A Swedish Apartment for One (or Two) on a Serene Island

Tjena! Sweden is slowly waking up after a long weekend of Midsummer celebrations. The sun shone for us all too (usually Midsummer's Eve can be particularly dicey as the Nordic weather gods know we all want to eat alfresco!). All in all, it was a beautiful weekend of wildflowers, dancing around a may pole, singing and catching up with friends and family! Take a look at this post to learn more about the Swedish Midsummer celebrations in case you'd like to join in with the revelry! 

Anyhow, I'm sure you're here for the Scandi interiors inspiration today not to hear about my weekend, so let's crack on! This lovely little apartment measuring 34 sqm / 365 ft2, has everything a single person or couple might need to enjoy life near the Swedish capital, yet still feel close to nature. Situated on Stora Essingen, an island on Lake Mälaren, the peaceful surroundings are there to be enjoyed year-round. 

The main living space is open-plan and has been organised so that you can enjoy meals looking out over the water.

A classic Gubi semi-pendant lamp has been hung over the table. But the real eye-catcher is the striped tablecloth (it was only a few weeks back that we were discussing how much a tablecloth can transform a room and here is yet more proof!). The closest I found was this nautical striped fabric on Etsy*. 

A gallery wall (source similar prints at The Poster Club*) and collection of cushions add a cosy touch to the living room area. 

I love this corner with a wall hanging, Flowerpot table lamp in 'beige red' and a cabinet. The latter looks like it could be an IKEA hack using Bestå units and adding a cane front. I noticed last time I was there they now have an IVAR cabinet with cane front in the range too! 

Notice how subtle pink tones can be seen in the living room area. This is part of what the Swedes call a 'red thread' - using the same colour in every room to create a cohesive feel throughout a home. 

Swedish string pocket shelves and a row of wooden hooks create space to display an array of pottery. 

It's in the bedroom where the pink has been allowed to really shine through - seen on both the wall cabinets, curtains and bed linen! Love this, how about you? 

If you're curious about the layout, here are more details (courtesy of Historiska Hem). 

Glossary: vardagsrum - living room, kök - kitchen, sovrum - bedroom, bad - bathroom. 

I could totally see myself enjoying a slow breakfast looking out over the water, how about you? And I'm very tempted to add that lovely pink tone to a small bedroom in our house, I wonder if Albin would let me? I doubt it! 

Is there anything that struck you about this serene space? 

I also love these homes in the Stockholm archipelago: 

The beautiful home of a Swedish stylist

An estate in the Stockholm archipelago

A traditional Swedish villa over looking the water

An idyllic island hideaway

If you're looking to combine a trip to the Swedish capital with a stay in the Stockholm archipelago, we loved our press stay at this hotel last summer! 

See more lovely Swedish homes in this archive. And don't miss some of these tours that I've shared lately: 

Have a great start to the week! 

Niki

Photography: @jockeono Styling: Lindholm Design for Historiska Hem. 

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Photo Competition: What Does #beingathome Mean To You?

Paid partnership with the Association of the German Furniture Industry:

What does #beingathome mean to you? This is the question the Association of German Furniture has asked manufacturers, experts and designers as part of the #zuhausesein (#beingathome) initiative. And now they would like to hear from you! You are invited to enter an exciting global photo competition to show what #beingathome means to you. 

Sound interesting? Wait 'til you hear what the winner of each category will win:

• Integration of your picture in the photo exhibition at IMM Cologne 2020
• Integration of your picture in the German Design Book 2020
• Two tickets and one overnight stay to IMM Cologne 2020 (the VDM will provide a travel allowance of up to €500. The winner is responsible for making the booking which will be refunded by the VDM)
• A fab piece of furniture from a German furniture manufacturer

And the competition is open globally! Yes, really!

You can enter a maximum of one image per category, with ten categories in total. Details on how to enter can be found at the bottom of the page. But first, here's a list of the categories:

Outdoor Living

SK 07 Ritual bowl: designed by Stefan Knopp for JANUA, the winner of the Outdoor Living category will receive this expressive bowl which traverses the border between furniture and objet d'art. Turned out of a piece of wood, the bowls are then char burned, resulting in a unique surface with cracks, holes and fractures. Perfectly imperfect, the bowl can be used in daily life or regarded as art (or both!).

2. Tiny Spaces

The winning entry in the Tiny Spaces category will win a Super Light. This small light has a BIG story and is lighter than you think. The reason? It has been expertly crafted using the same light construction process found in the aircraft industry. Made to last with powdered aluminium and 41 rivets set by hand, Bordbar designed this fab light so you can have a little piece of aircraft construction in your home!

3. The Hallway - the ticket to your home

LINE coat rack:  Hallways are all about making people feel welcome. And that is exactly what Schönbuch prides itself on in the production of creative, functional furnishings, fittings and concepts. The winner of the 'The Hallway' category will win a classic LINE coat rack which is available in countless colours and finishes and can be used solo or in a group - monochrome or multi-coloured. You decide!

4. Kitchen Lover

The winner of the Kitchen Lover category will take a home a beautiful Fabella light! Inspired by a Fontane poem, this pear-shaped porcelain light was designed by Laura Straßer for Caussa. Depending on the strength and colour of the light bulb and the colour of the glazing, the porcelain shade becomes translucent and emits a warm glow for a wonderful, hygge atmosphere. Choose between four colours and a white or black textile cable.

5. Relaxed Sleeping

Pfeife Night Stand: Designed by Vitamin Design, who pride themselves on ecological and timeless, modern solid wood furniture, the Pfeife night stand is the dream prize in the 'Relaxed Sleeping' category. Made from a single oak trunk and characterised by open knots and cracks, it will look beautiful by the bed!

6.  The Living Room - my private retreat

Rolf Benz 953 footstool: Since it's foundation in 1964, Germany's best-known sofa brand Rolf Benz, takes cultural changes into consideration in the design of every piece.  In recent years, living spaces have become more flexible - calling for creative pieces of furniture. The winner of 'The Living Room' category will receive a 953 footstool, which can be moved effortlessly so you can put your feet up anywhere in your home!

7. The Bathroom - the private wellness temple

L-Cube shelf element: Quiet, clarity, space for contemplation. This is how designer Christian Werner described his vision for the L-Cube - a range of bathroom furniture for Duravit AG, a leading international manufacturer of designer bathrooms. The less distracting the bathroom, the more likely the occupant will find peace and relaxation. And the lucky winner of 'The Bathroom' category will certainly find peace with an L-Cube shelf element! 

8. Living with Children

Birdy: Poufs can take up a lot of space, but not this one! The 'Living with Children' prize is the birdy stool from Hülsta - an ideal piece for putting your feet up or as extra seating. Available in ten different pure new wool colours, the designer stool works equally well in the living room or a children's room. Plus, it's super cute!

9. Work at Home

Cantilever chair: Dynamic and innovative, Tojo Möbel GmbH develops multi awards winning furniture at affordable prices. The highly functional, space-saving and comfy Cantilever Chair has an exchangeable seat shell and can be dismantled when not in use - and has been reserved for the lucky winner of the Work at Home category.

10. Other Forms of Living (e.g. caravans)

S18 side table: The clever design of the S18 side table by Uli Budde for Thonet reads like an ode to the first Thonet bentwood classics. Made from a powder-coated base frame and a lacquered surface in black, this circular side table is waiting to add an exciting new perspective to the home of the winner of the 'Other Forms of Living' category.

Feeling inspired to enter the photo competition? Here are the next steps:

How to enter
1. Take a picture that answers the question 'What does #beingathome mean to you'? (you can enter up to ten photos - one for each category).
2. Share your image/s on your preferred social media channel: Instagram, Facebook or Twitter using the hashtags #zuhausesein and #beingathome and tag VDM (Facebook: (@zuhauseseinVDM), Instagram: (@zuhausesein_VDM) or Twitter: (@zuhausesein)
3. Like VDM on your preferred social media channel (Facebook: (@zuhauseseinVDM), Instagram: (@zuhausesein_VDM) or Twitter: (@zuhausesein)
4. Send your entry (photos must be at least 300 dpi) to zuhausesein@real-communications.com along with the following details:

• Name of the category you are entering
• Name
• Date of birth
• Country
• Telephone and email
• Name of your social media channel

The deadline for all submissions is 23.59 (GMT+1), 18th August, 2019. The winners will be announced here on 27th August, 2019.

Wishing you best of luck - I can't wait to see your entries!


Terms and conditions:
This competition is global; there are no country restrictions. Participants must be over 18 years of age. Only one entry can be submitted per category (maximum of ten submissions in total).

Data protection and legal Recourse:

Responsible: The Association of the German Furniture Industry e.V. (VDM is the organiser of this competition and is responsible for data protection. Real Communications will run the competition as an authorised service provider and handle the personal data entered or left behind by the participants in this campaign responsible. If you have any questions, you can contact the data protection officer of the association at info@moebelindustrie.de.

The essentials in brief; personal data requested from participants in order to participate in the VDM competition will be processed primarily for the purpose of running the competition. The processing of personal data takes place lawfully on the basis of the DSGVO, names - depending on the purpose - for the fulfilment of a contract or the execution of the competition. Only our service provider Real Communications has access to the data, which is only used for sending the prizes by post. We do not receive the data ourselves and do not pass it on to other third parties within the meaning of the DSGVO without our consent. We delete the data records as soon as the winners have been determined and notified, the prizes have been dispatched, no complaints or complaints regarding the competition are to be expected and, above all, insofar as there are no individual obligations under commercial or tax law to retain data. The latter may last up to 10 years.
A cash payment of the profit is not possible. The profit is transferable. legal recourse is excluded.

*The winner retains copyright of their own image but agrees to VDM using it on their social channels, website or publications for an unlimited period for the purpose of the #Zuhausesein campaign. All sources will be acknowledged. 

This post is sponsored by the Association of the German Furniture Industry - however, all words are my own and I only ever work with brands I love and think you will too.

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Colour tips and Inspiration from a Danish Interior Stylist's Home

A new dawn, a new day... and a whole new month! Let's kick off with some colour! What struck me most about the Danish home of Charlotte Kruse is her home office - a hot topic these days, and this one is very inspiring indeed! But there are some other corners of her home I love too - not least because they include some wonderful pastel hues. I caught up with the interior stylist in Herning, central Denmark, to find out more about her home, sources of inspiration and favourite online stores. 

What do you do for a living? 

I have my own company Studio Decor where I style and take pictures for interior and lifestyle companies. And I also teach small business owners and instagrammers how to style beautiful pictures. 

Who do you live with? 

I live with my boyfriend and our two dogs (Pomeranians) in a small house. 

The arch was added last week - what a lovely addition, I love the soft feel it adds to the space. The white opal glass pendant* is by Louis Poulsen. 

Your house has lovely high ceilings, when was it built, and can you tell us more about the size and layout? 

Our house is from 1926. It's 87 m2 (935 f2) and we also have a workshop that's 27 m2 (290 f2). It consists of a kitchen, living room, dining room, a master bedroom and a second bedroom which I use as a study - it's where I run my business from. 

I love that your home is so colourful, can you tell us more about the tones in your home?

I absolutely love colour and use it as much as I can in my home. Colours make me happy and give the room a special feeling. I really like pastel colours, rose and other warm tones. I love to play around with colour, mix my own (the colour in the kitchen is a mix of leftover paint) and see how the rooms turn out. For the most part, I love the result - if I don't, I'll just try again!

Would you say it's unusual for a Dane to have lots of colour in their home? 

Over the past few years, colourful homes have become more and more popular in Denmark, especially on instagram! We want our homes to be as full of life and personality as we are! 

What colours have you applied to the walls in your home? 

Bedroom: Green Harmony from Jotun Lady

Kitchen: a home-made blend of NCS s2010-Y50R and NCS S3020-Y70R (I used a little more of the latter). 

Living room: Hummus from Jotun Lady

Do you have any tips for anyone looking to apply more colour to their home?

If you'd like to add more colour to your home, opt for toned down hues. They are softer and add a pleasant feeling to the room.

 

You have lots of art in your home, where do you. buy your prints? 

Most of my prints are from instagram collaborations - they are from Desenio and Juniqe. I also have bought some from Permild-Rosengreen and Little Detroit. 

Can you share three styling tips? 

1. Give your home a whole new feel by adding colour

2. Always be on the lookout for cool inter items in thrift stores or Facebook marketplace. You can buy a lot of unique items for a little less! 

3. Use plants and fresh flowers in your home. They bring joy to the room and create a nice atmosphere. 

The patchwork curtains seen above are taking the Danish interior world by storm right now. They are made in Denmark by Arvestykke. I also spy a little wooden stool* just like the ones I have by my bed and vases by Ljungby. 

What are your three favourite online shops? 

Luxo Living, Fabrek and Sakura Copenhagen. 

Where do you do you find inspiration?

I like these instagram, including these Danish accounts: @mariaharmuth, @christinedelmar, @trinesblend and @danicachloedk - but also look a lot on Pinterest! 

Thank you so much for telling us more about your home and sharing all your styling tips, shops and sources of inspiration! 

***

If you'd like to see more snapshots of Charlotte's home and find out about her courses, hop on over to @decorstudiodk or Decor Studio. 

For a total colour fest today, you might also like: 

A fabulous Danish home in a plethora of colours

Home tour: how to add colour the Danish way

Lessons to learn from a colourful yet calm Norwegian home

Do you use lots off colour in your home, or do you prefer neutral tones? I'd love to know!

I'll be back tomorrow with a tour of a wonderful home in Finland, watch this space! 

Niki

Styling and photography: Charlotte Kruse / Decor Studio

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My Sitting Room Three Different ways

Partnership. The most popular room in our home at this time of the year has to be our sitting room. It's where we chill out, watch TV (yes, there is one hiding in this room somewhere, can you guess where?!), play games and chat into the early hours all winter long.  

In my childhood home, my Mother insisted on two antique chesterfields which looked stunning - but didn't move an inch when you sat down - do you know the type?! God forbid if you were to sit on one of the arms (there'd be an almighty cracking sound!)! In our sitting room we might not benefit from the history that comes with antique sofas - but boy is our IKEA Söderhamn 3-seater, armchair and chaise longues comfy! 

We can also update the furniture whenever it starts to look tired thanks to Bemz (who create custom covers and legs for IKEA furniture in hundreds of high end fabrics that are made to order in Europe (LOVE THAT!). I tried out a few different looks in my sitting room to suss out which cover (and layout) works best for the chilly winter months ahead.  

I'd love to know which of the three you like the most!

Look One: Lovely Linen

The Design 
For the first look I wanted to create something that felt soft, floaty and snug. The Brera Lino linen in Dusk is a soft, middle blue with a very slight green tint to it (Per insists it is green... but then again, he also thinks pink is red sooo....). I liked the idea of combining it with Brera Lino Pebble and brown accents.


The Look

I've been a fan of the Bemz Loose Fit style cover ever since re-arranging my living room in 2017 (remember that look? I've since been through a few more styles including this one last autumn!) - you know me! I love the floaty, relaxed look and the contemporary seams, is this your kind of style too? This time I opted for a Bemz Loose Fit sofa cover in Dusk Brera Lino linen for the IKEA Söderhamn sofa. It was one of those instant matches with with my coffee table (an old workman's bench which I've had for years).  I love it when a plan comes together!

I've always loved the way linen catches the light - and also how it looks equally fine creased as it does flat ironed - perfect for a messy (or maybe I should say, very relaxed?) family like mine! 

I picked up the camel coloured wool and mohair blanket from online Swedish shop Granit.

The sitting room doubles up as a thoroughfare to our back garden which makes it kind of tricky to furnish! It was the first time I've tried a chaise longues in this position (it was Genevieve Jorn's idea) and it just seem to slot into place. Per might wonder where his bar cart has gone, along with the Hendricks - but the girls and I love it in this position! What do you think?

The Ikea Söderhamn chaise longues has been kitted out with a cover in Bemz Loose Fit cover in Pebble Brera Lino. 

When it comes to rugs, I say the fluffier the better at this time of the year, don't you? This Beni Spezial is from from the family-run company Natur Pur in Austria. 

There are so many details in my living room - some of which are fairly new, and others I've had for years. Here's a quick low down:

Get The Look

1. Z1 Cotton Lamp
2. Paris Print by Anna Johansson
3. Bemz Single Curtain panel in Belgian Linen Blend, Unbleached
4. Söderhamn 3 seater in Loose Fit Dusk
5. Colour Print by Maria Leinonen
6. Granit Wool & Mohair Blanket
7. Antique Chinese Bench
8. Söderhamn chaise longue in Pebble
9. Blue Print by Berit Mogensen Lopez
10. Bemz Cushion Cover in Belgian Linen Blend, Unbleached

Look two: Luxurious Velvet

The Design

While the Dusk look is ever so slightly darker than my previous cover, I felt I wanted to go even darker and create a seating area with a really luxurious feel. 

My Mother's infamous (and very lovely, I must say) antique sofas have always been upholstered in dark blue velvet - a look that never fails to make me feel nostalgic. In my own sitting room I wanted to incorporate this and explore a blend of Indigo, camel and soft grey. 

The Look

For this look I covered my Ikea Söderhamn sofa and armchair with a Bemz Regular Fit cover in Indigo Simply Velvet. The fabric has a wonderful soft feel and a sheen that changes with the light - so beautiful! 

I used to have sheer white linen curtains in the sitting room (you can catch a glimpse of them here) - for these two looks I swapped the white linen out for Curtain Panels in Unbleached Belgian Linen. It's a slightly thicker fabric and immediately made the room feel more cosy - it's funny how that can happen, don't you think?

I have to say, this look was so popular with my family (mainly because the sofa is so soft!). I also sent over a few pictures to my Mum and she absolutely loved it too!

Here's a quick round-up of some of the pieces: 

Get The Look

1. Zuiver Shady Iron Wall Lamp

2. Blue print by Berit Mogensen Lopez

3. Paris Print by Anna Johansson

4. Söderhamn 3 seater, regular fit, simply velvet, indigo

5. Sergel skinny Wooden Furniture Leg

6. Stockholm 2017 Rattan Chair

7. Wool & mohair throw

8. Söderhamn 1 seat section cover regular fit, simply velvet, indigo

9. Adoray Print by MiltonStudio

10. House Doctor Shelf

11. Bemz cushion cover, plain seam, simply velvet, Moleskin

Did I miss something? If so, please give me a shout in the comment section below and I'll do my best to help!

Look Three - The Reading Corner

For the final layout we moved the Ikea Söderhamn chaise longue with a Bemz Loose Fit cover in Pebble to the corner to create a reading nook. It's been topped with matching pillows and a cushion cover in Belgian Linen Blend, Unbleached and Spice Linara by Romo. 

If you're looking for me this weekend you might just find me here. 

Or should I keep the velvet look. Or maybe the dusk linen? Hmmm. What to do?! Do you have a favourite? 

If you've got any questions about anything, please do ask away in the comment section below!

In the meantime, I might just go and snuggle up in my new sitting room! 

Have a wonderful weekend! 

Niki

Photography: Niki Brantmark - My Scandinavian Home

Styling: Genevieve Jorn 

This post is brought to you in collaboration with Bemz and contains affiliate links. However, all words are my own and I only ever work with brands I absolutely love and think you will too (#Ilovemyjob!). Thank you for supporting the businesses that help bring fresh content to your mail box and make My Scandinavian Home possible.

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