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Step Inside Verena's Relaxed, Warm and Inviting Home

When I look for homes / interiors to feature I try to find ones that inspire with a certain lifestyle (a Swedish cottage by the sea, a magical mountain cabin or rustic country retreat for example). I also strive to find homes with a wonderful unique touch and bags of personality that are full of ideas. Today, it's the latter in focus (I'm sure there's a wonderful lifestyle here too!). I discovered Verena's German home on instagram a few weeks ago (if you have the time check out her inspiring feed hop over to @vren1984) and immediately fell in love with the warm, relaxed feel. Verona's eclectic home is the kind of place you can instantly feel at home. So, pull up a chair and enjoy the tour - I hope you'll walk away with lots of new ideas for your own home! 

Love the mix and match vintage dining set - it works because everything is made from wood. The sheepskins help to add a cosy touch. 

A real life scene - how refreshing! 

We drink the same Oatly Barista with our coffee - have you tried it? Word of warning, once you start, you can't actually go back to milk. It originates from right here in southern Sweden! 


An indoor swing - wonderful! We have one from Finnish brand Lillagunga in Ali's room and it's always been a big hit. 


I love a packed bookshelf, do you? The other day on instagram I asked how people chose to organise their books. Many said by theme and then author, others said by colour or language. But best of all - one person said that their husband loves to spend hours organising books - organising them according to theme, and then if he thinks the authors would get along and have a good chat he'll place them next to each another. How brilliant is that? You can see the post and read all the responses here


Great to see a rug / blanket used as art. Instant cosiness and colour! 

If you have the space - or like the idea of an open wardrobe, perhaps a DIY concept like this one could be something for your home? 

I DID enjoy this tour, I have to say. 

I hope you walk away with some nice ideas. Is there anything that stood out to you in particular? 

Want to hang around for a while? Excellent! Why not check out: 


Have a great day! 

Niki

Photography courtesy of @vren1984, shared with kind permission

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A rustic retreat on Sweden's west coast

This converted barn and tower in Korslid, near Bottna, on Sweden's west coast is the country home of writer and journalist Kenneth Kauppi, gardener Catherine Thelander and their family. Recently featured in Lantliv, the family have lovingly renovated the farm buildings over 25 years to create a beautiful rustic open living space and studio. The family love to stay in the summer to relax, swim and kayak in the archipelago, explore the great open spaces that surround the house and generally take some downtime. I can certainly see why!







Photographer Patric Johansson with kind permission. Lantliv.
Such a lovely rustic retreat, I especially like the art work what about you? And there's that indoor swing again....

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The colourful home of an artist

Doesn't the start of the weekend make you happy? To me it means sunshine (hopefully) the great outdoors (definitely), family, friends and a little freedom (most certainly) and also time to be creative (I've promised myself to do more of this lately). But this Melbourne based artist Kirra Jamison doesn't need to wait for the weekend. Her job is creating beautiful, bright pieces of art and her home is a converted warehouse filled with colour and bold patterns that in itself is a little ray of sunshine. Who needs the great outdoors?!






Stylist: Jason Grant Photography: Derek Swalwell for Inside Out Magazine,  Artwork Kirra Jamison via Avenue Lifestyle

What a fantastic space?!

I love an indoor swing. I'm always trying to think where I could put one in our home but yet to come up with the right spot (I'm thinking muddy feet on the walls.....broken vases.....at best! ha!) - what do you think of swings in the home - do or don't? Do you have one?

Have a wonderful weekend  - see you Monday!

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18 Ideas to Create a Swedish Summer Oasis - From Basic to Blowout!

The Swedish island of Gotland in the Baltic Sea is a true summer paradise. It's a place where wild flowers sway in the wind, and the pin sharp light catches the rocks on the rugged coastline and glistens on the blue of the Baltic Sea. 

Swedes flock there in July and August to relax and catch up with family and old friends while soaking up the long hours of daylight.  

There are many beautiful houses dotted around the island - some basic, some luxurious and everything in between! Today I stumbled across this contemporary oasis on the North east of the island which is currently for sale (I know!) - and I couldn't resist sharing it with you.

Why? Firstly, it had me dreaming of wiling a way a summer here with family and friends. Secondly, more importantly, because although we might not all have the space / budget for everything this wonderful house to offer - there are lots of ideas to steal - both big and small to channel that wonderful Swedish summer house vibe! 

Ready to take a look? 

1. A covered outdoor dining and barbecue area: Summer is all about spending as much time outside as possible and making the most of the abundance of daylight hours. An outdoor  dining / BBQ area is essential. The trouble is, the Swedish weather gods aren't always on our side so a pergola, with fabric to draw across on rainy days is ideal!

2. Solar powered lanterns: who needs to be faffing around with turning on and off outdoor lighting when the sun can do the job for you?  IKEA sells solar lamps like these. They look beautiful hung in the trees at dusk (as seen in yesterday's home tour). 

3. Outdoor kitchen: If you can't take the heat, create an outdoor kitchen (if you only have a small outdoor space or balcony, mini versions are possible with some creativity!). A perfect way to prolong your time outdoors and save from shuttling everything to and fro on trays! 

See more outdoor kitchen inspiration here and here

4. The double sun lounger: there's something luxurious about a double lounger, don't you think? Pick one that can lay flat or prop up so you can enjoy a book or a siesta at whim! 

Note, bamboo is not very weather resistance so best kept under a covered terrace. 

5. Permanent Cover: let's just say the weather in Northern Europe doesn't always do what we want it to do. A covered terrace is ideal for ensuring you can still enjoy the great outdoors on rainy days - and it's perfect for shade on warmer days. 

6. A sauna: On chillier summer days, a sauna is a perfect way to relax and feel some much needed warmth. But on winter days it' really comes into its own. And the health benefits are numerous!

7. An outdoor shower: why wash off in a steamy bathroom, when you can lather under an open sky? 

8. A swing: There's no better way to bring out the child in you like a swing. In my mind I'm already sitting on it overlooking the pool with a drink in hand, how about you? 

9. A comfy outdoor social area: a perfect spot for relaxing with friends and enjoying a fika (the swedish ritual of enjoying a coffee and cake) - or better still, a pre-dinner aperitif! 

10. Somewhere to take a dip: this house has a wonderful pool - and I can totally see myself drifting around on a lilo - I mean, how lovely! But if like me, you don't have the space / budget, how about a small plunge pool or wilderness bath / hot tub? Or a nice cool dip in a nearby sea / lake / stream is also a wonderful way to cool off! 

11. Sports: table tennis, badminton, darts, Kubb (a classic Swedish garden game), croquet... it doesn't really matter which you decide on, it's just fun to have some social activities to enjoy in the sunshine!

12. A relaxed indoor kitchen: At the Swedish summer house it's all about keeping life as simple as possible and the indoor kitchen should reflect this. Simple open shelves allow for a relaxed, 'grab and go' feel and natural materials like wood and stone help to bring the outdoors in. 

13. Let there be light! The Scandinavian winters are dark, so when the light returns it's important to embrace it. Glass doors help light to flow through to rooms further away from the window. A simple curtain can be pulled across for privacy. 

14. Hooks and more hooks: there's no simpler way to store your summer clothes than a rail of hooks. Besides, all you'll be needing (with any luck) is a robe, bikini, kimono and sunhat! Oh, alright then, maybe a cardi / jumper for the evenings. And a raincoat.... but let's not get bogged down in the details! 

15. A simple dressing room area: a mirror, hooks and chest-of-drawers = a basic walk-in-wardrobe, Swedish style! 

16. A space to work: A quiet place by the window will help you to feel connected with the great outdoors and keep that holiday feel alive while you work! 

17. A simple outhouse for guests: when it comes to the Swedish summerhouse, it's about accommodating as many people as possible - whether that's extended family or friends passing through for the night. I for one, would be perfectly happy to wake up in this little poolside cabana! But I've also seen garden sheds transformed into wonderful little guest houses (size permitting of course!). 

18. Bring your own bedding: In Sweden, it's customary for guests to bring their own sheets, duvet covers, and pillowcases and you provide the bed, pillow and duvet. Which means less work for everyone, and more time catching up! 

So many ideas - I for one would love a table tennis to have outside at our little cabin this summer - so fun! I might just have my eye on a double sun lounger too.

Is there anything that stood out to you?  

For more ideas on how to spice up your outdoor space, Scandi style, see: 


Kram! 

Niki

Photography courtesy of Bertwig with thanks 




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The Ultimate Guide to Indoor Hanging Plants

Niki Brantmark / Genevieve Jorn

While Kendall Jenner and Kaia Gerber might be the It girls of fashion, in the interior world it's plants that are stealing the limelight! From large Palms and Fiddle Leaf Figs to smaller Chinese money plants and asparagus ferns, anything goes in the urban jungle! Last month we explored indoor climbers which have been slowly winding their away up the inside of windows across the continent. And this month I thought we could get into the swing (get it?!) of hanging plants. These guys have been hanging around (this is fun) for a while now and look set to stay! In fact, new and exciting ways to suspend your greenery to new, lofty heights are, er, on the rise! I caught up with my green-fingered friends Igor Josifovic, author of Urban Jungle: Living and Styling with Plants, Hilton Carter, who's incredibly green home I featured here and the Arctic Gardener to get the complete low down and find out more about how we can create our best hanging garden game!

Hilton Carter

So what makes the best hanging plant? Igor advises "any trailing plant is perfect for a hanging pot as they prefer space to grow freely."

5 great hanging plants

1. English ivy*
2. Heartleaf philodendron
3. Spider plant 
4. Devils Ivy*
5. Boston Fern 

* the leaves are toxic so keep away from children and pets.  

Benjamin Edwards
 Tip:  If you have a ground floor window plants make a great 'natural' screen. But Hilton warns "be mindful to not block too much light coming into your windows so that your other plants, sitting away from the window can still benefit."

via Bloesem
Carly Page Summers
Hanging plants can be really heavy so you need a sturdy hook and a drill in order to make sure they stay up. Alternatively look for natural places to hang them in your home - like handles, knobs and ledges.

Chris Warnes
They also make great table decorations. In this space there were no pots necessary as branches were simply hooked over a long cane suspended from the ceiling. The beauty of this is you can update it depending on your mood, the occasion and what you find in the garden / local flower shop!

Hannah Puech Marin
Continuing on the same theme... using a rail (or in this case, a vintage ladder) is ideal if you're looking to hang lots of plants (and add to the collection as time goes on). This also means less holes in the ceiling (in a bathroom that's always good!).

For a more relaxed look it's good to use a variety of blooms. "I like to mix and match hanging planters choosing different hangers and pots as well as various lengths creating a more lively hanging garden," Igor tells me. "Of course this depends on personal preferences. But usually I would say hanging plants look lovelier when grouped together unless you have one big hanging statement plant."

Jeroen van der Spek
As long as the plant is suitable for hanging, there are no rules to the types you group. "I like to go free and wild listening to my guts. You can get playful and pair a trailing Tradescantia with purple leaves with a green Bird's Nest fern and romantic ivy plant," enthuses Igor.


Nicolette Johnson
When it comes to keeping your plants healthy, Hilton advises hanging them in places you can easily get to. "The easier they are to get to, the more likely you'll keep them alive and healthy."

And to water them; "take them to the shower or kitchen sink, water them and then let them drain out for about 15 minutes before putting them in back in the water," he adds.

Homezy
You might want to forgo the traditional hanging planter in favour of a Kokedama. Of Japanese origins, a Kokedama is a ball of soil, covered with moss from which a plant grows. Word of warning - these guys need a lot of water and a shady place.

To care for them check the weight and if it feels light, it's time to submerge the ball in water.

Hilton Carter
Another great option is the hanging terrarium or 'air plant' (source a similiar glass here). The beauty of these is that they are lightweight and can therefore be hung from the branches of other plants. 

via Vtwoven
And finally, the best hanging plant for a beginner? The Artic Gardener suggests opting for a spider plant. "It's really easy to grow so if you're a newbie gardener, you should give it a go."

Now that we're armed with the know-how, all that's left to do is invest in a few planters. Here are some of the prettiest out there:



1. Woven Palm Leaf Hanging Basket
2. Concrete Hanging Planter
3. Raj Hanging Planter Set
4. Mistana Nanette Flower Pot
5. Affiti Hanging Clay Planter
6. Macrame plant hanger
7. Hanging Planter

I hope this has been helpful! I for one, feel much more equipped to create my own hanging garden. I quite fancy one over the bath! Do you have a spot in your home ready and waiting?!

Niki

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