A Cosy Finnish Log Cabin In Winter Time

This morning I had to wear gloves for the first time while cycling to the studio. It was one of those crisp sunny mornings - and I found myself excited about the prospect of winter woollies and thick socks! Are you there yet? In honour of this, I thought we could embrace the Scandinavian winter spirit with an über cosy Finnish log cabin. Flanked by lake and forest in Sastamala, 3-hours from Helsinki,  'Koivikko' (meaning 'birch grove') cabin provides the perfect retreat for owners Kimmo Pirhonen, head of Finnish clothing and homeware brand Balmuir, and Ville Pursiainen. The cosy 100-year-old cabin required little in the way of renovation, with the floors already painted soft grey when they moved in. Instead Kimmo and Ville have focused on creating a cosy hide-away, from where they can recharge their batteries and enjoy the peaceful surroundings without distraction. Ready to get toasty? Step this way...

How lovely! 

I could head there for the weekend and stay the month, how about you? 

The timber walls are just beautiful! 

Imagine waking up in that fluffy bed beside the fire on a winter morning - coffee gently brewing on the stove. Gaaah! 

Check out the original feature in Sköna Hem (in Swedish).

If I've got you in the toasty cabin vibe now, check these 'hyggeligt' hideaways out too: 

A rustic Norwegian log cabin hide-away 

A cosy Norwegian mountain cabin

A cosy off-the-grid cabin in the woods

Anyone else dreaming about a weekend at a cosy log cabin now? 

Niki

Photography: Krista Keltanen, shared with kind permission. 

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Old Meets New in an 18th Century Basketry Workshop

Shall we shake things up a little today? I spotted these stunning images of Atelier Vime over on Desire to Inspire this morning and thought it would be rude not to share them with you! The French vintage shop and design studio occupies a 18th century property in Vallabrèges - a small village on the banks of the Rhone in Provence known for basketry. Set-up in 1878 as a basket-making workshop, Atelier Vime has expanded into wicker and rattan furniture, as well as vintage mirrors, lighting and other beautiful pieces. Formerly built for a noble family in 1758, the house provides an incredible backdrop for their furniture. I particularly love how old and new come together in a striking way. Ready to transport yourself to Provence? 

So beautiful, don't you think? 

Did you see the floors? If not, it's worth going back through the pictures and just focusing on the floors alone!  

These pics have me pining for a trip to France! As a child, we used to go to France several times a year via the channel ferry. I've just realised how much I miss this beautiful country. 

Shall we indulge our inner Francophile with other beautiful French inspiration today? 

Old meets new in a charming Paris home

A Swedish-run B&B in the south of France

A relaxed family home in the heart of the Beaujolais wine region

A beautiful bohemian retreat in Marseille

Oh la la! 

I feel like I've just spent the morning in France - all that's missing are the croissants!

Have a lovely day friends. 

Niki

Photography courtesy of Atelier Vime, found via Desire to Inspire with thanks

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An Inspiring Family Home Which Combines Old and New - Inside and Out!

Hej raringar! How was your weekend? Per and I are feeling revived after a night in Copenhagen. I was so overly excited to be back in the Danish capital (while being very careful, of course) - what a beautiful city. I can't wait to share some pics soon. Slightly further afield, Jessica Haas has created her own inspiring oasis at home.  Jessica lives in a beautiful house from the 1930's in Hamburg, Germany which she shares with her husband Christoph, their five-year-old daughter Greta (such a pretty name!) and two cats. The home is filled with some fabulous Scandinavian design pieces and calming pastel tones as well as warm wood, cane and rattan. Keep a look out for the before and after of the house exterior too. The perfect tour with which to kick of a shiny new week!

Spotted in the kitchen: eco and allergy-friendly hand wash and other items from Danish brand Humdakin. I use their cleaning products and LOVE them.

I spy a Skagerak side table and HK living stool in the sitting room. I'm not sure which exact shade of pink has been applied to the wall (I promise to update this post if I find out) - but Deco Pink from Jotun Lady is similar. 

Note the pink colour blocking above - with the lamp in a darker shade of pink against a lighter shade on the wall - a clever styling trick which never fails. 

"One of the most important things (to me) is the mix of old and new. During the renovation, we preserved a lot of the original elements. I love to combine vintage and handmade furniture with some newer pieces"  - Jessica

String shelves help provide a place to store items. The JWDA lamp* is from Danish brand Menu and the Slåtterblomma print is from Fine Little Day. The Eiffel coffee table* is from Hay. 

"Our home is clean, minimalist bit still cosy. I prefer soft and earthy tones. I like to take home decorating inspiration from interior magazines, Instagram and Pinterest." 

- Jessica

A Formakami JH4 lamp hangs over the bed, which has been covered in a beautiful waffle Anadia bed spread from Urbanara. 

I LOVE the family bathroom! Jessica has managed to turn fairly awkward angles into a design feature - and the wooden casing around the bath gives the room a warm, spa like feel. Beautiful!

The family have also done a lot of work with the exterior of the house, including revamping the original facade, creating a modern entranceway and adding a contemporary extension. This is what it looked like before: 

 And this is how it looks today:  

Incredible transformation! I love a good 'before and after', how about you?

We're thinking about building an outhouse / guesthouse in the garden of our summer cottage and this might just give me the confidence to go modern. Are you a fan of combining modern and old architecture? I know it's not everyone's cup of tea. 

Head over to Jessica's lovely Instagram @dekorationswut for more inspiring pictures of her home. 

Big news from the Brantmark: we have a birthday in the house - Allie is ten today! We had a birthday breakfast this morning, which involved her favourite 'kaiserschmarrn' (Austrian pancakes) - which her big sister made. And soon it's time for some after-school fun! 

Wishing you a wonderful start to the week! 

Niki

Photography: Jessica Haas, shared with kind permission.

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Cosy Small Space Living in Gothenburg, Sweden

It's dawned on me that lately I've been featuring many homes with staggeringly high ceilings and large spacious rooms. But the reality is, more and more of us live in small urban spaces. The good news is, with the right decor, these living spaces can be equally beautiful! And Swedish interior designer Anna Mason, has got hers just right. In her teeny 36m2 (387f2) rental high up in the rooftops of Johanneberg, central Gothenburg, Anna has struck the perfect balance between light and airy and incredibly cosy - despite the low sloped ceiling. The trick, it seems, is utilising the floor space, which Anna has used to display art, boxes of treasured items, books, plants and other collections. I also love the mix of family heirlooms, vintage finds and contemporary pieces which add a relaxed, homely (or if you're in the US, 'homey') vibe. Perfect inspiration for anyone looking to transform a tight space into a cosy home! 

I'd be happy to potter around here all weekend, how about you? 

I particularly love the displays of books, art and other pieces on the floor, it gives the living space a wonderful, relaxed vibe.

Is there anything that stood out to you? 

These pics were taken by Johanna Hagbard who also has a lovely home. See the tour here! And don't miss her instagram feed for some DREAMY interior inspiration. 

Fancy taking inspiration from other small spaces this weekend? There's a TON in the archive, some of my favourites include: 

15 small space hacks to learn from a beautiful Danish home

Small space inspiration from Swedish attefall houses

A small Swedish place that will make you want to downsize! 

FRINALLY (still not tired of that phrase - or at least I can't stop saying it every Friday...). Do you have any fun plans for the weekend? I'm going on a press trip to Copenhagen to stay at a wonderful new hotel - and dragging Per along with me for the ride. So excited to be heading back to the Danish capital. 

I hope you have a wonderful weekend too - see you Monday! 

Niki

Photography and styling: Johanna Hagbard, shared with kind permission. 

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Oak and a Cosy Roaring Fire In A Swedish Cottage Kitchen

Warning: this kitchen might make you want to move to the Swedish countryside. Especially if you love 19th century architecture, wood beams, and a roaring fireplace! Laura and Nora of the incredible Our Food Stories (whose Berlin studio and German country home I've also featured), bought a cottage in Österlen, Southern Sweden a few years back. I've been following the renovation ever since and have loved the way they've been adding their own signature touch while being careful to maintain the property's natural charm. This week Laura and Nora revealed their recently completed kitchen - which combines a stunning oak Devol Haberdasher kitchen with Bertazzoni and Smeg appliances and vintage lighting. Oh, and a wonderful fireplace of course! 

I'd be perfectly happy to keep Per company from the Little Petra armchair while he ambles about in the kitchen. His cakes might not be a patch on Our Food Stories.... but he does makes a MEAN spag bol!

This jute rug* is similar (and biodegradable). 

The Haberdasher kitchen is a handmade modular system, which features unpainted oak cupboards inspired by mid-century English interiors and a traditional gentleman's haberdashery - which makes it extraordinarily charming!

What oven do the girls with a foodie themed instagram feed that has amassed over 1 million followers use? A professional Bertazzoni range cooker, that's what! Now we know the secret to culinary success! 

The worktops are a mix of marble and handmade aged copper. The sink is also made of marble. 

The walls have been painted with chalk paint from Icelandic brand Kalklitir in 'calce' (I also used Kalklitir in my kitchen and I'm so happy with the nuanced finish!). 

Love that the unit in the above picture is also used for wood storage - it really adds to the cosiness of the space, din't you think? But above all else - look at that farmhouse table! *Sheds actual tears*! I've been looking for one like that for ages. I wonder if it was sourced in Sweden. I'm off to investigate! 

Before I head off - have you noticed kitchen cabinets made from natural wood have really come into their own in 2020? See also a calm, warm kitchen designed by Holly Marder and the awe-inspiring private kitchen of Noma head chef René Redzepi - beautiful! 

Could you imagine opting for wood in your kitchen? Or perhaps you're too busy imagining yourself in that fuzzy armchair by the fire to care! In which case, I wouldn't blame you! 

Wishing you a wonderful, cosy day friends! 

Niki

Photography courtesy of Our Food Stories with thanks

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