Dreaming of a white Christmas in a Swedish home

With 1st advent this Sunday I felt it called for some beautiful Scandinavian Christmas inspiration, what do you reckon?! If like me you like to keep things simple, you'll love the details in this lovely home here in Skåne, Southern Sweden.  Think paper star lanterns, sprays of pine, a simple foliage wreath and an abundance of super cosy fluffy sheepskins and chunky knit throws against a completely white backdrop. No surprise the owner, Malin runs the most beautiful Instagram feed called Vittvittvitt (any guesses what this means?!), which features daily snapshots of her beautiful home. Here's a sneak peek....

Photos: Malin N / Vittvittvitt shared with kind permission

....soooo dreamy. I love the subtle decorations - warm and festive and yet still very natural and calm.

How about you?

Get the look: sitting room - sheepskin throw, cream blanket (this super-size white chunky knit is absolutely beautiful!) knitted cushion, white paper star lanterns in black and white, Bertoia diamond chair,

Other lovely Scandinavian-style Christmas inspiration links I love:

A beautiful wreath (with DIY tutorial to match) and a pine and cyprus wreath. Or just this.

Christmas eve in a Norwegian home.

A simple Christmas tree display.

A new England tree farm (chopping down your own tree is a tradition in our family and I got so excited when I saw this farm - beautiful! Do definitely check if you've got a tree farm near you, it's so much fun!)

And last but by absolutely no means least the ultimate Christmas ice breaker....cranberry-orange margaritas...

....actually, who needs to wait for Christmas? It's the weekend! Skål!

Have a wonderful couple of days!

PS Don't forget to use your 10% discount at Type Hype - with code MSH10 valid until 1st December! 

PPS I'll be popping in on Sunday with a great gift idea for young and old who love to travel....

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Duvet day in this Swedish bedroom?!

Due to a combination of too much work, too much play and an addictive series on Netflix ('just one more episode' at midnight, type thing - do you have that?!), I'm feeling incredibly sleep deprived....and while I sit here on the train at 6 am I'm longing for my bed! Or the bed in this Swedish apartment. If I could I'd light that masonry oven, go and fetch a coffee and a little breakfast (preferably like this one) and read a pile of interior magazines in bed all morning.... heaven! Could you imagine doing the same?!

Stadshem / found via Marthe Bo with thanks

That is one beautiful bedroom! Love the white floors, grey linen bedding and vintage wardrobe - lovely!

A few other items I know and love in case you're curious: Bertoia chair, round mirror, moss knit throw, Gotland sheepskin rug, this beautiful light is similar.

Other bedrooms I could quite happily enjoy a duvet day in include this Amsterdam boudoir, under the eaves in this incredible Swedish country bedroom, and actually - my own bedroom (it's more like to happen here too, plus if I'm lucky the man might just bring me breakfast in bed, now that would be a bonus!).

For more inspiration, you might want to check out my bedroom Pinterest board for 1.2 thousand plus pics of pure bedroom inspiration- (clear the calendar?!)  and my bedroom tour archive here on My Scandinavian Home. Time well spent, I'd say?! 

Have a *dreamy* day!
 
PS Could you be my 50,000th follower on Instagram? Thank you so much to everyone who follows me already, you're wonderful, I love reading all your comments!

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A cosy Norwegian home in the country

While photographing homes for my next book -The Scandinavian Home this summer we visited some beautiful places including Oslo, the surrounding fjords (one home was only reachable by boat!) and a mountainous region near Lillehammer and I was completely bowled over. Norway is the most beautiful country ever! I'm only too aware of the parts I haven't seen and have to go back soon to explore. When I do, I'd love to stop by the idyllic country home of Marthe Holien Bø near Stryn on the West coast (once featured here). Marthe is often snapping corners of her home for her wonderful blog  and instagram feed. We were in touch this summer and sadly I didn't get to visit in person, but she has kindly invited us all to step inside her home today.....

Credits / copyright: Marthe Holien Bø / @marsipanogsmilefjes shared with kind permission.

What a beautiful home, don't you think?!

I particulary love the mix of exposed wood, white and black panelled walls and the layers of texture - sheepskins, linen, cable kit cushions and throws. It looks so cosy!

Is there anything that stands out to you?

Get the look from Marthe's lovely home: dining - pick up a vintage industrial swivel chair here. Buy lovely vintage candlestick holders here, icelandic sheepskin throw. Sitting room -  House Doctor Molecular light, tree stump side table,  grey cable knit blanket,  prints from Desenio, Eames chair, wooden star.

Shall we take a peek inside some more Norwegian homes today? Like the serene home on a hill (this is the same beautiful home all decked out for Christmas) a charming home in green, grey and cognac (and the same home in a whiter shade - fab!). And finally, the perfect Norwegian home on a summer's day (and at Christmas!).

Oh Norwegian's, we love your style!

Have a lovely day!

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The art of Zen (and keeping it simple) in a Swedish home

When it comes to decorating your own home it can sometimes feel like such a tricky puzzle, can't it? There are parts of my house I've been mulling over for months (maybe even years) without finding the solution (admittedly I'm a bit of a procrastinator!). But when I see beautiful, white homes like this a sort of light bulb comes on and it reminds me that it doesn't have to be complicated. A simple colour scheme, some beautiful pieces, an unusual light fixture and some carefully placed pictures. How inspiring (and relaxing!), don't you think?

Credits: photos - Jonas Berg,  styling - Greydeco for Stadshem (for sale here).

It reminds me just how much I love white. It makes a space so much brighter, especially in the winter when the sun never really gets high above the horizon.

A few items I know and love: dining area - this and this style bentwood chair (source lovely vintage ones here), can anyone advise on the lighting over the table? Sitting room - Söderhamn sofa from IKEA, moroccan pouf, Slit mirrored side table by Hay. Office - &tradition mass light. Bedroom: Menu light.

Mind if we dream over a few more white homes today? Like this serene home of a designer (that courtyard?),  this Malmö apartment (probably one if the most pinned of all time), and The White Room (from a few weeks back). *sigh* and relax.

I've learned one of the most important things about decorating with white is texture. I spotted these amazing macarame wall hanging specimens the other day and thinking of getting a large one for my stairway (what do you think?) and of course there's always Gotland sheepskins (especially after yesterday's Swedish island retreat!). And a digression I admit, but just how cute are these Danish baby's sheepskin booties?! Perfect little pressie, hope my little niece isn't reading! 

Have a lovely day!

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Step inside a beautifully simple Swedish island retreat

I hope you had a wonderful weekend? We went to visit friends at their summer cottage on the east coast of Skåne, which was lovely and soooo relaxing! I always find these cottages provide such a perfect way to switch off - partly because the Swedes have got it so right by keeping the decor simple and pared-back, offering the essentials but without distraction. This lovely holiday home on Gotland, an island off Sweden's east coast beautifully captured by Erik Lefvander and stylist Anna Mårselius is a perfect example of this. Home to Johan, Joanna, Melina & Ziggy, the muted colour scheme is complimented by strictly natural materials throughout for a calm living space centered around enjoying the simple pleasures in life: nature and each other.

Photographer Erik Lefvander / Stylist Anna Mårselius shared with kind permission. Featured in Residence Magazine.

So beautiful! Could you imagine spending your holidays here?

It really is such an inspiring space. I love the oil lamp over the kitchen table, bespoke wall to wall sofa lined with cushions and bedroom with space for the entire family. What a well thought out home!

Is there anything that stands out to you?

I'm such a big fan of Gotland and have featured many, many beautiful homes from the island on here before, some of my favourites include a charming 19th century house, a simple island retreat, and a beautiful home in soothing grey.

Hey, I've got an idea. Shall we just skip the working week and head there instead?! 

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