A lovely light-filled Dutch family houseboat

Yaaaay, it's the weekend (almost)! The sun's shining and I can see the sea sparkling in the distance (definitely heading off for a swim shortly!)....but first today's tour. Could you imagine anything more wonderful than living on a house boat at this time of year? Brought up in a sailing family, I was practically born on a boat and this would be my dream come true, but it does conjure up images of a rather dark, cramped living space. Not in this Dutch house boat captured by Binti Home though. Located a mere 10 minutes from the centre of Amsterdam, Annelie (co-owner of Bynorr.nl), Hans and baby Scott's home is flooded with natural light. The self-designed open-plan space is uncluttered with fresh white walls and pretty pastel accessories.  The only real hint that it's afloat is from the water seen from the living room window. Such a lovely family home, don't you think?

Homeowner: ByNorr.nl. Binti Home (shared with kind permission). Featured in Flair Magazine.

Apart from the fresh colours, patterns and light wood I think my favourite thing about this home is the mix-match coffee tables in the living room. How about you?

I love the cute children's room too. For similar inspiration it's well worth popping over to fellow Malmö blogger Paul et Paula. My favourite online children shops right now are The Youngsters (owned by my talented interior designer friend Genevieve who also lives in Malmö and who I recently collaborated with on my little girls bedroom) and British/Swedish brand Indikidual (Syreeta used to live here too!) - so lucky to be surrounded by such talented people!

There are a load more pictures of this lovely home plus a full write-up over at Binti Home and Flair Magazine (in Dutch). 

For more inspiration from Holland this weekend (after all, the Dutch do have such a great sense of style don't they?) there's an entire archive here (scroll through the first one as it's most likely this home). 

Have a wonderful couple of days and for those of you in America...long weekend!

PS if you fancy a dip this afternoon but have no where to go - you can always imagine yourself relaxing in one of these beautiful swimming pools. Love!  

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The monochrome home of Swedish interior stylist Elin Kickén

Oh wow - I do believe it's the end of the working week - woohaaay! April and May are my absolute busiest months - do you find that too? It seems the same is happening in the Swedish real estate market - I simply can't believe how many homes are for sale right now - which let's face it, is an ideal situation for all of us!! Swedish interior stylist Elin Kickén is the latest to sell her home (I once showed her previous (whiter) home here). Which means lots of wonderful, inspiring pictures for us to enjoy over the weekend (and if you live in Gothenburg -  even a new home perhaps?!). Elin has decorated her home using a monochome scheme which is softened by warm lustrous textiles and a play with different shapes. Let's take a tour...

Alvhem. Home-owner / interior designer Elin Kickén.

It's safe to say, Elin has nailed the monochrome look wouldn't you say?!

And her small bedroom is inspiring too - a tricky narrow room which she has made look sooooo cosy! 

There are so many items I love in this home including: sitting room - the house doctor cluster lamp (available here and here), sofa similar to mine (North from Bolia), Muuto leaf floor lamp. Painting by Karin Wästlund.  Kitchen: Flos aim light. This glass tea pot is similar. Bedroom - white waffle bedspread, By Lassen stropp leather hangers (I've got these in cognac).

Does anyone know where the white armchair is from - I'd love to know... and be able to update the post! 

Linkage for the weekend:

What a beautiful hallway?

There's something so Zen about this bath tub! And I kind of like the industrial style of this shower too.

The awe-inspiring 'Thong House' (love the name!) in Vietnam.

A cute porch / terrace.

Loving these nooks and niches.

Trend alert - grey hardwood floors as seen in Elin's home too (we've got these across two floors in our home and I love them!). 

Must-have item for the summer - a pom pom blanket, I can't decide on this, this or this one? 

Imagine dropping everything and moving to a Swedish cottage like this one, is only for the weekend - with not a care in the world!

Have a wonderful end to the week! Skål!

 PS Tomorrow I'll be featuring my suggestions on affordable limited edition art so definitely drop by if you have the time!

PPS I'm loving working from home today, our wisteria is in full bloom and the clematis over the arch in the garden is bursting with little pink flowers - makes me #happy! Here's a snapshot of our sitting room with the garden beyond I captured just now from my phone....(although it's a bit tricky to see - might have to get my camera out later!). 

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White, cognac and blue in a Swedish apartment

When I look at this apartment in Gothenburg, Sweden I think fresh, relaxed and warm.  I'm also a long term fan of the colour scheme blue, white and cognac and not many do it better than stylists and estate agents Alvhem. I could certainly see my self padding around here and reading a book in one of the pools of light, couldn't you?

Alvhem via 79 ideas

The 'Kakelugn' or tiled fireplace is another element I could imagine having in my dream cottage but it would need to be in addition to the wood burning stove!

For more fabulous Swedish apartment inspiration with a kakelugn try here and here and for an incredible danish one here.

I'm starting to feel I can no longer live without a fireplace, hmmmm what to do?! Perhaps you can help me figure out where to put one from the first part in my mini weekly series 'my home captured by Karin' tomorrow? A little nervous about showing my home, as always!

Have a lovely day!

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The home of a Swedish Fashion designer

I started to work from home this year. It certainly has its merits - pretty much everything in the house is whirring around me - the washing machine, dishwasher...and I'm sitting here, no make-up, big socks etc. But the true freedom comes with managing my own time (I'm planning on diving into town in a moment to run a few errands) and control of how my workspace looks. And it's the latter which inspired today's post. I love the light-filled home office in the Stockholm pad of Åsa Stenerhag,  fashion designer at Swedish brand Filippa K. The space, which has been beautifully captured by Jonas Ingerstedt, is home to her art,  images which inspire her, artifacts collected on travels and vintage finds. The rest of Åsa's home with it's warm, earthy tones and ethnic textiles is pretty lovely too, don't you think? Oh yes, I could work and live here.

Photography: Jonas Ingerstedt. Home-owner: Åsa Stenerhag. Featured in Elle Decoration Sweden

Photography: Jonas Ingerstedt with permission. Home-owner: Åsa Stenerhag. Featured in Elle Decoration Se

Photography: Jonas Ingerstedt with permission. Home-owner: Åsa Stenerhag. Featured in Elle Decoration Se

Photography: Jonas Ingerstedt with permission. Home-owner: Åsa Stenerhag. Featured in Elle Decoration Se

Photography: Jonas Ingerstedt with permission. Home-owner: Åsa Stenerhag. Featured in Elle Decoration Se

Photography: Jonas Ingerstedt with permission. Home-owner: Åsa Stenerhag. Featured in Elle Decoration Se

I think what I love most about this home is how it reflects Åsa Stenerhag's personal style. Is there anything that stands out to you?

Other fab office spaces here.

And more beautiful Stockholm apartments here, here and here.

One of the greatest things about Sweden's capital city is how it's surrounded by water. A short boat ride can take you to one of thousands of islands with lovely homes such as this one.  Have you been? We're heading up in a few weeks time to visit my brother-in-law - tips welcome!

Have a lovely day!

PS - thank you to La Maison D'Anna G for today's post tip. 

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The Beautiful, Earthy Home of Swedish Illustrator Sara Bergman

Tjeeena! I hope you had a 'underbart' weekend! I seem to have come into my studio bursting with energy, extremely unusual for a Monday morning. But I think it could have something to do with the home tour I have lined up for you - it's so beautiful! Swedish illustrator Sara Bergman and her family have set up home in the picturesque village of Brunnby, not far from where my parents-in-law live here in Skåne county. Her beautiful home is testament to Sara's creativity. Look beyond the soothing earthy tones and you'll find one-off pieces, treasured items made by artist friends, beautiful pottery and layer upon layer of texture. Oh, and keep a look out for the well camouflaged TV and dozing family dog Kerstin (what would a Monday morning be without the latter?). 

Such a beautiful cabinet and cushions - but the star of the show has to be that marble bowl. I believe it's by Olsson & Jensen, but sadly couldn't find it available online. Let me know if you have more luck! 

Sara's home is full of beautiful sculptures. The one above is by Stockholm-based Elisabeth Ottebring. Sara also loves pieces by her talented friend Carola Kastman - and I have to say, I'm so excited to have discovered her art through Sara! If you have the time, check out her paintings and sculptures here. 

Can we all just take a moment's pause to admire this bedroom door?

The photo above Sara's desk is by Anna Malmberg, who recently packed up her Stockholm apartment and  moved to the South of France. 

What a beautiful way, in a perfectly imperfect way. I love how Sara has supported other local artists throughout her home. 

Is there anything that stood out to you?

Head on over to Sara's instagram to see a load more pictures from her home today. 

The entire Kullahalvön area (where Brunnby is located) is popular among artists and other creatives - it's also one of the few places in southern Sweden you can surf! I've featured several homes from the area, including: 

The home of Josephine Ekelund (which we also captured for my book The Scandinavian Home).

The unique and fabulous home of Maria Olsson Nylander 

And the fresh white home of Jenny Hultgren

I hope all this inspiration has put a spring indoor step!

Niki

Photography courtesy of Sara Bergman

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An inviting Danish home with vintage touches

Hello there! I had a mail yesterday asking for advice on how to create a Scandinavian feel on a budget. Of course, there are many different looks (both dark and light) but I suggested starting with a light backdrop - white or light grey walls matched with a wood or white washed floor. From there you can make the space unique with a wonderful mix of vintage pieces (it's incredible what you can find at flea markets both at home and abroad, online auctions and one of my favourite sites - Etsy!) and combined with the odd highstreet ( IKEA find and fab new Nordic pieces. Keep textures natural using materials such as wood, leather and linen and add plenty of sheepskin and candlelight for that true hygge feel! What do you reckon? Is this your idea of a Scandinavian home? To my surprise, I found the most beautiful apartment today to illustrate my vision! Step inside the wonderful, warm and inviting home of Henrik Hemmingsen, director of Copenhagen boutique and online store Fil de Fer, captured by Martin Sølyst. I'd love to tuck into that breakfast in bed and stay all day, how about you?!

Credit: photography Martin Sølyst (shared with kind permission).

How toasty! And conceived from an entirely white backdrop too - it's amazing how vintage finds in wood and leather can add character and warmth to a space. Time to start looking for bargains? Or perhaps a visit to Fil de Fer is in order?!

A few ideas to steal from Henrik's lovely home: pick up a vintage punch bag here, cosy up with this grey sheepskin. Source a selection of vintage and antique brass candles here. The Norwegian cabin I stayed in last week had the same Tolix dining chairs (source vintage ones here and here - although you'll need to hurry, they only have a few left!) which they then softened with sheepskin seat covers. This dark grey linen bed cover and selection of cushions are beautiful.

A little note on floor paint. Rather than opting for white I went for a very pale grey (slightly confusingly named 'strong white' in my bedroom  - which I really love and can highly recommend.

A few more fab danish homes to drool over today: a lovely apartment with a relaxed vibe, the home of a Danish style icon and finally a danish home with dusty hues and a homespun feel.  Ahhh, so lovely, don't you think?!

Have a wonderful day!

PS I loved reading your 2017 home decorating goals in the houseology give-away, so inspiring! I'm excited to now have announced the winner here!

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