Fifty Shades of White In a Beautiful Swedish Home

If everyone else goes right, go left (so the motivational quote goes). And as current interior trends entice us to add more colour to our homes - there's one lady who has stuck fast to her passion. You might recall Malin Nilsson's beautiful home in Råå, on the South West of Sweden from a Christmas post back in 2016. And I was excited to see from her aptly named instagram feed VittVittVitt ('white white white), that her home still pays homage to her favourite shade. It's a minimalist look that requires attention to detail and a love for texture - and Malin has it in spades, you just need to look closely!

Above: Stoff Nagel candleholder, Bertoia chair*, Chunky knit blanket*

The walls and ceilings have been painted in 0500 by Flügger. The woodwork (doors, skirting boards etc) has been painted in 0502 (also Flügger) to breath life and depth into the overall look.

Boxplay sofa by Claesson Koivisto Rune.

Texture in the form of shag-pile, metallics (how fabulous are these chairs?!), velvet and rattan help to heighten the visual impact of the space in a subtle yet cosy way.

Vintage chairs from Johansson Design mode Vinga, Gubi semi pendant*. 

The flowers add instant colour to the space and have also been arrange in a fairly relaxed, 'wild' way which brings softness to the room.   

So, what do you think? Does it stop your colour-dabbed paint brush in its tracks?  

It certainly makes me realise that white will always be 'right', even if I might just add a little more colour to my own home here and there this year. 

Other beautiful white homes to feel inspired by: the serene white home of a designer, the beautiful white farmhouse of an interior designer and a stunning white studio with vintage finds. 

Also; when is white too white?!!

For the colour fiends out there: this archive. 

Have a lovely day!

Niki

PS I have the worst cold today so if I've made any errors / I've used words that are a bit off it's because everything is a little hazy today! Any great remedies out there?! 

Photography: Malin Nilsson shared with kind permission

Affiliate links marked with *

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Before & After: A Rundown Cabin Becomes a Vibrant Danish Summer Cottage

It's safe to say that when Ida Lundsteen and Edward first bought their summer house in Ejby Ådal - an hour west of the danish capital - it needed a lot of work! But the handy Danish pair could see its potential - both inside and out - and set to work themselves to transform it. Today, their hard work has paid off and they have an idyllic retreat in which to unwind in their spare time. Read on to see the before and after pictures and feel truly inspired!

Dining area before

Dining area after

The wood panelling was painted white, and the floor sanded down and treated with a white soap finish. A window was added to allow light to flow through from the side extension. Today, the dining area is bathed in natural light - a perfect spot to enjoy meals on chillier days! 

Kitchen before

Ida and Edward reconfigured the house, moving the kitchen to an area in the sitting room - formerly occupied by an old electric heater. 

Sitting room before

Looking at the pictures above, you can understand the sheer level of work that they have put into the renovation - completely gutting parts of the house. 

In the sitting room they added a lovely nook (with storage) in which to unwind with a book.   

Sitting room nook after

Bathroom before

Bathroom after

The small bathroom was completely updated. The sink was moved to the opposite side of the room, tiles ripped out and a new floor laid. Today it looks fresh and modern in black, white and brass. 

Side extension before

Side extension after

Ida and Edward built an extension onto the side of the house - adding a work space and practical mudroom. 

Garden and terrace before

Life at a Scandinavian summer house is all about enjoying the great outdoors. Doors are thrown open in the morning - and life spills outside to take in the long summer days. 

But for Ida and Edward - there was work to be done. The garden was completely overgrown and although there had been some form of patio, it needed to be worked over from scratch.

The pair built a large wood deck completely by hand - almost doubling their living space in summertime. They also capitalised on sloping land by adding built-in seating to the side of the decking. 

But my eye is on the sunk-in bath. So simple, yet such a clever idea. 

Patio before

Patio after

After a lot of hard graft, clearing foliage, pulling up the old patio and creating new decking - the family now have a wonderful outdoor dining area where they can gather and enjoy summer days long after the sunsets! 

How incredible! It's even more impressive knowing that they did it themselves, don't you think? 

Is there anything that stood out to you in particular?

The decking before and after couldn't have come at a better time for Per and I as we were discussing laying our own decking up at the cabin this summer. We were already feeling inspired by Per's brother who laid decking himself last summer - and now, after seeing this, we're feeling really empowered! 

I hope this lovely danish cottage as given you plenty of inspiration too. You can see more pics over at @bare_byg.

Other Danish summer cottages to love: 

A danish summer cottage oasis on North Zealand

Two idyllic Danish cottages available to rent

A beautifully simple, white Danish cabin

You also might like to check out the before and after archive for other renovations. 

And finally, I can't sign out without a final comment on the bath. I've seen many outdoor baths before (see 15 outdoor bath and shower ideas) - and the incredible wood burning bath at Settle hideaway, but this is the first time I've seen a simple, ordinary bathtub sunk into decking. What a great idea! I could just see myself having a soak there, glass of wine in hand. How about you? Would you like to see how it looks in winter? Here goes: 

Perfect! 

Niki

PS I mentioned yesterday that I would be sharing my latest studio update today, but the post isn't quite ready - sorry! I look forward to sharing it on Monday instead! 

Photography: Ida Lundsteen, shared with kind permission. 

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A simply beautiful Finnish home

Have you ever been to Finland? The Finns have a simply beautiful, natural sense of style - often pared-back and monochrome with a hint of colour. Nature also plays an important role. Today I decided to re-visit the lovely home of Maiju of indie days (formerly 'my second hand life'). I once showed her kitchen decked out for Christmas but never shots from the entire home. I think it's definitely about time don't you?! So here's a sneak peek into Maiju's lovely home full of inspiring details and new ideas. I could live here, could you?!

Maiju of Indie days, with kind permission.

Inspiring ideas to steal from Maiju's home:

Kitchen: black candles match the vintage industrial light fixtures to create balance, and a simple marimekko plate has been hung on the wall. Wooden birds add a touch of nature to the shelves. Mix and match Bertoia, Hay, Eames, and Thonet chairs. 

Sitting room: Muuto dots have been used throughout the home as decoration, a way to hang clothes and for lighting. A simple bench makes a great side board in the sitting room - I love how Maiju has stacked magazines underneath and plants, candles, prints etc are on display above.

Bedroom: I love the wallpaper (I am hoping to find out where this is from, so pop back later if you're interested) and DIY grey marble side table. The black top and vintage girls dresses emphasise the power of using clothes to decorate - so simple yet so striking (check out other ways to display clothes and shoes in the home).

Children's bedroom: I've never thought of placing a garland across the middle of a big window, what a great idea (maybe I should do this in the girls room?!). A black rug grounds an all white room. DIY bunting is a great way to spruce up plain white storage (check out this fab Finnish children's room for more inspiration). 

Anything that catches your eye?

If you're after a little more Finnish inspiration today there are some great homes to explore here, here and here. I think it's about time I got myself to Finland...?!

Have a lovely day! 

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A Dreamy Holiday Rental in Daylesford With a Mini Warehouse Feel

Every single time a fabulous new holiday rental pops up in Australia it resurrects my desire to travel Down Under! Today is one of those days. Stylist extraordinaire Lynda Gardener recently added Room + Board to her wonderful repertoire of holiday rentals. The dreamy space has a mini warehouse feel which is part glass and part conservatory. Beautiful recycled schoolhouse windows flood the living space with light and help to highlight curated pieces, furniture, art and plants which have been individually sourced from personal collections and sustainable suppliers. Located in the heart of Daylesford - a town in the foothills of the Great Dividing Range of Victoria (also home to Lynda's fabulous The White Room and The Barn and The Estate Trentham holiday rentals) - the one bedroom property is waiting for its first guests. Form and orderly queue, please! 

This hand sewn burlap lamp* is similar. I have a cinnamon coloured cushion in my sitting room like this - you can pick it up here*.

Raffia net bag*, organic cotton net bag*, artisan brush

The beams! The pools of light! 

When you go for an entirely white washed space, the furnishings need to work harder to create a cosy feel (this comes from personal experience from the days when my bedroom was white!). Look closely at the above picture and you'll see a load of natural textures at play, all of which help to create a relaxed vibe. 

Rattan poof*, vintage pitcher*

Bemz sells similar linen headboard covers* like this, three legged wooden stool*

I'd love to know where the over-sized brown lamp is from - any tips? 

Could you imagine hanging out here for a few days? 

I'm totally in! 

Read more about the space and book your stay at Room + Board here. 

If you're visiting Melbourne, Lynda also has a property to rent in St Kilda (also on my radar!). 

Australia has been on the world's radar for other reasons lately - catastrophic bushfires. Rescue teams have been working tirelessly to help all those affected, including people who have lost their homes and livelihoods and all the beautiful animals. If you would like to offer your support, here are a few charities that welcome donations:

Koala crisis - bushfire recovery - a GoFundMe page created by photographer Kara Rosenlund (who's home I featured here) which set out to accrue $8000 of funding and current donations exceed $210,000 and counting! Incredible! 

WWF Bushfire emergency fund 

Australian Red cross

Please feel free to add charity suggestions in the comment section below - I know there are many, all of whom are doing what they can. 

Wishing you a wonderful start to the week! 

Niki

Photography: Marnie Hawson

Styling Lynda Gardner / @lynda.gardener

* This post contains affiliate links which means I will make a tiny amount of money if you click on the link and make a purchase. 

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