Our Weekend At A Swedish Cabin In The Calm of The Forest

My Scandinavian Home Partnership:
In Sweden, there's a season for everything. To me, the summer is about lazy days by the water when the sun sparkles like diamonds on the gentle waves. And when the leaves start to turn, we head to the forests to forage, take in the changing light and enjoy the sweet scent of spruce and pine. Every now and again we come across clearings where a shaft of light dances on the mossy knolls and allows the delicate Harebell to bloom. Little wonder these magical boreal forests are the inspiration behind the wonderful Skog collection from Skandinavisk. Their products come infused with delightful hints of spruce and pine needles, woodland lily of the valley, musk and aged leather - making it one of my favourite collections! As part of my ongoing partnership with Skandinavisk, my family and I headed to a friend's log cabin just North of Malmö to relax, play games and take in the calm of the forest first hand. As we pulled up, life's stresses and strains immediately fell away and we were completely alone save for passing roe deer, foxes, squirrels and the silent badgers - never seen, but forever present! 



Furnished almost entirely with second hand pieces and dotted with sheepskins, my friend's cabin is understated yet super cosy! A wood-burning stove kept away the autumn chill and filled the cabin with a wonderful scent of pine. 



The crazies enjoyed hot chocolate sprinkled with cinnamon and nutmeg, by the light of a Skog scented candle. The only tense moment came when it was discovered the cinnamon buns were different sizes. A lengthy division process began, right down to the last crumb.

Skog scented candle


Per discovered a guitar - which helped to diffuse the bun situation and restore calm to our weekend! The aptly named 'Norwegian Wood' is one of my favourite tunes he plays (I also love 'Streets of London' - can you see him rolling his eyes?!). 

Pots, jugs and containers made from wood, stone and glass line the surface of the bookshelves adding a warm, personal touch. Beneath the shelving there was a great stash of board games which we played well into the night, being a tad competitive none of us were going to bed until we'd won at last one round!

Skog Scent Diffuser

Skog hand and body lotion, hand wash and bar soap.

We discovered that a basket doubles up as a very useful tray  – it’s a perfect way to transport sausages, buns and marshmallows down to the fire pit! 





A walk in the forest led us through a forever changing scene where dense ferns hid in the shadows, fungi clung to bark, and patches of vibrant green moss were lit by sudden beams of light. The only sound came from the distant sound of a babbling brook and the shriek of delight from one of the girls as they stumbled across a chanterelle. 






That's Per with the Skog hand cream - yes Per! We both love it because it's richly moisturising (him!) yet lightly scented (me!) (it contains aloe vera, shea butter, almond, apricot and beeswax with extract of birch bark). Did you know birch bark is a natural antioxidant and anti-inflammatory that calms irritated skin, stimulates circulation and helps skin stay energised? Perfect for the Scandinavian winter. 



A little book (Svampar: Lilla fälthandboken av Rikard Svartvik) helped us to identify mushrooms. However, I would never dare to eat any unless verified by someone in the know - and bearing in mind we were only accompanied by the odd roe deer, we only foraged for fun! We returned to the cabin relaxed, revived and with the sweet aroma of pine, and fir in our hair - and in need of another cinnamon bun!



All in all, it was a truly magical weekend!

I can't wait to return to this wonderful little cabin again soon.

In the meantime, the Skog collection will help to fill our home in Malmö with the calm scent of the Scandinavian Boreal forest, and serve as a wonderful reminder of our weekend - if only I'd won that game of Cluedo!

Do you love the forest too? If so, I'd love to hear more about your favourite time of the year to visit and what you like to do in the forest.

Oh, and one final thing: exciting news, you can win the SKOG hand cream, hand wash, hand lotion, bar soap, body wash, scent diffuser and scented candle 190g on my instagram this weekend. Hop on over tomorrow (Saturday) if you'd like to enter!

Have a fabulous weekend friends!

Niki

This weekend was part of an ongoing partnership with Skandinavisk. All words and pictures are my own and I only ever work with brands that I love and think you will too. Thank you for supporting the businesses that make My Scandinavian Home possible. 

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A Dreamy Holiday Oasis In The Heart of The City

The clocks go backward in Sweden on Saturday (for the very last time if I recall right - phew!). If I'm entirely honest, it does fills me with a little dread, the evenings are dark enough already. Yes, I can wax lyrical about candles (see what I did there?!) and the cosiness that comes with hot chocolates and cosy blankets, and I do have many moments where I love to embrace the chill (wait until you see tomorrow's post!) - but today, can I just indulge my longing for sunshine and warmth with this fine specimen of a house? Situated in Bellevue Hill, Sydney (we might have guessed it's on the other side of the world!), this secluded home has been transformed into a magnificent 'holiday oasis within the city' by the talented team at CM Studio. Think furniture and accessories with a beach vibe - made from wood, bamboo, and rattan against a backdrop of fresh white, and windows that let in large, luscious bites of nature. Thank you for the tip The Style Files - you've brought an exotic touch to my day! I hope you enjoy the tour too!  

 

 

All that sunlight! Guh!

.... you'd feel like you were living in year-round paradise here, don't you think?!

I love the simplicity of the interior too. The minimalist vibe works because of all the subtle textures and surfaces at play which are just enough to add depth and interest to each and every room. 

Is there anything you love in particular?

Tomorrow, I'll be tapping into my inner hygge once again and sharing some pictures from our weekend at a friend's cosy Swedish log cabin in the woods. Hope to see you then! 

Niki

Design: CM Studio

Photography: Anson Smart

Styling: Alexandra Gordon

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The Inspiring Monochrome Home of An LA Interior Designer

Hej vänner, hur må ni idag? - Can you tell I'm feeling the Swedish after sharing my film yesterday?! Having said that, I'm about to whisk you to a home far, far, far away where the sun is shining and the weather is warm - yep, today we're going on a virtual trip to Los Angeles and the beautiful home of Anne Sage! Looking at her lovely abode you can probably guess she works in the interior world. And yes, Anne is indeed a full-time interior designer as well as the author of popular design book Sage Living - a business that started when she launched her blog almost 12 years ago (wow -  that makes her blog even older than My Scandinavian Home!). Anne is also a content creator and the co-owner of a creative studio and photography space in LA called LightLab (which looks amazing!). Yet, she's still found the time to do everything from refinishing the floors to renovating the kitchen in her wonderful 1954 LA rental which she shares with her husband Ivan, two cats and a baby on the way. The look is monochrome with warm touches of light wood and brass. Ready for the tour?

The kitchen has been built using cabinet doors from Semihandmade which are designed to fit IKEA units. It was kind of cool to discover that there's a washing machine and tumble dryer hidden behind the cabinets to the right - I'm all for keeping things clean (and I'm not talking about the clothes!!). The oven is from Kitchenaid and the lights are by Schoolhouse.

I do believe it's that Stockholm 2017 coffee table again (remember it appeared at the end of the bed in yesterday's home?). From the name I'm guessing IKEA intended it to be used as a coffee table (rocket scientist that I am!!) but I've yet to see anyone using it that way. It certainly makes a fine bench as seen here in a corner of Anne's kitchen. 

I absolutely love the spotted rug (from Jaipur Living) - it totally makes the space, don't you think? The sofa is from Thayer Coggin) and the wall light is Serge Mouille.

One of the things Anne loves the most about her home is the large windows which flood the living space with light. I like how California Closets have built the units around the window. 

On Instagram Anne declared that she loves the Hoffmann Armchair (seen here as a desk chair) almost  as. much as (if not more) than her husband. I can totally see why! It's a beauty!

Ever since photographing Gen's office a few weeks back, I'm convinced that every workspace needs a daybed. Are you with me on that? This fine specimen is from Blue Dot.

EDIT: I initially thought this nursery was in Anne's house ready for the BIG arrival (and I could be forgiven for thinking that, considering it fits in perfectly with her aesthetic, but actually Anne created this lovely nursery for a client.  The über soothing palette is perfect for lulling a baby to sleep (and that armchair is ideal for exhausted parents!). 

Cot from Babyletto, art from Minted and lighting by Mitzi.

I think I could curl up in that armchair and have a snooze right now.  Doesn't it look inviting? 

Is there anything that stood out to you about Anne's home? 

You can see more snapshots over on Anne's instagram @citysage and blog. 

Shall we take at a few more LA homes? After all, we have come all this way....

California meets Scandinavia in a Cosy LA Home

A Jewel In The Suburbs of LA

A Warm and inviting Boho-Style LA home

Have a lovely day! 

Niki

Photography: Monica Wang shared with kind permission

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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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