A Beautifully Serene White Swedish Home

If this beautiful, light and airy Swedish apartment doesn't offer a breather this week, I don't know what will. It's full of light, perfectly balanced and incredibly serene. Yes, I know, it's a little pared-back since it's been staged for sale (there may be someone in the world with a hallway this de-cluttered, but I'm yet to meet them) - but what it lacks in lived-in appeal it more than makes up for in delightful sculptured furniture, fluffy geometric rugs and cloud-like lamps! So why not put your feet up for a mo and relax. You're in for a treat!

I think my shoulders visibly dropped two inches when I saw the bedroom. Who needs to meditate when you can have boudoir like this?!

Are you feeling more relaxed too? 

Speaking of serenity - I'm really excited to be sharing Per's new home office with you tomorrow. It's been a long time in the making (he's been teaching from the kitchen table for a good few weeks now!), but good things come to those who wait, right?! Please do stop by tomorrow if you're curious! 

Hej så länge!

Niki

Photography by Nouvel Interior and Maria Sahlander courtesy of Bjurfors Göteborg. 

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A Tiny Danish Beach Cabin That's Big On Style!

Hands up who loves a beach house (both hands shoot up)! The salty air, the warm sand between your toes, the relaxing sound of the waves breaking - all on your doorstep! Living in Scandinavia, we're never that far from the sea, and Per and I share a dream to live in a cottage overlooking the water one day. It's a real pipe dream as waterside abodes don't go on the market too often and when they do, let's just say they're a bit of a stretch! But this lovely little Danish cabin has restored my faith! Measuring 20 metre square (215 square foot), the wooden structure (designed by Add a Room) might be tiny - but it sure does make up for it in style - and location! Think understated, monochrome decor (courtesy of House Doctor) morning coffee in the sun and a sunset soak. 

Morning coffee here?

 I'm guessing that this sofa converts into a double bed after sunset.  

... and by day it's a cosy sofa laden with cushions and two Swing reading lights combined to look like a double arm wall sconce (clever hack!).  

A small gas stove works great for cooking a dinner for two. Incidentally, my Mother has been cooking on a gas stove in her garden in London for the past 6 weeks! Her kitchen renovation wasn't finished when they went into lockdown and she had no hob or kitchen sink. It's amazing what she's managed to whip up on it (sometimes under an umbrella!). 

A little trolley on wheels is ideal for small spaces since it can be moved to whereever you need it. In this kitchen it serves as a makeshift space for that all important coffee machine!

I've been scouring the pictures to see if this little cabin has running water (we've already seen proof of electricity!) - and this outdoor bathroom seals the deal for me. It even has a little mirror!  

How wonderful! 

It certainly gives me hope that Per and I might just achieve our dream one day - even if it means dramatically downsizing. 

Could you imagine waking up here? 

Other coastal homes I'll be dreaming about today: 

A charming danish cottage by the sea

A dreamy Scandi inspired beach house

And further afield: A cosy stilted cottage on Fire Island, an ethereal beach house on St Barts and an Australian beach house with a retro vibe.

And, just in case you're miles from the shore and unable to travel right now - here are 15 ways to add a subtle coastal feel to your home, wherever you are!

Ha det så fint! 

Niki

Photography courtesy of Add a Room & House Doctor, found via Planete Deco with thanks.

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Beautiful Danish Lamps In My Study - In Shades of Toffee and Smoke

Brand news: 

A few weeks ago, I showed a beautiful photographer's home from the Danish island of Bornholm - and it was a perfect reminder of the sheer creativity on the island. As you're aware, one of my favourite 'makers' is located right there in the Baltic Sea: Pernille Bülow. I absolutely can't get enough of her mouth blown SKY lamps, and Per is mesmerised too (always helpful when the man is on board too, don't you think?!). A few weeks ago Pernille Bülow launched three new beautiful shades: Smoke, Toffee and Green. As a fan of all things earthy, I immediately reached out about the toffee and smoke variant to hang in my home office along with hate clear version I already have. It was like everything just fell into place. Don't you love it when a plan comes together?! 

The mouth blown glass pendants all have unique organic shapes and feel so beautifully smooth. I love the small imperfections too as they show that they are individually made in the atelier. 

For this cluster I have used: Smoke large, Toffee medium, Clear gold medium.  

You can choose between brass / gold or chrome / grey fittings (I love the former for my home) and if tones of brown aren't your thing there are 11 different colours to choose from (they also look great hung individually). 

I love it when a plan comes together! 

Could you imagine having the these beautiful lamps somewhere in your home? 

If you're curious about where else you might be able to hang them, check out how they look in other areas of my home (and in various shades):

Dining area

Over a vintage bar cart

In the kitchen

FYI they ship worldwide. 

I love my little home office even more now. In other news: Per is teaching from home right now and there's always a little tussle over who sits here. So, this week I'm turning the window nook in our bedroom into a home office / study just for him. Keep an eye on the blog for the results (and hopefully, one very happy man). 

Niki

This post is brought to you in collaboration with Pernille Bülow, however all words and pictures are my own. Thank you for supporting the wonderful businesses that make My Scandinavian Home possible! 

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A Magical Little Swedish Summer Cottage (And It's For Sale!)

Why, hello there lovelies! Are you ready for a little summer dreaming today? Here in Sweden the summer holidays are a mere one month away, and planning is in full force. Except, this year of course, it's a little restrained. Who knows what might happen in the next four weeks? The one thing we do know, is that we'll be staying put. And, up and down the country, Swedes are dusting down the cobwebs and oiling the shutters at their summer houses, hoping it'll be permitted to dream away a summer surrounded by everything the Nordic nature has to offer. If there's one thing I love about the Swedish summer cottage, it's that it's pared down and all about living a simple life. This idyllic little cottage is nestled away on the island of Klåverön in the mesmerisingly beautiful Gothenburg archipelagos - and waiting for a new owner - could it be you once we're all free to travel again? 

Summer's in the Gothenburg archipelago are all about hopping on and off boats and enjoying a picnic on your own little island. 

In this lovely open-plan living area the outdoors takes centre stage. An antique bench doubles up as storage for extra cushions and tableware. 

A patterned rug adds a little colour to the living room, while open shelving ensures a relaxed feel. 

Botanical themed bedding helps to draw the nature indoors and a wall-mounted shelf clears floor space for a light and airy feel.

A DIY rail and row of hooks is ideal, summer dresses, linen shirts and a hat or two. 

I am already imagining following the 24 hours sun around the cottage on the various decks - and chatting the four-legged neighbours, how about you?! 

Ooooh, so lovely! 

We've spent many summers sailing in the Gothenburg archipelagos, and I can't tell you how magical it is there. Perhaps I should speak to Per about this cottage? Not sure he could take it on a Monday! 

I know things are tough right now, but this too shall pass, and when it does, this Nordic country is waiting for you to experience it in all its glory! In the meantime, I hope the tour provides some wonderful summer-inspiration for your own home! 

Here are a few other summer cottages to feel inspired by: 

A photographer's charming summer cottage in the woods

An idyllic cottage that dreams are made of

A pared-back summer home on Gotland

Have a great start to the week. We've got this! 

Niki

Photography courtesy of Bjurfors.

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Three Simple And Refreshing Frozen Recipe Ideas For Balmy Summer days!

Kindly sponsored by Samsung:

The warm weather has finally arrived in Sweden (last week I actually wore short-sleeves for the first time outdoors - result!) and we dared to start dreaming about balmy, summer days after what's felt like a very long winter! Time to stock the freezer with some tantalisingly refreshing treats! Read on for three icy delights my family and I love - and they're super easy to make too.

Samsung Freezer RZ32M71357F / Samsung Refrigerator RR39M73657F/EE

Pear and cinnamon ice cream

What would a summer be without 'glass' (ice cream)? And this homemade pear and cinnamon ice cream is divine, plus it's super easy to make without an ice cream machine. Perfect! 

Ingredients

5 dl (500ml) cream

1 can (397g) of condensed milk

2 small ripe pears, peeled and cut into quarters

Generous pinch of cinnamon

Method

Place pears and cinnamon in a blender and puree until you have a smoothie consistency.

Whisk the cream and condensed milk until its thick and fluffy.

Pour in the pureed pear and use a spatula to mix well.

Pour the mixture into a lightly greased loaf tin.

Smooth out the top and freeze for at least 2 hours.

Take the ice cream out of the freezer 30 minutes before serving.

Top tip

You can make this with berries instead. Just swap out the pears for 1 cup of strawberries,

raspberries or blueberries.

Ice cream popsicles

Once you've made the ice cream above, these popsicles are quick and easy to make, look super impressive, and best of all, taste delicious! 

Ingredients

Ice cream mixture (as above)

Your choice of toppings - desiccated coconut, nuts, melted chocolate, sprinkles.

Method

Make the ice cream recipe as above and divide the mixture between popsicle moulds or

large square ice cube moulds. Insert popsicle sticks and freeze for at least 2 hours or until

solid. Remove popsicles form the moulds and dip into your chosen topping. Place on a plate with

baking paper and back into the freezer until serving.

Top tip

The best way to remove the ice cream from the moulds is to place the moulds under warm

(not hot) running water for a few seconds. Allow them to stand for another 30 seconds and

they should release easily.

Flower ice cubes

One of my favourite midsummer tricks - ice cubes embedded with edible flowers look so pretty and look like you've gone that extra mile, even if they only take seconds extra to prepare!  

Ingredients

Edible flowers (I've used pansies which are perfect as they come in a variety of colours. If you are in doubt whether a flower is edible, always check prior to consuming)*

Herbs (I've used dill, rosemary and mint)

Method

Separate the flower heads from the stem and cut small sprigs from your favourite herbs. Dot them around an ice cube mould (I used the mould in my Slim Ice Maker - a really nifty feature that hardly takes up any space!). Add water until each compartment is full. Once set, drop the cubes in your drink for a pretty, refreshing summer drink!  

Berry and herb ice cubes

I love to spice up summer cocktails (and even ice cool glasses of water) with berry and herb ice cubes. They look really pretty in the glass, add a hint of flavour and smell lovely!  

Raspberries, blueberries, strawberries, mint, rosemary and dill all make great ingredients and I also like to freeze lemon and lime slices separately. You can make a huge batch and use them to pep up drinks all summer long!

I hope you're feeling inspired by these simple ideas! Please feel free to add your own favourite freezer recipes below, I'd love to hear them! 

Roll on balmy summer days!

Niki

A big thank you to Sarah Brooks-Wilson for working with me on this shoot - such a fun day, plus we got to eat LOADS of ice cream! 

This is Kindly sponsored by Samsung. However, all words are my own and I only ever work with brands and products I love and can truly recommend. Thank you for supporting the businesses that make My Scandinavian Home possible. 

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