An enchanting get-away in the Scottish highlands

Over my four years at the University of Edinburgh I never tired of the magical view of the castle rising out of the mist on my way to lectures and the breath-taking beauty of the highlands at weekends. As a result Scotland will always hold a special place in my heart (have you ever visited?). Yesterday I discovered Killiehuntly farmhouse & cottages - and realised it was definitely time to go back for a visit! The beautiful lodgings, situated near Kingussie in the highlands have been decorated with an enchanting palette of deep, rich colours complimented by natural textures such as wood, sheepskin, rattan, wool and leather for a cosy home from home feel.

Credits: Killiehuntly farnhouse & cottage photographed by Martin Kauffman. Tip from Josefin Hååg with thanks. 

What a beautiful retreat! I'm already picturing long walks in the Cairngorms national park followed by a drink in a village pub! How about you?!  

And if that trip needs to wait a while, we could always add a touch of magic to our own home, here's how: explore Farrow & Ball 'darks' for a similar rich colour palette. This dark blue velvet sofa is beautiful (or to find one that fits your budget try this guide), source a fluffy grey sheepskin rug/ throw here. Dark grey blanket, series 7 chair.

I am intrigued - do you have a place which is special to you? If so, I'd love to hear about it! 


Have a wonderful weekend and see you Monday!

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A Gotland retreat

If there's one place on my wish list it's the island of Gotland on the East coast of Sweden, it's supposed to be stunning. This summer cottage is situated on a little island called Furillen just off Gotland (even better!). According to Anna of blog La Maison D'Anna G, the space was formerly used as army storage and has been carefully renovated using raw materials as well relics from the original building. The blue accent and sheepskin rugs add a warm element to the cold industrial feel of the concrete and pared-back space. Very original and beautiful. 

Photography: Pia Ulin, Styling Cilla Ramnek for Residence magazine. Via La Maison D'Anna G with thanks

I like the way they have 'opened up' the Hay industrial light - it adds a cool twist, perhaps I should do the same with mine in my bedroom....I see they have the Muuto Wood Table Lamp, one of my favourites! I am also a big fan of sheepskin rugs over chairs - as you can see from my dining room (it actually makes them so comfy too!).

Anything about this home you love?

PS Don't miss my very exciting give-away this Friday just in time for the clocks to go forward  (open worldwide).......Ooooo what could it be?!

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A Swedish apartment with dramatic dark shades

Why hello there Thursday! Is it just me or is the week whistling by?! It could be that time flies when you're having fun and yesterday I had a great day with Valentina Fussell (you might recognise the name from this piece I shared the other day). We're working on an exciting project which is well overdue. I can't wait to share it with you....watch this space! But back to the here and now - and today I thought we could take a tour of this fab home in Gothenburg. Think beautiful dark wood floors, dark grey / blue kitchen units, black accent walls, bold shelving and rich textures such as concrete, wood, sheepskin and leather. So dramatic and so lovely! Let's take a look.....

Stylist: Emma Fisher, Photography: Alen Cordic - Bjurfors

What a great space?! And what a contrast to yesterday's light and airy apartment. Which look do you prefer?

Get the look: Tom Dixon beat lights, super front door handles, Gotland sheepskin throw (how have I never discovered this beautiful Etsy shop before?!), diamond black and white rug.

You can see the full tour of this apartment over at Bjurfors (yes, it's for sale!).

Oh and off topic, but if you're up for a little DIY project  - how fab is this wall with painted 'eyes'?! Something for the weekend perhaps?

Have a lovely day! 

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A cosy Swedish home ready for Christmas

Hello there! We woke up to snow yesterday and today it's sparkling in the sun, such a beautiful sight, but it's coooooold! Brrrrrrr! The knits are out and snow boots firmly in place. At home there's only one way to go at this time of year: sheepskins and candlelight. And Sandra Nilsson's cosy Swedish home beautifully captured by Carina Olander has that 'hygge' feel down to a fine art. Natural materials such as linen, wool, and wood bask in the warm glow of flickering candlelight. Look out for the simple fir and moss displays and of course the Christmas tree. What's not to love?!

Credits: Photography Carina Olander (shared with kind permission). Stylist Anna Truelsen. See the full feature in Hus & Hem 13/2016.

So toasty! And so many inspiring details. Yes, it's perhaps a little too early for a Christmas tree but not for candlelight, subtle fir wreaths and textured moss displays.

I'll be taking inspiration from these DIY ideas.

And there's plenty more, beautifully simple inspiration to be taken from my Christmas board.

.....This will be us this weekend!!

Get the look: sitting room - chunky knits, white stonewashed linen by the yard, grey sheepskin cushion and linen cushions. Hallway / storage area - source a beautiful vintage mirror here (love the art deco ones!), galvanised buckets. These tall, traditional candleholders are lovely. Vintage apple crates. Dining room - grey gotland sheepskin throws, grey and white linen tablecloth.

You can see more of Sandra's lovely home over on Instagram or blog Vintage House. Oh so lovely!

How will you be decorating your home this season?

Have a lovely day and stay warm fellow Northerners!

PS Get more tips on how to create a cosy home the Scandinavian way here. 

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The dreamy white Swedish home of Kristin Sundberg

After a wonderful safari at Udawalawe national park, we're now in the beautiful hill country town of Ella (here on holiday in Sri Lanka). Hardly Scandi I know but you must check out 98 acres resort! We trekked passed it on our way up little Adam's peak and I was pretty much walking up backwards. Next time I come I know where I'm staying. Could you imagine?! Anyhow, back down to earth and time to crack on with today's home tour. This lovely, fresh Swedish home belongs to fashion and lifestyle blogger Kristin Sundberg. It's white, white, white with touches of black. Natural materials in the form of ceramic pots, sheepskin throws and seagrass baskets add warmth (love the rustic dining table). Let's take a look around....

Photography / styling: Kristin Sundberg, shared with kind permission. Found via Only Deco Love.

How about padding around here this weekend?!

Items I know and love: the Koushi knot lamp is similar,  Vintage 1970's Bertoia chairs, Le sac paper basket, 'My Guide to Paris' print, Girl print, Scarlett Johanson print, this (fab) vintage industrial task lamp is similar - if sold check out this page for others, Eames chairs, sheepskin throw, natural seagrass belly basket, charcoal washed linen bedding.

As you can imagine I've shown quite a few lovely monochrome / black and white homes here over the years. It must be one of my favourite looks!

Other Thursday finds:

This is where I'll be shopping for items for my home this weekend (in love with the vinyl record holder)!

How great are these shelves?

I'll be pinning these most stylish nooks of 2015 onto my nooks and daybed board!

While 2015 was all about the black leather sofa, 2016 is going vintage cognac (better snap up an original Danish one like this quickly!).

Have a lovely day!

PS The strangest thing happened yesterday - my Stolp farm post disappeared into thin air (thanks to everyone who alerted me to this!). Thankfully I managed to find it and re-post but I still have no idea what happened! Hope you enjoy it! 

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A beautifully captured Danish home

Each season I put a day aside to head over the 'the bridge' to Copenhagen for a day of shopping (&otherstories - have you seen their shoes this autumn?!, Day, Hay, By Malene Birger etc.), lunch and galleries. It's one of my favourite days of the year! Until the day arrives, I'll be taking inspiration from this lovely Danish space belonging to Johanne Dueholm behind 'scandinavian love song'.  Johanne has captured her Aalborg home in a series of close-ups  - each providing a flash of inspiration. Whether it's sheepskin draped over a mid-century rocker, a cheese plant on the floor, a montage of polaroids, or Normann Copenhagen pockets instead of a bedside table. Let's take a tour...

Photography: Johanne Dueholm, scandinavian long song.

Perfect mid-week inspiration!

Are there any ideas which stand out to you?

There are so many pieces I love in this home I'm not sure where to start. OK then....let's take it from the top - Sitting room: String shelving system, sheepskin throw, Flos 265 light. You can buy most of these prints here. Office: download the retro flip clock screen saver. Thonet 214 chairs, 'For Rest' print. Bedroom: Moebe Frame, Normann Copenhagen pocket organiser, linen bedding, moss knit cushion cover,

Thanks so much to Johanne for the kind permission to share all these pics. If you'd like to see more of her home it's well worth checking out her fab IG gallery.

More beautiful Danish home inspiration includes the home of a typographer,  an architect's apartment (with great storage ideas!) and the home of an interior designer. Got to love Danish style?!

Have a wonderful day!

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A small Swedish space in winter whites

Happy new year! I have a feeling 2016 will be a great year for us all...how exciting! It's suddenly got cold here in Southern Sweden (- 4 degrees C brrrrrr!) and yesterday we received a light dusting of snow so I thought I'd kick off the year with this fresh 'winter' home. The small apartment in Gothenburg, Sweden has been decorated in whites throughout and softened with cosy sheepskin throws and cotton blankets. I love the touches of black too. Perfect for a room which combines both sitting room and bedroom - don't you think?

Stadshem, Photos: Jonas Berg.

Lovely! Despite the trend towards darks and brights I still love a calm white space.

But really - my eyes are on those croissants - Mmmm! Late breakfast anyone?

Get the look: Karlstad sofa, rattan chair, fluffy white sheepskin throw, this industrial stool is similar as is this grey linen throw and these vintage mirrors (and just how pretty is this vintage art deco mirror?). Can anyone tell us where the black floor lamp and coffee tables are from, I'd love to know?

More small space inspiration here and here (and remember the world's smallest luxury home?!). In case it's monochrome inspiration you're after - this is one of my favourite black and white home tours of all time.

This morning I've really enjoyed catching up on all the posts I've missed from some of my favourite blogs. Here's a round-up of my favourites: Stil Inspiration's winter table setting, a DIY hall wall with a strip of black and how to bring Pantone's colours of 2016 into your home.

It's great to be back! 

Have a lovely day!

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