A Lovely, Understated, Warm and Inviting Berlin Home

Why, hello there Friday - how lovely to see you! If I could choose where I'd like to be hanging out over the next couple of days it would be here! First of all it's in Berlin (yes, yes, I know; I totally wax lyrical about it being one of my favourite cities, but it's true!). And secondly - the home has such a lovely vibe to it. Jana shares daily shots of it on her instagram @Pixiswelt (German speaking friends, does this mean something in particular?) and I love that the space is pared-back and understated and yet makes me want to pull up a chair and stay for a while! I put this down to the beautiful dark wall in the sitting room, the artwork (look closely and you'll see one of the pieces is actually a rug*) and the plants - they do so much! Needless to say, the apartment also has incredible bones  - and on warmer days, the balcony door can be thrown open to draw in great gasps of air. An all-round beauty! 

 Era chairs*, Eames chair*

Ferm Living rug* (on wall)

Striped Moroccan blanket*

Such a lovely home tour with which to round-off the week, don't you think?! 

Is there anything you loved in particular? I really like the idea of the Ferm Living rug* on the wall!  

Other Berlin spaces to love this weekend (bet you saw that coming!): a bohemian touch in a magnificent Berlin home, before and after: a Berlin studio undergoes a magnificent make-over and Josi's relaxed and super charming home.

Have a fabulous weekend y'all!

Niki x

PS I've signed up to do 'Toughest Family' with my daughters on Sunday which I'm now seriously  regretting! Wish me luck, I'm gonna need it! Hope your plans are, errrr, slightly more relaxing! 

Photography: Jana / @pixiswelt

Affiliate links marked with *

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My Latest Bedroom Update (+ Get The Look!)

Sponsored by Nordal*

As you know, the top floor of our townhouse is one big room which we use as our bedroom and home office. Open plan is wonderful - it creates an airy, light-filled space. But at the same time I've learned it can also present challenges - like less privacy, the need to carve out zones and create cosiness. But I think I've finally found the solution: a rattan room divider from Danish brand Nordal. It makes a PERFECT screen - and I think it's so pretty too! While placing my order, I couldn't resist throwing a few other pieces into my cart (as you do!). And now I can lie in bed without looking at my huge pile of 'things to do' on my desk and wake up to fresh blooms instead. Phew! Here's a glimpse of my latest bedroom update. 

I love the imperfection in the rattan - my entire bedroom felt instantly more relaxed when I added it. It was like it had always been there. Don't you love it when that happens?

The stool is made from solid teak and I love the irregular shape. I picked up the vase years ago in a flower shop (you've probably spotted it in other parts of my home before).

I'm still so happy with the wall colour (Blushing Peach)  - can you hear Per breath a sigh of relief?! FYI: our floor colour looks white but it's actually Strong White by Farrow & Ball which is a very pale grey. You can find out more about the armchair and linen bed cover here.

A while back I remember a reading a birthday card that said 'Dot went out to the shops to buy a chocolate bar and found a dress to match' - and that was completely the the case with this amber vase. I felt it went so nicely with the 70s vibe of the rattan screen, and it adds something sculptural to our windowsill too! So pleased with it! 

In case you're curious about all the items I've added, here's the complete low down:

GET THE LOOK

1. Burgundy cushion cover
2. Rattan divider
3. Teak wooden stool
4. Rilla vase (medium)
5. Rilla vase (small)

Nordal has an online store in Denmark. If you live outside Denmark, search for your nearest stockist here.

If you're wondering about anything else in my bedroom just give me a shout below!

Have a 'dejligt' day!

Niki

*This post is in paid partnership with Nordal, however all words are my own and I only ever work with brands I love and think you will too. 

Photography and styling: Niki Brantmark / Felicia Alm

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Before And After: A Dated Georgia House Gets The Scandi Treatment!

Oh, how I love to see before and after shots. I find it so inspiring to get an idea of the complete transformation - and the feeling that anything is possible with a little imagination and hard graft (and depending on the scale, some cash, of course!) - how about you? When my amazingly talented friend Valentina Fussell acquired her home in Georgia, Atlanta it was dated and a sea of beige, beige and more beige. But the moment she and her husband Jack and their three children stepped through the door they were in love. Looking at the bones, I can totally see why! Valentina had the vision to turn the house into a striking, contemporary, light-filled home inspired by their years abroad, including a stint in Copenhagen. You might recall a previous feature of the house here (and a tour of their Danish home here) but I couldn't resist revisiting the space today to share a little more about the transformation and show some of the before pictures. Drumroll, please! 

KITCHEN (BEFORE)

AFTER 

Valentina and Jack completely gutted the kitchen and decided on dark grey cabinets (from Bell Cabinetry & Design) to add energy and a sense of drama to the space. Dark colours also help to mask appliances. 

VALENTINA'S OFFICE (BEFORE)

AFTER

Perhaps the most dramatic room in the house, Valentina's office has been painted entirely in dark grey. the large windows help to bathe the space in light. It reminds me a little of the lovely home of Lotta Agaton - what do you think? 

LIVING ROOM (BEFORE)

AFTER

Valentina stuck to her monochromatic scheme and added warmth with details such as books, figurines, photos and plants as well as cushions and blankets. The wood floor is from Authentic Reclaimed Hardwoods and selected due to the imperfect 'alive' nature of the grain which adds texture and a relaxed feel to the monochrome space. I have to say; this room is BEYOND...!!! 

JACK'S OFFICE (BEFORE)

AFTER

This bedroom was transformed into Jack's office. A work in progress (although I struggle to see how it can be improved!), the office has been decorated with a black and white scheme with added texture and interest from a large, patterned rugs, art other personal possessions. 

MASTER BATHROOM (BEFORE)

AFTER

The master bathroom was the first room in the house to be renovated. The pair opted for a more classic look so it would stand the test of time. 

VALENTINA'S DAUGHTER'S ROOM

Valentina's daughter was given free rein to decorate her bedroom. And judging by the results, it seems an eye for design runs in the family! My eldest daughter also loves to personalise her room with pictures - usually ripped out without scissors and haphazardly stuck to the wall using copious amounts of Sellotape! I am feeling particularly inspired by the way the pictures have been displayed in this teenage bedroom! Great inspiration! Thank you! 

What an incredible transformation, don't you think?! Valentina is just so clever!! 

If you're curious to hear more about the renovations and see more of the home (including 'the catwalk' and amazing conservatory, take a peek at her films here and here. 

Valentina recently relaunched House of Valentina stateside and helps others buy, sell, renovate and decorate. One day she dreams of opening a shop loaded with all the items used to stage and decorate homes. If she does, I'll be the first in line, how about you?! 

See more fabulous 'before and afters'! 

Have a lovely day! 

Niki

Photography courtesy of Valentina Fussell with thanks. 

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How To Update Your Rental In 6 Easy Steps

I receive a lot of mails from people who love the inspiration on My Scandinavian Home (thank you!) - but feel it's not always possible to incorporate the ideas into a rental space. I hear you! Having lived in rental apartments myself in the past (including some lovely ones, but also one very run down rental flat in London - where I spent some VERY happy years!) - I understand the limitations first hand. Depending on the landlord - you're pretty stuck with the architectural layout, floor, wall colour etc. But don't feel deterred - there are so many simple, budget friendly, reversible ways to transform even the darkest, dingiest of living spaces into a beautiful haven - no drills in sight! Here are 6 simple updates to get your started:

1. Let there be light! Strategically placed mirrors are ideal for reflecting natural light into dark corners and will make your rental space feel bigger. Avoid drilling into the wall by propping larger mirrors against the wall (a simple DIY stand as seen below might come in handy).

2. Get a handle on it: You might not be able to do anything about the overall colour, but you can add a personal touch to your kitchen, bathroom and other storage by swapping out the handles (try IKEA). Remember to save the original handles so you can swap them back when you move out.

3. Drape love: Not keen on the colour of your walls - or dealing with some very unsightly storage units?! Curtains (like the ones below by Gotain) are a beautiful, budget friendly way to add warmth, texture and personality to your rental while hiding a multitude of sins (including woodchip)! Plus if you have noisy neighbours (or you like to bliss out to your own tunes late at night) they act as a great sound absorber too!

4. Plant life: the 'urban jungle' movement has taken off big time in the past few years with green shoots springing up in homes all over the world! And it's perfect for rental spaces too. Plants add colour, vibrancy and freshness. Think about going big with a tree or creating a plant cluster with a selection of your favourite shrubs. See my ultimate guide to indoor climbers and hanging plants.  

5.  For the love of rugs! The floor can be a bit of a lottery when it comes to rental spaces - and it's unlikely you're going to want to rip up a plastic laminate in favour of a wood floor or wall-to-wall carpet as a gift to your landlord (no matter how tempting!). If you're floor is less than desirable look out for rugs that cover as much as the room as possible, or layer them up to create a pretty, soft mosaic. They'll help your living space feel more cosy, block-out drafts and work as a great sound dampener too. 

6. Going up! Don't under estimate the power of the ceiling! My London rental had a slightly yellow- tinged ceiling thanks to the previous tenants who were smokers and I remember staring up at it at night! If only I had thought about draping a canopy above my bed! Not only do swathes of fabric add that hygge feel but you can also pick out a colour and texture you love for a simple yet impactful update to the room! 

I hope you find some of these ideas helpful! 

Please feel free to weigh in with your own - I'd love to hear your ideas, tips and tricks! 

Niki

Photo credits: 1 Mikael Lundblad / Christina. 2 Erik Lefvander 3 & 4 Felicia Alm 5 Jesper Florbrant / Lovisa Häger for Gotain curtains. 6.Cajsa Berndsdotter 7 Malin Persson 8 Hilton Carter 9 Mikael Lundblad / Christina 10 Anders Bergstedt / Nouvel Interior

Thank you to Felicia Alm for all the help putting this post together! 

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