My Studio Make-over (And How One Sofa Helped Transform the Space!)

Paid partnership with Bemz - thank you for supporting the Nordic brands which make My Scandinavian Home possible

When I first started my business I worked from home. I'd have the washing machine whirring in the background and other working-from-home neighbours stopping by for a cuppa (I'm sure many of you can relate these days)! For a while I loved it, but over the years I started to miss the companionship that comes with being around others and two years ago I moved into a beautiful studio space in town.  It's run by upholsterer extraordinaire Carina Grefmar and we also share the space with Helena who works for a Swedish furniture business called Maze. Needless to say a whole load of coffee goes down on a daily basis!

The only thing is, the room I share with Helena was still pretty much unfurnished save for one Söderhamn sofa and a whole load of boxes! It had becoming increasingly embarrassing, not least because we both work in the world of interiors! And then Bemz launched a Minimalist Fit design cover for IKEA sofas and everything was about to change! 

This side of the room had become a bit of a dumping ground for samples, props and other items. The problem is, once you start with one item, everything else seems to quickly gather - do you find this too?  

I sat down with My Scandinavian Home interior stylist Helen Sturesson (above with her trusty ruler!) and we hatched a plan. 

What we did

You are likely familiar with Bemz as I have partnered with the Swedish brand for many years. I simply love the entire concept. I mean, beautiful designer covers for IKEA armchairs and sofas in a choice of different high quality fabrics, what's not to love? It's the perfect way to give an old piece a whole new lease of life. 

The new Minimalist fit cover differs from their loose and regular fit covers as it doesn't require you to take apart the sofa, you simply pull it on over the top. And it comes with or without arms - in this case I decided to add arms to my sofa for a smarter look (cue a morning at IKEA!). 

I chose the Minimalist Fit cover in Brera Lino in Pebble by Designers Guild - made from 100% linen. 

I love the Pebble tone, the soft linen texture, the seams - everything! Isn't it pretty? I also picked out some cushion covers in Brera Lino Cocoa with French Seams. 

To finalise the look I also added quite a few pieces made by local Southern Sweden designers as well as friends from further afield. Here's a quick round-up in case you're curious:

'Landscape', vinyl paint on linen by local artist Simon Vendin, Design of Edge coffee table, Sculpture from the SANT series by Malmö based Karolina Brobeck & Mini Karami, branches from my friend Sarah's garden (she left secateurs on the doorstep!). 

And from further afield: Tense Lamp by New Works (thank you to local store Svenssons for sourcing this!) and the Palus rug from Armadillo. 

Our desk space in the window is made from several large planks from a local DIY store. I love looking out over the majestic buildings in central Malmö - there's always something interesting to see.

Finally a space we can be proud of! Wohooo! 

I'm so looking forward to plenty of fikas (swedish coffee with cake) - if you're in the area, please do drop by, there's always a coffee pot on the go!

Curious about getting a Bemz design cover for your sofa or armchair? Keep an eye out for the Black Friday sale over at Bemz this week. Here are some of my favourite covers in action: 

My sitting room three different ways

My sitting room refresh with Bemz

One Swedish sitting room, two cosy ways

My daybed update 

My autumn bedroom makeover 

I can't wait to show you the rest of the room once it's finished - this girl is on a mission now! 

Have a cosy day! 

Niki

Photography: Niki Brantmark / My Scandinavian Home

Styling: Helen Sturesson 

This post is brought to you in paid 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. Thank you for supporting the Nordic businesses that help bring fresh content to your mail box and make My Scandinavian Home possible.

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A Glimpse Inside My Sitting Room

Sharing another angle of my home today - perhaps one you haven't seen for a while: our sitting room. This week we had the pleasure of inviting this Danish beauty into our home: The classic MG501 Cuba Chair designed by Morten Gøttler. It was originally on loan from Carl Hansen & Søn for a photoshoot, but I completely fell in love with this new variant - with its paper cord seat and back and beautiful wooden legs. Since it's foldable, I thought it would be perfect for our tiny cabin in the future too! Here are a few pics from my shoot - and other details from the room. Roll on the weekend, I want to creep into that corner and  hide from the cold!  

I'm still on the neutrals in my sitting room - I probably should add a little more colour, but, well, you know me! After many sofa cover changes, I often to go back to this linen version* from Bemz! The table is vintage (you can source a similar bench on Etsy here*) and the rug is by the small family run Austrian business Barfuss (more info and pics here!)

Funnily enough, when we first moved in I thought about painting the stairs white. They were really shiny and orange at the time (see the before pictures of my home) - but now the wood has settled and I'm so happy with them just the way they are. 

I have to admit, the area under the stairs is a bit of a dumping ground - we've only just moved the garden cushions into storage - but they were there for 4 months, collecting dust! I had to double check for and clear away other miscallaneas items before the shoot (fidget toys, rogue socks, homework.... there's no need to what you might find under there!). 

In the picture above and below you can see more of a close-up of the beautiful handwoven paper cord back and seat of the Cuba Chair. I love that age old craftsmanship techniques continue to thrive in the Danish furniture industry, it makes the pieces feel that more special!

My beloved mug is by British ceramicist Josie Swift who runs CLÆ ceramics studio. I'm pretty sure coffee doesn't taste quite the same in any other mug! Do you have a favourite cup too?

I hope you enjoyed this glimpse of our sitting room right - and like the new addition as much as I do! 

If anyone's looking for me, I'll be right here with my feet up, reading a book (although if Per asks, I've been grafting away ALL day, obvs!).

I'll be back tomorrow with the final post of the week - and I have to say, the home tour I have for you is SO inspiring! Perfect for the weekend :)

Wishing you a lovely day friends, see you tomorrow!

Niki

This blog post isn't sponsored - the pictures were taken in collaboration with Carl Hansen & Søn for a social media partnership. The chair is a gifted press product (yes, I feel very lucky indeed!). 

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A Quick Cosy Autumn Update in My Sitting Room!

Paid partnership with Bemz (contains affiliate links). All words and photos are my own and I only ever work with the brands I love. 

Sweden is a country with very pronounced seasons. From the abundance of light and beautiful warm days in summertime, to the icy cold, dark yet cosy winter - it's a constantly changing landscape. I have long admired the way Swedes adapt to and embrace each season - after all, each one offers something magical. 

Autumn is a time for 'mys' (the Swedish version of 'hygge') - and when leaves swirl in the cold wind and the sun lowers in the sky, there's no place like home. My family tends to gather in the sitting room where we relax, watch TV (it's hidden behind the curtain to the right!), play games and read (oh, and eat too - no one is meant too, but I see the crumbs kids, I see them!). With the clocks going backwards in a few week's time, I felt it was time to do like the Swedes and add some cosy touches. 

This season I really wanted to up the mys factor, so I've doubled up on candles, blankets, a fluffy rug, books and little foraged touches. But most importantly, I also updated our IKEA Söderhamn sofa with a new Classic Tweed cover in mole brown. 

I've been a fan of tweed ever since my University of Edinburgh days, so you can imagine my excitement when Bemz (who make designer slip covers for IKEA sofas) included a Tweed option as part of their new Grounded Heritage collection. To me, tweed conjures up images of walks through the Scottish Highlands followed by a steaming broth and a hearty red wine.  The darker shade (there are three to choose between) helped strike just the right mood! 

I also went a little wild with the cushions and selected Striped Twill in soft oak (above), Tartan Wool (below), and Melton Wool in stone and birch - all warm, earthy tones and tactile to touch. Lovely! 

You'll no doubt recognise my coffee table, I've had my vintage wooden bench for years and it's still going strong. I love that about natural materials, don't you? They just get better with age! 

My wall is a forever rotating gallery of prints, paintings and illustrations by the likes of Peytil (black tights), Hilde Mork (who's Norwegian home I featured here) and local artist Pearl Wallin which we've collected over the years. As with all things autumn and winter, good lighting is essential - and we have reading lamps at each end of the sofa for good measure! 

And finally, I invested in a new fluffy rug - to keep any drafts at bay! 

Right, time to enjoy this corner before everyone gets back from school. Sadly, it won't stay this tidy for long, but at least it'll always feel cosy! 

I hope you like this autumn update as much as we do! 

If you're looking for a cosy new cover for your IKEA sofa this autumn, I can totally recommend checking out the lovely new Bemz Grounded Heritage Collection. You can order 5 free fabric samples to test out the colour and texture before you decide which one to go for - perfect!

See previous changes I've made to our sitting room and bedroom with Bemz here. 

If you're wondering about anything else you see in my sitting room give me a shout below and I'll be happy to help! 

Have a toasty weekend friends!

Niki

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My Autumn Sitting Room Makeover

I love this time of year. The yellow of the leaves, the darkness rolling in at 4pm, the chill in the air (trust me, this feeling only lasts until January!). So, when Bemz, who make design covers and legs for IKEA furniture, asked if I'd like to update my sitting room for the winter and make it extra cosy, I was already flicking through their fabric samples before we'd said hej då! As you know, I'm a big fan of Bemz (you only have to look at my bedroom and reading nook to see!) and it was a perfect opportunity to try something new and amp up the hygge! So, here it is, my new, updated sitting room with warm light wood, natural linen and touches of spice and sage brown. Oh and a candle or two!

I opted for the Bemz cover in Natural Brera Lino linen by Designers Guild for my Söderhamn sofa. Although I also love the Urban Loose Fit I had before - the regular fit gave the room an instant lift and the linen means the look still remains fairly relaxed, which I love.

I chose cushion covers in Spice Linara (this one is no longer available but this Cocoa linen one is very similar) Spice Linara by Romo, Sage Brown and Unbleached Rosendal linen as a nod to the rich colours of the season (I talked about 'brown' being the 'it' linen right now in Wednesday's home tour and the warm tones are so perfect for this time of the year, don't you think?). 

I also swapped the original metal legs which the sofa came with for these pretty pins (namely the Terence legs that were designed in collaboration with Apartment Therapy). Aren't they fabulous?! These are a fairly new addition to the Bemz collection - see the full range here. 

All that's left to do is light a few candles! If you're looking for me this weekend, you'll find me right here!

In case you're curious about any of the items I picked, I've created a little 'get the look below.

Get the look 

Brera Lino Natural linen from Designers Guild, in a regular fit cover for my Söderhamn three-seat sofa and chaise longues
Terence, Chunky Wooden Furniture Leg 18cm/ 7"
Spice Linara by Romo
Sage Brown
Unbleached Rosendal linen

Funnily enough, a friend popped in for a cup of tea yesterday and said "wow, I love your new sofa!" She was so surprised to hear it was the same lady underneath!

Don't own an IKEA piece? Try your local online second hand store, you could always pick one up for a song and give it a designer revamp!

More Bemz inspiration to be found in my bedroom and reading corner. I also still love the previous cover I had on my sofa which you can see here.

Do you have a favourite look?

I hope you have a wonderful weekend - vi ses på Måndag!

Niki

This post is brought to you in collaboration with Bemz, however all words are my own and I only ever work with brands I love and think you will too. Thank you for supporting the hand-picked businesses that make My Scandinavian Home possible.

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Two Danish Coffee Tables, One Hyggelig Sitting Room!

Sponsored by Skovby, all words and photos are my own and I only ever work with brands I love*

The blankets are unfurled, and the candles are lit. It must be November! Our sitting room really comes into its own at this time of year, and my family and I spend many a night right here sipping coffee (OK - maybe we exchange it for wine sometimes too, while relaxing and hiding from the cold!) - is it the same in your home? I was therefore super happy to have the excuse to hang out here for a whole day MID-WEEK to capture these beautiful coffee tables for Skovby (you'll likely recognise the name, I've been working with this wonderful danish brand for many years and have always loved their  passion for wood and fine craftsmanship). 

You might recall we usually have a long vintage rustic bench as our coffee table, so it was fun to see how a different arrangement might look. And actually, I realised that there's something very handy about using two tables instead of one. Read on to find out more and take a closer look at these fine specimens! 

So, what's the advantage of two tables? 

Well, firstly, opting for two instead of one (I've chosen the Coffee table #241/264 with a white HPL top and oak white oil legs and coffee table #241/265 in oak white oil) with two different heights, means you can nestle them into one another or pull them apart, which gives you greater flexibility depending on the size of the party. You can also separate them completely - using one as a side table and one as a coffee table. In a small sitting room this is worth its weight in gold! 

Incidentally, the round shape is also a small space saviour, and helps a space to feel softer and more  inviting (it's funny how that can happen). 

Our sitting room suddenly felt a whole lot more practical, user-friendly and sociable! Per will be very happy with this indeed! 

Oh, and there's another important advantage: if you chose two tables, you can get a little more creative with the design. For example, I have combined white with wood in order to create a greater visual impact. 

Incidentally, the Skovby coffee table series is made up of a load of different elements (designed by Danish designer Per Hånsbæk) and invites you to choose the shape, wood type and size of the tabletop -  as well as between classic wooden legs, an edge steel frame or an adjustable height base. So, you can be as creative as you like! 

Keep in mind that a coffee table should be around two-thirds of the length of your sofa. 

What do you think? Are you tempted to opt for two tables instead of one? Or perhaps you've gone for something completely different (ottomans, chests, suitcases - I've seen it all!). I'd love to hear more about your coffee table!

If you're curious about these, you can explore the entire Skovby coffee table series and find your nearest stockist here. 

You might also like some of the other fine specimens from Skovby. I've captured many of their items in my home in the past, including a desk and chair in Per's home office space, a serving trolley which I used to serve glögg last Christmas, bar stools in my dining room and one very fine bench among others!

In the meantime, if anyone's looking for me, I'll be right here sipping coffee and enjoying the hygge until these fine specimens are (sadly) collected on Friday. 

Have a hyggeligt day! 

Niki

*This post is brought to you in paid partnership with Skovby. All words are my own and I only ever work with brands I love and think you will too! Thank you for supporting the exceptional Scandinavian businesses that make My Scandinavian Home possible. 

Photography by me, styling by Helen Sturesson. 

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My home captured by Karin: dressing room

As promised, today I'm introducing the first in a mini weekly series called 'my home captured by Karin'. While we were away recently my photographer friend Karin Björklund (who also took my profile picture) spent the day in our home and took lots of lovely pictures. It's fascinating to see how someone else sees your home. I call this room 'my dressing room' since this is where I have my dressing table, keep all my clothes and like to swan about, wafting perfume, reading magazines and generally acting like the movie star I am not! But the rest of my family call it the guest room or TV room....:)

Karin Björklund for My Scandinavian Home

As a guest room it looks like this (it used to be our bedroom). One day the floor will be white.....

Eeek, what do you think? Do you have a versatile room like this in your home?

Here's a bit of a guide on where things are from: wallpaper - Designers Guild, Around Coffee Table - Muuto,  Finnish hemp textile cushion - Saaana ja Olli, mirror - Graham & Green, perfume and apothecary bottles - vintage, tribal gold necklace -Whistles.

For more sitting room inspiration check out these lovely rooms and for dressing room inspiration you could try my Pinterest board here. 

PS Merci Beaucoup to Clémence who listed my scandinavian home in your top 5 interior design blogs on Tuesday in Paulette Magazine, such an honour!

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My New Wall Sconce From Hudson Valley Lighting Group!

Paid partnership, all words are my own:

It's only since living through fifteen dark Scandinavian winters that I've realised the importance of lighting. On a practical level you need a lot more lights than you think. And the more variety the better. Not only do you need overhead and task lighting, you also need lower level lighting to help create the right ambience. In fact, I'd go as far as saying that lighting can totally make or break a room. I'm therefore always on the lookout for new lamps and was excited to discover Hudson Valley Lighting Group. The US based company (with an international site) stocks literally hundreds of lights in a diverse range of styles from chandeliers and pendants to flush mounts and wall sconces. Needless to say, there's something for everyone - whether you prefer historical pieces or something that's bang on trend (or a combination of the two!). There's one lamp in particular that caught my eye.

Meet my new Chloe wall sconce from Mitzi! Made from high quality marble and aged brass it was one of those pieces that instantly appealed. And when I brought it home it seemed to slot into my sitting room as if it had always been there. Don't you love it when that happens? 

The lamp is also available in polished nickel but I felt the brass was a better match with the earthy brown and golden touches I already have in my sitting room. 

I positioned it so that in the evenings it would add a soft glow to one of the darker corners of my home and light up a few treasured pieces such as a sculpture by a Swedish artist and dried flowers from last summer. 

Isn't it pretty?

One of the big interior trends of 2020 is to invest in high-quality pieces that will stand the test of time. This lamp perfectly fits the bill since it's beautifully made and would look great in many different corners of my home over time (I'm already considering having it next my bed!).

Are you looking for new lighting for your home? If so, here are a few others that caught my eye: 

10 Lamps I Love 

Get The Look

1. Troy Lighting Ace Lamp
2. Mitzi by Hudson Valley Lighting Stella Light
3. Corbett Lighting Socialite Light
4. Mitzi by Hudson Valley Lighting H120704-AGB-CE
5. Mitzi by Hudson Valley Lighting Angela Lamp
6. Hudson Valley Lighting Chandler Polished Nickle
7. Hudson Valley Lighting Chandler Brass
8. Mitzi by Hudson Valley Lighting Estee Lamp
9. Troy Lighting District Lamp
10. Troy Lighting Quantum Light

Did any stand out to you in particular?

If you're feeling curious, hop on over to Hudson Valley Lighting Group to check out the entire range.

Oh, and they ship worldwide too! Result! 

Niki

This post is brought to you in collaboration with Hudson Valley Lighting Group, however, all words are my own and I only ever work with brands I love and think you will too. Thank you for supporting the businesses that make My Scandinavian Home possible. 

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A Beautiful, Spanish Style House in California

It's a little grey here in Scandinavia today so I thought I'd escape to Altadena, California for today's home tour - fancy joining me?! This beautifully renovated home is the work of interior designer Rosa Beltran of Homepolish. Rosa told Domino magazine that the "home was a badly done faux Mediterranean 1990's spec house" when she was called in to help. After countless structural changes, interior updates and newly sourced furniture and light fittings, the house has been transformed into a beautiful, light and modern Spanish architectural style house. Let's take a tour.

// affiliate links marked with * //

The ceilings in the sitting room are 9 metres (30 foot) high - Rosa felt they made such a dramatic statement, the room didn't need many other elements. My eyes are also on that tree in the corner of the room - it's such a clever way to add a little height and draw the eye upwards.

Roost padron chair, Batik cushion*, Moroccan pouf*

The extra wide windowsill also doubles as a lovely nook - and a perfect spot for a morning coffee looking out over the garden. Imagine?!

Layered rugs soften the look of the monochrome stairwell, and the tribal fabrics add an exotic touch to an otherwise classic look.

Jute rug*, Kilim rug*

The high ceilings and spacious design of the bedroom allowed for a wrought iron four-poster bed - a material typically seen in Spanish style houses. I love the way this has been combined with other textural elements including a sculptural pendant lamp, Scandinavian style bench and linen curtains.

 The bathroom was inspired by the hammam experience - and features the most beautiful wall-to-wall mirrors (the patina!), a Moroccan style tiled floor and rustic wood elements.

Rustic wooden bench*, Light grey Clover tiles

Living here would kind of feel like you're permanently on holiday, don't you think?! How fabulous!

I've got a weakness for rustic wood (one of my favourite pieces is my bench / coffee table in my sitting room) and batik so I'll totally be pinning the sitting room and bathroom!

Is there anything that stands out to you?

You can read more more about this renovation and see a few more pics on Domino magazine. Thank you so much to The Style Files too (where I first spotted it).

Things are getting a little crazy around here as the summer holidays are coming up. Sweden pretty much shuts down in July and it's like the whole country is trying to get everything done before they leave - oj oj oj! It doesn't help that this is a short week too as it's midsummer's eve on Friday.

Speaking of which, I've been compiling a midsummer inspiration post which I can't wait to share with you over the next few days! Wild flowers at the ready...

Have a great day!

Niki

Photography Chad Mellon. Shared with kind permission from Domino Magazine.

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