well imagine it's true! The little cottage is owned by sisters Sarah and Emma who have enjoyed endless family holidays here with 'sandy feet, long meals, naps on daybeds, swimming.... dreaming, laughing and loving." Nestled in the small town of Marion Bay on the Yorke Peninsula, South Australia, the cottage was actually moved from Sweden by the Australian government many years ago. The sisters visited Sweden together to draw as much inspiration as possible for the interior. Today, Airbnb guests are invited to come enjoy the white interior, indoor and outdoor bathing under the stars and a fireplace." Sound like heaven? Step this way!   

True to its Swedish heritage, the sisters have dotted the living space with remnants collected from their coastal walks. A plant has been trained to climb the window - just like you see in many Scandinavian homes (see this and this home as an example!). 

Rattan fans* make beautiful wall art.

A simple wall lamp from IKEA serves as a reading lamp over the day bed which has been covered in striped linen* and a mix of grey and olive green cushions. 

In the dining area, a basket hangs from a hook on the side of a vintage cabinet for extra storage and a classic Scandinavian brass candlestick holder* awaits dusk on the table. 

A glass cabinet is ideal for keeping books and other treasures dust free, while s simple tree trunk serves as a side table beside a canvas safari chair. 

A simple wall-hanging made from shells and striped bed linen* add a beachy vibe to the bedroom. 

In the back yard, various vintage chairs have been arranged around a farmhouse table, while a simple striped deck chair allows for a little alone time with a book! 

Could you imagine spending your summer here? In my mind, I'm already there! 

I'm sure it would be equally magical in the winter, watching the waves crash against the rugged coast and reading by the fire. 

One to add to the travel list for the days when we can move freely again! 

Check it out on Airbnb, visit their website My Sister And The Sea and feel inspired by their instagram @readandhall. 

Curious to see other Airbnb stays I've added to my (dream) itinerary when I travel down under? 

Australia:

Dreamy holiday let: a cosy waterside eco cabin

A charming miner's cottage amongst an acre of roses

A beautiful boho cottage in Byron Bay

The White House Daylesford

Tasmania:

The Shack: A super cosy cabin on Bruny Island

Captains cottage: A cosy bolthole in Hobart

A Dreamy little cottage by the sea

Have I got you dreaming too?

Niki

Photography: Marnie Hawson

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Penthouse apartment in Stockholm, yes please!

Happy Friday! And Oj oj oj, look at this beautiful Stockholm apartment. I love it because it has everything I love in a city home - wooden beams, a fireplace, concrete stairs, white walls and a wonderful roof top view. 'Underbara!'. And the good news? It's actually for sale through Fantastic Frank. Oh yeees. Mr Frank You've made my Friday, you really are fantastic! 

Around the table I spy the Urban chair in white from IKEA. But where is the wonderful cluster light from? Any ideas?

Beautiful, white concrete stairs. Tick!

Fab two toned colour scheme :) and just look at that shiny gold lamp. Tick tick tick!

All pictures: Fantastic Frank

I'm just off to buy a lottery ticket... ha! But back in a little while once the dream cloud has dispersed into the Friday morning sky. Pop back and see me to dream over some wonderful ideas for the home on this lovely POETS (push off early tomorrow's saturday) day.

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Step Inside Janniche's Delightful Swedish Home

Janniche Kristoffersen's home is one of those you can visit time and time again and never tire of. It's simply beautiful, in a relaxed, homely way. I nipped over to her blog yesterday to see what she was up to this Christmas and was excited to find she'd made some lovely colour changes (the 'melun' in the children's bedroom being my favourite) and added some cosy festive touches. Think stars, orange garlands, simple wreaths and candles. Ready for a return visit to Bagarmossan, Sweden? Let's dive in!  

What a cosy dining space! Look closely and you'll see the decorations are very simple - an orange garland, branches of pine in a vase and a wreath made from eucalyptus. Love the mix and match mid-century chairs too! 

Can you spot the TV? This setting would have fitted in perfectly in my 'stylish ways to display a TV' feature a few weeks back!

Janniche's Ikea Söderhamn sofa has been covered in a Simply Linen cover in Absolute white* from Bemz. 

The wall of books and magazines is one of my favourite things in this home. I love the idea of using books as art - plus you can really see all of the titles! 

Janniche's daughter's room has been painted in a beautiful combination of shiny melun and modest white from Nordsjö. 

Rug from Oyoy Living, 'hello' - playwood studio, print from Fine Little Day.

Oh, how I love this home!

Have you seen this before on MSH or is this the first time you've toured her home?!

Either way, I hope you enjoyed this space as much as I do!

You can see more pics of Janniche's home over at @bloggaibagis and her blog and also check out a load more Swedish homes (as always) in the archives here. 

For tomorrow's post I've gone down a slightly different track - and sharing an interview with Per about our Swedish Christmas and all the traditions he loves (along with pics of course!). I even learned a few new things! I've also got an exciting discount code to share which is perfect for very Scandi gifts! Hope to see you then! 

Vi ses imorgen! 

Niki

Photography Janniche Kristoffersen / Bloggaibagis

*Affiliate partner links

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A Bright, Light and Playful Swedish Home

Hej allihopa! I felt like sharing something light, playful and different today - and this wonderful house fit the bill perfectly! Featured on instagram as @tegelsnackan the Swedish owners of this red brick house in Helsingland in central Sweden love their blonde wood and pops of colour - all set against a fresh white backdrop. They have also thrown in some fun chequered patterns and a few stripes for good measure. 

The result is a light and airy house that lifts the spirits, no matter the time of year, but especially when the winter darkness sets in (with a six weeks to go until the winter solstice, I'd say most parts of Sweden are already there. 

I love the uniqueness of this home and hope it feels you with ideas for the week to come! 

From the exterior you can already see that the owners have dared to be different with a bright red pergola and red window frames to match! 

This red theme is continued throughout the interior. 

If I am not wrong, I think this is the Arc vase by Danish brand Hay. The original format was 'mirror'  and the owners have painted it fire engine red! 

Also, spot the horse on the shelf? This is known as a Dalahäst (Dala horse), and is traditionally carved out of wood before being hand painted. It originates from the county of Dalarna - and has become a popular symbol for Sweden as a whole!

From a distance the checks in the hallway look like tiles, but look closer and you'll see that they have been painted onto a wood floor. This is a trick swedes have used for hundreds of years. Tiles have traditionally been very expensive where as it doesn't cost much to buy paint to create a similar affect. I have always loved this idea! 

A lick of yellow around the room ensures the sun is always shining, even if it's grey outside! 

Also, check out the IKEA storage used as a wall mounted bedside table - very clever! 

Aaaaah, I so enjoyed this tour, did you?  It's fun to see something different. Very refreshing! 

Are there any ideas here that you can imagine using for your own home? 

If you're not already following @tegelsnackan on instagram, hop over right away! 

Wishing you a fabulous start to the week! 

Niki

Photography courtesy of @tegelsnackan, shared with kind permission. 

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21 Beautiful Scandinavian Christmas Tree ideas - From Traditional to all out Crazy!

The Christmas tree is the ultimate decoration - and one that completely transforms a home from being a little cosy to all out festive! To me, decorating the tree is a big family tradition and a day we look forward to all year. The carols are playing, the glögg is flowing, and Per is busy untangling the lights while the girls and I delve into the box of decorations! 

In  Sweden, over 69 % of the country is covered in forest, so we're spoilt for choice when it comes to sustainable trees. In fact the trees are so beautiful they don't need a lot of decorations, just a few lights or candles so the branches can shine. In case you're looking for some Scandinavian Christmas tree inspiration this year, here are some ideas. Whether you live big or small, prefer a symmetrical or more rustic look, or looking to go all out with something completely crazy - there's something for everyone here today! Let's get started. 

The traditional tree

In Sweden you generally have the choice of three Christmas trees: the Rödgran (Picea abies) AKA the red spruce, Norway spruce or European spruce which is the most common. It smells divine BUT, the needles drop - so if you bring it in too early, you'll be looking at twigs by Christmas Eve!

And then there's the Kungsgran (Abies nordmanniana / Nordmann fir) with its symmetrical shape and needles that stay fast to the tree or a Silvergran (Abies alba / silver fir) which is native to the mountains of Europe and slightly bushier with a lovely, natural silver sheen. You'll see examples of all of these in this round-up!

The dining room tree

Everyone has a standard place for their Christmas tree, but why not think a little outside the box this year and find a spot where it can be seen from as many areas as possible. For example, dining with a tree in the background will bring a really cosy, festive touch to every meal! 

Keep an eye out for pretty garlands and touches of red. And notice how Anna's tree (third picture down) is a little too tall for the room, but it only adds to the charm - after all, the beauty is in the imperfection. 

The rustic tree

Trees made from foraged branches from the forest floor - or simply a tree against a rustic setting make for a really cosy, relaxed feel! 

The propped up tree

Is it just me, or can a tree foot be a really awkward contraption? One year, our tree fell over three times, I'm not kidding- In the end we had to tie to the wall!! We've since changed the foot which has made a huge difference, but if you're concerned about yours, perhaps this decidedly cool, casual 'leaning against the wall' business could be an idea. They do need water though so you'd still need something at the foot! 

The wonky tree

I've always been intrigued by off-beat trees. Despite my best efforts to bring one in at Christmas, Per can't quite get used to the idea so we always end up with something more symmetrical. Rogue branches and funny shapes can add so much character and give the illusion that you've simply wondered out into the forest and chopped one down (maybe you have!). 

The multiple tree

I've seen a few 'grouped' tree set-ups on Instagram and Pinterest this year, is this an idea you would consider? 

The mini cat-friendly, small space tree

I love a mini tree - they're ideal for small spaces and cat friendly! Whether you go for a potted tree or a sapling in water, they're perfect for adding a festive touch. 

The upside-down tree

I'm tempted to suggest this to Per just to see his face. Either way, it's different and fun and would make a great talking point, plus it's a great way to keep the cats away!

The outdoor tree

I love a tree in the garden or on the porch, it spreads so much joy. Plus, you can keep it in a pot or in the ground so it will continue to grow each year. 

I hope you enjoyed this Christmas tree round-up as much as I did. Is there a particular tree / style that resonated with you? 

I'd love to hear more about your Christmas tree traditions (if you celebrate). Have you put your tree up yet? Ours is in the garden waiting to be brought in and decorated this weekend. 

See more Christmas decorating ideas in the Christmas archive (if this pops up first, just scroll on past to reach the other posts). 

Wishing you all a lovely, mysig (cosy) weekend! See you Monday. 

Niki

Photography credits: 1. Northern sisters collective 2. Malin Persson 3. Mari Magnussen 4. What Decorates My Day 5. Malin Persson / Petra Bindell 6. Sheerluxe / Arket 7. Anna Truelsen 8. Emily Slotte 9. Carina Olander 10. Design Hunter / Dorian Bowen 11. I was unable to find the source for this, if you know, please do let me know! 12. Natalie Myrberg 13. Walther & Co 14. Walther & Co 15. Walther & Co 16. Boxwood avenue 17. Niki Brantmark / Helen Sturesson 18. Ikea Lives Hemma 19. Visual Addict blog 20. Ludovic Maillard for Bonpoint 21. Johanna Vårt Lilla Gröna

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