An idyllic Finnish cottage with an outdoor summer kitchen

As January comes to a close and the short, snowy days continue,  I find myself dreaming of the summer sun more and more. And when it arrives - I'm going to be outdoors along with the rest of Scandinavia. That's why I thought I'd share the latest developments of one of my favourite summer cottages - an oh so idyllic family retreat on an island in the Finnish archipelego. The ongoing renovation project is driven by owner Minna Jones of Time of The Aquarius and her partner and has been well documented here on My Scandinavian Home (here and here plus her year round home here). To me, the residence epitomises the essence of the Scandinavian summer - life at a cabin with a beautiful, yet basic interior and maximised to ensure time outside enjoying the long awaited summer days. Last season the owners added an outdoor kitchen to the mix. And the good news? It's easily replicated.  Here are a few new snaps of Minna's home and her fab new outdoor kitchen.

Minna Jones, Time of the Aquarius

To get a similar outdoor kitchen: try painting an IKEA trestle table,  the water can with tap and lights are from Granit, buy a camping stove here. Finnish birch basket. Rattan furniture is set to be big this spring / summer - I'm a big fan of the uber comfy BYHOLMA chair.

Other items I know and love: Bertoia chairs, Butterfly chair and String shelves. IKEA PS 2012 chest of drawers and FÖRHÖJA kitchen trolley.

To get a full picture of the summer cottage and for more images of the plan, interior, grounds, surrounding nature and family life at the cottage you can wile away a few hours on Minna's dreamy blog.

I also absolutely love this Finnish log cabin with a sauna.

Summer in Finland anyone?!

And because it's still January (just): I loved how Scandinavisk summarises the 'Sense of Scandinavia' in Thursday's piece. And this beautiful video by Volvo featuring Amanda Begman's song 'Vintersaga' (winter tale) perfectly sums up the coldest season in Sweden- I was particularly excited to see it even features the beach by my house here in the South! Thank you AMM blog for the tip!

Have a lovely day!

PS Thank you so much to Ana of Blog Milk Shop for all your amazing technical help with my blog lately! Ana is not only my tech saviour but she also creates the most stunning blog templates available to buy here.  

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The home of a Swedish Fashion designer

I started to work from home this year. It certainly has its merits - pretty much everything in the house is whirring around me - the washing machine, dishwasher...and I'm sitting here, no make-up, big socks etc. But the true freedom comes with managing my own time (I'm planning on diving into town in a moment to run a few errands) and control of how my workspace looks. And it's the latter which inspired today's post. I love the light-filled home office in the Stockholm pad of Åsa Stenerhag,  fashion designer at Swedish brand Filippa K. The space, which has been beautifully captured by Jonas Ingerstedt, is home to her art,  images which inspire her, artifacts collected on travels and vintage finds. The rest of Åsa's home with it's warm, earthy tones and ethnic textiles is pretty lovely too, don't you think? Oh yes, I could work and live here.

Photography: Jonas Ingerstedt. Home-owner: Åsa Stenerhag. Featured in Elle Decoration Sweden

Photography: Jonas Ingerstedt with permission. Home-owner: Åsa Stenerhag. Featured in Elle Decoration Se

Photography: Jonas Ingerstedt with permission. Home-owner: Åsa Stenerhag. Featured in Elle Decoration Se

Photography: Jonas Ingerstedt with permission. Home-owner: Åsa Stenerhag. Featured in Elle Decoration Se

Photography: Jonas Ingerstedt with permission. Home-owner: Åsa Stenerhag. Featured in Elle Decoration Se

Photography: Jonas Ingerstedt with permission. Home-owner: Åsa Stenerhag. Featured in Elle Decoration Se

I think what I love most about this home is how it reflects Åsa Stenerhag's personal style. Is there anything that stands out to you?

Other fab office spaces here.

And more beautiful Stockholm apartments here, here and here.

One of the greatest things about Sweden's capital city is how it's surrounded by water. A short boat ride can take you to one of thousands of islands with lovely homes such as this one.  Have you been? We're heading up in a few weeks time to visit my brother-in-law - tips welcome!

Have a lovely day!

PS - thank you to La Maison D'Anna G for today's post tip. 

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A striking Danish home with a calm feel

The 'Sense of Scandinavia' is built 'of vast landscapes and raw seasons, of cosy shared moments and the world's happiest people' so says Scandinavisk.  And if the Danish candle company owner Shaun Russel and his wife Lene's house is anything to go by, this is most definitely true. Located in Copenhagen, this calm space is the perfect shelter from the winter storms and light a candle or two. Not only does the brown and white schemed space have amazing bones with high ceilings and original parquet flooring, but the couple have carefully selected treasured design items and combined them with antique and vintage finds from which to enjoy it. And of course, there's that incredible grand piano...

Photographer: Pia Winther, Stylist Gitte Christensen. Post inspired by Vosges Paris, with thanks. 

Photographer: Pia Winther, Stylist Gitte Christensen. Post inspired by Vosges Paris, with thanks. 

Photographer: Pia Winther, Stylist Gitte Christensen. Post inspired by Vosges Paris, with thanks. 

Photographer: Pia Winther, Stylist Gitte Christensen. Post inspired by Vosges Paris, with thanks. 

Photographer: Pia Winther, Stylist Gitte Christensen. Post inspired by Vosges Paris, with thanks. 

Photographer: Pia Winther, with kind permission. Stylist Gitte Christensen. Post inspired by Vosges Paris, with thanks. 

Could you be the happiest of people here? I certainly could!

A few things I know and love: Eames RAR armchair, series 7 chair (currently on sale!), Super Ellipticle table, try Etsy for vintage filing cabinets and keep an eye on LiveAuctioneers for leather sofas. try Farrow & Ball Mahogony paint to get a similar effect as the striking hallway.

Anything that catches your eye?

Other beautiful and inspiring Copenhagen spaces include this apartment in unexpected colours,  an artist's home in black and white and a pad with the shiniest concrete floor you've ever seen! Oh how I love the Danish sense of style, how about you?

This week I'm excited to be working with a wonderful team at the IKEA headquarters. It's about an hour and a quarter away from Malmö by train and stepping off the train is like entering a snowy winter wonderland. BRRRR - my new work wear: a fjäll räven backpack and fleece tights!

Have a lovely day and stay warm! 

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Could you go all out geometric?

At the start of the week you're a allowed to go a little all out don't you think?! That's why I wanted to share this home in The Jardine district of Sao Paulo with you. The space belongs to a young lawyer who returned to Brazil after a spate in Italy.  He commissioned famous architect Filipe Hess to renovate his newly acquired apartment to it's orginal 1950's former glory and at the same time reflect the relaxed European lifestyle he so enjoyed in Italy. The result is a beautiful mix of mid-century and industrial. And not a corner without a geometric pattern of some sort. Kind of cool don't you think?

AD. Photographer: Filippo Bamberghi. Architect Filipe Hess. 

I am in love with the kitchen and bathroom floor, how about you? You can source geometric floor tiles here (any other tips?). 

Or  simply add some patterned accessories from the likes of Norsu or OYOY.  And for the colour shy and the non-comitted I came across this fab monochrome  peel and stick, removable honeycomb wallpaper. 

For a Scandinavian take on the mid-century / geometric trend it's worth taking a peek at this home here in Malmö. 

Have a lovely day!

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A serene norwegian space for the weekend

It's the weekend - woooop! Any great plans? To me weekends are for kicking back and getting away from it all (OK, and the odd glass of wine). And I'm sure I could do both of these in this beautiful Norwegian space, given the chance! Looking out over a Norwegian fjord, Hilde and Kristian Eriksen designed the home from scratch and decorated the interior in white, shades of grey and warm light wood. The furniture is a mix of modern design and antiques.  And the result is a serene, warm, light-filled home. Oh how I would love to spend my weekend here, how about you?!

Photography: Yvonne Wilhelmsen. Femina. Post inspired by Style Files owner of beautiful shop Le Souk.  

Anything that stands out to you?

A few items I know and love: Vitra Hang it All, Eames DSR chairs, Wishbone CH24 chair. I usually buy my market basket bags when I visit my sister in Mallorca but you can also source them here.

For more Norwegian inspiration this weekend there are many wonderful spaces to be found here. And a couple of Norwegian blogs to browse: Fjeldborg, Stylizimo, and Elisabeth Heier.

Have you ever visited Norway? I've been to Bergen and Oslo. But I dream about going hut to hut hiking in the Norwegian wilderness one day too.

Have a great couple of days and see you Monday!

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The Stockholm home of a fashion stylist

One of my girls woke up with a sore throat today, poor thing.  She's on the sofa behind me watching 'fixa rummet' (a program about children's bedroom make-overs) - yes, it runs in the family! Meanwhile, over on this side of the room...I've got a fab home to share with you. Shot by Kristofer Johnsson and styled by Saša Antić, it belongs to Stockholm based Gorjan Lauseger, a fashion and advertising stylist who works with well known magazines from all over the world. In his bio his style is described as 'clean, classic and sophisticated but always with a modern eye'. I think his home truly reflects this too, don't you?

Photographer: Kristofer Johnsson. Stylist Saša Antić. Inspired by My Unfinished Home. 

The high ceilings, original period features, beautiful parquet flooring and the way the apartment has been furnished is indeed clean, classic and sophisticated. But what really stands out to me is the statement artwork. 

A couple of items I know and love: Sitting room: Hektar floor lamp, Svenskt Tenn elefant cushions, Kate Moss book and Baxton Studio leather and chrome chairs. Kitchen: black and white Marimekko bowl, Thonet 214 chairs, Bedroom: classic white linen bedding, occasional LTR bedside table.  

Is there anything you love about this space?

Some of my fave places to buy fab artwork for the home: The Poster Club, Artilleriet and Fotografiska. Plus more art photography inspiration here. 

Yesterday's Dutch cabin got me thinking about holiday plans (see my travel board!). I'm thinking Rock the Shack style rentals (inspiration on cabins, cocoons and hideouts) or glamping (again). If you're expecting visitors, I love this round-up of three very different ways to accommodate guests. Do you have any great plans for 2015? If you're thinking about visiting Southern Sweden drop me a mail, I might be able to help you find a holiday home on land or water! 

 Have a lovely day!

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Could you spend your summer in this log cabin?

As the snow falls outside I can't help but dream of cosy cabins. And then I found this one, deep in the heart of the Drents-Friese Wold National Park in Appelscha, The Netherlands (thank you Style Files!). Accessed by a long track, this lovely family owned log cabin is one of those magical places where you could be happy in any season, rain or shine, indoors or out. Imagine reading a book or playing games with family and friends by the wood burning stove? Or exploring the forests on cross-country skis (winter) or by bicycle (summer). There's even a lake for swimming within 500 metres. And the best news? It's available to rent. I know!!

Credits: Boshuisnijhildenberg. Post inspired by the Style Files. 

Could you holiday here?

I love the family's Pinterest boards which are built up of snapshots of everyday life at the cottage (which sleeps 8)...so lovely!

See you at the hand-over?!

I'm thinking why not go all out Dutch today with more inspiration from this lovely cabin and a lorry load of beautiful homes from The Netherlands here, I particularly love this fabulous rental home near Amsterdam.

Have a lovely day!

PS This post is not sponsored by The Netherlands tourist board - although I'd forgive you for thinking it! I'm simply feeling a whole load of love for this wonderful nearby country today! 

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