Laura Luoto's Inspiring Second-hand & DIY Helsinki Home

So finally, THAT Finnish apartment I promised to share with you! The beautiful 1950s apartment is nestled in the heart of Helsinki (such a great city - I can't wait to go back one day!) and belongs to interior designer Laura Luoto and her boyfriend Ville. Laura has had a passion for all things second-hand ever since she was a child and the pair have decorated the 43 m2 space using a blend of wonderful flea market finds as well as pieces she has built herself and the odd contemporary piece. I couldn't resist reaching out to Laura to find out more. 

What do you do for a living?

I am an interior designer - with a passion for designing well thought-out homes for my clients. I strive to create high quality, practical spaces with a beautiful aesthetic. It's important to me that a living space feels harmonious so that the mind can rest. 

Can you tell us about your passion for second-hand?

My passion for second hand started when I was very young from when we used to visit flea markets as a family. At that time, I would spend all my money buying clothes from thrift stores but at some point, I started to become more interested in purchasing cool and eclectic items for my own room. When I moved into my own apartment, my budget was small, so buying second-hand allowed me to fill up my apartment with cool finds. 

What's the best thing about buying secondhand things for your home? 

I love the idea that no one has a home like mine since most of the pieces are one-of-a-kind. The uniqueness is what makes this apartment feel like home to me. 

Do you need adjust the pieces you find second-hand?

Absolutely. I love leaving my own mark on pieces - and when I adapt them, I feel even more connected to my home because I've worked hard to make it my own. 

I see from your website that you also make your own furniture occasionally?

Yes, when I can't find something I am looking for within my budget, I sometimes make it myself. For example the coffee table in the first picture is handmade! 

See Laura's instagram highlights for more information on how to make a table like this. 

Lovely home! 

It's also so inspiring to learn that you don't need to spend a fortune to create a beautiful and unique living space. Time to hit those flea markets - and get the toolbox out! 

See more of Laura's home over at @Laura_luoto (there are some great DIY ideas there) and find out more about her work / services as an interior designer here. 

Feel inspired by other second-hand homes here (don't miss Ida's home, a Norwegian cottage with a wabi sabi vibe and a hyggeligt Danish home on Jutland!- or join the Finnish home love fest in this archive! 

That's it from me this week. I've got a photoshoot at home today for Carpe Diem Beds for which I'll be transforming my bedroom into a luxury winter haven. Sounds heavenly, don't you think? It's no coincidence that I've timed the shoot right before the weekend!

Have a great one guys, see you Monday! 

Niki

Photography:  All pictures by Krista Keltanen and Jonna Kivilahti except 2 & 4 which are by Laura Luoto - shared with kind permission

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A Cosy Country Home in Rural North Sweden

Some of the homes I share on My Scandinavian Home are wonderful for interior inspiration, others tell a story. A story that transports you to another world and has you dreaming of faraway places where life is slow, cosy and remote. This is one of the latter kind. Chilean born Nicole Castillo lives in the countryside just outside Byske, Västerbotten, North Sweden with her husband and two children. When Nicole isn't running her online webshop Nicole's Lantgård, selling beautiful vintage and antique furniture, she's looking out of the window watching salmon jump in the Byske river, baking with her children, feeding the chickens or drinking hot chocolate around a woodburning stove. I caught up with Nicole to ask about life in the Swedish countryside, her love of antiques and how to create an incredibly cosy home! 

Your house looks very old, can you tell us more about it?

It's an old farm property from around 1860, that has been renovated and extended to look more like a traditional Västerbotten Manor House rather than the croft it used to be. 

Who do you live with - I spy some chickens...?! 

We are 11 living on the property: my husband, our four-year-old daughter and two-year-old son, our crazy lady cat Svea, 6 chickens and myself, Nicole Castillo (27). 

Wow! Quite a crowd! Your home is full of beautiful antiques and vintage finds, have you always been passionate about second hand items? 

I am from Chile and I met my Swedish husband while he was working in Chile. When we decided to move to Sweden, he already had this place that he found thanks to his passion (fishing). I studied history in Chile and had only ever seen 'old things' in books (Chile is a young country), When I arrived in Sweden and started to experience old furniture and houses first hand, I felt inspired to create a home full of all the things I love. 

Moving from Chile to North Sweden must have been a big transition, did it take you a while to adjust?

The move from Chile to Sweden was very revealing. I thought I was strong and that I knew who I was, until I arrived here! The distractions of city life that I was used to were muted, and the silence surrounding our new home made me go deep inside myself and accept that I had to make a million changes to become a competent wife and Mother. It took me a while, but when I did adjust, I found I was in a beautiful place - surrounded by wildlife, a country steeped in tradition, amazing landscapes and one of the kindest people I have ever met. 

Do you have a favourite season? 

Today, one of the things I love the most is summer: to see the kids playing in the grass and climbing trees, going jogging while trying to overcome my fear that a bear might try to eat me, seeing my husband catch a salmon and the children helping him to put back in the water. 

Do you renovate the furniture or use 'as is'?

After having my daughter, I decided to paint furniture to give it a second chance, and my love for interior decor and creativity evolved along with this process. 

How did your online furniture shop come about?

I founded Nicole's Lantgård in order to create a job that allowed me to be at home to take care of the family. I started renovating old furniture as a hobby, but later I started to search everywhere for "wow" pieces! As my collection grew, my family and I decided to make my dream become a reality and I founded my online shop. Right now, it's growing in baby steps, we are very happy for it! 

Your home is so cosy! Can you share some tips with us on how to achieve that warm, 'hygge' vibe?! 

Our home is a place where we live, love create and rest from everything, therefore it has to be cosy! To achieve this, we try to create symmetry by matching elements in the room, like colour. We're also mindful of the number of decorative items in the room - and try to ensure everything has a purpose. Also, it's very important to leave empty spaces in a room so that your eyes can rest on 'air' - or create areas that don't have too much going on. 

It's amazing what a lovely atmosphere vintage and antique pieces create in a home, don't you think?

If you have the time, I can highly recommend taking a peek in Nicole's shop - there are some really beauties for sale including display cabinets and rugs to smaller pieces like urns, candlesticks and cutlery. You can see more snapshots of Nicole's home and life in the Swedish countryside here. 

How I'd love to swap my my desk in rainy Malmö for the spot by the window in Nicole's studio, watching salmon jump out of the Byske. Are you also dreaming of that very spot too?!

I guess you know what's coming. Yep! How did you guess?! A round-up of more Swedish country homes. Ha! But they are rather lovely, and now that we're on a roll... here are a few of my favourites: 

An idyllic Swedish country home is restored to its former glory

Step inside an idyllic Swedish country home on a hill

Snapshots from Ida's charming vintage-inspired home in Dalarna

Time to dream of cosy days by the fire, in a charming Swedish country home! 

Ha det så mysig! 

Niki

Photography: Nicola Castillo shared with kind permission

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Antiques and Flea Market Finds in a Delightful Family Home in Burgundy

Ciao! I'm reporting from a very sunny Madrid today (such a treat to be here! - if the man asks, I'm on a very hectic work schedule, of course...). Perhaps what I should really be saying though is 'bonjour!' - since here on the blog we're off to Burgundy, France and the delightful home of Aurélie Mazurek! Aurélie's home first caught my eye on Instagram thanks to the calm, 'washed-out' tones, rich textures and antique touches (not to mention her baking and pretty taste in clothes!). But chatting to Aurélie, I learned there's so much more to her home that meets the eye, and the influences and inspiration behind the space are just as charming as the décor itself! 

Where do you live?

In Yonne, a wine region. Life is calm and sweet here, yet we're still near to museums, the city, and the castle of Fontainebleau - we love to relax and walk our dogs in the surrounding forest.

Bertoia chair*, round basket bag*

 

Who do you share your home with?
My husband and our children Olivier (5) and Laura (3). They are just going back to school and starting two important stages: entering kindergaten and CP at the big school!

Made-to-measure natural linen drapes / curtains* (my go to source!)

What do you do for a living?

I'm currently working in ready-to-wear fashion. I used to have my own business creating decorative objects such as cushions, booties, and blankets out of vintage materials. I decided to take a break and return to a day job so I can spend more time with my children while they're still young. I might resume my creative path some day in the future, we'll see! 

Marshall speakers*


How would you describe your style?
I keep an eye on trends but I do not necessarily follow them! I like to create my own cocoon which includes reusing a lot of materials and furniture.

Tell us more about your sustainable outlook on decorating
We love visiting flea markets, it's a very interesting way for us to consume with purpose and I think it's these unique objects that tell a story and give a home it's soul. I like to be content with little and I find beauty and satisfaction from an item I found for 1 euro!

Antique linen*

Where do you find inspiration?
My family and my emotional legacy. My Grandmother gave me the love for old linen and beautiful materials, my uncle gave me the love for flowers and how to dry and preserve them, my Grandfather the love of the garden and cultivating land , my Mother taught me the art of cooking and my Father introduced me to design. These are the heritages that made me aware of decoration and inspired the lifestyle we lead today - and even though some of these people are no longer with us, their memory lives on in my linen, dried flowers and garden.

Belly baskets*


Your instagram feed Antique Home is so inspiring. Do you also find online sites as a source of inspiration?
Of course, instagram and blogs are a wonderful source of inspiration. But I think it's our environment that inspires us the most. The forest of Fontainebleau is a wonderful source of inspiration!

Thank you for inviting us into your lovely home Aurélie!

I especially loved hearing about how Aurélie's family have inspired some of the items in her home. I'm sure this legacy will live on through Olivier and Laura one day too!

 I still remember my Grandmother's beautifully pressed crisp white linen. My sister and I used to ask her to make the bed over us and one day my sister got her toe caught in a tiny nick and it turned into a gaping hole! Needless to say, she made the beds without us from then on!!

Do you have someone in your family who has influenced your interior style?

Have a lovely day!

Niki

Photography by Aurélie - shared with kind permission. Hop on over to her instagram for more lovely pics! 

* affiliate links

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A Charming Danish Home on a Shoestring Budget

Hello! Hur går det?! It's great to be back after a week in the mountains. I'm feeling all revived, the sun's shining and I'm ready to roll! I hope you feel the same this bright and sunny Monday?!  I thought I'd kick off the week with a tour of the charming home of Fie Frøling, finalist of the 'Danish Instagram of the Year' (and for very good reason!). Fie's home is packed with second hand finds, DIY items and an abundance of greenery. I caught up with her to find out a little more. Enjoy the tour!

Where do you live?
My home is in Næstved, Denmark and I have lived here with my boyfriend and our two dogs since 2014. I actually grew up in this house with my parents and sister. We're still in the process of renovating it.

Get the look: Marshall speakers, Ilva cabinet, Kimono from Sissel Edelbos,

How would you describe your style?

I would describe my style as mix and match with an ethnic, boho vibe and a hint of industrial. I love it when warm tones meet black steel and like to play around with feminine and masculine decor.

Get the look: Brok side table, source kilim cushions here, man in canoe print, Nordal rug (I have a similar one in my sitting room!).  

 Where do you like to shop? 
I love to buy my decor at different places. I have a serious soft spot for Swedish secondhand shops and the Danish website DBA. You can find some great stuff there. Our entire kitchen was bought from DBA. Otherwise I love to shop at unoliving.dk, Casanordic.dk, semibasic.dk, Ilva and Broste. They have amazing pieces at good prices.

It's nice to see so many plants in your home!
I have a huge love for plants. I can't go an entire month without buying a new green baby! They give such a cool effect against the black and warm colours. But also, I feel like they bring my home to life because you can watch them grow. Denmark isn't the most sunny and bright country but because of all my green plants I feel like it's never dark, they remind me of summer and rainforests.

I am fascinated by your bed headboard, can you tell us more about it?!
I made our headboard three years ago. We needed a new headboard but I couldn't find one I liked. I saw these pallets by our local train station which had been thrown out and had been lying there for some time and had turned grey and rusty. I was given permission to take them and then I screwed them to our bed frame. Et voilà! A headboard emerged! 

Thank you so much for the tour of your lovely home Fie! 

What a great tour - I specially loved the the rustic pieces and plants (you know, I still can't stop thinking about that urban jungle home a few weeks back, how about you?!). It's amazing what you can find at flea markets. Is there anything you loved in particular about Fie's home?

If you'd like to see more of Fie's home there are tonnes of lovely snapshots on her instagram feed @woodlandwhim. And for more homes with a boho vibe why not check out this archive (oh and I LOVE the Danish home archive too - a real favourite!).

Have a great start to the week!

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Best Of My Scandinavian Home 2018!

I can't believe I'm wrapping up another year on the blog (I started My Scandinavian Home in 2011, isn't that crazy?). It feels great to be able to say that I enjoy coming here as much as I did when I first started. This is definitely thanks to all of you, who make this such a positive place to visit each day. I'm so grateful for all your input, comments and words of encouragement. And even if you're a silent reader, I see you (in my numbers) and I'm happy you're here! Hopefully you walk away each day with a spring in your step and a new idea for your home! I'd also like to say a huge thank you to everyone who has contributed and all the amazing creatives out there who have so generously invited us into their homes and given the kind permission to share pictures. And to all the wonderful My Scandinavian Home sponsors far and wide who make this blog possible. Tack så mycket and Skål to you all! On with this year's round-up...

Top 5 Blog Posts

5. If you want to keep warm, where else would you sit than a vintage radio? In fact, this mischievous cat is great at finding places to cosy up all round Antonia Schmitz's Cologne home.

Antonia Schmitz / www.Craftifair.com 

4. In the blog survey at the beginning of the year many of you said you were looking to learn more about interior know-how. Could this be why '10 interior Styling Tricks To Learn From a Swedish Home' went down so well? Or perhaps it's just the lovely decor. Either way, this number was popular!

Photo: Fredrik Karlsson Styling Studio Cuvier for Alvhem

3. I'm such a big fan of Leanne Ford's work (the tour of a her woodsy cabin was one of my favourites). I'm happy to see her project - A Dated Home Becomes a Fresh, Modern Farmhouse - make it into the top five. That girls got style!

Photo: Alexandra Ribar

2. Some posts require a lorry load of work, and  '20 Instagrammable Places To Stay In Sweden' was one of them. I am thrilled the work paid off and will hopefully inspire you to visit this beautiful country! Make sure you come and say hi when you do!

1. And now for the most read blog post of 2018. Drumroll please... It was none other than the charming home of Johanne Landbo (titled '10 Small Space Hacks To Learn From A Danish Home). This was a personal favourite of mine too - great minds think alike! What a fantastic home!

Photo: Johanne Landbo

Top 5 Instagram posts of 2018!

Instagram has definitely been my favourite social media this year (after the blog of course - does that count as SM? Not really I guess!). Here are the top 5 posts on @myscandinavianhome in 2018:

5. I'm pleased you liked my new sitting room update which I shot for Bemz too! I plan on sitting in this little corner a lot over the holidays!

4. I can completely understand why this post was in the top 5 - I mean, look at that cat - isn't he handsome?! Of course, Audrey Rivet's entire home is just lovely too!

Photo: Audrey Rivet

3. We'd all love to live somewhere with large, spacious, light-filled rooms but that simply isn't always the case. And this box room in the Swedish home of Sara Margareta Hellman stole our hearts. It goes to show that mini can be mighty (and white isn't always the way to go in a small space).

Photo: Sara Margateta Hellman

2. Who doesn't love a gallery wall - especially one you can customise daily! Seems like we all felt truly inspired by the picture wall in the home of Janniche Kristoffersen!

Photo: Janniche Kristoffersen

1. Books are such an important part of a living space - and as an author I'm especially happy to see this picture of a set of shelves brimming with tomes in the relaxed home of Katarina Matsson inspire over 206122 people! Let's hear it for great reads!

Photo: Katarina Matsson

Top 5 Pinterest Pins

Got to love Pinterest. It's packed with amazing inspiration, do you find the same? I never know quite what will take off on Pinterest so I was excited to explore the top five:

5. I was hoping Louise's delightful, hygge Danish home might pop up somewhere in the 'Best of...' list - her use of colour is so inspiring!

Photo: Louise / Mor Til Mernee

4. If you're looking for a moment of calm this Christmas you could do well to pour yourself a cup of coffee (or something stronger) and click over to this Swedish home decorated in cream and caramel tones. A special shout out to the Karin chair designed by Bruno Mathsson - which made a huge comeback this year!

3. Linens, sheepskin, candles and a wreath - I couldn't think of a more perfect spot to chill than this one in the Swedish home of Anna Kvarnström.

Photo: Anna Kvarnström

2. This year, Genevieve Jorn and I made-over my teenage stepson's bedroom. It was such a fun project and I'm glad to see others feel inspired by it too! N.B. It definitely doesn't look this tidy today!!

1. Say the words 'mid-century meets boho' and you know you're onto a winner, don't you think?! If you haven't taken a tour of Mallory Fletcher's Brooklyn home yet, I suggest you hop over immediately! I'm not surprised her sitting room was my most pinned image all year, it's fabulous!

Photo: Mallory Fletcher / Reserve Home

I had so much fun putting this post together - I'd actually forgotten about some of these beautiful spaces / posts!

Did you have a favourite?

Right. I think that's it.

I'll be back on January 7th. But if you feel you'd like to stop by over the holidays for inspiration there are thousands of home tours and snippets of design inspiration to be found in the archive. Some of my favourites include:

Danish Homes
Swedish cottages
Norwegian Homes
Finnish Homes
International Homes
Vintage Inspired Homes
Bohemian Style
Rural Retreats

I'm off to tuck into turkey in London and maybe dabble in a little skiing in my heartland (Norway) (see Instagram stories for more!).

I hope you have a wonderful, relaxing holiday too!

Thank you for 2018!

Niki x

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