A Family Home With a Breath-taking View of The Austrian Alps

Sometimes it's the home you fall in love with, other times it's the setting. I can imagine that for the Sperrer family, it was both! When blogger, PR consultant and portrait photographer Lisa Sperrer, her husband and  two daughters (7 and 15) went to view this 1970s bungalow in the foothills of the alps back in 2015, they were amazed by the views. They also saw that the house had huge potential - despite the 1970s wallpaper! They set about transforming it into the light and airy living space it is today. I chatted with Lisa to find out a little more about the renovation, the inspiration behind the neutral scheme and THAT breath-taking view!

What was the house like when you bought it?
It was fresh out of the 70s - with outdated wallpapers, carpets and furniture. Everything was in good condition, so we were able to sell a lot of it, keeping a few special things.

Did you need to make any bigger changes too?

We stripped the wallpaper and carpets, laid solid wood floorboards and renovated the bathroom and the rest room. The house was designed with huge windows, which we loved, but we replaced the existing windows with wooden ones. We're honestly not finished yet, and I don't think we ever will be - there's always something to do and I love that! This week, for example, we got new doors. 

Was it love at first sight?

When I first stepped into the house, we immediately fell in love with the view. We love our window seat - it's like an ever changing painting. The mountain in front of our house is called 'kremsmauer' - and we have a lot of other mountains nearby. We love to hike with our daughter (meanwhile the teenie has different hobbies!!), we also love mountain biking. 

What is important to you when it comes to decorating? 

My husband and I fortunately share the same taste. We love the combination of white and solid wood, and the mix of old and new. For the last few years I've been focusing a lot on sustainability - with regards to food, clothes lifestyle and furniture.  

What inspires you?

I get inspired by a lot of things! Firstly, nature! Most of my ideas come to me while out walking in the woods. I also love to travel and soak up the culture and style of other countries. I like to look at old interior books from the mid-century. And last but not least, Instagram and Pinterest - there are so many creative people out there! 

I spy lots of designer pieces in your home - do you have a favourite piece? 

We have some classics from Vitra, Iittala, Fritz Hansen and Thonet but also items from new designers. I really love my shelves from Konstantin Slawinski - they are modular, so you can easily arrange them however you like - perfect for interior lovers who always like to change everything in their homes! We also have some IKEA furniture - like our kitchen and the solid wood items in my daughter's bedroom. 

Thank you so much for inviting us into your home this Monday Lisa - those views are just incredible! 

If you'd like to see more of Lisa's lovely home hop on over to her instagram feed: @wohnprojekt and blog: Wohn Projekt (I see she's also shared a great star / snowflake DIY!). 

This isn't the first Austrian house I've shown - a quick check in the archives revealed this fabulous ski chalet (which makes me so excited about our ski trip to the Austrian Alps in February! Have you been to Austria? If not, it's definitely one for the bucket list! 

Have a great start to the week friends! 

Niki

PS Did you stop by for Christmas inspiration? If so, head on over the Christmas and Christmas decoration archives - there are so many inspiring ideas waiting for you! 

Photography: Lisa Sperrer

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10 Simple DIY Christmas Decorations Made From Nature!

FRIDAY friends, FRIDAY! And this weekend is going to be a cosy one - I can feel it! Not only did we have our first little flurry of snow in Malmö today (it didn't settle, but still...), the first Sunday of Advent is a hop, skip and a jump away which means we can start to decorate our homes for Christmas - OK, we all know I've already started but now it's official! This year I'm planning on making my own decorations. But there's a catch. I'm time poor and well.... I'm not super great at DIY. Also, it's still early in the game and I kind of like to start with subtle decorations - and then gradually build up to the big day. Sound familiar but on board? I've scoured the web for the prettiest, most simple Scandinavian DIY Christmas decorations I could find. Here are ten of my favourites - and they're all made from nature and super quick and easy to make! Ready to deck the halls with boughs of.... pinecones, fir tree branches and dried orange garlands?! Let's dive in!

1. These pretty fir tree stars / snowflakes look so pretty in the window. Use a little thread or thin wire to bind them together to form a star, add a little ribbon and they're ready to hang!

Beth Kirby

2. Sometimes it needn't be more complicated than a few sprigs from a fir tree and an old rope (beautiful rustic barn door optional!).

Bjørn Johan Stenersen

3. Little fir tree branches tied together with gardening twine - hang vertically or across wall to bring a wintery feel and a sweet smell of pine to your home!

4. I have pinecones all around my home at this time of the year - but I don't have any strung together as Christmas decorations. Time to get on the case, don't you think?

Weekday Carnival

5. A branch in a vase - why complicate things? (OK, you could throw in a candle and an ornament or two too).

Kelly Brown

6. Orang garlands are surprisingly easy to make, smell divine and if they look as pretty as the one in this picture, I'm all in! There's a great tutorial here. 

7. Got a few dried orange slices left over? Use them for pretty Christmas tree ornaments like A Clean Bee.

Louise Roe Copenhagen

8. I think I might have shared this one before, but hey, it's so pretty and so timely with the first Sunday of advent coming up that I couldn't resist including. A tray, 4 block candles and a load of cinnamon sticks, mini pinecones and eucalyptus branches is all that's needed!

Pomponetti

9. Moving one step on from number 2 - this fir tree branch has been spruced (sorry!) up with a garland of wooden stars (source similar here*) for a subtle, festive display.

The Merry Thought

10. This one is kind of like number 3 (OK, very alike!) - but slightly more formal arrangement and I like the way it's been hung. Pine needles at the ready... here's the tutorial.

I hope you found some of these ideas inspiring and it's given you a little inspiration for the weekend!

There's load more Christmas DIY, decorating and home tour inspiration in this archive! And here's the link to the Swedish Christmas snöblomma DIY again (in case you missed it!).

I'm so looking forward to a toasty few days here in Southern Sweden and rumour has it that the sun might come out for the first time in weeks.

Have a cosy weekend friends!

Niki

*This post contains one or two affiliate links which means if you click on an item and buy it, I might earn a very small amount of money - perhaps enough for a pepparkaka ginger snap biscuit with my tea!

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Before and After: A Rundown Flat Becomes A Stylish London Pad

When you see pictures of a beautiful home it's hard to imagine the blood, sweat and tears behind the renovation - especially when the result exudes effortless charm. When Natasha Barry renovated House of Clay, a 3000 sq ft white stucco house in Islington, London not only was it a complete gut job, she also gave birth one month into the build! Imagine?! I'm pretty sure I was wondering around in a complete daze until my girls were at least 6 months old - I certainly wasn't working on projects of this magnitude! This one-bedroom flat occupies the House of Clay top floor and has been carefully restored to ensure original features such as the wood beams, floorboards and attic windows are intact and play a central role in the contemporary look and finish. I couldn't resist throwing in some 'before' and 'during' shots, so you can appreciate the total transformation!

Before

After



Tiles - Claybrook Studio, Tap - Devol Kitchens, Kitchen - Howdens, Handles - Buster & Punch 

The window frames have been painted in Studio Green from Farrow & Ball.





Before

After



Abstract Cubism* - print, lamp - Soho Home, sofa - Arlo & Jacob

Bedroom before

After




Bed - Habitat, Light fixture - Wo & We





Before

After

Although there aren't many of them, the 'before' pictures are perfect for showing just how far this apartment has come (especially the kitchen being converted to a bedroom)! Quite incredible.

I particularly love the kitchen (the handles are amazing!) - and the bathroom.

I also feel like I have a whole new source book for London!

Is there anything that stood out to you?

See more pictures from House of Clay here - and good news if you're looking for somewhere to stay in London, it's available to rent through The Plum Guide.

If you love a before and after as much as I do, don't miss these transformations too:

A dated Georgia house gets the Scandi treatment
a 1950s danish house gets a fabulous make-over
A drab Cape Town interior becomes a warm and cosy cottage

Vi ses imorgon! 

Niki

Photography: Anna Stathaki 
Styling: Rebecca Wakefield 

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Cosy Christmas Touches in The Swedish Home of Anna Kubel

Every cloud has a silver lining - and that's definitely the case in Sweden right now. It's been so grey, that everyone has felt compelled to decorate their homes for Christmas early and I'm all for it!  In my mind nothing says jul  like amaryllis, ginger snaps, simple wreaths, paper stars and candles - and you'll spot every single one of these in the magical home of Anna Kubel. I had the pleasure of meeting Anna at an event earlier this year and have been following her on Instagram ever since (if you don't already follow her, it's a must!). Based in Stockholm, Anna is a photographer and visual storyteller as well as Mother to two little girls. Her home is full of vintage finds, warm, earthy tones and very cosy seasonal touches - many of which are handmade. Time to pour yourself a coffee and get cosy - her home is full of inspiring ideas! 

In our house we usually make simple pepparkaka biscuits with cookie cutters, but I love the idea of making snowflakes. I might just have to give this a try, how about you? 

I'm excited to see Anna's hanging stars / flowers - made from Sandberg wallpaper - so pretty! I shared a simple DIY tutorial for these here last week (just incase you missed it!). 

Anna's fabulous bed frame is by danish firm Sika Design. Source similar grey linen bedding here*. 

The pretty wallpaper is by Daniel Långelid and Emma Von Brömssen and the powder pink canopy is from Numero74. 

So lovely! I want to climb into the pictures and enjoy a pepparkaka baking session with the family (might just bring my girls along too!), it all looks so idyllic - unlike my mad house! 

Do you also feel inspired by the Jul touches in Anna's home? 

If you're starting to get into the Christmas spirit, there's a load of inspiration in this archive and on my Pinterest board. 

Have a cosy day!

Niki

Photography: Anna Kubel shared with kind permission

*this post contains a few affiliated links which means I might make a minute amount of money if you click and buy something. 

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11 Small Space Tricks to Learn From a Swedish Interior Designer's Home

How does a Swedish interior designer and visual merchandiser decorate a small apartment? With style (as you can imagine!) - but also by being incredibly smart! What Erik Josefsson's Gothenburg home lacks in square feet (it's a mere 52 - or 559 sq ft) it sure makes up for in texture, earthy nuances, beautiful vignettes, Scandinavian design, art and plants - all the while feeling calm and de-cluttered!  I went through it with a fine toothcomb and found 10 lessons we can learn to achieve that elusive balance between clutter-free and cosy! I hope you find something you can apply to your own home, I certainly have! 

1. Leave empty space: empty space (or 'negative space') is just as important as occupied space in a home (especially when size is an issue). It helps to focus the eye, create calm and give you room to breath!

2. Work with texture: even though the wall behind the sofa is blank, Erik has used a paint technique that adds texture to the wall which automatically adds interest without adding clutter. 

3. Display the things you love (and use a lot), hide the things you don't! Bit of an obvious one (sorry!) but if you surround yourself with the things you love, you'll feel happier. Store away more unsightly things behind cupboard doors or use nice storage boxes like the one on the floor (Etsy sell similar vintage ones here*). 

4. Tucked away but still at hand: In small spaces, you can find room for storage in the most unexpected places (I first learned that from the clever home of a danish architect).  It took me several goes before I noticed this little wall-mounted shelf by the radiator! 

5. Group art: This goes back to point number 1 (you know, the one about leaving empty space) - if you group art and other objects you then have more scope to leave an empty space elsewhere). Having said that, it's also nice to pick out one piece of art you really love and display it completely on its own. 

I shared a fail safe way to hang art here (Per breathed a total sigh of relief when I discovered that trick!). The Poster Club* sells prints and frames like these (and ships worldwide) 

6.  Think small and smart: some kitchens are so tiny you wonder if it's actually possible to fit in a table! Small, wall mounted tables like this one are perfect for saving space and creating a table for two! I like the Norbo wall mounted table from IKEA which you can paint any colour you like. 

7. Go dark! Painting a small space dark goes against every rule in the decorating book, but actually many have decided against this and in fact, going for a deep hue in small rooms in the bedroom can make a space feel extra warm and cosy. After seeing Erik's bedroom I kind of regret only painting one wall in my stepson's room - time to paint the rest!

8. Use the windowsill as a side table: I know from previous comments that not everyone has a windowsill (in Sweden we're kind of spoilt on this front) but when space is of a premium, if you do have one, a sill can double up as a great bedside table. 

9. Bespoke bedside shelf: No windowsill? Try a small wall mounted shelf cut to size, like the one seen to the left of Erik's bed. Painting it the same colour as the wall will help to keep the look clean and clutter-free. 

10. Lean-to shelves: narrow shelves that lean against the wall are great for saving space.

11. Hooks and more hooks: I can't tell you how handy I find long racks of hooks - I think we have them in every room of our house. This wooden rack in Erik's hallway is ideal for coats etc - but can also be used for decorative items when not in use. 

Source a similar one here. 

Isn't his home lovely? I love the use of colour too! 

Did you pick up any ideas for your home? I know what I'll be doing this weekend.... painting Albin's room! 

You can see more of Erik's home over at @erinterior and take a peek at his latest projects here. Incidentally Erik was one of the creatives behind this stunning Swedish home I featured last week (I'm still reeling from the tour, how about you? Wonder if anyone has snapped it up yet!).

Other small space inspiration:

10 small space hacks to learn from a Danish apartment
10 ways to turn a pokey top floor flat into a swoon-worthy living space
A tiny cabin and pottery studio in the woods

I see the tiny cabin has just come on the market - Vermont anyone?!

Ha det så fin!

Niki

Photography: Erik Josefsson shared with kind permission
*this post contains affiliate links which means I might make a very, very tiny amount of money if you click on the link and buy the item. 

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