Keeping It Real In a Danish Family Home In The Heart of Copenhagen

Ever feel like everyone else's home is 'insta-perfect' while yours is a constant battle to keep tidy? Allow me to let you in on a secret, you're definitely not alone. Not even the homes you see on instagram are picture perfect all of the time. I know, because I recently asked around on a recent blogger tour and was secretly thrilled to learn most of my contemporaries' homes were a little messy - just like mine. It's called life - and it should be celebrated once in a while, don't you think? So, friends if you left the house littered with Lego and half-drunk mugs of coffee this morning, Sarah's Copenhagen home will feel wonderfully refreshing! The Dane owns a small shop called 'The General Store' and lives with her six-year-old son Sylvester in an apartment in Østerbro. Together, they've filled the space with bold colours, harlequin patterns, Scandinavian design pieces, art, books, candles and toys. And best of all, she's captured the space just the way it is. Welcome to Sarah's relaxed world! 

One of my favourite captions from Sarah's instagram:

"What I say: 'I am just going to the bathroom', What they hear: 'family meeting."

So funny - sounds very familiar, I must say! 

Harlequin floors like the one in Sarah's hallway are surprisingly easy to create. All you need is measuring tape, string, a pencil to mark the floor and paint. For a more subtle and classic Scandinavian approach, you might prefer a light grey and white version as seen in this Swedish kitchen. 

The pink wall provides a perfect backdrop for Sylvester's delightful paintings. 

What a great collection of Lego! I guess it is Danish after all. 

My sister and her husband call tidying up the house after a day of their 3 and 5 year old playing 'square oneing' i.e. "time to square one the house" - I love that! For the more OCD among us, I thought I'd share a pic of the same corner after Sarah has 'square-oned' it! 

What a feast for the eyes! 

You can see more snapshots of her Copenhagen home over at @look_good_in_blue (don't miss the ones of her summer cottage too!). 

Fancy taking a peek inside a few other family homes today? I love these:

12 child-friendly ideas from a happy home in Berlin

A charming and eclectic family home in Paris

A Cheerful and bright Dutch family home

Before we all shoot off, I'd love to know: are you a bit of a neatnik or is your home of the more messy variety? Or perhaps you fall somewhere in between? 

Have a wonderful, relaxed start to the week!

Niki

Photography: Sarah / @look_good_in_blue - shared with kind permission

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Looking forward to Cosying Up Here!

A little note to wish you a lovely long weekend - and a spooky halloween! If you're hoping to hook up with friends or family, check out yesterdays post for inspiration on how to create an extra cosy outdoor space so you can catch-up safely, in style (and a little warmth!). Let's just hop the rain holds off. 

I'm leaving my parents' home today after a fortnight, safe in the knowledge that Dad's heading home from hospital tomorrow and the colour is back in his cheeks :) (FYI not COVID related!). I'm so looking forward to some down time with Per and the girls on this sofa before they head back to school on Monday. 

Wishing you a wonderful weekend! See you Monday!

Niki

PS more details about my sofa found here. The prints are all from The Poster Club*, the Shady wall lamp is by Zuiver and you can find more info about my rug here. 50 Arches sell similar handmade benches. 

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Turn Your Outdoor Space Into a Cosy Haven This Autumn / Winter

Studio Joanna Laajisto

Baby, it's cold outside. At least in Sweden! Usually, this would be a cue to move indoors, but there's nothing normal about 2020, right? This autumn it's all about catching up with close friends and family al fresco. Which means it's time to up the backyard / balcony ante! The good news is, the Scandinavians have been pros at this for years. Visit a café or restaurant in Sweden, Denmark and Norway, and you'll find every chair in the outdoor area has been prepped with a fleece blanket. And they don't stop there. Sheepskins, outdoors rugs, string lights, lanterns, candles and fire pits are all pre-requisites to a cosy evening al fresco - no matter the weather! I started to up my backyard game a few weeks back, but I've realised there's a whole lot more I can do. Are you also looking to turn your outdoor space into a cosy haven? Here's a little inspiration to get you started.

Apartment Therapy

Early Autumn nights call for candles, lanterns, a beautiful set of string lights and maybe even the warmth of an open flame. All this, not only to illuminate your outdoor space but also to create a relaxing ambience and the kind of comfort we crave right now! 

Designen Wonen

Dyke and Dean

Andreas Mikkel Hansen

Entrance Makleri

Bon Traveller

Bon Traveller

Fresh Exchange

The Spoiled Home

The Spoiled Home

Lastly, round up some extra chunky blankets and put them within easy reach for you and your guests to grab. You can never have too many! 

Deavita

Just add woolly jumpers, a hat and a steaming mug of glögg and you're all good to go! 

What are your plans for staying connected this Autumn (or Spring if you're in the southern hemisphere)? 

I'm thinking lots of Zoom calls, but we also might just fire up the barbecue this weekend for halloween!

Niki

Thank you so much to Ana Degenaar for helping to collateral the lovely pictures for this blog post! 

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A Cosy Little Oasis To Call Your Own

A one room bedsit conjures up all kinds of images - not always positive. For example, I spent my first year in London after uni in a dismal bedsit where the windows would rattle every time a double decker bus thundered passed! If only I'd seen this cosy oasis - I could have actually made something of it! This teeny Manhattan apartment belongs to Chloé Crane-Leroux, a food, interiors and lifestyle photographer from Montreal, Canada. In the photography world, Chloé's is known for her minimalist touch and carefully curated eye, and this transcends into her bedsit. Opting for an off-white tone throughout, Chloé has artfully balanced clean and minimalist with a cosy touch - no easy feat in such a small space! The result is a calm escape and a place to call her own in the heart of the buzzing metropolis! 

So cosy, don't you think?

I can just imagine how wonderful it would be to walk through the door and feel the hustle and bustle of the city fall away.

For a tiny space, this sure does work. I took a closer look to see why. Chloé has used three key styling tricks:

1. She's stuck to one colour theme throughout: a warm off-white

2. An array of different textures add interest and depth

3. A large mirror over the mantel piece helps to make the room feel larger and bounce the light around 

Somethings to think about if you live in a small space or looking to decorate a small room in your home. 

Fancy seeing a little more? Chloe's inspiring feed features snapshots of her life which she divides between Paris, Montreal and New York City (when the current situation allows!). 

Oh, and if you like the filters she's used on her photography, you'll be happy to hear Chloé also sells Lightroom presets. 

Other small spaces to feel inspired by today: 

10 small space tricks to learn from a Swedish apartment

A clever small space solution for a bedroom or home office

Cosy small space living in a Gothenburg apartment

Happy Tuesday friends!

Niki

Photographer: Chloé Crane-Leroux, shared with kind permission

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A Norwegian Home With A Cosy Autumn Vibe

Someone once described Norway to me as 'Scotland on steroids' - simply because the nature is so vast and awe-inspiring. And in my mind, the country really comes into its own in Autumn when the fjord lands put on a spectacular display of golden hues and fiery reds. I reached out to Astrid Marie, a Norwegian interior designer whose wonderful home in Western Norway is always a perfect reflection of the season - to hear her best tips on how to harness the beauty of the season. And best of all, most of them won't cost you a penny! 

"Go outside and look for pieces from nature that can be used to decorate your home. I love using branches with or without leaves alongside fallen pinecones"

"I love to take branches from my beech tree. They keep their brown leaves all winter before the fresh green leaves take over in the spring."

"I add pillows and blankets to create a cosy feel. I love to bring the colours of nature inside and choose pillows and blankets in brown, ochre and rust colours. Sheepskins are also nice at this time of year." 

"I love my fireplace, it makes our living room feel complete. It's especially cosy when it's cold outside. I like to listen to the crackle of the wood burning. The logs are a beautiful element in the interior even when the fire is not lit.  I also light a lot of candles during autumn and winter. I love scented candles!" 

"In summary, natural elements from nature are the ultimate decoration in autumn, and best of all, they're completely free!"

Such great tips! I don't know about you, but I'll be heading out to the woods beside my parents' house this week to see what I can find on the forest floor. I love that you don't have to spend a fortune to create a cosy Autumn feel at home - the Norwegian way!  

You can see more of Astrid Marie's lovely home here. And don't miss her instagram where she shares snapshots of her interior as well as latest Norwegian interior design projects. 

If I've got you in the mood for Norwegian style - there are a load more homes here - and there's a ton of Autumn ideas in this archive. 

Here's to a cosy start to the week! 

Niki

Photography: Astrid Marie

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