The fabulous studio of an interior designer

Are you back at work this week? Or perhaps you've been working right the way through Christmas (guh!)? Either way, how often do you look around and think - this place seriously needs a make-over?! Today, I'm taking work space inspiration (and in fact, kitchen, dining and sitting room inspiration) from the design studio of Christien Starkenburg - the driving force behind Dutch interior design consultancy firm Interieur + and handmade furniture company SlowWood. Christien follows the philosophy "an interior is the natural projection of the soul'' - Coco Chanel, aspiring to design spaces for her clients using head, heart and a heavy dose of handmade - a philosophy which is projected in her (fab) personal studio too. Let's take a peek inside and prepare to feel inspired....

Interieur Plus

Could you work here? I most definitely could!

Looking at this studio takes me back to my days in the corporate world where I used to sit in a giant  open-plan office by a window (on luckier days) overlooking a car park and a motorway - it was my wonderful colleagues which kept me going! Today I'm master of my own work space (which also features on the front cover of this book!) and it makes such a difference to my working day. Is your office environment important to you?

I spy - Jill Wood chair in natural oak and Lounge chair and Ottoman (15% discount with code MYSCAN), Z1 cotton light, source round jute rugs here (love this one!) try here for a selection of lovely poufs (I like this Burlap one!), Lampe Gras wall lights. The beautifully crafted table can be purchased through Christien's handmade wood furniture company SlowWood.

Could Railings be a similar match to that wonderful colour seen in the kitchen and dining room?

For a real work space inspiration bonanza today you might want to check out this archive or this board - I know you're meant to be working, but hey, a stitch in time saves nine and all that...

I'd love to hear about your work space in the comment section below!

Have a wonderful day! 

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A light and airy Danish home inspiration with natural touches

Hello! My girls were so excited to wake up to a fresh layer of snow this morning. They were outside with their toboggans before I was even dressed! And the sun's shining too - yay! Before I head out to join them and their little rosy cheeks I wanted to share these lovely images by Danish brand Hübsch. The different spaces show off elements of the collection. Think natural materials such as rattan, sea grass and bamboo, soft cotton and pretty ceramics. Oh to have high ceilings and bay windows. Plus I've got my eye on that daybed....

Photos:Hübsch Found via House of C with thanks.

So pretty! The throws and cushions look so lovely and soft don't you think?

Nearly all of the items you see here can be found through Hübsch stockists. However, I'm also loving this fabulous peacock chair (it's really similar to the one in my bedroom) these bamboo folding chairs and a soft grey herringbone throw.

I'm really not joking about the daybed. I've been toying with the idea of exchanging my bubble chair (seen behind my vintage drinks trolley in these pics) for a relaxed daybed (inspired by Elisabeth Heier's window nook here) - what do you think? Would I ever leave it?

Other Danish homes I love include the Copenhagen home of a typographer and a Danish home with a warm soul.

And what do you think of this fabulous cabin?! How I could see myself there right now, how about you?

Oh and exciting news! The pre-order system for my book Modern Pastoral is now live - so exciting! If you are interested in pre-ordering a copy through the My Scandinavian Home Bookshop please click the 'pre-order now' button in the top left of this blog page and follow the instructions. If you'd like a signed copy please send a mail to myscandinavianhome@gmail.com along with your order confirmation, I'd love to hear from you!

Right, off to enjoy the snow with my girls...have a lovely day! 

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A small Swedish space in winter whites

Happy new year! I have a feeling 2016 will be a great year for us all...how exciting! It's suddenly got cold here in Southern Sweden (- 4 degrees C brrrrrr!) and yesterday we received a light dusting of snow so I thought I'd kick off the year with this fresh 'winter' home. The small apartment in Gothenburg, Sweden has been decorated in whites throughout and softened with cosy sheepskin throws and cotton blankets. I love the touches of black too. Perfect for a room which combines both sitting room and bedroom - don't you think?

Stadshem, Photos: Jonas Berg.

Lovely! Despite the trend towards darks and brights I still love a calm white space.

But really - my eyes are on those croissants - Mmmm! Late breakfast anyone?

Get the look: Karlstad sofa, rattan chair, fluffy white sheepskin throw, this industrial stool is similar as is this grey linen throw and these vintage mirrors (and just how pretty is this vintage art deco mirror?). Can anyone tell us where the black floor lamp and coffee tables are from, I'd love to know?

More small space inspiration here and here (and remember the world's smallest luxury home?!). In case it's monochrome inspiration you're after - this is one of my favourite black and white home tours of all time.

This morning I've really enjoyed catching up on all the posts I've missed from some of my favourite blogs. Here's a round-up of my favourites: Stil Inspiration's winter table setting, a DIY hall wall with a strip of black and how to bring Pantone's colours of 2016 into your home.

It's great to be back! 

Have a lovely day!

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Merry Christmas / Happy New year!

Photograph: Logan Smith @LMS_PHOTO / www.logansmithphotography.com

Thank you so much for following My Scandinavian Home blog in 2015, what an amazing year it's been (see the year in pictures here). 

I'll be taking a little time off with family until early January so I'd like to take this opportunity to say I hope you have a very merry Christmas and a very happy new year!

See you in 2016!

PS Don't forget to collect your free downloadable and printable 2016 wall calendar here.

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My Scandinavian Home - 2015 round-up

Thank you so much for all your wonderful support this year. I've loved reading your comments on here, Instagram, Pinterest, Twitter and Facebook. It's been a very special year for My Scandinavian Home. Last December I finally took the plunge and left the corporate world after 14 years to focus on My Scandinavian Home. And what a year it's been! Here's a round-up of 2015:

 Top ten home tours of the year*:

A light-filled family home in Sweden

A fabulous home in Fontainbleu France

A fabulous Swedish apartment

The mid-century LA home of Jessica De Ruiter

The colourful Dutch home

Black and navy in an elegant Swedish home

A beautiful Norwegian home in summer time

An incredibly cosy Finnish home

The calm Finnish home of Anna Pirkola

A Swedish apartment on the dark side of life

 *based on number of pageviews. Click on text under each picture for the full tour and credits.

Did you have a favourite?!

Last year I became a recognised 'Pinfluencer' by Pinterest (needless to say I have a slight Pinterest addiction!), it seems you may have too since some pins received over 400 repins! Here's a round-up of the....

Top five Pinterest pins of 2015:

From post: simple yet beautiful Christmas decorations

Anon. Can anyone kindly supply the credit for this beautiful picture?

From the post - Pretty Danish Christmas inspiration

Swedish Semmeltårta

Anon. If you know the credit for this please let me know so I can update this post!

Loving that the cake is in there!!

In January I started using Instagram (so late to the party I know!). In that time I've gained 24,500 new friends, thank you for making it so much fun!

Top five instagram pictures of the year:

Log cabin in the snow 
A bed next to a roaring log fire
A cabin in the Faroe Islands
A Norwegian cabin on an island
My sitting room

It seems you love your cosy log cabins?!

This December I finally received the first copy of my book: Modern Pastoral (out in Feb, 2016). Publishing my first book has been a dream come true, thanks you for all your tremendous support - and to my publisher CICO Books!

And finally, I owe the biggest amount of gratitude to all the photographers, stylists, designers, architects, and other creatives out there (please take time to look through the credits under the last image in each post) who generously give me permission to share their work and also to my fabulous sponsors who make My Scandinavian Home possible.

This year has been exhilarating, terrifying, thrilling, challenging, exhausting and above all inspirational. I wouldn't change a single moment of it!

I'd love to here about your year too in the comment section below.  

Back later with a final 'Merry Christmas' post! Until then....thank you.

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Simple yet pretty Christmas / party table ideas

With only a few days to go before the holidays I thought I'd share some beautiful inspiration for creating a rustic Christmas table - or simply a lovely winter party table for friends and family! I love the idea of a natural white or grey linen table cloth or rough wood table decorated with foliage from the garden, with flowers and berries providing the only dash of colour.  I'm taking inspiration from these pretty, yet simple displays.

 

Pictures:
1 + 2:  A Quiet Style in collaboration with West Elm - see more of the lovely shoot here.
3: Hus o Hem - the entire post is full of beautiful inspiration (piled red apples anyone?).
4 + 5 + 6: Table inspiration from Swedish shop Artilleriet (see more here).
7 + 8: Call Me Cupcake - how delicious (and pretty) does that gingerbread cake with cream cheese and cranberry look?

get the look with these stonewashed white and light grey table cloths. 

This holiday I also hope to be tucking into this mouthwatering cake. And perhaps Thomas Kellers Chocolate Souffle. Mmmmm!

What'll be your favourite dish over the holidays?

If you're looking for more inspiration today  - check out 8 beautiful rustic gift wrap ideas? Or maybe pour yourself a coffee (or steaming mug of glögg?!) and take a scroll through the Christmas archive and Christmas / Party Pinterest boards.

Or if you feel like skipping the parties and heading to somewhere beautiful and remote this December, I'm thinking this pretty cabin in the Faroe Islands could do the trick?

Back tomorrow with the final post of the year (so soon?). Have a lovely day!

PS Thank you so much for all your lovely comments and mails about my new book- and for the pre-orders - it really means a lot to me! I hope you'll enjoy it as much as have writing it. I'll be back in the new year with more details! 

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