The Awe-Inspiring Private Kitchen of Noma Head Chef René Redzepi

You can kind of guess that one of the most highly acclaimed chefs in the world would have an incredible kitchen. And the private sphere of René Redzepi - Danish chef and co-owner of the two-Michelin star restaurant Noma in the Christianshavn neighbourhood of Copenhagen, Denmark certainly doesn't disappoint. You'd think the hand crafted bespoke Garde Hvalsøe kitchen in oak, steel and burnished brass and Dinesen HeartOak plank floors would be enough to make a statement in their own right - but there's also that magnificent open fire place and those charming wood beams to contend with. While his restaurant was voted the best restaurant in the world in 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2014, I'm nominating René's kitchen for the best kitchen 2020 award. Take a peek and see if you agree! 

A few months ago, I spent a wonderful evening at the Garde Hvalsøe headquarters in a former car assembly garage in central Copenhagen and I have to say, the level of craftsmanship that goes into their kitchens (and other cabinetry) is incredible. I wish you could run your hand along the surface and open and close these drawers! The supper was superb too (even if it wasn't made by René!).

There burning question (sorry, couldn't resist!), is what appliances does the head chef of Noma choose for his own kitchen? The answer: a Grand Cuisine hob and oven. 

You can really see the beauty of the Dinesen wood in the above picture. It's made from 30 mm thick planks in mixed widths (350-500 mm and length 2-6 metres) with a white oil finish. So stunning, don't you think?

So, what do you reckon? Is this also one of the most beautiful kitchens you've ever seen?

I'm also curious to know, have you ever eaten at Noma? I've tried to get a table a few times but never succeeded. It's still high up on my wish list though!

Curious to see a few other magnificent kitchens today?

A fresh mint green kitchen
A calm kitchen made from wood
The inspiring black kitchen of an interior designer

Also:

10 beautifully simple ideas to steal from a Swedish kitchen
Our summer cottage kitchen (plus get the look!) and a tour of my kitchen at home (if only it was this clean and tidy today!).

Have a lovely day!

Niki

Photography courtesy of Garde Hvalsøe and Dinesen

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Your 2020 Off-the-grid Getaway: Nolla Cabin In the Helsinki Archipelagos

Hello! Happy new year! I hope you had a wonderful, relaxing break? Is anyone else back at work today and feeling as slow as anything?! I'm on my third coffee and nothing seems to be happening (send more caffeine!)! All the same, I think 2020 is going to be a fabulous year, don't you? I thought I'd kick it off with a tour of the magnificent yet basic Nolla Cabin, a 20 minute boat ride from Helsinki. What fascinates me, is that it's a cabin of two halves. It's both tiny and big at the same time. Located on Vallisaari island and measuring 9m2, it offers views over the beautiful Helsinki archipelago which is home to over 1000 butterfly species! Finnish designer Robin Falck's intention was to inspire visitors to come and enjoy the Nolla (meaning zero) cabin while living with a minimal footprint. Read on to feel inspired!

The little cabin is equipped with two camping beds, along with a Wallas stove for cooking and heating (the stove runs on Neste MY Renewable Diesel provided by the host).  

The electricity is generated by solar panels on the roof (we're warned that supply might vary!) and has no wifi - but with views like that and an island to explore, I think we can all agree that it's hardly needed! 

Visitors are encouraged not to bring packaged foods and cosmetics in order to comply with the zero-waste ethos. 

Also, being off-the-grid, the cabin doesn't have running water BUT fresh water is available at the guest port 400 metres away and there's a dry loo on the island too - phew! 

What about a shower? With the beautiful waters of the Helsinki archipelago on your doorstep you have all the cleansing water you might need (depending on the time of year and quoting Per: 'it's OK once you're in - and great once you're out!'). Hmmm...

Up for the challenge in 2020? 

The Nolla Cabin is only 20 minutes boat ride from Helsinki. The best news of all? Finnish renewable energy company Neste is donating the rent to the The Ocean Cleanup, who develop advanced technologies to rid the world's oceans of plastic. 

You can book your stay here. 

While on the subject of Finland - I think it's pretty cool that the country has recently sworn in prime minister Sanna Marin. At 34 years of age, she is the world's youngest serving state leader. Correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe one of her first policies is to reduce the working week to four days and enjoying a six-hour workday. Which potentially means more time to spend at places like this! I think I need to have words with the Swedish PM!

Up for a little more Finish design today? I love:

Suvi's beautiful modern home on Finland's West Coast

An inspiring Finnish home with an element of surprise

Old meets new in a beautiful Finnish home

Have a lovely day friends, it feels good to be back! 

Niki

Photos courtesy of Airbnb

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Merry Christmas!

Stopping by to wish you  a very merry Christmas!

I'll be taking some downtime with my family and will be back here again on 7th January, 2020. I hope you have a relaxing few weeks too!

Thank you again for a wonderful year!

Here's to the next one!

Niki xxx

PS I couldn't resist sharing this pic of Allie from a few Christmas's ago, it'll always be a favourite of mine! 

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The Best Of My Scandinavian Home 2019!

Another year has whizzed by (is it me, or does it feel like only yesterday I was writing best of 2018?!). Even so, I can't tell you how much I've loved being here each day, I hope you've felt the same! When I post, I always write about the things I love, but I can never be 100% sure that everyone else will love it too.  This makes creating the 'best of My Scandinavian Home 2019' so much fun! And I can safely say, there have been a few great surprises! Are you ready to discover the most popular My Scandinavian Home blog and instagram posts of 2019? Let's hear those drums....

Top blog posts of 2020

5. The home of Zoé De Las Cases

Everyone fell in love with this Parisian apartment where old meets new, and the sunshine pours in over the rooftops of Paris! Don't miss her country home too - it's charming in every way!

4. Dream Life on a Budget: A Tiny Cabin in the Woods

Natasha Lawyer and Brett Bashaw transformed a tiny homestead in Vermont to pursue their shared passion for pottery. They spent the winter transforming the small outhouses into a home, pottery studio and a coup for their chickens. And it stole our hearts! Check out the full tour here.

3. My summer cottage kitchen final reveal

I can't tell you how happy I am to see our summer cottage kitchen feature in the top 3 most popular blog posts of the year (does a little dance). Renovating our cottage kitchen was a true labour of love! Per and I really underestimated the amount of work it would take to turn a small, narrow 70s kitchen into a contemporary space - all by hand (with the help of YouTube!). We love it even more as a result! You can follow the entire series here. A big thanks to Bosch, without whom it wouldn't have been possible!

2. 16 Ways to Transform a Tiny Room Into a Dreamy Yet Practical Bedroom

Nearly all homes have a box room of some kind. The good news is that there's so much that can be done to transform a small, dark space into a beautiful, practical bedroom - and you don't always need to stick to the rules! I'm happy you felt inspired by this too!

1. Sweden's Big Christmas Trend - (And You Can Make It Yourself!)

When it comes to Christmas decorations, the Swedes have it down! Everything is so tasteful, pretty, warm and cosy - in a wonderful, simple way. I'm used to seeing paper stars and 7-arm candelabras in the window, but this year a new trend merged: the paper snow flower. I'm so happy you felt inspired by this. In case you missed it, you can read more about them and check out the DIY tutorials here.

Top 5 instagram posts of 2020
It's always fun looking back over the year and discovering what everyone enjoyed most on @myscandinavianhome. I have to say, this year the number one spot was a big surprise, and it put a big smile on my face. I hope it brightens up your day too! Here are my top 5 most popular instagram posts of 2020:

5. Books and neutral tones in the beautiful home of Simone Polk Dahl

Almost 200,000 people fell for the soothing light blue, caramel and brown colour scheme and books in the living room of Simone Polk Dahl. If you do one thing before the end of the year, it's to take a tour of her wonderful Copenhagen home!

4. Anne's Cosy Sitting Room

It's easy to see why the sitting room in Anne's enchanting Lille home caught everyone's eye. I mean, just look at that sofa - it's like a big warm hug! And as for that gallery wall....

3. Michelle Nielsen's Inspiring Danish Home

Aaaah, the wonderful Danish home of Michelle Nielsen. I'm so happy this featured in the top 3, it's full of books, art and lovely colours which makes me feel all warm and fuzzy inside!

2. Carla's small white and wood bathroom

Over 220,000 people felt truly inspired by how Carla Natalia Thompson decorated her small apartment. I love it when two styles collide - especially warm southern style with cool Scandinavian touches. Don't miss the full tour of her home here!

1. The Small Guest Bathroom!

1. Although I often have an idea, I can never truly predict what's going to be REALLY popular. And this picture of a small studio loo completely threw me! It was the first time I'd ever shown a 'throne' in my instagram squares! And guess what?! It inspired over 368,000 people. How brilliant is that?! Check out the full tour of Courtney's Byron Bay lovely home here.

So guys, what did you think? Do you agree? Any surprises? Do you have another favourite that's not on this list? If so, I'd love to hear about it!

I'll be nipping in with a final Christmas post on Monday, in the meantime I'd like to say a HUGE thank you for stopping by each day and bringing your positive energy, support and words of encouragement to My Scandinavian Home and making this blog what it is. I have loved reading your comments here on the blog as well as on instagram, Facebook and LinkedIn.

A big thank you also to all the photographers and creatives who generously shared their images and invited us into their homes this year!

And finally, thank you to all the wonderful sponsors who make My Scandinavian Home possible!

I hope your weekend sparkles!

Niki 

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Georg Jensen The Helix Collection: From the Drawing Board To My Coffee Table!

Paid partnership

Last month I was invited to the Georg Jensen headquarters in Copenhagen. Excited is an understatement. I mean, Georg Jensen is the crème de la crème of Danish design! Founded by silversmith Georg Jensen in 1904, the design company has produced some of the most iconic Scandinavian design pieces of our time including the GRAPE Bowl 263B,  Fish Dish 1026 and Bernadotte Thermo. Jewellery, cutlery, home decor items, and tableware are just a part of the many items handcrafted in the workshop in Denmark's capital city today. The reason for my visit? To meet the designer and discover the story behind the new Helix Collection. 

The designer

Enjoying a fika (tea/ coffee break) is a simple pleasure in life. Swedish design duo Bernadotte and Kylberg wanted to create a new tea and coffee set which would elevate the occasion. 

The pair had a deep appreciation and respect for the elegant functionality of Georg Jensen and heritage of Scandinavian design and they wanted to incorporate this into the design. Understated details, a strong sense of contemporary minimalism and functionality were an important factor.  

"We wanted to look at tea and coffee drinking as a ritual. We were focused on the practical side, because at the end of the day you have to be able to pour. The set also needed to be well-balance and have an honest functionality." Oscar Kylberg. 

They set about sketching a thermos jug, Bonbonniere, milk jug, tea pot and tray - today known as The Helix Collection. 

The design duo delved into the Georg Jensen archives and felt inspired by the organic shapes of the iconic jewellery pieces such as Möbius and Infinity - which inspired the bold cultural shape of the tea and coffee pots. 

They also spent countless hours perfecting the function of each piece. Today, the mirror polished stainless steel thermo jug keeps coffee warm for up to six hours (forget the coffee table, I need one of those on my desk!), while the drip-free tea pot has a double steel wall which ensures a warm cuppa for hours to come! 

The workshop

In the Georg Jensen workshop (known as the Smithy) around 25 silversmiths can spend up to six months single-handedly hammering, smouldering and polishing silverware. Sometimes by the light of  a candle - so very hyggeligt!  

Once crafted the pieces are ready to be shipped to homes around the world. And I was lucky enough to be a recipient of the stainless-steel Helix Thermos jug and Helix Bonbonniere. As if I needed an excuse for a fikapaus...

My coffee table

Never one to shy away from a cup of coffee (and this has only accelerated since moving to Sweden) I was thrilled with my new set. It's also wonderful owning pieces with such a strong sense of design heritage. 

I like the Helix Thermo Jug for its sleek, almost industrial pared-down design and also because it really is very practical! At times like this, it can keep my coffee warm for hours - and in summertime I can use it for iced tea (hard to imagine that right now, but I need to have faith that the warm weather will return!).  

The sculptural and shiny Helix Bonbonniere is a multifunctional bowl with an ergonomic lid (one of those that feels nice to take on and off so you do it several times for no reason!). I love that it can be used as a sugar bowl, but also for sweets, chocolates or whatever else takes your fancy. Any guesses what I have in mind?! 

Aren't they beautiful?

I'm curious - if the coffee stays warm for up to six hours, does that call for a six-hour coffee break - because the Christmas holidays are coming and I'm reading a great book....

The complete collection is available here. 

Are you also ready to elevate your tea / coffee drinking ritual?! 

Wishing you a lovely day friends! 

Niki

This is a paid partnership with Georg Jensen, 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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