My Film: How To Invite More Natural Light Into Your Home

Paid partnership with VELUX:
How much natural light do you have in your home? Living in Sweden - where we have an abundance of light in the summer and a shortage in winter - I've learned just how incredibly important light is in the home. When we plan our living space, it's easy to start with the fun stuff - like colours and furniture - but actually, the first thing we should do is go back to the basics and think about the light. After all, trends come and go, but you'll always benefit from the effects of the sun! Studies have shown that natural light boosts your body's vitamin D storage, helps you to sleep better and improve your mood. By bringing more light into your home you'll also create a warm and cosy atmosphere, open up your living space to more possibilities and create a more user-friendly space. In other words, we'll all feel happier at home!

Using light colours, opting for gloss finishes and adding mirrors help to bounce light around. But what happens if your room simply doesn't receive enough natural light in the first place? Whether you're working with your existing home or planning a new build, skylights can do wonders for a living space.

A few weeks back I shared my thoughts (in Swedish with English subtitles) in a film made in collaboration with Danish brand VELUX, the world's leading manufacturer of Roof windows, flat roof windows, sun tunnels and roof window blinds. Click below to take a peek if you're curious!



You can also read the full interview here (in Swedish).

Have you considered adding skylights to your home? Or perhaps you've already added skylights? Either way I'd love to hear your thoughts!

Niki

This post is brought to you in collaboration with VELUX, however all words are my own and I only ever work with brands I love and think you will too. Thank you for supporting the businesses that make My Scandinavian Home possible. 

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This Lovely 1930s Malmö Flat Could Be Yours!

I feel like I've been keeping very close to home lately on the blog - what with the beautiful house just over THE bridge in Copenhagen yesterday and another lovely Danish home just a short hop by sailboat on Friday. But today, I'm going even closer. This little number is situated right here in Malmö! In fact it's a stone's throw from my studio in the mysigt (cosy) Davidshall area. If I were to exchange my house for an apartment in the centre of town, this space could well be it (can you picture per getting nervous on the other side of town?!). It has everything on my list - from the 1930s period features, large windows, double doors leading from room to room, a beautiful parquet floor and a little balcony for morning coffees. Oh, and a load of little cafes, restaurants and boutiques just outside the door. What more could a girl want?! Ready to take a look around?

I think this cosy rug is from Tisca. I've actually ordered a similar one following my trip to Transylvania earlier this year (couldn't resist!). The classic shelves are by String (based right here in Malmö!).

These are the double 'spegeldörr' I was talking about - they are fairly common in old Swedish abodes and add such a wonderful element of grandeur to a space - don't you think?!

I'll never tire of dark blue walls - especially in the bedroom, how about you?! The Walton Ford print is from the Louisiana Museum of Modern Art (I actually went to that exhibition and it was pretty amazing. Kicking myself now for not picking up a poster in the shop! Guh! (FYI this museum has the best shop E.V.E.R!). The bench - which understandably seems to be popping up in homes everywhere - is the Stockholm 2017 coffee table from IKEA.

What do you reckon, could you imagine living here too?

If you snap it up, let me know as you'll be just around the corner and we can go for a Swedish fika!

I'm so proud of my adopted home city - and have showed many Malmö home tours in the past. A few of my favourites include this magnificent pad (those tiled fireplaces!), a stunning family home (our daughters go to gymnastics together and I am always bowled over when I stop by Malin's home!) and an atmospheric home in dark tones (also lovely!).

If you're planning a visit, you might find my local Malmö guide helpful (and of course, you can always give me a shout in the comment section or by email if you need any tips!).

It's a rare double post day today. I'll be stopping by later to share a film about natural light that I made with VELUX. I hope you are going to like it. It's my Swedish debut - eeeek (we filmed in Swedish but with English subtitles)!

Until then, friends...

Niki

Photography courtesy of Bo-laget with thanks

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A Copenhagen Family Home Full of Books and Scandi Design Treasures

What would a home be without books?! For Miriam McKenna, an Australian gal living in Denmark, it's a case of "so many books, such little time!" Just the way it should be, don't you think?! When Miriam's not working as a postdoctoral researcher specialising on the theory and history of international law at a Swedish university, she's relaxing in her beautiful, light-filled home near Copenhagen airport with her Danish husband and their two young children. The brick villa is full of interesting details - including Scandinavian vintage (and contemporary) design pieces, art, subtle shades of blue, patterned wallpaper and of course, lots and lots of books! Ready to kick off the week, in style? Let's take a tour!

Oval Room Blue paint by Farrow & Ball, Stelton jug (I have loved this iconic Danish design piece even more since interviewing the designer's son earlier this year).  

The white shelves were homemade to fit the space. I really like how they extend over the doorway to make use of every inch of the wall!

Vintage daybed with Josef Frank fabric from Svenskt Tenn, Pull floor lamp*, Le Klint pendant* 

Fjällraven mini rucksack*, Pale Powder paint by Farrow & Ball 

Paradiset Wallpaper by Josef Frank for Svenskt Tenn, Bed from Oliver Furniture, Alvar Aalto chair

Duktig play kitchen from IKEA

Aranami wallpaper from Farrow & Ball

This house has me wanting to paint my home in shades of pale blue! That, and spend the whole week there reading!

Is there anything that stands out to you about Miriam's Copenhagen home?

If you're curious to read more, there's a really funny interview with Miriam and a few more pics over on A Cup of Jo. I'm always interested to read about families with dual nationalities, I think that's why it resonated with me so much. 

It'd be rude not to share a few more Copenhagen home tours today, or what do you reckon? So... pull up a comfy chair, pour yourself an extra strong coffee, light a candle (you know, hygge n'all!) and take a scroll through these inspiring Danish homes: 

A cosy danish loft full of plants and vintage treasures

Books, art and golden tones in a Copenhagen home

The timeless Danish home of a jewellery designer and vintage furniture collector

Have a great start to the week!

Niki

Photography: Freya McOmish, Design: Miriam McKenna, first featured on A Cup of Jo.

*affiliated links

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Peek Inside A Family Home In The Danish Fishing Village off Dragør

Our very first sail of the year is always to Dragør, a charming fishing village on Denmark's east coast, not far from Copenhagen. The harbour, is lined with pretty golden cottages and seafood restaurants serving fish fresh off the boat and the happy sound of children crabbing echos across the water. I have often wondered what lies behind the facade of the ochre houses and today I stumbled across the home of Mille Emilie (AKA SANOMA SEVEN), Lasse and three-and-a-half year-old Frida who reside in the village. Imagine my excitement! Their house was built in 1923 and used to be made up of two properties. Today, the family of three (soon to be four - they are expecting a little girl in December) occupy the ground floor while they continue to renovate the entire house. Mille and Lasse are carrying out as much of the renovation as possible themselves while ensuring everything they do reflects the style of the house down to the last detail. Here's a sneak peek at some of the lovely rooms they've completed so far!

Although not the facade of Mille and Lasse's actual house, I couldn't resist sharing this picture of a cobbled road in Dragør which I snapped on a recent trip to the little village they live in.  

The prints in the sitting room have been picked up at Desenio, Fabrek and Hein Studio*. The sofa is from Bolia. 

"We were keen to renovate the house so that it matches the style of the period in which it was built - using good materials and attention to detail." 

A Panthella lamp* designed by Verner Panton adds a mid-century touch to the living room. 

I've seen these iconic Ljungby vases many times in the past, but never as a big a group like this - love this idea! 

The kitchen is still a work in progress - but we're already seeing some fine details - including an island crafted by Oak Studio and a faucet from Quooker Denmark (it looks a little like the brass one I have in my summer cottage kitchen - I absolutely love this slightly aged look!). 

"We are doing a lot of the renovation ourselves. We have been tiling the kitchen, renovating the bathroom - what a job with all those tiles! And we're trying to put our own personal stamp into everything we do."  

In the bathroom, the pair have opted for a sink cabinet from IKEA, traditional brass faucet and shower from AQUADOMO and opal wall lights from Nuura. 

Total side note, but this reminds me - I featured a loo on my instagram squares the other day for the first time and it's gone completely bananas - over 17000 likes so far and growing rapidly. Loo round-up to follow soon perhaps! Meanwhile, the one in this bathroom is pretty smart, don't you think? 

The trick to creating a bed which makes you want to dive under the covers and stay? Layering! Mille and Lasse have dressed their bed with a graphic throw from Danish brand Semibasic and Dromedary bedding from Swedish brand Midnatt. I also spy the iconic Flos Parentesi light* in the corner. 

I absolutely love this children's room. A lot of the items are from Ferm Living including the Katie Scott Animals wallpaper*, kilim 'borders' rug* and apple braided storage basket*. 

What's next?  One day Mille and Lasse hope to divide the house into two once again so that Mille's parents can live next door. "My Father was very sick last year and is still recovering. It would be great to have him close by" explained Mille.  In the meantime, Mille and Lasse will continue to renovate the house in preparation for their new arrival in December.

You can keep up to date with their latest renovation projects on Mille's blog SANOMA SEVEN and instagram @mille_emilie.

I can't wait to see what they do next, how about you?

Is there anything that stood out to you in particular about their home?

There's a load more Danish style to feel inspired by this weekend in the Danish Home and Danish Apartment archives. So many goodies in there!

Right. All that's left to do now is sit back and enjoy the fact that it's Friday! Woohoo! I have to say, I never really recovered from my long day to Stockholm on Monday (do you find things like that have a knock on effect?). So my family and I have agreed to have a VERY lazy morning tomorrow: hang out in our PJ's, sip coffee, eat croissants - and generally take it easy. Oh and there's also the small question of a hamster cage that needs cleaning (did I mention we caved under pressure and 'Dexter' joined the Brantmark team last weekend?! He's very sweet). Let me tell you now, cleaning his cage is definitely not my job but I know it'll end up being me! Do you have any experience from this kind of thing?

I hope you've got a lovely weekend lined up too - and most importantly, that you get a chance to chill!

See you Monday!

Niki

Photography: all photos by Mille Emilie except the second picture, which I took with my phone on a recent sailing trip to Dragør. 

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