Pretty Wallpaper Inspired by Swedish Nature

What's your experience of patterned wallpaper? As a child in London I recall people covering lots of their home in a pattern of some kind (often DIY - which of course sometimes resulted in entire rooms of upside down roses!). I'm excited to see wallpaper steadily growing in popularity again (it makes me feel nostalgic, and done right it can look really pretty). So, imagine how happy I was when an invitation arrived from Sandberg wallpaper for the launch of their spring summer collection Arboretum at the beautiful Holmanäs Gård in Trelleborg. Small side note: if you're looking to get married in Southern Sweden, this place is your gig. It's so beautiful! I love everything Sandberg does so I knew I'd be in for a treat. Here's a sneak peak of the new wallpaper and some behind the scenes from the prettiest of evenings....

“This spring, we want verdant and patterned wallpaper on the walls. We have moved on from four white walls and we are much more adventurous in both pattern and colour. In our new collection, Arboretum, you can find everything from crisp to more dramatic colours which create a soft and fresh ambience in the home."

"We are leaning towards wallpapering the whole room. but there is absolutely nothing wrong with just papering one or two walls to give more life to the room." 

Wallpaper in order of appearance: 1. Harsyra 2. Harsyra 3. Hassel 4. Ek 5. Notebooks 6. Arboret 

Do you have a favourite? Being a softer tone kind of girl, my heart is set on the last one (Arboretet) -  it would look so pretty in one of my daughters rooms, don't you think?

The party was styled by the Sandberg team, led by creative director Katrin Bååth - who's studio I once featured (I sat next to Katrin on the night and she's so much fun too!). The food was created by the amazingly talented Diana Dontsova (AKA Diadonna) - such a treat!

Thank you so much to Sandberg for a wonderful evening!

(If you're feeling inspired and looking for more wallpaper ideas - there's lots in this archive. If this pops up first just scroll past!). Tempted?

Have a lovely day! 

Photography: Wallpapers styled by Sarah Widman and captured by Kristofer Johnsson courtesy of Sandberg. Party courtesy of Katrin Bååth. 

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A Magical Weekend at Wanås Restaurant Hotel

I love a weekend get-away don't you? A few weeks back I was invited to visit Wanås Restaurant Hotel, a design hotel on the Wanås estate, deep in the heart of the Skåne countryside here in Southern Sweden. The magnificent estate is also home to a fairytale medieval fortress, a Sculpture Park (Wanås Konst) and an organic farm. Doesn't that sound romantic?! And guess what? It also tied in perfectly with my husband's birthday! Needless to say, I was packing our weekend bag faster than I could say "Ja!". Here are a few pictures I captured from our magical stay.

Wanås has a long history of inviting guests and art lovers, however, it wasn't until May. 2017 the estate opened its first hotel. Located in a converted 18th century building, architect Kristina Wachtmeister (one of the members of the family seat who lives on the estate) joined forces with Amundsen + Jansson to create the eleven room hotel. The team worked hard to maintain many of the original details of the building, including 1 metre thick walls and beautiful beams and created an interior that combines "Nordic design and sustainability, with locally sourced materials".

One of our favourite rooms was the communal lounge. We completely made ourselves at home by the fire with a drink (so perfect for warming the cockles after a snowy walk through the sculpture park!).

Pictures: 'Pappa och jag' by Ylva Ogland and 'En annan väg' by Ann-Sofi Sidén to the right. 

Another thing that makes the lounge toasty is that guests are invited to pour themselves a cup of coffee (or something stronger from the bar) and curl up on the sofa with an art and design book from the library (I might even have added my own one!).  

Kristina was keen to use local resources wherever possible. The stairway leading to the first floor is made from oak from the estate.

All eleven hotel rooms have been individually decorated. Ours had high vaulted ceilings with original beams, as well as a small library of books, specially designed furniture by Christian Halleröd Design and a B&O Bluetooth speaker to play our favourite tunes! It would have been fairly easy to hang out there all weekend!

I LOVED the pink tiles with black grouting in the en-suite bathroom. How fab are they? I think I might just have to steal this idea at home? We were also treated to an Ifö roll-top bath (love a good soak, how about you?!). 

After a little chilling, we tucked into the most delicious brunch at the Wanås restaurant. The menu is influenced by its surroundings: "the forests teeming with game, mushrooms, berries, and the organic farm that produces milk and meat, as well as vegetables."

Pictured: RUBN lights & Hans Wegner sofa upholstered in leather from the Wanås estate. 

Note to Local friends - don't miss this brunch if you head to the sculpture park for the day!! Then again, you do kinda want to stay the night or you'll miss out on the four course supper - a true testimony to the chef's vision, and no doubt one of the reasons why the restaurant is included in The White Guide, 2018.

Skåne being Skåne, you can never quite rely on the weather. But as the famous Swedish saying goes: "there's no such thing as bad weather, only bad clothing," and Wanås Restaurant Hotel has it covered with a very handy mudroom complete with Stutterheim raincoats (also available here) and different sized wellies for guests to borrow!

So, it was in this vein we wondered out to Wanås Konst which can be glimpsed behind the medieval fortress (home to the Wachtmeister family and often accommodating artists from all over the world working on their exhibits).

Run by an independent, non-profit foundation, the estate houses 70 site-specific contemporary artworks outdoors and inside the gallery. In the winter the indoor gallery (and shop) is closed for a few months (it's open between end of March until December) but there were plenty of incredible pieces to view in the park alone, including works by Anna Hamilton, Yoko Ono and Ann-Sofi Sidén.

Just as we stepped out the sun appeared from nowhere and the golden light filtered through the trees, placing a halo around the snowflakes falling from the sky. It was magical!
 

If you're anything like me and feel the need to touch EVERYTHING, you'll be pleased to hear many of the sculptures are interactive, with some artists even claiming their work isn't complete without people on them, in them or by them. This also makes it a GREAT place for families! 

Featured sculptures: 'Two Different Anamorphic Surfaces' by Dan Graham, 'Together and Apart' by Antony Gormley,  'Old Sow Between The Trees' by Hannelie Coetzee, and 'A House for Edwin Denby' by Robert Wilson. 

I have to say, we were sad to leave! If you're visiting Sweden I can SO recommend a weekend stay at this magical hotel - or if time is of the essence, at least swing by for brunch and a lovely walk (art and Swedish nature - what's not to love?!).

"This year will be colourful, sparkling and large scale. We're very excited," says Elisabeth Millqvist.

And who are we to miss out?!

A big thank you to everyone who made us feel so welcome at Wanås Restaurant Hotel including Kristina, Sofia and Elisabeth! It was an incredible weekend and we can't wait to visit again soon!


Photography: all pictures by Niki Brantmark / My Scandinavian Home except the kitchen, dining table and bathroom which are by Magnus Marding.  

*This was press trip to Wanås Restaurant Hotel, however all words are my own and I only ever recommend places to visit that I love and think you will too!

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In Search Of Beauty Sleep!

Did you know it's world sleep day? I've been thinking a lot lately about sleep (and lack of!). Firstly I'm the Mother of two, secondly I'm guilty of going to bed a little too late (I'm looking at you Netflix!) and finally, my husband and I have the worst bed E.V.E.R. Lurking under the beautiful set-up that is my bedroom is a double bed with one side slightly higher than the other and a super soft, 16 year old mattress! I kid you not! Knowing the importance of a great night's sleep (I even wrote about it in my Lagom book!), my new years resolution to look after myself a little better this year and the fact that we spend a third of our lives in bed, why do I put so much effort into creating a beautiful bedroom then scrimp on the most important thing?! Are you guilty of this too? This is my (surprising) journey in search of better sleep:

Now, you know me well. Comfort and good quality is essential, but it has to look pretty too. Which is how I discovered Carpe Diem Beds. After a little research (hey, I've been waiting 16 years, and it is after all, a 'big girl investment') I found that despite being a global brand (available in 20 countries) their beds are handcrafted in beautiful Lysekil in the archipelago North of Gothenburg, which is where my husband and I met! Fate?! A visit to Sweden's West Coast was totally in order (purely for research purposes, of course!).

In between blustery cliff walks, boat rides and the odd sauna, I learned that Carpe Diem Beds was founded by local chiropractor Börje Thuleskär, who was soaking up the sun on a bed of wild heather (found in abundance on the islands) and noticed the flora supported him and moulded to his body. This paved the way for the Contour Pocket System: a unique individually flexible spring system which works to follow the contours of your body and relieve pressure.

The beds are also built using the highest quality materials including frames of Swedish pine, bolsters of cotton and wool and mattresses upholstered with Talalay latex, wool, and cotton. They're also marked with the Nordic 'Swan' eco-label and individually signed by the person who made it! This also means you can decide the fabric, headboard and legs (love that!). 

 By the end of my two days I was sorry to leave (I stayed in a hotel with a Carpe Diem Beds bed and it was like sleeping on a cloud. For the first time in ages I woke up rested - body and soul!). It's absolutely no coincidence that I have since became an extremely proud ambassador.

Which brings me to the most important step in my search for better sleep - which bed to choose (each one is named after a place in the archipelago). Here are a few of my faves:

Malö

Their most popular frame bed, Malö, has an extra-high spring system, giving you a feeling of being weightless (loving the sound of that?!). 

Härmanö

Härmanö is a continental bed with separate spring systems and classic double mattresses for maxing out on the comfort and pressure relief (so tempting!).

Vindö

Set to launch soon, Vindö is designed to look like it's flying and has an app that lets you adjust the beds position, lighting and massage functions! Could. You. Imagine?! Would you ever get out of bed?! Here's their complete range of adjustable beds (just saying!).

So, what do you think? Do you have a favourite? I have mine. And my husband has his. Let's see who wins (to be revealed soon!).

Sleep... I'm coming for you!

This post is brought to you in collaboration with Carpe Diem Beds, however all words are my own and I only ever work with brands I love and think you will too. 

Photography courtesy of Carpe Diem Beds.

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Mid-century meets Boho in a Brooklyn Home

Hejsan! How's everything with you today? I'm curious, do you have a city that feels like a home from home for no other reason than it feels right? One of mine is Brooklyn! I always get excited when I discover a home tour in the New York City borough, especially when it's as lovely as this one. Mallory shares her apartment in Greenpoint with her partner and two cats and runs The Reserve, a thoughtfully curated shop selling the most beautiful rugs, poufs and cushions made from vintage Moroccan textiles. Let's take a tour...

How would you describe your style? 
My style tends to shift faster than I can keep up, but I would describe it as eclectic meets Mid Century modern meets California cool (in New York, of course). I’m drawn to natural materials like wood, jute, and wool and I love designing our space with a soft color palette in mind.

Tell us about your passion for rugs: 

"I'm a big believer that woven rugs can add so much character and texture to your home and alongside plants, make a huge style statement! I'm a fan of rugs in the dining room, kitchen, and layered in a living room or bedroom. My jaw always drops when I see a pop of colour in a perfectly worn runner lining a hallway or entry."

Rugs can be really tricky - do you have any style tips for us? 

"My tip would be to invest in quality handmade pieces with a history. Beautifully worn Persian rugs or faded Moroccan Boujaad rugs are my absolute favourite to style with. One-of-a-kind always wins in my book."

Loving the poufs you sell, do you have any advice for anyone looking to buy one for their home (i.e. me!)?

With poufs, my advice would be to think outside the box! I use my floor poufs as additional seating when entertaining, as space holders for those awkward nooks and crannies in the house, as lovely-to-look-at pet beds, and I stack them up to use as ottomans for movie nights at home. I know many people that also use them in reading nooks for kids or as meditation pillows.

Urban Outfitters NYC paid Mallory's a visit a few weeks back and turned their bedroom into a 'floral wonderland! Love how Michael (one of their kitty cats) is taking shade under a cheese plant leaf on the windowsill too!
 

Photography courtesy of The Reserve (with kind permission).

Thank you for telling us a little about your home and sharing your tips Mallory!

Hands up who'd love one of The Reserve poufs in your home? (*own hand shoots up*).

Get the look*

1. Light Brown La Fleur Hanging Chair
2. Bohemian Tassel natural cotton cushion
3. Round Bevel Edge and Tulip Base Dining Table
4. White sheepskin rug
5. Moroccan Boujaad XL Pouf No 1
6. Ikea SINNERLIG Pendant lamp
7. Cleopatra Quilted Cotton Bedspread
8. Monte Cushion #1
9. Cotton Velvet Cushion Cover

You can see more of Mallory's home and keep up to date with the latest items in her shop on instagram.

And more fabulous boho homes here - just in case you're after a little more inspiration (if this tour comes up first just scroll on passed)! 

Have a lovely day!
 


PS It's the final day to get 25% off posters* at Desenio with code 'myscandinavianhome.  Here's what I did with mine.  *Except on the handpicked / collaboration poster category and frames.


 * This post includes affiliated links which means that I make a very tiny amount of money (perhaps enough for a coffee and a choccy biccy from each post!) if you click or buy some of the items. Thank you for supporting the businesses that make My Scandinavian Home possible.

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Old Meets New in a Charming Swedish Home

Hej hej! How are you today? In the mood for a Swedish home tour? If so, you're in the right place! I love the relaxed feel of this two bedroom apartment in Gothenburg and the balance between new nordic (that &tradition light!), classic icons (Ant chair, I'm looking at you!) and vintage finds (credenzas galore!). Enjoy the tour!

Photography: Alen Cordic. Styling: Emma Fischer. For sale through Bjurfors. 

Isn't it lovely? Anything stand out to you?

I'm often looking for ways to hang photos and I love the slightly higgledy-piggledy arrangement of frames in the bedroom, it looks like you can easily add to it when the mood takes you too!

And of course there's that aforementioned pendant light - recently spotted in this and this home too. A new favourite on the Swedish interior scene?

Have a lovely day!

PS Don't forget  the code “myscandinavianhome” gives 25% off posters* at Desenio between 13th and 15th of March, 2018 (hurry!). Here's what I did with mine.

 *Except on the handpicked / collaboration poster category and frames.


This post includes affiliated links.

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