my scandinavian home

5 Mysiga Autumn Ideas To Steal From a Mid-century Swedish Home

Tjena! I hope you had a wonderful weekend. We've been enjoying an Indian summer here in southern Sweden - yesterday it was a balmy 23 degrees celsius! The girls and I headed off to play disc golf (AKA golf with a frisbee) in the sun (have you played it before?! We were rubbish and spend more time in the woods searching for our frisbees than actually playing but it was so much fun!). We also knew that we were on borrowed time, and that the temperature could plummet any day. I believe everyone has a season (mine is summer, what's yours?) - but by simply embracing the new season in your home, you can really enjoy each and every season to the full, what do you reckon? Fellow Malmö resident and landscape architect Magdalena has done exactly that in her Funkis (functionalist) apartment. Her beautiful, calm home is full of mid-century finds, Scandinavian design and beautiful warm Autumn tones. I spotted 5 simple ideas we can steal to turn our home into a mysigt (cosy) haven too!

1. Bring out the blankets: Dig out all your blankets and drape them over the sofa and the backs of chairs, even if you have the best central heating system in the world, covering your feet with something soft and warm and softening up hard chairs makes a world of difference! This waffle one from Granit is now out of stock, but you can source a similar one here*.

3. Fire and candlelight: One of the best things about the temperature falling is that you get to light a fire. Don't have a fireplace, or the one you have is out of action? Candles help to add a beautiful warm glow and a little warmth.

3. Autumn blooms: Dahlias, Sunflowers and other autumn flowers add a wonderful burst of colour. Dried flowers are also ideal for this time of the year since they're low maintenance and embrace the tones of the season. But this autumn it's all about the vase - opt for a ceramic vase with a beautiful rough texture. I love Magdalena's Pillar vase from Swedish brand Cooee (seen below) and I've also been in love with Aura vases ever since I spotted them in this Berlin home!

4. Invest in velvet cushions in golden tones: add a pair of ochre velvet pillows* to your bed, for a cosy autumn lie-in!

5. Get crafting: Why not set aside an afternoon or evening and make some 'Snöblomma' (snow flowers) in brown, grey and cream tones.

I hope this has given you a few ideas for your home this Autumn (for those of you in the Southern hemisphere - a post to archive and come back to in six month's time!).

There's something incredibly calm about Magdalena's home, don't you think? I can totally see myself plucking a book from her immense library and cosying up on the sofa under a blanket.

Can we magic ourselves to the weekend?!

Also, let's take a moment to admire every single Scandinavian mid-century item. So many beautifully crafted pieces in one place. You can see more corners of Magdalena's home over at @mittfunkis.

Looking for more Autumn ideas? How about:

11 hyggeligt ideas to steal from a Danish home

12 budget friendly way to transform your living room into an autumn / winter haven

Beautiful wall inspiration for Autumn

Wishing you a wonderful start to the week!

Niki

Photography courtesy of Magdalena / @mittfunkis

The Cosy & Eclectic Home of a Swedish Stylist

"FRINALLY"! I heard this a few weeks back and haven't decided if it's annoying or not, but it's best said as you fly through the door on a Friday afternoon, arms raised theatrically in the air. Give it a whirl and see how it feels! My second favourite day of the week (after Saturday) calls for something special - and real - don't you think? I'm going with the super charming home of Swedish interior stylist Camilla Larsson. Camilla describes her home in an instagram caption as 'a very ordinary Swedish apartment' - but I'm sure you'll agree that there's nothing ordinary about the way she's decorated it. Her ultra-personal and mysigt (cosy) living space is packed with an eclectic blend of furniture and accessories - and there's not a space on the wall or spot on the shelves that doesn't contain something special. So, pour yourself something steamy, make yourself comfy and keep your eyes peeled - there's a lot to see!

Aaaaaaah. It's Friday, I'm in love! This home is just lovely, don't you think?

I hope it's given you some inspiration for your home - or at the very least, put you in a great mood with which to kick off the weekend!

I've got a load to do today before I shout FRINALLY - so I'm going to leave you to run back through the home tour a few more times (I promise you'll spot something new each time!). If you'd like to know where anything's from, give me a shout in the comment section below and I promise to stop by over the weekend to see if I can help.

In the meantime, you might also like to look at Camilla's inspiring feed over at @inasfina and find out more about her home styling and interior projects here.

Here are a few other home tours that keep it real:

A small, relaxed bohemian home full of plants

The cosy small flat of a Copenhagen creative

Ulli's charming family home

Wishing you a wonderful weekend!

Niki

Photography: Camilla Larsson

FILED UNDER: art eclectic homes Plants swedish apartment swedish home

Dreaming of a Second Home on a Tight Budget? How About This!

I felt like sharing something completely different today. I hope you up for that! I've been reading a lot about how the current situation has us all dreaming about second homes. A simple home from home a few hours from where we live - no matter how tiny the space. That might come in the form of a 'hytte' in the Fjordlands of Norway, a 'bothy' in the Scottish Highlands or simply a cabin at the end of your garden in London.

But since researching a new 'attefall' for our summer cottage garden I've realised that costs can quickly escalate. So much so, that a second home is simply out of reach for many. And then I remembered Emma's home in Gotland with the guest caravan! Could this be the perfect solution? You might already be a caravan owner, in which case you're already sold but if you're not, hear me out! Firstly, there are many vintage / second-hand caravans on the market for a song, secondly, they're easy to transport (and can be parked at the end of your garden / in your driveway AND finally - with a little imagination, they can make the perfect little second home!

Not convinced? Take a look at 'Plenty' Caravan in Victoria, Australia. The Franklin van has been transformed inside and out to create a cosy peach and white home from home, complete with a bedroom, kitchenette and even a woodturning stove - with romantic views over Apollo Bay.

Pretty cool, don't you think?

Perhaps this could be something for our summer cottage garden instead? I quite fancy doing up a caravan!

Has this given you food for thought too?

If you could imagine spending your weekend here - soaking with a glass of fine wine from nearby Otway Estate Vineyard, you'll be happy to hear Plenty caravan is available to rent via Airbnb (one to add to the travel files for when we're ready to roam once again!).

Looking for more 'second home' inspiration on a budget? Take a peek at your very own garden retreat on a shoestring budget , a lovely Swedish Outhouse in 25 m2, the world's smallest luxury home, a dingy garage become a bright guesthouse and a tiny Danish cabin that's big on style.

I'd love to hear about other unusual / creative second homes you've seen!

Perhaps that home from home is in reach after all?!

Niki

Photography courtesy of Plenty caravan / Airbnb.

FILED UNDER: Holiday homes holiday rental

Ulli's Beautiful, Relaxed Urban Family Home

In the mood for a wonderful, relaxed home today? Ulli's apartment in Stuttgart, Germany is the type of place you walk through the door and feel instantly at home, it just oozes warmth and character. Dating back to 1900, the building features original parquet wood floors, high ceilings and large windows which flood the space with warm pools of light. Huge glass doors in the kitchen open right back to let in the morning light and large bites of greenery, despite the urban location. But best of all, every room has a relaxed and lived in vibe, offering a perfect haven in the heart of the city, which Ulli, her husband Nils and their two daughters Smilla (5) and Ida (3) can kick back and be themselves.

What an apartment!

I love all the personal touches - especially in the children's bedrooms. And can we just take a moment to admire the ceiling in the master bedroom?

How nice would it be to sipping a coffee in Ulli's kitchen right now, looking out at the trees?

Is it just me or has it been one crazy week? Maybe we should all put our feet up just a little longer today and enjoy a few more home tours in the same, relaxed vein. Here are a few I love:

A bright and beautiful, light-filled loft

The relaxed, boho Copenhagen home of a plant enthusiast

A lovely relaxed artist's home

I hope these beautiful spaces have put a little spring in your step this Wednesday!

Niki

Photography: Ulli / @uls_andthekids

FILED UNDER: bohemian style Children's bedrooms International homes

A Beautiful Swedish Home with Staggeringly High Ceilings

We woke up to a magical mist here in Malmö - and I thought, today is a day for dreaming. And I was right. I have been dreaming about this beautiful Swedish apartment with staggeringly high ceilings, large spacious rooms and charming period features all morning! There's also something about the earthy green, grey and blue tones and the natural wood 'spegeldörr' doors which I love. The turn-of-the-century building is in the wonderful Haga district of Gothenburg - which means that whoever is lucky enough to snap it up (yep, it's for sale... *more dreaming*), will have little boutique shops and cafes right on their doorstep (one of which is famous for selling plate sized cinnamon buns - I kid you not!). If only the owners could leave the furniture behind. Ready for the tour? Step this way!