My Kitchen Renovation: 5 Kitchen Colours I love Right Now

In paid collaboration with Bosch 

Last week I mentioned that we're finally renovating our summer cottage kitchen - woohoo! I'm so excited. Not only is it well overdue (see the before pictures here) - it also means a lot of time drooling over swoon worthy kitchens on Pinterest. I've narrowed it down to five looks I love right now (not all practical, I must say, but a girl can dream, right?!). 

1. Blue / grey tones (above) This kitchen belongs to my friend Tina Lekeberg, who's a bit of a colour guru! I love the muted blue, green and grey tones she's used (the darker cabinets have been painted in NCS 6010-R90B and the lighter ones in Restful Le Havre). I'm also a big fan of the light grey marble worktop and backsplash (I've honestly lived with wood worktops for too long and I'm looking for something a little more practical this time round). I also like how the plants add an immediate sense of harmony! 

2. Sage green: This is definitely one of the big kitchen colours of 2019, and there's something so calming about it! Light green is certainly a strong contender for the cottage kitchen (I'll take a couple of samples up with me next time I go).  Are you a fan too? And just look at those little porcelain wall lights! They're from a local shop here in Malmö - and I've had my eye on them for so long.

3. In the pink: How fabulous is the colour of this Reform kitchen from?! As I said a girl can dream - but in reality, our cottage kitchen hasn't been decorated since the 1970s and probably won't get another facelift for fifty years - unfortunately this means I'm kind of going to have to reign it in a little in terms of colour and go for something a little more timeless, do you agree? Don't even get me started on the fabulous tiles!!

4. Two tone: Will you look at this Norwegian kitchen?! The interior architect has used a deeper blue-green on the lower cabinets and a lighter mint-green/blue on the upper cabinets. I also have my eye on the brass / gold touches (are you a silver or gold person?). Since the summer cottage is quite old, I might try to go ever so slightly more traditional with tarnished gold, we'll see!

5. Soft grey: Which leads me to the final kitchen. These soft grey cabinets and brass knobs in the home of Cille Grut were captured for my second book The Scandinavian Home (I'll never forget the day we spent photographing her beautiful house on the Danish coast). The light wood worktop adds a warm touch to the space so if I were to go down this route, I should definitely think about incorporating wood somewhere to prevent the look from appearing cold. What do you think?

IKEA LERHYTTAN cabinets are similar to the ones in the kitchen above. I think they could be perfect for a small kitchen as they are fairly understated and don't take up too much 'visual space'. Also, Bosch appliances fit seamlessly with these IKEA cabinets (I'm very keen to integrate the dishwasher, oven, fan, fridge etc.) so this could be spot on! Hmmmm. Lots to think about! 

Next step: measuring-up and designing the layout. Oh, and testing those colour samples I mentioned. It suddenly feels like there's so much to do! 

I'm looking forward to updating you with my progress next week. In the meantime, please do weigh in below, I'd love to hear your thoughts! 

Niki

Picture credits: 1. Niki Brantmark / Tina Lekeberg 2. Photography Petra Bindell, Styling Emma Persson Lagerberg. 3. Reform 4. Photographer Nicklas Hart, Interior Architect Cecilie Claussen 

5. The Scandinavian Home published by CICO Books. Photography by James Gardiner © CICO Books 

*This series is in paid collaboration with Bosch. However, all words and pictures are my own and I only ever work with brands I love and think you will too. 

READ MORE...

10

Snapshots From A Charming Swedish Family Home

Hallå! It's been an early start for Per and I today as we needed to come up to the cottage to take some measurements for the kitchen renovation. It feels like the rest of Sweden are still asleep after yesterday's Valborg celebrations (more about this at the end of yesterday's post)! Perhaps we should all tread lightly in today's home tour, just in case?! The pretty home belongs to Emma Johansson, a freelance writer and photographer and the creative behind @whatdecoratesmyday, her sambo (live in partner) and two young children. Located in central Stockholm, the living space is a beautiful mix of vintage classics, antiques and contemporary items - and plants and flowers are never far away. Välkommen in!

A Söderhamn sofa from IKEA has been covered in a Bemz loose fit white linen cover for a relaxed touch. I know many panic at the thought of a white cover with children around, but the beauty of removable covers is that they can just be thrown in the wash. I bet that fluffy brown rug feels so cosy under foot too, don't you?! 

Love the climbing plant, it really adds to the space (see my guide here) -mind you with those windows to play with..... 

I wish I had a bigger picture of Emma's room as it looks so pretty! But just from this snapshot you can at least get an idea of the details - which include a Natalia rattan headboard, little antique side table  (customised with a concrete surface) and a cosy dark grey wall. 

The children's room is equally charming - from the vintage cast iron bed* and moroccan carpet (this is a great source*) to the wallpaper (by Hanna Wendelbo) and little alcove. How I would have loved this room as a child, how about you?!

Although these are all slightly more 'pulled-in' images, I hope you can still get a sense of the beauty of Emma's home - and get some ideas for your own home! 

If you'd like to see a little more, it's worth checking out Emma's lovely instagram and blog. 

Right (*slaps thighs*), I'd better get on with that kitchen measuring - in the meantime, I'll love you and leave you with these beautiful homes:

The boho home and atelier of a Swedish artist and florist

A charming Gothenburg Home with a Hint of English Style

A vintage style Swedish home full of soul

Oh so lovely, don't you think?

Ha det så fint!

Niki

Photography: Emma Johansson

Affiliate links marked with *

READ MORE...

2

Feeling The Zen From 'The House of Silence'

The House of Silence. What a lovely name. And the space certainly lives up to it. Designed and visualised by Maria Marinina in 2018, the 62 square metre (667 square foot) is surrounded by woodland and combines a wealth of natural materials from cool stone to warm wood which add contrast and interest to the largely neutral scheme. The space also pays homage to many of the hottest interior trends right now, including pivoted screen doors (love these!), sculptured furniture, asymmetric mirrors, dried flowers and subtle textiles in cream, pink-rust and tan hues, all off which contribute warmth and softness to the open-plan living space. Welcome to the world of Zen!

GET THE LOOK

1. Fringe mirror / Ben & Aja Blanc (if you feel like getting creative, there's a DIY here!)

2. IKEA Stockholm 2017 bench

3. Safavieh table*

4. Pholc 150 wall light

5. Nauta wool rug

6. Mark Tuckey stool

7. Naina side table

I wonder how quickly your pulse would lower just walking through the door?! Sure, these pictures were taken immediately after the project was finished so unless you were a total neatnik you'd have a load more stuff (I speak for myself here!) - but I think the natural materials would still shine through and bring a huge sense of calm. 

Is this your kind of style?

See more pictures of The House of Silence, and the floor plan here. 

Thank you so much to Desire To Inspire for the tip!

Are you doing anything this evening? It's Valborgsmässoafton (try pronouncing that!!) here in Sweden. Known as Walpurgis night in English, every 30th of April local communities in Sweden gather around bonfires and sing to welcome spring to the northern shores! Let's just hope the rain holds off! 

Have a Zen day!

Niki

Design & Visualisation: Maria Marinina 

READ MORE...

13

A Considered Swedish Home In Soothing Neutrals

Hej Vänner! How was your weekend? Mine was going so well until I realised my beloved bike had been stolen - waaah! It really was one of my most prized possessions. I saved up to buy it years ago and my two little girls used to sit on the back to go to dagis (nursery). I've used it every single day rain or shine! Have you ever had anything precious to you stolen? I'm consoling myself in the only way I know how - by taking a look around a beautiful Scandinavian home! And I think it's working (momentarily!). Come and join me for a peek at the tranquil Swedish home of Amanda Axelsson. Amanda is a UX / Digital designer and self-confessed 'photoholic interior lover with a creative mind'. She's decorated her minimalist home with considered pieces and the slightest hint of black (for contrast) against a backdrop of wonderfully soothing shades. Enjoy the tour! 

The sofa looks as though it could be the IKEA Karstad 3 Seater sofa with a Brero linen natural loose fit cover*. The prints are from Wall of Art. 

How cool is that Pholc 150 wall lamp?! 

I've got my on this Double Bubble lamp* designed by Eero Aarnio, isn't it fab?! I also love the Balance candle-holder* - it looks great rested on a book or magazine. 

Muuto Ambit pendant, Hay soft edge chairs*

House doctor wall lamp, Kristina Dam oak stool (bottom picture)

Wow! The entire home just feels so effortless! So lovely, don't you think?

Is there anything that stood out to you? 

Take a peek at other soothing Swedish homes in this archive (it's never too early in the week to put your feet up!). 

Right, I'm off to find my bike. Funnily enough my friend Genevieve had a really rare type of bike stolen here in Malmö and it actually turned up on a second-hand site a few days later, can you believe that?! I think Gen ended up buying hers back because she couldn't actually prove it was hers. Imagine?  

Have a fabulous start to the week friends - and remember to triple lock that bike of yours! 

Niki

Photography: Amanda Axelsson - shared with kind permission. 

READ MORE...

7