A dream houseboat on lake Eildon

Hello! Happy Monday! If you're at the office starting a long week of work, don't worry, I've got just the home for you. Sit back, and dream you're actually here, in this magnificent houseboat overlooking Lake Eildon, Australia. Designed by Pipkorn & Kilpatrick for a family looking for a place from which to wile away a lakeside holiday, the houseboat is made with natural, sustainable materials which reflect the light from the lake. It's simplicity let's the beautiful vistas do the talking. I could spend my entire summer on that deck, how about you?

Pipkorn & Kilpatrick. Photography: Christina Francis. Post inspired by Coco Lapine Design with thanks

Imagine sitting out on that terrace with a book and glass of something cool? *Sigh*. Could you wile away a summer here?

The folklore-style cushions on the sofa are not unlike the beautiful ones from Saana Ja Olli (see the Finnish couple's home here).

Another houseboat I've show of late is fabulous for other reasons here.

As you've probably read before, my family and I are keen sailors and love to spend our summers sailing around the Swedish islands on our boat A La Vie (named after our children). That's why I was completely taken by this beautiful sail boat - so idyllic, right?! After seeing this, I might just spend the winter working on the interior of our boat. Watch this space!

Have a dreamy Monday!

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A happy Swedish home with black floors and bright colours

As I finally complete my off white floor  - this Swedish home comes along and throws everything up in the air! GRRR! Will you take a look at those glossy black floors?! What a striking backdrop the black and white makes for all those bright splashes of colour and lush plants?  Owners Hannah and Don Billberg are an impressive duo. Using a shoe string budget they set about building the home and then furnishing it with flea market finds and items bought second hand online -  and a bucket load of imagination. The result is a truly inspiring, vibrant family home. What a perfect tour for the weekend, let's take a tour....

Homeowner: Hannah Billberg Stylist: Anna Mård. Photographer: Karin Foberg - shared with kind permission.
/ Hus o Hem. Post inspired by inspired by Desire to Inspire with thanks. 

Wow, I love this home. It's so refreshing! I love the creativity with which it's been put together. How about you?

I first visited Sweden when I was around seven years old to visit Ullis and her family (who are still great friends today). Her mother Yvonne, has a loom and she'd make these wonderful rag rugs. I've been a huge fan of them ever since - they're just so simple and such a great way of brightening up a space. I love how the colourful rag rugs in Hannah's home pop against the black floor too. Try Etsy for similar.

Other simple ideas to steal from this lovely home:
- Create moodboards using colourful pictures to brighten up a hallway, or delicious looking recipes cut out from magazines in the kitchen.
- Add a touch of comfort to bent wood chairs with fluffy, bright colour seat cushions.
- Adding a splash of paint to a simple box makes a fab wall-mounted bed side table.

Is there anything that stands out to you?

You can see more of Hannah's charming home on Instagram. 

For more inspiration this weekend I'm loving this cheerful Swedish home with bright splashes of colour and another home with black floors but in a whole different style. Or perhaps you're inspired by green floors or even red floors?!

Have a wonderful weekend and see you Monday! 

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Monochrome and mid-century in lovely Swedish spaces

It's no secret there's an incredible amount of interior inspiration to be found on the websites of Swedish estate agents. Just enter Stadshem, Alvhem, Entrance, 55kvadrat, or Fantastic Frank into the My Scandinavian Home search box and you'll have an entire morning of beautiful homes to look at (obsessed, who me?!). One of my latest faves is the international real estate who specialise in high-end homes (a girls got to dream?!) but also some 'light' versions too.  Here are some examples of the spaces found in Eklund homes of late....monochrome, mid-century, designer, what's not to love?!

Eklund - via We are Scout with thanks

Beautiful! Look at that morning light in the bedroom?! Another duvet day option perhaps?!

A few items I know and love: Tulip table, Eames sidechairs (15% off right now!), Knoll diamond chair, Vee Speers print, Design House Stockholm work lamp, string shelving.

I'm in a little bit of a rush today as I've got lots of writing to do and I've promised the girls I would take them on an adventure this afternoon- go, go, GO!

Have a lovely day! And oh, back tomorrow with a lovely Swedish house tour! See you then!

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Duvet day in this calm monochrome bedroom?

While we're up at the summer cottage this July we've been enjoying lovely lie-ins. By that I mean waking up around 9.30 (I know, it's not the same when you have two little crazies around).  But it has actually dawned on me we're sleeping 2 hours longer than usual - and then there's that long breakfast outdoors - got to love summer?!! This is perhaps why my mind has turned to bedrooms today - and one beautiful one in particular - Belgian designer Sarah of Coco Lapine's. Berlin based Sarah recently gave her monochrome bedroom a lovely summery lift with new cream and light grey bedding and a fab reading light. I could enjoy a great nights sleep and a duvet day here - how about you?!

Coco Lapine . shared with kind permission

Soooo calm and uncluttered.

A low down on where  items are from: Cream Montrose bedding, Veiros cotton quilt, Vida floor lamp, Muuto dots, print by Coco Lapine (coming soon). Yeh wall table by MENU.

I sampled Aesop for the first time recently when my sister sent me the jetset pack as a surprise luxury for a flight a few weeks back (yes, I have a wonderful sister). I have to say, the items are heavenly - have you tried them? Love the medicinal style packaging too.

For more dream-inducing bedroom inspiration today I'm loving this and this one, and all the pretty bedrooms in this designer hotel - the many squiralled away on this board. And all of these wonderful children's bedrooms too - so unbelievably cute!

Back with a home tour tomorrow - and for those of you patiently waiting to hear if you're the lucky winner of 250 quid to spend at Nest.co.uk - the winner has now been announced here. Exciting!

Have a lovely day!

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A lovely light-filled beach home

Hello. How's life? Planning any home renovation projects over the next few months? If so, you might be inspired by this wonderful make-over by the incredibly talented LA based Amber Lewis, principle designer and owner of Amber Interiors, and architect Eric Olsen. The home has successfully be transformed from a dark and dated man-cave  into this magnificent light-filled, relaxed family beach home.  It's hard to believe it's the same space, right? Let's take a tour....
 

Photography: Tessa Neustadt. Architect: Eric Olsen. Interior design: Amber Interiors - shared with kind permission.

What a difference an open-plan living space and a lick of white paint can make (OK, and beautiful fittings, furniture, accessories, the works). But still....so inspiring, don't you think? 

My favourite rooms include the wonderful kitchen, entrance way (I love ocean shots - for similar try these by Kara Rosenlund and Max Wanger), and little boys bedroom (the arrow wallpaper is perfect, anyone know where we can find similar?) - and look - another bed nook! That's the second one this week...(more nook inspiration here). Got to love a nook!

I spy a Macrame wall hanging too...

Other light-filled LA based homes include the zen home of a fashion designer and the sunny home of a blogger / designer .

But hey, if it's more Scandinavian summer cottage inspo you're after today, you might want to put a kettle on the stove and enjoy the summer cottage archive. I could get lost there for hours, and they're my posts!! 

Have a wonderful day!

PS It's the last day today to enter to win 250 GBP at Nest.co.uk here - hurry!

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