Suvi's Beautiful Modern Home on Finland's West Coast

Hei, Kuinta voit? ('hi, how are you' in Finnish I hope!). It's Friiiiday - woohooooo! I always find it so hard to concentrate at the end of the week, don't you? (it could be the thought of a G+T on ice just around the corner!). Tomorrow we're heading to the family cottage a little further up the coast where I'm hoping to take some long walks (the nature is beautiful up there). A girl after my own heart on the nature front is Suvi Melender-Lågland who lives on the beautiful West coast of Finland with her husband, children, Daniel and Fiona and two cats. Suvi's inspiring blog Valkoinen Harmaja and instagram feed features snapshots from her modern Scandinavian home peppered with intermittent pictures of the incredible nature that surrounds it. Let's take a peek inside Suvi's world!

Rocking chair, Round mirror: Save / splurge, Kähler Omaggio vase.

How would you describe your style? 
Modern scandinavian with a cosy twist.

What's your goal when it comes to decorating?
I want to create a timeless interior, which I spice up with small trendy items. Interior trends can be seen in textiles and smaller accessories.

Flos 2097 Pendant, Artek stool by Alvar Aalto, Bertoia chair, Series 7 chair

Would you say your home is fairly minimalist?

I am not a minimalist in the strict sense. It is important to me that home feels cosy and inviting - not too styled.

Can you spot the TV?! Maybe my greenhouse make-over last summer might give you a clue?! It's the Samsung The Frame disguised as art!

If you had to pick one Finnish designer who would it be?

My all time favourite Finnish designer is Alvar Aalto.

I love Suvi's bedroom, it's so pretty! There's something about the combination of dusty pink bedding (this one is similar) against the St Paul's Blue by Jotun Lady wall colour. It also helps that one of my favourite lights (the Formakami by &Tradition) has also been thrown into the mix (remember it from this home?). 

The bespoke headboard has been painted in the same St.Paul's blue as the wall and doubles up as a shelf - such a clever idea when space is of a premium. I think I prefer this to the wall mounted shelf, there's something cosier about it, what do you think? Suvi has shared the DIY instructions here (in Finnish but the pictures are helpful!).

Do you have any tips for anyone looking to bring Finnish style into their home?
Use (Finnish designers) Aalto furniture and Iittala and Marimekko. Keep everything simple and minimalistic.

And finally, where would you recommend people to visit in Finland?
I would recommend spending time in nature - it is very inspiring! Beautiful areas in Finland can be found around the coast (we are just starting to build our summer house by the sea and the nature is so beautiful there!) as well as the East side where there are thousands of lakes. Lapland is a great place to visit in the winter. Visit Finland shares some great tips!

Thank you so much for inviting us into your world Suvi!

You can see more of Suvi's home over on her blog and instagram feed. I also featured her sitting room back in 2014 (it's gone through quite a big transformation since then!).  

In case you missed it, I shared another Finnish home earlier on in the week here - both homes have opted for blue in the bedroom but the one from earlier in the week has a surprising twist!

And finally, if you're looking for a simple way to incorporate Finnish style into your home, Suvi suggests adding a Finnish design piece, and one of these beauties are a great place to start:

5 Finnish Design Classics That look Great in Any Home

1. Artek A331 Beehive 2. Oiva teapot by Marimekko 3. Aalto Stool in Birch 4. Aalto vase 5. Block light

If you're into bold and bright patterns - Marimekko sells some really funky fabrics both for the home (check out this bedding!) and to wear (this skirt is pretty!). And of course, no mention of Finnish design would be complete without the Moomins! Who doesn't love the Moomins?!

Right. I think that's it from me for the week! I hope you have some great plans for the weekend! See you Monday campers!

Niki

All photography © Suvi Melender-Lågland
My Scandinavian Home posts include affiliate links. 

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New Interior Book: How The French Live

Heads up (or noses in?!), there's a new interior book on the shelves! Curator of one of my favourite blogs French By Design (if you don't follow her already, it's a must!) Siham Mazouz launched her debut tome How the French Live last month - and it's a beauty! Si moved from the South of France to the USA nine years ago. The book features fourteen French homes each with their own relaxed, yet chic style and every chapter closes with a family recipe to prolong the warmth of the hospitality they've shared. I caught up with Si to find out more.

"Modern French families tend to mix and match décor elements from different eras and styles to create unique interiors that represent them."

I know just how much work goes into a book and was so impressed you wrote it, did the styling and took all the photography - what a feat!!

"I wrote all the content and shot all the pictures but the styling credits go the homeowners. They did an amazing job preparing their home for my visit; I really wanted this book to be an authentic window into the French culture and these families' lifestyles, so you'll see electrical cables and hidden objects of 'real' life, because this is how an interior really looks." 

"(In France) meals are a way to connect, to exchange, to build memories. I therefore asked each family to share their signature recipe".

What would you like people to take away from your book?

"I’d love for people to approach their décor in a simpler, more intuitive and authentic way; let go of rules and pressures to fit decor standards (less house) and focus on what really matters (more home). In the end, our home is where the magic happens and where we build memories with people who matter to us; Have fun decorating your nest and let your home tell your personal story!"

What are your fondest memories from the project?
"My fondest memory is by far the human connections I made while visiting these 14 families. Because I was a one-woman show, I was recording all conversations on a small recorder while shooting the space and chatting with the homeowner. It led to deeper exchanges and a whole new approach to décor: the human story behind the space I was photographing. This was amazing."

It must feel so personal to you - what was it like finally getting the book in your hands? 

It was a surreal moment; I was an emotional mess, bursting of joy and tearing up with emotion at the same time, when I finally held my first physical copy of How The French live. It was so strange to see all my work, edited through months and months of work, copywriting while listening to hours of vice recordings, caption writing, all gathered in one book. I felt proud and very humbled at the same time, I still do when I turn the pages of the book and I often have a smile on my face because I remember my encounter with each of these lovely families.

Thank you so much for telling us about your lovely book Si! I know I'll be dipping in and out for inspiration (and the odd recipe like the grilled fig and burrata salad!).

If you'd like to pick up a copy it's available here:

How the French Live: Modern French Style

Have a lovely day!


All Photography (except the cover shot and spreads which I photographed on my kitchen table earlier today!) are by Siham Mazouz for How the French Live, reprinted by permission of Gibbs Smith.

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For the Love of Linen!

Linen has to be the prettiest fabric, don't you think? I've noticed it's sneaked it's way into all areas of my home - the kitchen, the bedroom and even my sitting room! So, what is it about this fabric? Made from the flax plant, linen has so many great qualities: it keeps it's shape, it's resistant to dust, has non-allergenic qualities, it's durable and feels soft and cool to touch - but best of all perhaps, it looks extra pretty slightly wrinkled so there's no need to get the iron out! Right now, some of the best linen is coming out of Lithuania, a country known for it's skilled craftsmanship. One of my favourites is Iconic Linen who make items from handcrafted, stonewashed linen made from 100% pure flax that's natural and chemical free so it's soft and kind to your skin (and they ship worldwide!). Here's a quick round-up of some of my favourite pieces:

Linen Table Cloths

With summer on it's way, I'm loving the natural and white striped table cloth (it has a true Swedish summer cottage feel about it, don't you think?!). If you prefer a little more colour there are three others to choose from. And they sell linen napkins to match!

Linen Tea Towels

The kitchen range also includes a load of linen tea towels (check out the green one) and linen aprons (I have a linen apron at home and even though I'm hopeless at baking, I feel the part so much more in it than when I'm wearing my ancient, waxed apron with cats (hmmm, funny that!).

Linen bedding

Bed linen is where the 100% European flax comes into play (this is what you want for softness against the skin) and the iconic linen range is stonewashed, carefully handcrafted and super soft. Once again I'm loving the 'Swedish cottage' bed set up - but I'd also take the blue and white striped (seen at the top of this post), white and dusty rose (not at all swayed by that picture of the breakfast in bed... honest!). You can check out the complete range here.

Linen Fabrics by the Metre

And finally, I love that all the Iconic Linen colour ways are available to buy by the metre so you can make your own linen creations.

Small side note: at Christmas we stayed at a friends house who had linen waffle duvet covers -  I've been wondering where to find them ever since. Perhaps I should ask Iconic Linen to whisk up a bespoke pair (remember in Scandinavia it's customary to use two single duvets instead of a double!), what do you think?

Is there anything you are tempted by?

If you'd like to see more, you can check out the complete collection here.

Have a cosy day!


This post is in collaboration with Iconic Linen, however all words are my own and I only ever recommend brands I love and think you will too. Thank you for supporting the brands that make My Scandinavian Home possible.

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A Romantic Hide-away in Bali

I met a travel blogger recently who has visited more places in the last year than I have in a lifetime. And his favourite destination? Bali! Have you ever been? I haven't but the more I hear about it, the more I am longing to go (is it wrong to be dreaming about a winter holiday before summer?!). Perhaps when you see this eclectic romantic hideaway you'll be dreaming with me! Pandan House is in Seminyak on the southern end of the Indonesian island and part of the The Sari Dewi collection of villas owned by a long time resident of Bali, who is also an interior designer. The house sleeps 2 which makes it a little tricky (the kids would need to stay at home for starters - eeeek!) but I guess that's what makes this little oasis so romantic! Even if you're not about to rush off to Bali, I always feel there's inspiration to be taken from a living space,  no matter how exotic. And I for one am loving the grey marble and pink combo in the kitchen and those rattan sunbeds (pool or no pool!). I hope there's something that catches your eye too!

What do you reckon? Could you imagine yourself lazing about here for a few days? I can almost feel the warm air and cool water on my skin! 

And did you spot any ideas for your own home?

If you'd like to do a little more dreaming today - here's my holiday home archive (with places to stay as far and wide as Scotland, Sweden, and Seattle - there are also destinations that don't begin with S too!). 

I can't resist asking (just in case I make it one day!) - do you have any tips for Bali?

Have a dreamy day!

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An Inspiring Finnish Home With an Element of Surprise

It was such a long while since I featured a Finnish home, wasn't it?! I have absolutely no idea why since I love Finnish style. In fact, one of the highlights of my second book The Scandinavian Home was that I got to visit Finland for the first time and photograph two inspiring homes. Naturally both had saunas (they are such an integral part of daily life that there are said to be more saunas in Finland than cars!) - but with one being in the countryside and one in the city the two styles were very different. The home of interior design and lifestyle blogger Sini Liikala, her husband and two children reminds me very much of the second place we visited. It's modern, bright and minimalist with a beautiful, large open-plan living space.  But it also harbours an element of the unexpected...

In the kitchen, sleek, white kitchen cabinets from Finnish brand Topi Keittiot  (IKEA sells similar) are broken up by a black mat faucet and sink (both Tapwell) . The shelves above are laden with ceramic and glassware including the classic Oiva Stoneware Teapot* by Marimekko (loving the gentle silhouettes).

I like how Sini has combined marble (the large square tiles are from Tarratinta) with wood flooring to create a distinct kitchen zone and add a lorry load of warmth! I'm not sure if you're thinking what I'm thinking: how about stubbing a toe in the night?! On closer inspection however, it looks like the wood floor has a soft gradual edge. The oak bar stools are from Hay and the lights are the Artek A110 pendant (FYI!). 

 "I think our home is quite a typical modern Finnish house. Nowadays people like to build modern houses with big open spaces, large windows and minimalist shapes. Although, I still think our home is quite unique and looks like us."

The family dining area includes some real Scandinavian classics including the Artek beehive light and wishbone chairs. I like how the inclusion of a black chair balances the dining area with the black door behind (US readers - check out Target's budget friendly look alike!). The white storage cabinet in the background (and below) is by Finnish brand Lundia.

"The best thing about our home is that we have a big open space which incorporates a kitchen, dining room and living room. It means we can all be together as a family but there is still enough space for everyone to do their own things if needed."

Despite the open space, Sini has created a cosy spot for the family to relax (I bet it's even toastier when the fire's going!) using layers of textiles (including a Beni ourain rug), plants and a raft of new nordic design pieces such as a pink Ferm Living Plant Box (I've got my eye on that, how about you?!) and the Around coffee table.

"I think that the best interiors come with time, and years bring different interesting layers to it. I usually buy furniture that I hope will last decades and tell the story of our home to our visitors."

 "Every interior guide says that all the rooms should be in 'perfect harmony' with each other to create a complete look. I am quite a 'safe' decorator who loves neutral tones but I wanted to have one room with a completely different look." 

To achieve the darker look,  Sini covered the back wall with bold floral wallpaper from Ellie Cashman Design (if you have the time you must check out this insta feed!). The rest of the room has been painted in Stiffkey Blue from Farrow & Ball. A rattan pendent from Bloomingville, and an IKEA bench and cabinet add a soft, light touch to the overall look.

"I really love our bedroom because it's like going to a completely different land! It's dark and kinda romantic and that's what I like in a bedroom. People are always so surprised when they enter the room! They're like "wow! this is awesome!" it's not what you'd expect from our home when you look at the other rooms. And that's why I love it so much, it's my hidden flower garden."

"We have black window frames so I figured black doors would go well with them. I also wanted to add an 'edge' to the interior since most of our walls are white. I have not regretted them, I love them!"

Thank you so much for inviting us into your home Sini! Love that you have broken the design rules and followed your heart - that's what makes a house a home - don't you think?

If you'd like to know where more of the items give me a shout in the comment section below and I'll do my best to help. Sini is also great at tagging her images over on instagram, so you can always check there too (and see more of her home over on her blog!)!

If you fancy taking a peek at more homes in Finland today, how about this home in a converted factory,  a living space where old meets new and the calm Finnish home of Anna Pirkola. Yup, the Finns know what they're doing when it comes to interiors!

A little bit of Finnish trivia for you too - did you know that when a baby is born in Finland they are given a box which includes every single item thing they might need for the best start in life? The box itself is designed to be slept in too! You can find out more about what it contains and why they provide it here (it makes for a fascinating read!).

Have a lovely day all!

All photography © Sini Liikala shared with kind permission. 

*My Scandinavian Home posts include some affiliate links.

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