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Helen's Malmö Studio in a Warehouse, And a Smart Space-saving Table!

Paid partnership with Skovby, all words and pictures are my own and I only ever work with brands I love and think you will too. 

A few days ago, I spent the day at my friend Helen Sturesson's beautiful studio across town. Her studio occupies a section of the ground floor of an old warehouse - and all the lovely old touches including a tiled stone floor, round radiators and pipes are still intact. 

Her room is quite narrow, so space saving furniture is the order of the day. Danish brand Skovby launched a new multipurpose table earlier this year, and I knew it would be perfect for the space - both as a side table / desk, but also as a larger table for collaborative work. So, I rolled up with it in my car (as much as I love to cycle, it was a push by bike, even by Swedish standards!) and after a 'fika' (a lengthy chat and copious amounts of coffee), we snapped these pictures - I hope you like them! 


Helen hard at work! 

True to Danish design, and as with all things Skovby, it's beautifully made and really high quality. It comes in a few different versions - this is white oak oil with a white laminate surface.  

I love the brass hinge detail. 


Best of all though  - once you've finished creating, eating, or eh hem, drinking copious cups of coffee, you can fold it up and move it to the side of the room and use it as a side table or desk. Smidigt (smooth)! 

Oh, and just one more thing, for all those of you who love a nifty piece, it also has built-in storage. 

Remember these stools? I basically have them in every room of my house - not kidding. Also from Skovby, they're made from leftover production wood. 


I hope you liked this glimpse inside Helen's studio - the site of many interior meetings and coffee drinking, and feel as excited as I am about new danish design pieces such as this one! 

Could you imagine having a table like this in your home or office? It would actually be ideal for our cabin too - maybe you'll see me heading up the E6 with a full boot soon! 

More info about the #104 multipurpose table here in case you're interested (Skovby have dealers almost worldwide). 

Right friends, it's time for the weekend - and I've got some halloween costumes to make. Are you doing anything in your home?

Have a cosy, not too spooky, couple of days. See you Monday! 

Niki

Photography Niki Brantmark
Styling Helen Sturesson 

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I Found The Perfect Table and Chairs For Our Tiny cabin!


Paid partnership with  Skovby, all words and photos are my own and I only ever work with brands I love

Tjena! I hope you had a great weekend! We spent some time up at our little cabin and I'm really excited to share some snapshots of our new dining area with you. I can't begin to describe the feeling when we all sat down for our first family meal there (take-away pizza, so glam!).  

When it comes to furnishing a small space (30 m2 / 322 ft sq.) I've quickly learned that choosing less and choosing right is key, otherwise the space can quickly become cluttered.

These were the criteria I had in mind for our dining area:
1. The table needed to be small but still easily seat four
2. The table should be round to save space and avoid knocking into the corners
3. The table needed to be extendable for extra guests 
4. There should be extra seating which could be stacked to one side 


Danish brand Skovby has been a My Scandinavian Home partner for many years now - and I've always appreciated the high quality craftsmanship of their Denmark-made furniture (you might recall the glass cabinet, Per's deskthe coffee tables as well as countless other pieces). This little gem of a #120 dining table with white oil oak legs and a black laminate surface was the first to spring to mind for our cabin! 


The round table is a compact 102 cm in diameter and extendable with up to two leaves (available to buy separately), which means you can comfortably seat 6 or 8 people depending on how many leaves you add. Perfect! 

Chair wise, I chose the #807 dining chair in oak white oil. You know me, I love wood, it has such a warm feel, and the shell shape has some flex which makes it comfy. But if you want to go all out on the comfort, this model is available with upholstery for a soft touch, and the #802 version also comes with armrests.

I also picked up some #840 stools (in oak white oil) which can be stacked to the side when not in use (we've also already used them as a bedside table, sofa side table and a footrest!).  

I love that its sustainably made from leftover production wood (I first spotted it during my visit to the Danish Skovby carpenter workshop earlier this spring and picked one up there and then!). 


I hope you like the table and chairs as much as we do! In case you're interested in any of these pieces for your own small space, Skovby is available almost worldwide (find your nearest stockist here).

Incidentally, the table is available in 9 different finishes including oak white oil and white laminate tops - you can see all the variations here

In case you're wondering about the ladder, it can be removed and placed elsewhere when needed - but I guess someone could perch there too!

Give me a shout if you have any questions about anything in these pictures -I'd be happy to help! If you'd like to add any small space tips and tricks of your own, I'm all ears as the cabin is far from finished! 

I hope to be able to share a post about our kitchen - including all the details - soon (look closely and you'll see the knobs are missing). Watch this space! 

Wishing you all a great start to the week! 

Niki 

Photography: Niki Brantmark / My Scandinavian Home

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The Full Tour of Our Tiny Cabin in Sweden!

As the year is slowly coming to a close, I've been looking back at the last twelve months and some of my projects. The one I am most proud of and that gives my family and I an unbelievable amount of joy is our tiny cabin. I absolutely love it. It may only be 30m2 (322 f2), but what it lacks in size, it makes up for in soul! It's hard to imagine that this time last year it was a patch of grass! Here's the complete low down. 

Design

We had a clear vision of how we wanted the cabin to look both inside and out. We turned to talented local architect Anela Tahirovic to help us realise this. Anela was such a joy to work with and sketched a design which perfectly matched our minds eye! 

Inside, we wanted a space where we could be together as a family. We realised that having a separate master bedroom would eat into the main living space, so instead we decided to create an open-plan space with a lower bedroom and upper sleep loft. We also wanted a well-functioning kitchen and bathroom so that it would work as an independent living space. 


The tour!

The exterior of the cabin is clad in different widths of pine which have been treated with 'järnvitriol' (iron sulphate) to give the wood a long-lasting grey-brown weathered appearance. 

The glass doors and windows are from Danish brand Velfac. All the glass doors open up to create a seamlessness between the indoors and outdoors in summertime. In winter it's the perfect space for a little 'light therapy'! 

While we love having so much glass, the downside is that it can heat up incredibly quickly come on a hot summers day. To counter this we had to install a heater / air conditioner (from Electrolux). This wasn't in the original plan, but it's actually turned out to be great as we can maintain 10 degrees Celsius heat in winter to stop the pipes from freezing - and quickly cool the space down on very hot days (few and far between but necessary, especially in the upper sleep loft!). 

We also added bespoke blinds to reflect the sun and heat - and also of course, to block out the light at night. 

Meanwhile, in the kitchen... our Veddinge kitchen cabinets are from IKEA and we added bespoke wooden oak shelves, made from panels bought in a local hardware store. We had the cabinets spray painted in Blek Sand (NCS S2005-Y20R) by Swiss Metod prior to installation. The worktop is a simple laminate one from Hornbach. We installed Helix knobs in antique brass from Beslag Online and a tap from Cristina Rubinetterie.

The kitchen also contains a fridge, small freezer, sink, recycling unit and a portable plug-in stove (all from IKEA). See the complete design plans, more pictures and all the details here.  

The wooden slats and ladder were handmade by a local carpenter. The ladder is detachable and moveable so it can be used for accessing the sleep loft but also to reach items higher up in the kitchen. 

The wood floor and panelling are both from Norrlands Trä (read more about our selection here). 

The extendable table is by Skovby (see it extended here) and the chairs are from Carl Hansen & Søn (these were only on loan for a photoshoot sadly, aren't they lovely?!) but I can also recommend Skovby chairs and stackable Vega chairs for a table like this. 

One of the most essential features for us right form the start was a woodburning stove. We got ours from Swedish brand Contura (see more pictures and details here). There's nothing quite like waking up to a roaring fire on a cold winters day! It gives off an immense amount of heat so we haven't had to turn on the electric heating once this winter (bar the 10 degrees)! 

In the tiny sitting room area we have a Plico Chair (possibly my most treasured item of furniture, I love it!). 

We also went for a Folk sofa bed by Karup. It's ideal for extra guests, but also a cosy place to sleep by the fire come winter! 

We've had the rug for years, it's called 'Beni' from Barfuss Teppiche.

Our bed nook is just over 160 cm wide which provides a snug space for a double bed. We decided to have a built in bed with long drawers on wheels underneath for storage. Today we keep everything from our clothes and bed linen to towels, table cloths and games in the drawers. They are a godsend!  

The mistake we made was using a platform rather than slats. Mattresses need to be able to breathe, otherwise they can get damp and mouldy underneath. We try to air the mattress as much as possible to counter this, but at some point we'll need to drill holes in the platform. 

The sleep loft (which I've realised I've yet to photograph) has space for either three single mattresses or one double. The cabin is 4 metres high, which means there is still quite a lot of head room up there. The girls find it very cosy! 

The bathroom is kitted out with a sink, cabinet, mirror and loo from GSI ceramica and taps from Cristina Rubinetterie. The Tumbled Turtle floor tiles are from Stiltje (one of the areas we splurged). The walls were painted in Kalk by Jotun lady Aqua. 

We weren't sure whether to get a wall hung loo and taps or not as I was worried it would eat into the small space. But actually, wall hung was perfect as it create a natural shelf for all our bits and bobs! 


You can see the complete tour and get the full low down of our bathroom here

The hooks in the bathroom (from Norrgavel) serve as both bathroom storage and somewhere to hang our coats. The little stool is either used as a perch to take of your shoes on entering or drying off and moisturising after a shower (pick up a similar little wooden stool here*). 

Finally, the main entrance to the cabin is through the bathroom. We thought we had made a major mistake with this - and we certainly got some strange looks when we told other people about our plan. However, it turned out to be exactly the right decision. Not only do the hooks double up for towels and coats - but the tiled floor is ideal for wet / dirty shoes! Once inside, all the other doors open up so it can be exited and entered through those - it's just when you arrive! 

I hope you enjoyed the tour and seeing a little more of our cabin!

I think I've covered most things, but if you have any questions please do give me a shout below and I'll do my best to help! 

I'm so looking forward to spending a few days up at our little cabin this Christmas! 

Niki 

PS The next project is the garden (it was a complete mess after the build! Gaaaah!). Do you have any tips for me? It's a total blank canvas right now so a little overwhelming! Even so, it's fun to have something to focus on in 2023. 

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Slow Living: My Peaceful Little Cabin in Sweden

Glad Alla Hjärtans Dag! (Happy Valentine’s Day!) Today is all about celebrating love in all its forms, so I thought—since this blog is all about our shared passion for the home—why not shine a light on the places we cherish most? Those spaces where we instantly relax, the ones we long for when we're away, and where we feel truly at peace. It might be a house, a room, or even just a cosy nook somewhere.

For me, that place is our little cabin. Members of this community will know we designed and built it a few years ago, carefully considering every detail (Per might say a little too carefully, but now he agrees it was worth the effort!). Nestled on Sweden’s west coast, it's just 30 square metres (322 square feet), but it has everything we need: a place to cook, eat, gather, listen to music, play games, and sleep. In winter, we arrive eager to light a fire; in summer, life flows effortlessly between indoors and out (hopping between the two depending on what the Swedish weather gods decide to throw our way!). We divide our time between the terrace, the beach, long coastal walks—and of course, the local pub—soaking up the changing seasons.

My heart belongs to this little retreat, where I'm happiest, surrounded by family and visiting friends. I hope you enjoy these pictures—some might be familiar, while others are new. I’ll share some details in case anything catches your eye!

Above: Wooden floor and panelling from Norrlands TräWindsor chairs, Skovby extendable table, IKEA kitchen (with a slight hack!) - complete guide here.

Plums from our neighbours garden in a bowl from Mölle Krukmakeri.



The ladder and railings were handmade by a local carpenter. 

Little wooden stools from Skovby

Complete guide to our bathroom here.

We've felt so honoured to see our cabin feature in Simply Scandi magazine and also Cate St Hill's forthcoming new book The Japandi HomeThis year we hope to focus a little more on the garden (is it just me, or are gardens really tricky? I think it's going to take some trial and error to create the oasis we hope for, but we'll have fun trying!

In case you're curious about the layout and exterior, you can find more info here

I'd love to hear about the place you most cherish, if you'd like to share. 

Today, in southern Sweden there's a little extra love floating around as the sun is shining and it's the start of the 'sportslov' (meaning 'sports break'–or what others refer to as half term). I'll be taking a short break with my family and will be back on the blog on Monday 24th February. In the meantime, if you'd like to see a few more tours, you might want to cosy up and delve into these archives: 


Thinking of visiting Scandinavia this summer? You can find all my travel guides here. 

Looking to fill your home with a little Scandinavian romance? Skandinavisk have just launched a KYSS (Swedish / Norwegian for 'kiss') scented candle with notes of blackberries, rose, sugar candy and cloves and it's divine! 

Right friends, I'd best be off. Have a wonderful week and a very happy Valentine's Day! 

Niki

PS I came across this lovely rustic Swedish cottage earlier which I had completely forgotten about, take the tour here

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Favourite Small Touches in My Bedroom Right Now

You may have noticed that my bedroom has been the centre of attention these past few weeks. I reckon deep down it's because I'm preparing for my winter hibernation - and a whole load of reading under those bed covers! Do you find yourself naturally gravitating indoors over the autumn / winter too? I realised today that I've shared a load of info about the larger items in the room - such as the wall colour, as well as the armchair, headboard and bed covers (which reminds me, tomorrow is the last day to claim your 20% discount if you're looking to buy something from Bemz - more info here!), but since the devil is in the detail, I also wanted to share some info about the smaller pieces! 

I've had the bedside stool for years - and I have to say, it's one of my favourite pieces. I see they sell similar at the Old Wooden Stool* company. The Ikornnes mirror is from IKEA (I love the ash finish and that you can hang clothes on the rail on the back (maybe I might just hang my clothes up at night for once!).  

This beautiful wall light is the Arum wall light* by Danish brand Ferm Living. I love how it's similar to the wall colour yet still stands out due to its form. Do you like it too? 

On my bedside table is the pretty Vulca mini vase with grey dots and beside that is the Vulca mini vase agave - leaving just enough space for a coffee / glass of water and a book! Below is the large Vulca Vase* (do you see a pattern forming?). I love the irregularity and texture. 

Another new piece: the Motljus print* by Sandra Blomén Machinsky. 'Motljus' means 'backlight' in Swedish. It might make its way up on the wall soon, but for now, I love looking at it from my side of the bed! 

Our windowsill doubles up as a ledge for plants and books (and more often than not, a row of coffee cups and glasses!). I've also added the Anse vase* and Anse pot (how cool are the handles?).

Through the window, you can just make out the outline of a building - and beyond that, is the sea. When are neighbours have their curtains open, we can see the sparkling waters through their windows! I'm not sure if an estate agent would classify that as a 'sea view' but we'll take it! 

The bedside light is the classic Mantis BS3 table lamp - I've had it for donkeys and never grow tired of it. 

Peeking behind the vase is my book The Scandinavian Home - I don't usually surround myself with my own books, I promise! 

One of the most asked about items in my bedroom is the pendant light. It's from Paris au mois d'aout. It's also a point of contention as I've had a few comments questioning the size and height over the bed. It works for us, but I guess we're used to it! I love to play with scale and feel that it's important to have at least one thing in a room that's oversized. It adds so much interest. 

The bench is from Skovby and under foot is the Tisca Olbia rug (we painted the wood floor in 'Strong White' - from Farrow & Ball, which strangely, is actually a pale shade of grey!). 

I think that's everything but if I missed anything please do give me a shout below! 

Speaking of which, I'm working to fix commenting issues this week so bear with me if it looks a bit weird / not working in the way you'd like - hopefully it'll be resolved in the next few days. 

Har det så bra!

Niki

Photography: Niki Brantmark 

*This post contains gifted press items and affiliate links - which means that if you click on a link and buy an item I might make a very teeny amount of money, perhaps enough to cover a morning coffee (a small one!). 

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