A Charming Rural Cottage By a Norwegian Fjord

Allow me to take you back in time today. Well, you'd be forgiven for thinking so but actually, this charming Norwegian cottage belongs to Liv Sandvik Jakobsen - a freelance journalist, who has carefully restored the property, while being careful to keep the original charm. Liv and her family live in near the village of Kviteseid, 3 hours' drive West of Oslo. The cottage has views of the fjords, which are equally spectacular in the winter as they are in the summer, and all seasons in between!

Inside, the wood panelling has been painted in soft earthy blues and greens to reflect the colours of the surroundings, and antique furniture provides cosy spots to gather around a table or keep warm by the fire. Ready for the tour? Welcome to Liv's cosy world in the Norwegian fjords! 

Liv has used piping over the stove to store 'knekkebrød' - traditional crisp bread. 

The interior is mainly made up of vintage and antique furniture, however you occasionally spot a modern touch, such as the wall lamp beside the dining area. 

Mittens and other linen are hung to dry over the wood burning stove, which is also used to boil the kettle. 

Liv is a keen knitter and has co-produced three popular knitting pattern books with knit designer Lene Holme Samsøe. I am actually learning to knit right now (thank you Farmor!) but making such slow progress. It's my dream to knit one of these beautiful Norwegian jumpers one day! Can you knit? 

Come summer, the light transforms and with it, the fjords turn a wonderful blue-green hue. Would you like to see how it looks outside in summertime? Here are a few pictures! 

How incredible! This has made me miss the Norwegian fjords so much. I really need to make a return trip some point soon. Norway is a magical country! Have you ever been? 

See more of Liv's charming cottage and life in the countryside at @livslyst. You might also like to explore these Norwegian country homes today: 

A cosy candlelit cabin deep in the Norwegian fjords

A magical Norwegian mountain cabin

A simple yet cosy cabin by a fjord

A Norwegian house by a fjord

A magical rural fjord side escape

You might also feel inspired by my trip to the Hardanger fruit trail a few years back. Read all about it here! 

Klem!

Niki

Photography courtesy of @livslyst, shared with kind permission. 

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A Simple, Yet Cosy Norwegian Cabin By The Fjord

God morgen - as they say in Norwegian! How was your weekend? Here, it was a cold, snowy one but the sun was shining, and I actually found myself squinting in the brightness (you wouldn't believe how much we long for that sensation here in Scandinavia in the winter!). But there can also be a certain beauty in the grey, and our friend Hilde Mork, is the master at catching it. I featured her lovely little Norwegian cottage twice last year, once over the summer solstice, and once at Christmas. And now that cabin has become her studio - and she and her husband and their children have moved into a wonderful cabin overlooking the fjord. The pair have carefully renovated the space over time - transforming the old, uninsulated structure into a modern living space. Here are some snapshots of life by the water in the Norwegian winter. 

Beautiful!

I love the simplicity - of the interior, it shows the power of vintage finds (old chairs, lamps etc) as well as wood and textured linen. 

Could you also while away a winter here looking out over the water?

I think it'd be rude not to put our feet up, and celebrate the beginning of a new month with a few more Norwegian home tours today, do you? 

Here are a few of my favourites: 

A cosy candlelit cottage deep in the Norwegian fjords

A Norwegian house by a fjord

The cosy and relaxed home of a Norwegian blogger

Wishing you all a great start to the week - and better still, a wonderful start to Feb. Can you see the light slowly returning where you are too?  

Niki

Photography: Hilde Mork - shared with kind permission

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Spring-like Shades in Tone’s Calm Norwegian home

Naturally, with any creative outlet, whether fashion or interiors, there will always be trends. But one thing I remain firm about is creating an environment with just the right feeling. A home that helps you thrive really is essential, don’t you think?

I can appreciate more maximalist homes bursting with items and colour. They can be wonderful to look at. But when it comes to my own home, I like things to feel calm. Somewhere I can breathe and truly unwind. How about you? Do you prefer a home that feels busy and layered, or one that feels quiet and soothing? I really believe there is no right or wrong way.

That is why I love Norwegian Tone Trollbu’s service, 'Interior Therapy'. Tone combines interior design with her background in psychology to help clients create a home that truly suits them. Isn’t that such a thoughtful idea?

It helps that Tone also has a wonderful eye for design. You can see this clearly in her own home just outside of Oslo, which balances calm, soft colours with just a touch of edginess to give it personality. Think wavy mirrors, a delicious combination of pink, buttercup yellow, lime green, a hint of terracotta and soft milky tones. There are also so many individual pieces that make the space feel truly personal.

I hope you feel inspired by the tour!

Beautiful. 

Did you notice all the art and sculptures? And the mural in the bathroom is such a lovely touch, don't you think?

Was there anything that particularly stood out to you?

If you have the time today, do stop by Tone’s Instagram feed. And if you understand Norwegian, you might also enjoy listening to her podcast, where she interviews experts from the interior industry.

Shall we take a look at a few more Norwegian homes today? How about: 

A charming rural cottage by a Norwegian fjord
Inside Juni's creative Oslo apartment
A simple, yet cosy Norwegian cabin
A magical, rural Norwegian escape

Happy Tuesday friends!

Niki

Photography courtesy of Tone Trollbu, shared with kind permission.

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One of Norway's Most Beautiful Homes Is For Sale!

The Oslo home of Nina Holst is a bit of an institution. Instantly recognised for its clean lines, soft, muted colour scheme, sloped wood ceiling, scandinavian design furniture and fabulous views over the Oslo fjord - it's been at the heart of Nina's wonderful blog Stylizimo for years. And now, it's up for grabs! Yes, really! Not only does this mean one lucky person gets to move in (could you imagine?!), it also gives us a chance to see what Nina does next - which will no doubt be incredible! In the meantime, let's enjoy a tour of her Norwegian home, one last time! 

Egg chair*, I am not sure who this artwork is by (tips welcome) - but Nina creates and sells paintings in similar hues here.

Wishbone chairs, Kong oil lamp

Kubus candleholder

IKEA cabinet, series 7 arm chair, Limited edition PH 3/2 table lamp, source made to measure white linen curtains here*

Do you recognise this fabulous walk-in-wardrobe? I once wrote a feature about it: Tuesday DIY: A Fab Walk-In Wardrobe on a Shoestring.   

I will never tire of Nina's home - it's so simple, yet so serene and inspiring.

Could you imagine living here?

After my trip to Norway earlier this week, I'm certainly tempted!

It's for sale here. Just saying....

Fancy dipping into a few more Norwegian homes this weekend? How about a serene japan style home in western Norway, a Norwegian house by a fjord, an elegant Norwegian home in striking dark colours and a stunning Norwegian home in many shades of blue.

Got to love the Norwegian flair for interior design!

In the words of our Norwegian friends:

Ha en flott helg! 

Niki

PS I'll be stopping in tomorrow to share the latest update on my summer cottage kitchen renovation.

PPS It's been one crazy week, I'm so looking forward to a more chilled one next week (fingers crossed!) and spending a little more time on here. Is there anything in particular you'd like to see? If so, give me a shout below!

Photography: Nina Holst / Stylizimo shared with kind permission

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