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 Norwegian space with a boho / rustic touch

Morning! I hope you had a great weekend?! Southern Sweden is basking in sunshine right now, it's been so wonderful to be outside from dawn to dusk! I thought I'd kick off the week with the lovely rustic home of interior stylist / photographer Line from Vintagepiken. I have shown a few pics of this beautiful Norwegian boho space before and now it's been updated with a set of the oh so fab Schooley lights over the dining table and textiles (on table and floor) from Private 0204. I had to write to Line and ask her if those peaches were as soft and succulent as they look and she confirmed that they were indeed!

Vintagepiken

So lovely don't you think?

I love the way the table has been decorated don't you? Perfect for lunch inside on a rainy summer's day.

You might recognise the rustic workman's stool as I have a set I use as bedside tables in my bedroom. There are two for sale here and actually if you search for 'stools' on LiveAuctioneers a whole host of really beautiful vintage industrial stools come up.

For more bohemian inspiration this morning check out more lovely home tours here and spaces with rustic charm here (scroll passed this one above which will come out top).

Have a wonderful day!! 

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Book Update News: Meet Relaxed Rustic

I've got some exciting news to share with you today! My first book Modern Pastoral has had a make-over! My publisher in London (CICO Books) decided to give it a new name - changing it to 'Relaxed Rustic' and they've also changed the cover to this shot from a stunning Skånegård near our cottage (the full tour is in the book) - the content inside remains the same. 

I wrote this book in 2014 and it was released in 2015 (remember the sneak peek? I was crazily excited!). Having opened it for the first time in ages this morning, I was happy to find that the nature-inspired interiors are still just as relevant today - they have a beautiful, timeless appeal. 

If you didn't pick up a copy of Modern Pastoral - perhaps you might like to treat yourself to a copy of Relaxed Rustic this summer? It's available on all the usual sites such as Amazon, but you can also go closer to home and ask your local book shop or library to order a copy. 

I hope you enjoy it as much as I did writing it / styling the pictures! 

Niki

PS My publisher is giving away a copy of Relaxed Rustic along with a selection of other interior books on instagram this weekend - keep an eye on @myscandinavianhome to enter! 

PPS I'm looking forward to sharing one of my favourite home tours from the book on Monday! 

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A beautiful, rustic mill on the shores of lake Rinnen, Sweden

I absolutely love this time of year (don't get me wrong - I do get a bit of a winter slump round about January / february time, I promise!) - but as the days get shorter and the leaves turn from yellow to deep red things start to get super cosy. Dark mornings and evenings are transformed under the glow of candlelight. Autumnul pictures of people gathering around a table for a hearty stew or caramelized white chocolate tart start to pop up on my Pinterest feed. And I start to feel hugely inspired by rustic spaces (and hungry!). That's why this beautiful converted mill caught my eye.  After an extensive renovation, the Erlandsson family are embracing their new life in the former flour mill on the shore of lake Rinnen deep in the forest of Värmland, Sweden which includes a beautiful space for year round gatherings. Let's take a peek inside...

Credits: Photography - Carina Olander (shared with kind permission). Styling Anna Truelsen. See the full feature in Hus & Hem 12/201. 

Aaaaaa, just so cosy, don't you think? 

What a perfect room to gather for birthdays, thanksgiving (for you americans and canadians!) and Christmas (in fact I'm pretty sure I could come up with something to celebrate every week of the year, if this were my home, how about you?!). 

We can still create a lovely rustic style at home though - here are a few items I love from the mill : Linen table cloth (or stonewashed linen by the metre), long haired sheepskin throw, chunky knit blanket. I love classic Swedish Skultuna brass candleholders - and have a couple myself - beautiful! Although not featured, this one is lovely too. 

I can imagine the upstairs bedroom looks something like this - can you?! 

Have a cosy day! 

PS  We photographed a few beautiful, rustic homes for my book Modern Pastoral last year and I've been dreaming of a owning a lovely retreat ever since.....one day?!  

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Kati's Rustic 19th Century Log House in Iitti, Finland

Good morning! How was your weekend? It was a bank holiday weekend here in Sweden and I spent part of it brushing up my Hygge knowledge in preparation for the filming I am doing with Carl Hansen & Søn in Denmark tomorrow and Wednesday (so exciting - I can't wait to share more info!). For those of you not familiar with the term, Hygge is a Danish word, used to acknowledge a feeling or a moment, alone or with friends which is cosy, charming and special, in a relaxed, humble way. It's a celebration of slow living and focusing on the simple things in life. I immediately thought of aspects of this log cabin in Iitti, Finland. The country house dates back to 1839 and Kati Pilli-Sihvola took on the task to lovingly restore it - being careful to maintain its original hyggeligt charm, while adding modern touches. Kati describes her style as 'country rustic minimalism' - and I feel the interior matches this perfectly! Ready to take the tour? Wool socks at the ready! 

Kati kept the original fireplace - previously used to bake and cook food - and added modern conveniences such as a range cooker and wood burning stove.

Look at that ceiling! Isn't it incredible? Kati has worked hard to restore it and it's a perfect reminder of the history of the building. 

Simple sheepskins, blankets and cushions are a hallmark of understated Scandinavian cosiness, while a vintage cabinet painted in dusty pink provides a perfect spot for bits and bobs. 

It's incredible to think this wall is almost 180 years old! 

In front of it, a basket is used to store extra blankets for when the temperatures plummet outside - or you simply feel like making things extra cosy! 

In the sitting room you can clearly see the wonderful old patina in the ceiling and also the old brick floor - combined with the darker walls, it's easy to imagine how hyggeligt it would feel in the evening under the glow of candlelight. 

Peeling paint on the 'spell' doors and a vintage leather chair adds to the rustic, relaxed vibe. 

What would a Finnish home be without a sauna? And I have to say, I've never seen one as incredible as this. It oozes old world style, and easy to envision generations before beating themselves with birch branches (a Finnish tradition) and feeling a sense of pure relaxation. Today, Kati and her family lovely to relax here.  

What a perfect tour with which to start the week! It certainly has me dreaming about pastoral life! 

For more lovely images of Kati's home take a look at her blog and instagram - they're full of inspiration. 

And here are some other Finnish home tours you might love today: 

Ilkka's charming rural retreat in Finland

Step inside Maiju's wonderful family home

A magical rustic farmhouse in rural Finland

Kaunis Suomi! Beautiful Finland! 

Wishing you a wonderful start to the week friends! 

Niki

Photography: Kati Pilli-Sihvola

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An Magical Rustic Family Farmhouse In Rural Finland

I hope you're having a great week! The warm weather has finally arrived in Southern Sweden so we've spending lots of time down outdoors making the most of it! The leaves have burst into life, and a drive through North Skåne countryside yesterday reminded me so much of a trip I once made to Finland. Have you ever been? I remember feeling mesmerised by the rolling hills, the wildflowers and my first sighting of a moose grazing in a meadow. It was magical! I wish I'd known about this rural home owned by Hanna and her husband Tomas and their children Frans, Hilda and Eedvin at the time of the trip, it would have been perfect for my Relaxed Rustic book (formerly known as 'Modern Pastoral').  Located in Western Finland, the rustic farmhouse is filled with beautiful vintage and antique finds against a backdrop of 17th century architecture and romantic wallpaper. When the family aren't tending to their sheep and chickens, the children are tearing through the rooms on a trike - just as Tomas' family have done for generations. In the words of the Finns: tervetuloa sisään! 

How magical! 

I love the Scandi rustic country style, do you? 

I think I'm secretly a country girl at heart! 

Hanna shares daily snapshots of life in the Finnish countryside over on her lovely instagram feed @punainen.pihlaja - well worth a follow if you're looking for some dreamy inspiration! 

Other Finnish homes to love today: 

Maiju's delightful family home in Vaasa

A tour of an idyllic Finnish summer cabin

A hideaway in the Finnish archipelago 

Have a lovely day! 

Niki

Photography: Hanna / @punainen.pihlaja - shared with kind permission

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