Holly Becker's Fab Hannover Home, Podcast and Magazine!

When I first started blogging, I remember reading about people meeting friends online - and often wondered how! Fast forward 8 years, and I am proud to say I have made many friends through my blog. Have you found that over time you've met friends online too? I feel particularly lucky to be a part of the interior design blog community - it's an incredibly supportive gang! A few years back one of my online blogger friends - Holly Becker of Decor8, became a great offline friend when we met at Habitare in Helsinki. This lady amazes me and is so inspiring in every way! Not only does Holly curate one of the world's top design blogs, she's also a best-selling author and editor of HOLLY magazine. And now she's started a podcast series to boot (because clearly, she wasn't busy enough....!) read on to have a listen! Originally from Boston, USA, Holly lives in Hannover, Germany with her husband Thorsten and five-year-old son, Aidan. Their home has crazy high ceilings, beautiful period features and a wonderful minimalist vibe with trademark touches of pastel. Welcome to Holly's world! 

Above: Z1 pendant, Menu chair*

Rest sofa by Muuto, Panthella lamp*

'Leaf me' art print* by Silke Bonde

Bed from Fennobed / headboard from Matri, Flowerpot lamp*

Bed from Oliver Furniture

Such a lovely home - it's got a really calm feel about it, don't you think?

Our podcast recording 

Last month Holly invited me to Hamburg to participate in the first ever episode of her new podcast series HELLO HOLLY. We had so much fun chatting about Scandinavian design, blogging and well, life! I couldn't resist a peek behind the scenes of HOLLY magazine too. 

In case you're curious to hear our chat, it's now available on Spotify, AudioNow and iTunes and I've also embedded it below. I hope you enjoy it as much as we did recording it! 

PODCAST

Holly's magazine

Having seen the moodboards, it felt extra special to see Holly's magazine hit the shelves last week. It's also available online here (in German).  Don't speak German? What?! ;) The English version will be out at the end of the month (can't wait!).  

Thank you for a great time in Germany, Holly. 

Here's to friends, near and far! 

Niki

Photography credits: Holly Becker / Decor8

This post contains affiliate links (marked with *)

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The Shack: A Super Cosy Off-The-Grid Cabin On Bruny Island

Sorry about the radio silence these past few days. I've been on a girl's trip with my Mum and sister to Norway. We did nothing but sleep, eat and hike, it was absolutely magical! Have I mentioned how much I LOVE Norway? *Everyone rolls eyes*.  This morning I'm dreaming of returning to the wilderness and would so love to swap my desk for this simple, earthy cabin in Bruny Island, Tasmania. Affectionately known as The Shack, the cosy bolthole is fully off-the-grid (power comes from solar and wind sources) and is built from reclaimed timber.  Owner Janene invites guest to "beachcomb for art supplies, forage in the herb gardens for breakfast, reconnect with Mother Nature" and kick about in the cosy space, overlooking Sheepwash Bay. Fancy joining me? 

I love this linen combination, doesn't it fit the vibe of the cabin perfectly? If you're feeling inspired, you can source similar brown and indigo linen bedding on Etsy. 

On colder days the wood-burning fireplace keeps the cabin feeling toasty! 

The cabin has an indoor kitchenette with outdoor cooking facilities including a glass burner. 

Your stay is an eco-living experience. Lights are 12 volts and the hot water is instant gas with an inline pump bringing fresh rain water in for you to bathe and drink.  

A pair of king billy French doors open out onto a deck from where you can enjoy dreamy views out over the bay with the snow-capped Southern ranges in the distance. 

From the deck, you can wonder down to the private beach front and launch a kayak, fish or simply stroll along the shore. 

Bags packed yet?

The Shack sleeps two (remind me to speak to Per about this later today!) and Janene takes bookings via Airbnb here. Juuuust saying! 

I've featured so many charming places in 'Tas' recently that I'm starting to see it as a sign (what do you reckon?). Here are a few other homes I think you'll love:

Captain's Cottage: a cosy bolthole on Hobart
A relaxed artist's cabin by the sea
You very own dream island hide-away

Have a dreamy start to the week friends!

Niki

PS I loved reading all your comments about whether or not to go for two single duvets or a double on a double bed last week! My conclusion from reading all your comments, e-mails and instagram messages is that the best solution is to go for two queen duvets on a king size bed. Bliss!

Photography by Sarah Andrews courtesy of The Shack / @sheepwashbay

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5 Reasons To Swap Your Double Duvet for Two Singles (Scandi Style!)

When I moved to Sweden more than 16 years ago, I assumed Per (as a bachelor) had to cobble together two single duvets in lieu of not having a double duvet for my stay. As time went on though, I realised it was intentional, and that in fact almost EVERY marital bed in Scandinavia uses two single duvets instead of a double! Look very closely at pictures of Nordic bedrooms and unless there's been some very clever styling at play, you'll more than likely spot it. Stay at a Nordic hotel, and you'll experience it first-hand. Of course, being ever the romantic, I insisted on a double duvet at first - and Per reluctantly obliged, but as time went on, I realised perhaps our Scandi friends have a point. Here are five reasons why! 

1. Staying snug, your way! I love to have all the windows open, even if it's howling a gale or we're in deep mid-winter (the Brit in me, for sure!) whereas Per likes to keep them firmly shut even in the height of summer. The truth is all our bodies behave differently at night and feel good at different temperatures. The beauty of having your own duvet means that you can choose a duvet / bed cover thickness that works for you and be as cool or warm as you like! 

"We all have different body temperatures, and some sweat more than others at night. Some prefer a warmer duvet, while others something cooler. It's therefore a good idea to have bedding that caters to your specific needs. The type of material can also play a roll - you may prefer a warmer flannel style material or linen for a more airy feel" -  Helena Kubicek Boye, Swedish sleep expert and author of Sömnsagor (a children's story book designed to help children fall asleep more easily).  

2. You can sleep like a starfish (if you like): Still on the topic of body temperature (yes, this is all highly practical stuff) - having your own duvet means you can cool your limbs at will  - stick out your right leg, left leg, elbow from under the covers whoever. you like... whatever feels best to get that all important shut eye! Just as long as you're not encroaching onto your partners side too much, obvs. 

3. No more fighting over the covers! There's always someone who steals the duvet, isn't there? You know, the one who's wrapped like a swaddled baby, deep in REM while the other freezes on the other side of the bed. Well guess what? If you have your own duvet, this won't happen. E.V.E.R! 

4. You can take it with you! Snoring partner? Feeling unwell? Simply can't sleep? There are many reasons you may need to get up in the middle of the night and move somewhere else to get your slumber. The beauty of having your own duvet is you can take it with you - and when you get to your new destination (the sofa, spare bed, your children's bedroom floor, the dog basket!), it'll still feel cosy and warm! 

5. The morning wrap! You may be entirely in synch or perhaps one of you is a night owl and the other an early bird. All is fair in love and war, but if you do like to sit up and read longer than your partner or enjoy breakfast in bed while the other sleeps on, the angle you'll create when you sit up and the other is lying down is bound to disturb. If you have your own duvet, however, they'll sleep on in their swaddle - and you'll enjoy blissful silence until the family awakes! 

Sound unromantic? "Of course, you can always creep under your partner's cover and be cosy anyway, but it's great to be able to choose!" says Helena. 

These days I'm definitely in the two single duvets camp (if you look closely at the last two pictures, both taken in my bedroom at various points in time you might just spot the overlap!). And guess what? I really do sleep a whole lot better!

Which camp are you in? I'd love to hear more about how you sleep! 

Niki

PS I'm off to Norway today to meet my Mum (it's her birthday!) and younger sister for a long weekend. Feeling super excited as it's one of my favourite countries in the world! I'll be back here blogging again on Monday, have a great few days - sweet dreams! 

Credits: 1. HM Home 2. Kvarteret Mäkleri 3 & 4. Entrance Mäkleri 5. Fantastic Frank 6. & 7. Historiska Hem 8. Jotex 9 & 10 My Scandinavian Home

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A Cosy Off-The-Grid Cabin in The Woods

There's two ways go in Autumn / Winter - embrace it or escape it. And boy does Alice Saunders embrace it. When Alice isn't making travel bags for her successful business Forestbound in Boston, she's escaping to her magical cabin in the woods in the heart of New Hampshire. It's 'escape' in every essence of the word. Located at the end of a dirt track, the off-the-grid cabin has no running water or electricity and mobile reception can only be obtained by rowing across the lake! Alice and her boyfriend spent several years renovating the space on a shoestring budget, furnishing it with charming vintage pieces and cosy layers of textiles. The result is an unbelievably cosy, rustic, relaxed living space where the pair can truly switch off, read and enjoy the surroundings - completely uninterrupted! Time to dream....

This has to be one of the cosiest little cabins I've ever seen! I'd so LOVE to be kicking about there right now, candles lit, book in hand. How about you? 

It would also make the most perfect writers retreat, don't you think? Once, of course, I've come up with a topic - details friends, details!

Could you imagine escaping here for a few days too?!

If you'd like to see more pictures,  hop on over to Alice's instagram here. Better still, if you're planning a long weekend at a similar log cabin, you might just want to pick up one of her Forestbound original tote or carryalls made from found and salvaged textiles. They're fab! 

There's a load more dreamy places to drool over in the rural retreats and log cabin archives (some of which are also on Airbnb - just saying!). 

Have a cosy day! 

Niki

Photography: Alice Saunders, shared with kind permission.

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