A Striking Blue Wall and Art in a Hamburg Home

Hallo freunde! I seem to be on a little bit of a German roll right now. Could it be because my neighbours are waving at me from the opposite shore of the Baltic sea - or the mere fact that it's only a few hours drive / short ferry hop from here? Either way, I'm often stumbling across inspiring German homes with a Scandinavian influence - and this one is a fine example! Sarah describes her lovely apartment in Hamburg-Eimsbüttel as a mix of "Scandinavian minimalism with a touch of colour'. The Hague Blue wall in the sitting room is a total show stopper - but after scouring the pictures, there are many other details to enjoy. Let's dive in... 

North sofa by Bolia (I used to have exactly the same one - same fabric, legs everything!). Prints from left to right: Freisteller 17 / Tan Kadam, Print by Iris Lehnhardt, Blues print by Peytil, Print by Jilli Darling.

I've been looking for storage like this Would Töjbox for our guest room, I love the minimalist look and feel - as well as the warmth of the wood. It's ideal for tight spaces too.  

Hay Dot cushion*, Eames wire chair*

Sarah has created a mini breakfast bar using a wall mounted shelf (which also doubles up as extra storage along with the Swedish made 'Shelf 90') - she can also enjoy her morning coffee on the windowsill (made comfy with a couple of cushions!). Such a clever way to make the most of the space you have - no matter how small / narrow, don't you think?

Grasshopper lamp

'Although she is small, she is fierce!' (or simple super cosy and pretty!). This small bedroom is proof you can enjoy a double bed and still achieve a minimalist look and feel. It works because Sarah has used the window sill for a reading light and hung a Flower Pot suspension light on the other side - which frees up space on the nightstands (a pair of stackable stools). I also love the leather magazine hanger and hook for books and magazines - it's really practical too! 

 Flower Pot VP1 light,  Ferm Living triangles rug*, A 'Smile is the prettiest' poster*, magazine hanger and hook

What an inspiring home!

Did it give you any ideas for your own living space?

I love how the blue wall gives the entire space a focal point - for anyone considering going for a bold accent colour, I hope Sarah's apartment has given you the courage to go for it!

You can see more of Sarah's home on her wonderful blog and instagram feed.

And there's an entire MSH archive dedicated to 'decorating with blue' ("of course there is!" I hear you say)-  it's one of my favourites too! While scrolling through, don't miss Suvi's home on Finland's west coast, a striking small Stockholm space in dark blue and this amazing home featuring an array of colours!

Have a great start to the week! I've got a feeling this is going to be good one for us all!

Niki

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A Bright and Beautiful, Light-Filled Loft

Recently I've been showing a lot of eclectic homes with splashes of colour (and even a black bathroom!). So, today I thought I'd reign it in a little and feature a beautiful, light-coloured loft in Hanover, Germany. A white, minimalist scheme is often in danger of coming across as cold and uninviting, especially in an open-plan living space, but when you have incredible exposed beams, pillars and a mezzanin floor like Sandra, a simple, pared-back look allows the architecture to sing! Oh and how this space sings!

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Tobias Grau OH 9 pendant lights, basket bag* (similar), Source a chain from a DIY shop for a simple way to hang coats.

Wishbone chair*, Eames DSW chair*, Eames DFAW chair*, Hee dining chair*

AJ Floor lamp*, Menu Turning Table*,  Eames lounge Chair*

Samsung The Frame (how long have we been waiting for a TV that looks like art?! I've been totally in love with it ever since I worked on that Greenhouse make-over!).

 How fabulous is this Undressed tea-set?!

Oooooh wow. This is my dream loft. Can you imagine having a space like this to play with?!

As mentioned above, open-plan minimalist spaces can come across as a little cold at times - but I think Sandra's totally nailed it. 

Why the light colour, minimalist scheme works here:

- The beautiful architectural elements take centre-stage to create a wow factor
- Although pared-back, no two pieces are the same which adds interest
- The wood and concrete floors, stairs, pillars and beams add texture
- Black details and accents help to balance the look and focus the eye
- Concrete floors in the kitchen and bathroom break-up the uniformed look, help create separate zones and add diversity
- Look closely and you'll spot fresh flowers in every single picture - a simple yet lovely way to bring a space to life

Does this look appeal to your senses?!

If so, you might also like to check out Sandra's instagram feed which is awash with beautiful sand and white images, this fabulous loft in Arnhem (available to rent!), a bright and airy Paris loft, a light Danish home with a stunning bedroom.

Our family sailing tour of Sweden's West coast came to an end yesterday - boooo! Does it sound strange to say I miss the sea? After four weeks afloat it felt like an old friend by the end. On Monday I'll be back at my desk so I'm thinking daily posts again - what d'ya think? I'll also be working on an exciting photograph commission for a jewellery brand (feeling the pressure but so looking forward to it! More on stories!).

But first - the weekend. And there's an Anholt gin and tonic, sunshine and a swim waiting for me! I hope you have a load of fun plans too!

Niki

PS - to create this tour I've combined a load of images taken by Sandra over time - as a result, some items might appear twice and rooms might look marginally different in the sequence!

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Olivia's Adorable Bedroom in Southern Sweden

As a mamma bear to three (two daughters and a bonus son!) I'm often on Pinterest looking for inspiration for children's bedrooms. That's why I was so excited to discover my friend, interior designer Genevieve Jorn was re-doing her daughter Olivia's bedroom (everything Gen does turns to gold so I knew it was going to be beautiful!). I've got to know Olivia through the various photoshoots we've had over at Gen's place and she is one of the cutest 4-year-old's I know - not to mention a great photo shoot assistant, offering us 'pancakes' from her makeshift kitchen whenever we're low on energy! She's so funny! These days, she's also one of the luckiest 4-year-olds I know, her new bedroom is sooooo lovely! I couldn't resist heading into the centre of Malmö with my camera and a notepad to grill Gen on the details!

Profile
Owner: Olivia
Age: turning 5
Room size: 25 m2 (269 f2)
Favourite pastimes: loves to read, draw and run her own restaurant

What was your over all aim with the bedroom?
I wanted to keep a similar style to the rest of the home but also wanted to give her a fun and inspiring room. I've been working on the children's section of the IKEA catalogue this year and was therefore really inspired when I decided to redo her room. I went for a soft pink wall color (code NCS S1005-Y70R) and picked a bolder dark red accent (code NCS S6030-T90R) to give a little punch to the room - which was greatly needed in such a big space! I also used a Kelim rug as a basis for the colour scheme.

What are the challenges when it comes to designing a large children's room? 
Admittedly, that is quite a luxury problem! Normally when I design a room I usually start with a colour or a product that I want to highlight. Something has to be the hero or focal point. In Olivia's room it was without doubt her loft bed (Wood Collection Mini+ low loft bed from Oliver Furniture), which turned out to be her favourite place to sit and read. So I started from there. I painted a rectangular shape behind it. Then came the challenge of the ceiling lamp. I think in such a big room, it makes sense to go for a large lamp to balance the proportions. So when I found the Big Dot lampshade from Afro Art I was really pleased!

"Olivia loves to go up into her bunk and wrap herself in her hand quilted blanket (from Camomile London) and act out her favourite characters from her books." 

What are the essentials to think about when designing a children's room?
I guess it's the same for all rooms: it has to be connected to it's inhabitant. I know that my daughter loves to move around. She can sit very still for a long time creating stories or she can move stuff around and be completely disorganised. So I wanted to create different areas that would support all her needs.

Children's Room Essentials
- A soft and comfy place to chill and cool down
- A place to play and be creative
- Good lighting to support all needs
- An ergonomic place to sit and create (with place for more to join the party)
- Plenty of storage options (drawers are a great way to store things away quickly).
- Tactile textures to soften up the space and help children feel cosy and comfortable.

Did you hand draw the kitchen?
Yes! I love drawing and sketching, it's an easy way to add personality to a room (for me at least!). It takes some time but it's definitely worth the hard work. Especially when it's for my little nugget!

Gen's 10 Step Guide to Creating a Wall Mural
1. Decide on the type of wall mural you would like to create
2. Search Pinterest and other sites for similar murals
3. Once you have an idea, sketch it onto A4 paper
4. Amend the sketch until you are happy with it
5. Draw it again to size on tracing paper using a pencil, make sure the proportions are correct
6. Trace over the lines on the other side of the tracing paper with a pencil
7. Tape the tracing paper to the wall in the exact position you would like the mural
8. Draw over the lines once again on the tracing paper with a pencil (this will leave lines on the wall)
9. Remove the tracing paper from the wall
10. Draw over the lines on the wall with a sharpie / marker pen

What has turned out to be Olivia's favourite corner?
I would have to say her bed! Whether it's the top bunk or the hidden space underneath. She loves to wrap herself in that cosy blanket too. She also loves the Upperlig bench. We often find her sitting on the edge of it drawing or making one of her famous lists!

Thank you so much Gen and Olivia for inviting me over, it was such a pleasure to visit you. And Olivia - the soup you made me was the best yet!

I put together a list of all the items below (gifted items have been marked with a *) - give me a shout in the comment section if I've missed anything, or you have any questions!

Get the look

1. Oliver Furniture Wood Collection Mini+ low loft bed* 2. Amayadeeme, Paulina poster* 3. Large House Cushion* 4. Ochre Single / Twin Hand Quilted Blanket / Camomile london* 5. Ink Fitted Sheet* / Camomile London 6. Mini Check Duvet Cover in Coral* 7. Rug by Gur, Cararina Carreiras 8. Afro Art Big Dot Lampshade (L) 9. Ikea upperlig bench 10. Ferm Living Kelim Rug (large) 11. Ikea Ingo table painted in Lady pure colour Industrial Blue 12. Ikea Flisat stool 13. Ferm Living clothes rack 14. Ikea Nordli chest-of-drawers

***

Aaaaaa, such a lovely children's room, don't you think?

Is there anything you love in particular? I love the antique wardrobe in the corner - I wish I had space for something like this in my children's bedrooms.

Just in case you're curious, you can see more pics for Gen's fabulous home here: kitchen, sitting room, bedroom and office.

... and more pretty children's bedrooms in this archive (if this pops up first, you know the drill - just scroll passed!).

Have a lovely day and see you Friday!

Niki

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An Eclectic 19th Century Swedish House

Jennie Moraeus, Jon and their children Olle (5) and Esther (3) moved into their dream house in Örnskoldsvik (try pronouncing that!) on Sweden's North West Baltic coast six years ago. Over time, they've painstakingly renovated 'Elfvinggården' to transform it into the warm and inviting family home is is today. But acquiring the 1850 house wasn't without it's pitfalls. It was a chance meeting on a cross-country ski track that led them to obtaining the keys! I caught up with Jennie to hear more about the move, her love for DIY and how the family restored the space on a tight budget to become the beautiful home it is today. 

How did you find the house?

"Actually, the house was in an area we weren't very interested in, but we met the estate agent out on a cross-country ski track and she told us we must come and look at a house that was coming out on the market a few days later. When we were at the viewing I mostly went around swearing!! We put in a bid way under the asking price (but the maximum we could afford), never expecting to get it. So when the estate agent called to say it was ours, we simply couldn't believe it! The seller chose us over the higher bidder!

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William Morris Pimpernel wallpaper

Did you have a strong vision of how you wanted to decorate it?

After the bidding, we went on honeymoon and I lay on a sun lounger dreaming about the house. Built in the 1850, it was full of light and felt cosy and welcoming even though the rooms were large. When we arrived home we got the keys which was one of the happiest days of my life!

Print by LisaLov, Beni Ourain rug*,  Amelia sofa, Octopus candleholder*

What kind of improvements have you made?

Over the last six years, we've made a series of small and bigger changes. We've mostly carried them out ourselves, with a little help from our parents - and always on a low budget. We didn't actually plan this in advance - it was more that we were careful to ensure each project cost as little as possible. Often you don't need to do re-do everything to make a big change, colour is a great way to transform a room!

How would you describe your style?

I have quite a varied style: a little vintage, a little bohemian, nordic, art deco - all in a crazy, eclectic mix! I still think that the aesthetic is fairly swedish: it's quite common to mix new and second hand pieces to create a cosy living space. 

The wallpaper in Jennie's bedroom was a flea-market find. Etsy is a great source for vintage wallpaper. 

I note from your Elfvinggården blog and instagram that you're a bit of a dab hand at DIY, have you always been creative?

I love DIY! We have loads of furniture such as armchairs and sofas which I've pimped up with the help of new legs. I'm always collecting old pieces even if they're in need of restoring. I feel it's in my blood as my grandmother was also a collector - I believe everything can be given a new lease of life!

Molntuss wallpaper, floor painted in Bright Calais by Nordsjö

What do you love the most about your home?

It's difficult to put my finger on it, I love so many things about it! That it's old, the handblown glass windows, the big light-filled stairway that allows space for my beloved carpenter's bench, the mature garden  - everything works together to give the house a wonderful feel!

What's next on your list of projects?
Right now we're building a chicken coop (we were hoping to have it ready in time for summer but never mind!). We're also dreaming about building a terrace and greenhouse!

And finally, do you have any favourite Swedish blogs you can recommend?

I wish I had more time to read blogs, but Krickelin, Elsa Billgren and Mokkasin are some of my favourites! 

Loving this hallway floor, it's so striking and relatively easy to create!

Thank you so much for inviting us into your lovely home Jennie!

For more pictures check-out Jennie's inspiring Elfvinggården blog and instagram where she documents her latest home improvements.

Is anyone else dreaming about a similar renovation project - or simple acquiring one of these incredible 19th century Swedish manor houses? Imagine!

Just in case - you might also like to take a peek at this 19th century house on Gotland, an old Swedish house with an outdoor oasis and a beautiful home in Malmö. 

Have a lovely day! 

Niki

PS We're still in holiday mode here in Sweden (currently on the stunning Danish island of Anholt in the middle of the Kattegatt sea) - I hope you don't mind that I will continue to blog every other day during the holidays in order to spend a little more time with the man and our crazies!I hope you're enjoying some down time too!

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