5 Ways To Celebrate Midsummer's Eve Like a Swede

This Friday it's arguably the biggest event in the Swedish calendar: Midsummer's Eve! It's a magical day includes dancing around a pole with flowers in your hair and a delicious afternoon meal alfresco with friends and family. 

Why not join in the celebrations from afar? Here are five ways how: 

1. Make a floral crown for your hair 

2. Build a small 'midsommarstång' (midsummer pole) to put up in your garden like this one and dance around it! 

2. Invite family and friends over and dine outside no matter the weather and tuck into herring, salmon, some form of quiche, new potatoes, washed down with beer. Follow with deliciously ripe strawberries. 

3. Sing songs and down a shot of Akvavit with a resounding 'SKÅL!' (cheers). 

4. Play Kubb! 

5. If you're single, place seven different wildflowers under your pillow before you go to sleep and you'll dream of the man you are going to marry! 

Glad Midsommar! 

I'll be back again on Monday :)

Niki

This beautiful photograph is by Emily Slotte

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A lovely Gothenburg apartment to kick off the week

I hope you all had a great midsummer weekend?! We had such a wonderful time at my brother-in-laws cottage (a little pic of my midsummer belles and man already to dance here)  and then we celebrated midsummer day with great friends in Malmö. I'm still recovering today! Phew! I definitely need something to brighten up my Monday morning. And the good news is I found this pearl of an apartment currently for sale in Linnéstad in Gothenburg. Light and airy, white floors /(in parts) and beautiful pared-back style. What a perfect Swedish home tour way to start the week with don't you think?

Stadshem

Such a lovely space. I could pad around here today how about you?!

Other lovely Swedish apartments to brighten up a Monday include this classic apartment, a cognac and blue themed space and a white and grey serene home.

I hope you have a wonderful start to the week!

PS Thank you so much to Anya who sent me the information so I could credit Friday's 'glad midsommar' post.

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Glad Midsommar!

The summer solstice was on Monday, but in Sweden, Midsummer is always celebrated on the Friday - so as I pack up and get ready to wander meadows in search of wild flowers, I wanted to stop by and wish you all a lovely Midsummer's Eve! May the sun shine (that would be a first!) and your flowers stay bright! 

Looking to celebrate? See 5 ways to celebrate Midsummer like a Swede. And find the recipe for that luscious looking strawberry and elderflower chiffon cake here. 

I'll be back on Monday with a Scandi-inspired tour. See you then! 

Have a wonderful weekend! 

Niki

Credits: 

1. Forest Bound

2. Honestly Yum

3. IKEA

4. Domino magazine

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Finnish inspiration

Some light inspiration from Finnish brand Iittala today who have branched out into the world of interiors and launched a new storage system and light for spring / summer. I love the clean lines and the way the spaces have been styled around the products.

What do you think of these new pieces? Do you own any Iittala glasswear?

I had a great time in Copenhagen yesterday evening visiting the new Muuto headquarters. We got to see the latest Muuto collection and meet some of the talented designers behind it. We also enjoyed hot dogs and champagne on their roof terrace! I can't wait to get my photos sorted so I can show you some of their latest collection, it's all very exciting (you can buy fab items from Muuto here). Afterwards I went to Tivoli Gardens and went on some of the scariest rides I've ever been on eeeeeek! It was so much fun though! Have you been to a funfair lately?

It's Midsummer in Sweden tomorrow so I'll be off to dance around a May Pole with my family! I hope you all have a wonderful Midsummer and see you Monday!

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A Pretty Red and White House in Rural Sweden

When I think of the Swedish summer, I think of a charming little red and white summer cottage surrounded by forest. This is probably because that was my first experience of Sweden back in the day - but it's always stayed with me! This house in Västra Götaland County, West Sweden is somewhat larger than the one in my head - but it's still so quintessentially Swedish! Plus, it has all the trappings of an idyllic Swedish country home - lush surroundings, a beautiful lake nearby and a few neighbours with whom to celebrate midsummer! 

Step inside and you'll be greeted by beautiful wood panels painted in a soft muted green - and a classic style kitchen to match. Wood burning stoves and traditional Swedish tiled masonry ovens help to heat the rooms come winter, and the entire space has been kitted out a blend of old and new. It's the type of place that you'd want to pull up a chair and stay for a while, no matter the season! 

Beautiful!! 

I love the lighting in the kitchen, it's like a modern version of the pendant we have over our dining table at the cabin. The Frama Circle lamp is similar, but if you know who sells these exact pendants, please do let us all know in the comments! 

Oh, and it could be yours! It's currently for sale through Stadshem. Any takers? I'd love to drop in for a cup of tea - or join your midsummer to enjoy the revelry, if you're the lucky one to snap this up! 

Other Swedish country homes to feel inspired by: 

A cosy country home in rural North Sweden

An idyllic red and white farmhouse in the countryside

A warm rural home that combines old and new

Have a great start to the week! 

Niki

Photography courtesy of Stadshem with thanks

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A Beautiful Farm Stay With a Pared-Back Rustic Vibe

I hope you had a lovely weekend? We enjoyed a magical midsummer at a friend's cottage in Båstad (pronounced B-or-stard - in case you were wondering!!). It had everything I featured in Thursdays 'midsommar round-up' - including the famous four seasons in one day (the Swedish weather gods treated us to 27 degrees celsius and sunshine, a hail storm and thunder and lightning) - a true Swedish midsummer! We're staying at our own cottage for a few days now - and will stay put in Sweden the entire summer- but it doesn't stop me from drooling over ideas for future holidays abroad! In case you're in the same boat, you might just want to archive this wonderful farm stay in Portugal. Surrounded by vast fields in the beautiful Alentejo region, Herdade Cucumbi is a guest house offering four bedrooms and three apartments with a pared-back, rustic interior and a lovely Scandinavia meets Portugal vibe. Oh, and you might just like to enjoy a book and aperitif by the pool too! 

Something for 2021 perhaps? Perhaps I'll see you by the pool! Make mine a Ginjinha! 

You can read more about this wonderful hotel here. 

Curious about other travel destinations? 

You'll find a ton of amazing design hotels in this archive and might also come across some pared- back, rustic holiday homes stays in here too! 

While on the subject of holidays, one of the things that has struck me during the pandemic is how I've been inspired to adapt my home to feel more like a holiday home. I mean, why wait until we can travel (even cross country) - when we can bring a touch of sunshine to our own homes? I hope the rustic and natural touches in this hotel might inspire you to adapt your living space a little too!

Niki

Photography Sanda Vuckovic found via SF Girl By Bay with thanks. 

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A beautiful Swedish home in Österlen

Tomorrow is a big day in Sweden; Midsummer's eve. It's always a wonderful day (even though, by tradition the temperature drops by 10 degrees with horizontal rain!!). I've been learning how to make the midsummer wild flower crown for my two little girls hair and we'll all be leaping around a maypole like frogs (don't ask) out in the countryside. So to celebrate the occasion, here's a lovely home from a beautiful part of this region in Skåne - Österlen.

Hus o Hem, photography: Karin Foberg

I spy shabby chic dressers, beautiful mosaic tiled floors, crates used for shelving and Tolix chairs. What a lovely relaxed home from home don't you think? If you could see the surrounding nature of Österlen you'd be even more in love. You can see more pics and read more info about this home here.

And tomorrow I'll also be announcing the winner of the Japanese Washi tape! So don't forget to stop by and see if you've won (if you haven't entered, hurry! click here).

Niki x

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