A striking dark and white Swedish space

I enjoyed touring the world's smallest luxury home (imagine?!) and the Manhatten loft this week, but today I thought we'd return to Sweden with this gem of an apartment. I haven't seen dark floors for a while and I've kinda missed them. The dark wood looks so beautiful against the white and light greys, don't you think? My eyes are on the hallway - with it's start contrast of black and white - so simple yet so striking. And I'd never miss the mid-century touch (side-table, mirror...) and plants and flowers in every corner. Lovely!

Stadshem. Photo: Janne of @Flashbackphoto. Styling: Emma Hos

What a great space - is there anything you love in particular?

More lovely dark floor spaces here and here (proof they look fab in a small space too!). Or why not go all out dark like this Australian summer house?!

A few tips on where things are from (as always jump in in the comment section below if I've missed anything!): Knitted pouf, DLM side table,  Tom Dixon beat light, Bertoia chair (by the desk), RENARP desk light, Frama E27 light is similar (in kitchen).

My V.V.V.I.P guest (Mum) has arrived from London - yay! And in true Swedish style we're heading out of the city to enjoy a few days at the cottage. I love the whole Scandinavian summer cottage concept- there's something about going back to basics and living the quiet life for a few days. You can see some of my favourites here.

Since I'm hoping to spend a lot of time outdoors while I'm up on the West coast, I'm turning to the great outdoors in tomorrow's post too with some terrace and backyard inspiration....see you tomorrow!

And have a lovely day...I hope the sun's shining where you are too?!

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A beautiful vintage industrial home and café

What happens when you combine two foodies, South of France style, North American charm and a Michelin-starred chef? The wonderful café Maman, that's what!  Elisa Marshall and Benjamin Sormonte had been living and working in various places around the globe including France and Ibiza before taking over a former machinery shop in SoHo, New York. The pair left the tin ceilings, exposed brickwork walls and original 1920s flooring untouched and added vintage and antique furniture to maximise charm. They also installed an industrial window so that guests can watch Michelin-starred chef Armand Arnal in action. Oh how I could drop in there now and wile away a morning?! Their six-floor loft in nearby Tribeca is pretty beautiful too and follows the same industrial vintage style - but with a touch of romance - think florals, sheer curtains and pipes painted in gold. Let's take a peek inside the Sormonte-Marshall household and café Maman....
 

The loft

The café

 

Photos: Nicola Franzén - shared with kind permission. Lonny mag. Post inspired by It's Monday but it's OK

What a world they've created? Just beautiful, don't you think?

A few notes on where items in the home are from in case you're interested: vintage letters, dresser found on Krrb / bar cart, table and chairs found at Brooklyn Flea, plant pot from Anthropologie, hanging plant holders.

Two fab DIY ideas to steal- Marshall and Sormonte collected Pez dispensers, sprayed them gold and framed them - such a nice idea. The sofa  / day bed was made from pallets (see a step by step guide here).

You can read more about the home and café here. 

Oh and there were lots of questions about where the throw was from in this Swedish home on Monday - and now I have the answer, yay! (thanks lovely anonymous commenter!!) You can find more details in the post if you're interested. 

Got to rush off as I have a V.V.V.I.P guest arriving from London tonight - my Mum! There's a bed to be made, a bar to be stocked and some recipes to be whipped up (if only I had the helping hand of Armand Arnal!), go, go, go!

Have a lovely day!

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Peek inside the world's smallest luxury home

....And it's fab too! The brainchild of Tiny Heirloom, this super cool custom home on wheels, was handcrafted in Portland, Oregon with an aim for people to have the freedom to enjoy a little luxury and then be able to pass it on to the next generation. Beautifully built with everything you could possibly need (and a pretty cool interior to boot), home is literally where you park it!

How fantastic? Could you take off in one of these?

Where shall we head first...?

It reminds me of previous fabulous homes on wheels I've featured- including this alternative garden shed (so cute!),  an out house retreat in Nashville (available on AirBnB) and a vintage caravan (available to rent), who needs a real house anyway?

And do you remember the girl who renovated her garden shed into a work studio and then loved it so much she moved in and rented her house so she could pursue her art full time?!  And it seems there's a load more people following suit - you can read more about the tiny house movement here if you'd like. Makes sense? I also love '8 reasons I love life in a small house'.

I once surprised my husband with a stay at the world's smallest hotel in Copenhagen, Central Hotel og Café, it's honestly the greatest place I've ever stayed! It had a tiny reception with one key hanging on a hook for the one room, outside two bikes were waiting for us (do you remember the beautiful home of one of the girls who works there?).

While researching for today's post I discovered a lorry load of inspiring blogs dedicated to tiny houses including: tiny house swoon,  tiny house blog, small house big adventure.

I have to admit, I feel so inspired by today's post, it makes me feel I could live on our little sail boat and travel the world after all....

Have a lovely day! 

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A dreamy white and grey Swedish space

Wake up it's a beautiful morning! At least if you imagine you're floating around this dreamy white Swedish apartment. Styled for sale by Stadshem, the space has been decorated almost entirely in white and light wood, with the faintest touches of greys. A perfect way to start the week, don't you think?

Styling: @Blackbirdstyle & Emma Hos. Photo: Bodil Bergqvist. Stadshem.

A few items I know and love: sitting room - sofa / throw on sofa / grey floor lamp / e27 light / Gothenburg print / butterfly chair. Source a similar macrame wall hanging  (love the DIY version hanging in Kaisa's bedroom). Kitchen: Menu chair, Thonet chair, rattan Rug, Artek stools.

Pssst! At the time of writing the post I wasn't sure where the lovely throw on the sofa and throw on the bed were from - now I am able to update the post! Thank you lovely anonymous commenter!

More dreamy white, light wood and grey homes here, here and here. And if you'd like to get the look in your workspace - this white and wood office is perfection!

Have a lovely start to the week!

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An incredibly cosy Finnish family home

My obsession with Finnish interiors is nothing new. There is something very calm and natural about the spaces. We may not all be living in a lake-side cabin with a sauna or rubbing shoulders with Father Christmas (sorry, couldn't resist!), but at least, with a little inspiration, we can all get the look. And the Helsinki home of Kaisa, partner, baby girl and cat Mr Paw is just the ticket.  Kaisa's one extremely talented home-maker - she's handy with knitting needles and a sewing machine (cue: baby clothes, changing station, double-sided cushions...) DIY projects with whatever comes to hand (think incredible wall hangings, floral headbands, camera straps)....she's also an ace shutterbug (these pictures were taken by her). And did I mention she creates and sells prints too? We'd better take a peek inside....

All photos: No home without you, shared with kind permission

You may recognise this space as I once showed it decked out for Christmas, but really, what an incredibly warm, cosy and charming home? And just how adorable is her little baby? As for Mr Paw, what a cool cat, there's no messing with him when it comes to who gets the best spot on the sofa, is there?! Incidentally, does anyone follow Danish writer Annika Von Holdt on IG? Her cat pictures/captions are hilarious - see her oh so fabulous home here too).

A few tips on where items are from. Sofa cushions: H&M home. The chest of drawers with wooden cross handles is BoConcept. Foot stool re-upholstered in tree fabric / throw in powder. Dustpan and brush. A DIY way to update your wall with round stickers here. Many of the prints are available in Kaisa's store. If there's anything else you love let me know in the comment section and I'll give Kaisa a shout to find out where it's from. 

An entire archive of fabulous Finnish cottages, cabins and apartments here. Do you have a favourite?

Oh and a little weekend Finnish trivia for you: did you know the reason people in Finland lightly hit themselves with birch tree branches in the sauna is to relieve muscle tension and sooth mosquito bites?  AND that Scandinavians believe Father Christmas comes from Greenland rather than Lapland?

Have a wonderful weekend and see you Monday!

PS Last day (8th May) to make the most of the 10% discount at Scandinavian modern stores Blackthumb and Snedesign with code MSH10. And get 20% off all weekend from Lo+Behold with code MSH20.

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