A Creative, Warm and Inviting Family Home In Natural Tones

When I search for beautiful spaces to share I often end up down a rabbit hole leading to a warren of new places  - and yesterday (during my hunt for ten beautiful hallways) - I stumbled across Yasmine's wonderful home. I discovered that when Yasmine isn't working as a freelance community manager for Instagram, she's sharing her passion for decor, fashion, and travel as well as special moments in life on her blog Bonjour la Smala.  Her house in Toulouse, France is a fine example of her unique creative streak and love of the arts. The family home is full of books, toys and art and earthy brown and caramel tones can be seen throughout - making it a truly warm and inviting space, and somewhere the entire family, including children Aymar and Jules, can relax and let their imaginations roam free.

Cane furniture is set to be a big trend in 2019. I've loved it ever since I was a child - my Grandmother lived in India in her thirties and brought back a lot of the cane furniture with when she returned to the UK. I have never seen an incredible unit like this one by Celine Herve though, have you? I love how  the guy in the picture looks like he's spinning some tunes!

"A house without books, is like a room without windows." So said Horace Mann, and when you see this space you can really see how much soul they add to a room. 

The open-plan floor nature of the space means the whole family can hang out and yet still be doing their own things - whether playing some records, reading or speeding around on a trike!  

Green armchair from Honoré Decor

The addition of a little children's chair is perfect for helping the coffee table to double up as a desk!

Yasmine's bedroom is usually relaxed with open storage for items she wears regularly (I love her style- she regularly posts picture of her clothes on IG - I'll be following closely from now on!).

Ikornnes mirror, dusty pink duvet cover*, mustard gold pillowcases*, larger artwork by Femke Colaris, smaller art to the right: Sisters Illustration by Depreapa (love this one!!). 

 How pretty is the baby deer reversible quilt in this little bedroom? It adds so much to the space. I went for a snoop and found the online shop does a whole load of pretty thing prints!

Be still my beating heart! Isn't this such a charming, warm and inviting home?! It really feels like it's been created from the heart.

You can see more pics of Yasmine's home, fashion and travel - as well as special moments in her life over on instagram @bonjourlasmala (such an inspiring account!) and blog Bonjour la Smala.

I really didn't intend for this to be a French phase on the blog (this is the third space in seven days!), but when the places are this beautiful who can blame me?!

By the way, I'm always open to requests, so if there is anything you'd love to see or want to know more about let me know and I'll do my best to create a post around it!

In the meantime, I'll love you and leave you with this archive full of bohemian homes (if this home crops up first, just scroll on past!). Enjoy!

Happy hump day! (Yup, still not used to that phrase... just doesn't ring right when you're from England! Anyone else feel the same?!).

Niki

// Photography: Yasmine / Bonjour La Smala shared with kind permission

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Making An Entrance: 10 Beautiful Scandinavian Inspired White and Wood Hallway Solutions

The hallway / entrance of a home is so important. Done right, and it can create beautifully calm, stress free mornings as well as set the scene for a warm, welcome home. Unfortunately, as a family of five, I'm starting to realise that it's also one of the hardest places to keep tidy - especially in the Swedish winter when everyone needs the most ridiculous amount of clobber (think snow trousers, hats, scarves, gloves, reflectors, helmets!...) - waaah! Do you feel the same?! Just in case, I've rounded-up ten Scandinavian-inspired wood and white hallway solutions, for the bohemian to the minimalist  and everyone in between! I hope you find some ideas for your own entrance!

1. Going boho (above):Yasmine's artsy hallway above (see the full tour of her home here) is all about the vintage, relaxed vibe. A rustic wood bench doubles up as a place to sit as well as provide a ledge for art, flowers and other items. Add a wall-mounted rack (with over 16 hooks no less!) and you're good to go! Perfect if you live alone or as a couple - or have another place to stash all that extra stuff for the kids!

Get the look: Try Etsy* for a similar rustic wooden bench*. This artwork* is similar.

2. Industrial Touch: when you have towering ceilings like these it'd be crazy not to make full use of the height! This clothes rail means you can double up on space (store the lesser used items on top and keep a hook handy). Kind of cool, in a contemporary industrial way - and practical too!

Henrik Nero for Alexander White 

Get the look: configure your own wall-mounted clothes rack.

3. Your very own island: Particularly good if your front door opens straight into a larger room like a sitting room, this solution helps to carve out an entrance-way and provide a place for shoes, bits and bobs. Smart!!

Leroy Merlin

Get the look: Try Ikea for simple wood and white wall mounted units like these. 

4. Clean and contemporary: This sleek hallway is ideal for the minimalists out there who don't have a husband with fluorescent orange squash shoes (apparently they were on sale). I'm liking how the shelving is open so you can grab and go!

Munk Collective

Get the look: items from Danish design firm Munk Collective. Try Farrow & Ball Strong White for the same pale grey floor (I have the same in my bedroom). 

5. Hanging Around: Love this all-in-one wooden solution - which sadly isn't big enough for my family's hallway needs - but if you're one or two, you're in luck! I'm thinking it would look perfect in a guest bedroom too!

Woud

Get the look: Tojbox, Oak storage by Danish firm Woud
6. DIY benchwork: This simple DIY solution made from plywood is ideal for a larger family with a whole load of stuff to store (I'm thinking, a 'bucket' each?!). Plus the surface can double up as a place to sit or plonk bags. Add a row of hooks above (in any shape or form) and you've got yourself a pretty neat and organised hallway!

Kotoisin.fi

Get the look: Get creative and build these with a little help from your local hardware store - or ask a local carpenter to make customised units to fit your space.

7. Behind closed doors: all hail built-in storage which makes the most of every inch (particularly awesome if you have a small hallway) - and keeps everything looking neat even if you have a lorry load of stuff. And this design has a built-in bench too! Yay!

Get the look: Ask around for a skilled carpenter to help re-create this or speak to the kitchen designers at IKEA (or other kitchen suppliers). 


8. It's a wrap! Despite the low quality picture I really wanted to include this! Built out of plywood, the customised unit makes use of otherwise dead space around a doorway and create bags of room  - genius!

9. Under the stairs: While creating this post I really wanted to try to offer a solution for everyone. In the UK, narrow hallways which run in line with the stairs are fairly common and leave little or no room for storage (my parents have an entrance exactly like this). This under-the stairs-solution pull-out solution is so clever! Not only does it provide plenty of space for yourself, you can close it up for a neat, minimalist look. "Stuff? What stuff?"

Matic & Garau

Get the look: a local carpenter can create custom-made storage like this for you. Add Muuto dots for everyday pieces. 

10. Airy Minimalism: This beautifully simple, narrow hallway in the beach house of Karine Kong is so dreamy. Clean and contemporary yet with a airy, beach vibe, it's perfect for a family with few belongings living somewhere lovely and warm.

Bodie & Fou

Get the look: view the complete hallway make-over 

I think I might just have got one step further to a new hallway that actually works. I'm looking at you number 7!

Did any particular solution stand out to you?

Feel free to leave hallway tips and tricks you've discovered below, I'm all ears!

Have a lovely day!

Niki

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A Relaxed, Vintage Inspired Family Home in the French Countryside

Why, hello there! How was your weekend? It's been snowing all morning here in Malmö - such a perfect excuse to pad around at home in chunky knit socks! I was so happy to see many of you also loved graphic designer, artist and interior decorator Zoé de Las Cases' Paris apartment on Friday. There's something so special about her style. As mentioned Zoe and her lovely family: husband Benjamin, daughter Olya (6), son Sacha (4) and dog Napoleon (1!) divide their time between Paris' 2nd arrondissement and their country home in Normandy, near Vernuil-sur-Avre, around one and half hours from the capital. When they first acquired the country house, it was in desperate need of some TLC. The family have been painstakingly renovating it, adding their unique touch - while being careful to maintain the beautiful original features. Bienvenue!

Zoe is a big fan of flea markets and nearly all of the items you see are second hand (inspires me to get hunting, how about you?!). The eclectic blend of items and materials as well as the simple wall to wall open shelving adds to the casual vibe of their country home. 

Falcon range oven in china blue, vintage chopping boards*, Ikeas kitchen cabinets with Östernäs leather pulls 

Glass windows dividers are one of Zoé's signature design traits; she's used them in her Paris apartment, studio and country home. I absolutely love them too. They offer a perfect way to maintain a light and airy, open plan feel while creating more intimate zones. The ones in this kitchen appear to be vintage (source beautiful vintage panes here*).

Anyone else notice how much the firewood column adds to the room? Perfect inspiration! I need a fireplace first, but if my dream ever comes true, I'm stacking the wood like this!

Cute wall-mounted sink alert - no doubt a vintage find. It looks perfect matched with the light blue tiles too, don't you think?

I'm not sure, but guessing that the original tiled floors throughout the ground floor were one of the reasons the family fell in love with the home. Aren't they stunning?

Anyone else now considering looking for a home deep in the country to do up? I'll be dreaming about this all week now!

In cased you missed it, you can take a peek at the family's Paris home here and read more about Zoé's latest projects here (there's also a load more pics on her instagram).

So friends, shall we go all out French again today? Why not! Here are a few spaces I've featured in the past and love:
The fab home of a French photographer and stylist
An opulent Paris apartment in minimalist style
A French kitchen is given. a modern twist
Inside the home of a French chef and photographer

Have a fabulous start to the week!

Niki x

PS Oh and my Lagom book is available in French - just in case any of my wonderful French friends fancy a read. I have such fond memories of my time in Paris over the launch! What a great city / country!

Photography: Zoé de Las Cases shared with kind permission

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For The Love of Rugs: Three Favourite Looks From Domotex 2019

It's amazing what a difference flooring can make to a home - whether you go for tiles, wood, concrete, wall-to-wall carpets (word on the street - or should I say feet - that these are starting to make a come back in Denmark!) - a space can be completely transformed in an instant. Needless to say, choosing what to go for can be so daunting! We definitely don't have enough rugs in our home (for this very reason) and in my mind, rugs / carpets are what make a home ultra snuggly - do you feel the same? This was top of my mind when I visited Domotex - the leading fair for flooring coverings - in Hanover last weekend. The theme was Create N Connect - and there was just so much to see! I couldn't resist a peek around the wood floor and tile halls, but my mind was on the carpets  - and there were three looks that stole my heart!

1. Timeless Contemporary

Located in the quadrangle formed by Austria, Germany, Switzerland and Liechtenstein, Tisca cultivate super cosy, unique hand-woven rugs. Their skilful weavers fashion treasures out of beautiful, hard-wearing textiles which are designed to last. I'm loving the extra chunk Olbia Campo rug below!

2. Modern Boho
For pretty rugs with warm colours, plenty of pattern. and a bohemian edge, Edelgrund is totally on point! Their stand had a souk like feel, showcasing their tribal carpets made in the homes of weavers in Iran. Each of Edelgrund's patterned kilim rugs are Fair Trade and tell an individual story.

3. Natural Toasty
I spent a disproportionate amount of time eating chocolate with Austrian based company Natur Pur. The small, family-run business creates a range of luxury hand-knotted rugs made from natural undyed wool for an extra toasty feel!

Aren't they beautiful?! Do you have a favourite?

Coral Garden
I'd like also like to do a special shout out to Vanessa Barragäo, who handcrafted the stunning Coral Garden. A notice next to the artwork read: "Global warming and pollution are destroying one of the world's most vital environments, the coral reefs, which are the heart of marine life's bio diversity." Vanessa used recycled materials to create the coral reef (which fades out from a healthy reef to the left and dying reef to the left) to raise awareness of up cycling and environmentally conscious production. Beautiful and so important!

My Tribe!
And last but not least: my tribe! It was so fun catching up and taking part in two panel discussions with my favourite blogger gang including (from left to right below) The Ruggist, Happy Interior, Monster Circus, Decor8 (the creative behind the stand seen in the first image), Camilla Bellini, Vosgesparis,  Passion Shake, (Me!), and Trend Stefan seen here on the stand of Jaipur Rugs. And a special thanks to Lars Rogall from Domotex for inviting us!

//Image credits (from top to bottom):
Taken by me, designed by Decor8, Stylizimo, Tisca, Edelgrund, Natur Pur, Lars Rogall / Domotex

//This post is brought to you in collaboration with Domotex. As always, all words are my own and I only ever work with brands, companies and events which I love.  

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