Before and After: Old Stables Become a Beautiful Country Home

Come on, own up! Who frequently fantasises about buying a run-down property / wreck and doing it up? I totally confess to dreaming about this on a monthly basis. Especially when I see some of the incredible transformations out there. And today, I think you're going to feel hugely inspired by the home of Anna-Lena in Lower Saxony, Germany. I think we can all agree that there is such an incredible amount of work that goes on behind-the-scenes of any property renovation. Which is why 'before', 'during' and 'after' pictures are a great reality check, but also inspire. It's quite incredible what vision, hard work and of course, a solid budget can do! Ready to feel inspired? Here are some pictures of Anna-Lena's home - which has slowly been transformed from dilapidated stables into a beautiful, rustic, modern country home! 

Exterior before 

A lot of the exterior was covered in plaster when they first purchased the property. This was carefully removed to reveal the original brickwork.  The entrance has also been modernised and new windows have been installed. 

Main living room - before

Wow! In the above picture you can really get a sense of how the stables looked before the renovation. It was a completely open shell and the stalls are clearly visible. 

The main living space was transformed into a well-insulated living space with a reinforced ceiling to allow for a second floor. 

Main living space - after

The wonderful Clou-Xtra wood-burning stove creates a focal point, while the concrete floor and beautiful wood ceiling add character to the space. 

The darker, clean and contemporary kitchen creates contrast and a sense of drama to the room, while the wood farmhouse table adds warmth and a rustic touch - pertaining to the past. 

Stairs were installed in the back corner of the stables for access to the second floor. 

Master Bedroom with En suite - During! 

Insulation work was carried out on the roof and two VELUX skylights were added to slip in light over the bath. The entire floor was re-constructed and a new wood floor laid. 

Master Bedroom and En suite - After

The beams were preserved to add character to the space and a new wood floor adds a light, modern touch to the space. Natural textures seen in the plant pot and bedding (you can find similar off-white bedlinen here*) help to add depth and warmth to the overall look. The storage is a mix of modern (IVAR from IKEA) and a large vintage wardrobe. 

Bathroom - Before

The room that the second bathroom occupies was non-existent and needed to be created from scratch, which shows the extent of the work put into transforming the building into a liveable space! 

Bathroom - after

The bathroom design is relatively simple yet texture from the wood, the subtle plaster finish behind the washbasin and the beautiful vintage unit help to add interest and warmth to the space.

Hallway / Entrance  - After

A barn door offers a wonderful nod to the history of the building, while the simple, rustic aesthetic is keeping with the rest of the property.

From what I understand from Anna-Lena's instagram, there's a lot more renovation work to be done. And I for one, will be following their journey! 

If you're keen to see what they do next, keep an eye out for updates here: @house.no1. 

Looking for more 'before and after' / renovation inspiration today? Check out these incredible transformations: 

A century old Danish thatched cottage is given a revamp

Two dated apartments are transformed into one beautiful home

A run-down Swedish property becomes a beautiful farmhouse

Could you imagine taking on a project like this? Even if you're not quite ready to take the plunge (or perhaps it's simply to your thing, which is entirely understandable!), I hope seeing these before and after pictures have left you feeling inspired all the same! 

Vi ses imorgon! 

Niki

Photography: Anna-Lena / @houseno.1 shared with kind permission

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Tiny Home Inspiration: A Beautiful Swedish Studio With A Great Storage Solution

A tiny, one room studio apartment with lots of storage and a beautiful aesthetic? Yes, it IS possible! if you're dealing with 28 square metres / 300 square feet or less and struggling to find a place for all your things, I have a feeling you'll find this beautiful Gothenburg apartment truly inspiring - and I couldn't resist adding a few more ideas to the mix too. Oh, and I added the floor plan at the end a first from my side, but I felt it could be useful (courtesy of Entrance). Don't live in a confined space? Lots of homes have compact spaces such as a box room - so I have a feeling this tour will come in handy for most of us! 

Unless you're a true minimalist, there's no going for the trendy 'no upper cabinets' look that's so hot right now. Instead, it's all about maximising height and wall space - and in my humble opinion, upper cabinets can look just as good! If you have a lot of kitchen utensils, opt for closed cabinets for a less cluttered look.  

This kitchen could have looked a little cold had it not been for the beautiful warm natural textures seen in the stone worktop and wood dining chairs. 

The stylist behind this apartment hasn't utilised under-the-sofa storage here, but if you need the space, opt for sofas and coffee tables with built-in storage. 

Again, not seen here, but if you are a book lover or would love to display personal items, the enclave in the picture above to the right of the wardrobe (where there painting is) would be a perfect spot for narrow vertical shelling that extends the full height. See this beautiful Stockholm family home for some great 'small space' bookshelf inspiration! 

No matter your ceiling height, the vertical space in a small apartment is one of your greatest assets - use to  the full by ensuring wardrobes extend all the way to the ceiling. You can always hang a ladder on the wall to the side for access. 

The space under the bed is another great place for extra storage. For a neater look, add a bed skirt - it will add a soft touch to the bedroom area and cover up whatever is underneath. 

Wall-mounted furniture and accessories: if your walls allow it, hang lights and other furniture on the wall to clear floor space. 

And in case you're curious - here's the 27 square metre floor plan: 

I hope this has been helpful. A special thanks to all of those who have e-mailed me /  requested inspiration for living spaces smaller than 30 square metres! Please do feel free to email me anytime with ideas and requests, it's really helpful! 

Oh, and for another serene smallish space - did you see Sarah's Copenhagen home yesterday? So serene! And of course, there's always the archive too! 

Wishing you all a great day!

Niki

Photography courtesy of Entrance 

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Small Space Living: A Delightful Danish Apartment In Calm, Earthy Tones

We've woken up to wonderful sunshine here in Malmö today. But I won't be fooled into thinking it's spring, there's a vicious wind out there I can tell you! So instead, my mind is turning indoors - and I'm kicking off the week with a virtual tour of Sarah's delightful 46 square metre (495 square foot) 'lejighed' (apartment) in Copenhagen. Sarah's home is located in a salmon-coloured building dating back to 1884 in the beautiful, leafy district of Frederiksberg. The relatively compact, yet stylish and calm living space has been minimally decorated with a strong focus on recycled and sustainable furniture. Think earthy, neutral tones, a blend of open and closed storage solutions and lots of art. Oh, and don't miss the music corner! 

Sarah has recently installed the lovely rack in the kitchen, by sustainable Danish furniture makers We Do Wood. This unit is particularly great for making extra use of vertical wall space (I bet it feels lovely to touch too!). 

How great are these rails? A quick search led me to danish brand Ferm Living - available here. They provide extra kitchen storage while adding character. Love these! 

You'll often see these beautiful radiator covers in older Scandinavian houses (seen here in the corner). They're great - not only do they cover unsightlier, or even wonkily installed radiators, they also provide an extra surface for display.

Note - always check with an expert before covering a radiator obvs (speaking from experience, since the ones in our summer cottage would be lethal if they were covered!). 

These cube-shaped wall mounted shelves from Montana are extremely popular in Denmark for good reason! If you have a wall that can hold it, wall mounted furniture creates a wonderful illusion of space and helps to give a light and airy feel. These shelves in particular are a perfect height for displaying decorative items like the iconic Stoff Nagel candleholder*.  

Special nod to the gallery wall. Is it just me, or are Danes great at these? Try Curated Copenhagen (including one-of-a-kind art) or The Poster Club* for similar prints. 

Every home should have a music corner like this, don't you think? I'm imaging the sweet sound of music gently floating out of the open window and filling the street with life. There's something so wonderful about summer in the city, don't you think? Or maybe that's just the Londoner in me! 

Glass tables with a built-in shelf are brilliant. My parents have one too and they are perfect for storing your favourite coffee table books while keeping them in sight, close to hand and dust free! I'm a big fan! Maybe not so practical in a family home though with kids around (those little handprints!).

Originally, many of these Frederiksberg apartments were built without a bathroom, so the owners have had to make use of tiny closet spaces to recreate them. Bags on hooks equal instant extra storage in a bathroom that's feels like a bit of a squash and a squeeze and has limited storage.  

The iconic 'Hang it all' are great for small hallways since they don't take up much room and yet have a load of hooks in one place. 

So many lovely ideas here - for big and small homes alike! Is there anything that stood out to you? 

Feel inspired by other small spaces in this archive. 

On a separate note - in honour of International Women's Day, I'll be sharing a feature in my instagram stories this evening which includes some of the Scandinavian women I truly admire in the design world. I hope they'll inspire you too! In the meantime, here's to all the strong woman out there - may we know them, may we be them, may we raise them. 

Wishing you a wonderful start to the week! 

Niki

Photography: Sarah / @detlaksefarvedehus - shared with kind permission

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My Spring Table With Danish Recycled Glassware

Collaboration*

Hej vänner! Everyone ready for the weekend? Before we shoot off, I'm really excited to share some recent pictures I took in my dining room in collaboration with Pernille Bülow. You'll likely recognise the name. I am a huge fan of Pernille Bülow - an atelier on the Danish island of Bornholm, and I am always excited to see their latest collections. And this one is really exceptional! Pernille Bülow prides itself on producing handmade items from glass and other raw materials in their workshop in the small village of Nexø. The new ReUse glassware consists of a drinking glass (in two different sizes), bowl, vase, oil lamp and jar, all of which have been individually mouth blown using waste glass from the pharmaceutical industry. And every single piece is unique. Read on for more! 

I used this little bench in the kitchen for all the 'props' for the shoot, and they looked so pretty I couldn't resist taking some snapshots before the items even made it to the table! 

When you experience the pieces from the ReUse Collection firsthand, it's hard to imagine that it's made from waste glass. Every year, Novo Nordisk has large amounts of excess borosilicate glass from their diabetes drug production, which is then disposed of. And now, Pernille Bülow has found a way to remelt the glass and shape it into beautiful objects. Look closely and you'll see small bubbles - a result of the production and a hallmark of the ReUse Collection. 

The ReUse drinking glasses come in a small and large size. For the table, I used the smaller size because I felt they were a perfect fit with the bowls. People are often cautious about putting handmade glassware in the dishwasher but fear not - these are heat and dishwasher resistant!  

The pretty ReUse jars with cork lid can be used for just about anything, anywhere in the home - but I have to say they do look lovely in the kitchen filled with oil and salt!

The ReUse vases all vary slightly in size (a sign of mouth blown design!) and look equally beautiful alone as they do on the table in a set of three. I used a single stem - which is all it needs! 

For our spring table I combined the ReUse Collection with a white linen tablecloth, striped linen napkins, and simple ceramic plates - for a relaxed, yet formal rustic setting. 

Let's hope the Brantmark table manners can live up to the setting (there's work to be done, I can tell you *rolls eyes*!). Having said that, there is a relaxed feel to the setting too - which gives way to chatting and laughter into the small hours - hygge style!). 

I love antique silverware, how about you? It always reminds me of lunch at my Grandmother's house as a child.  There was something about the slightly tainted, unpolished appearance of this silverware which made it a perfect fit with the ReUse collection (at least that's my excuse for not polishing it! That obvious?). 

The ReUse glass bowl is great for soup, cereal or just about anything really and it matches the drinking glasses perfectly. 

My favourite item in the collection has to be the ReUse oil lamp.  I'm a big fan of oil lamps in general - they've been slowly replacing candles in my home since they're a bit Moore convenient! I particularly the simplicity of this one. It's also SUPER easy to refill and light (as an oil lamp expert, this isn't always the case!). I now have three of these beauties dotted around - because they work absolutely anywhere in the house - on a coffee table, windowsill (well away from the curtains of course), on my desk (in Sweden it's perfectly normal to have a lit candle on your desk on a dark day - something I've been quick to embrace!) - anywhere! 

I showed this beauty to my sister Cas last night over a Zoom call, and she actually paused the call to buy one! Let's hope those mouth blowers can work quickly, I have a feeling these are going to be a big hit! 

It feels like we're all set for Easter now! One month early too! t  

In the meantime, I'll be burning the oil lamps to warm up these chilly Scandinavian evenings and enjoying my granola even more from my glass bowl!

I hope there's something in this collection that has caught your eye too. Pernille Bülow ships worldwide (more info here). 

Would you like to see more from their collection? Take a peek at the SKY Lamp here, here and here in my home and the Pernille Bülow Odin glassware captured at my summer cottage (I have such great memories from that day!), and also the ReUse outdoor light chain in my little back garden. So many lovely things in one place! 

If you have any questions about anything else you see in these pictures please do give me a shout in the comment section below, I'll be happy to help. 

Right friends, I think that's it for the week! 

Wishing you all a wonderful couple of days and see you Monday!

Niki

*This post is a paid partnership with Pernille Bülow. However, all words and images are my own and I only ever work with brands I absolutely love and think you will too! Thank you for supporting the small Nordic businesses and ateliers that make My Scandinavian Home possible.

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