my scandinavian home

Inspiring Christmas Touches in a Beautiful Swedish Home

I think it's time for some more Christmas inspiration, do you? And what better than to return to the beautiful Swedish home of photographer and stylist Emelie Sundberg? You might recall the tour back in February - which was understandably hugely popular, and it comes as no surprise that Emelie's home is equally beautiful and cosy at Christmas time. Think pretty snow flowers and star lanterns, homemade wreaths, amaryllis, hyacinths, a wonderful Christmas tree and of course, lots of candlelight. There's inspiration to be found every corner!

I love the simple idea of storing white candles in a glass vessel. Also note the hyacinths in small* and large glass vases* - this is common a common sight at Christmas in Sweden and makes for a beautiful display that fills the home with a fresh scent! Note also the subtle boxwood wreaths.

Top picture - Eldig Christmas star*

I've always loved this type of wine glass storage, it's perfect for entertaining too!

I love pretty amaryllis at Christmas time - and this salmon pink version adds a pop of colour!

A pretty Sputnik star lantern* hangs over a traditional 'adventsljustake' (advent candleholder) in the window.

The fireplace has been decorated with a simple straw wreath and candle display.

Emelie's daughter plays with pretty 'St Lucia tåg' choir figurines on the windowsill.

A bouquet of amaryllis brightens up the desk in Emelie's study. It's also lovely to have a candle lit while you're working - it's not something I would have thought of living in England, but these days I often light a candle on my desk to help brighten up the winter darkness and create a calm feel (needed at this time of year, right?).

How beautiful!

I hope you feel as inspired by Emelie's home as I do.

Is there anything that stood out to you? Also, I'm really curious - do you have the same type of Christmas flowers in your country?

Follow Emelie's beautiful instagram feed for more inspiration this Christmas.

Other festive homes you might enjoy today:

11 Christmas decorating essentials from Mari's home

Understated, yet super pretty festive touches in a Swedish family home

A cosy Swedish family home at Christmas

I loved reading your comments about my three new lights yesterday. I was curious to read that in order for a room to feel complete and practical, you should have at least four sources of light. I feel I'm finally getting there now - do you have enough lighting in your home?

Ha det så bra!

Niki

Photography: Emelie Sundberg shared with kind permission

Lighting-up Time: Three New Lamps In My Home

MSH partnership, all words are my own:

Lighting. One of the single most important factors in the home and often completely underestimated. Not only can good lighting make a room (or a part of a room) feel more comfortable, user-friendly, and practical - it can change the entire feeling of a space. Of course, natural light is the best, but sometimes it just doesn't quite cut the mustard, especially in wintertime (don't even get me started on the darkness here in Sweden right now!). So, ensuring you have enough lighting in your home at this time of year is essential.

I usually think of it as the magic three: lighting that makes everything in the room more visible (ambient / general lighting), lighting that accentuates favourite features (accent lighting) and lighting that helps you to do specific tasks (you guessed it, task lighting!). I knew we had too little of all three in my home, so I recently did an audit - and picked up three beautiful new lights from Hudson Valley Lighting Group. Would you like to see them?

1. Bowery Table Lamp

Our home office was the first area to get an update, in the form of the Bowery table lamp. You know me, I have a real weakness for brass - especially when it has an aged, old look and unique details, and this one is a real beauty!

My desk looks so much more inviting now, especially as the sun starts to lower in the sky - maybe I'll get more work done now!

2. Nora pendant lamp

You might recall the recent make-over in Liv's bedroom which I completed earlier this year. I was distinctively aware that the room wasn't finished (nothing is ever 'finished' in my home and that's just the way I like it!). Live and I have been layering the room with pretty things ever since and one of the most important factors, was an additional lamp. She already has a great reading lamp on the other side of the bed and an overhead lamp so I was really looking for nice ambient lighting to give the space a calming feel.

We chose the Nora lamp in aged brass and glass by Mitzi. I love that it's quite small yet catches the light like a jewel!

We draped the cable across the ceiling to give it a relaxed, playful touch.

It's so pretty, and adds a lovely, warm feel at night!

3. Corinth Pendant

This beautiful pendant, named Corinth made an instant difference to the room. So much so, my youngest daughter got home from school (it was already dark, such is southern Sweden at this time of year) and said 'WOW, it's so nice and light in here'. It honestly added a whole new dimension to the room and turned the bar cart area into a great focal point.

One of the great things about this elegant lamp is that you get to decide the length / how far it hangs down from the ceiling as it comes with three sections of brass tubing. I went for two sections.

Plus of course, it adds a decorative touch to the room (I love the aged brass and glass combo) and since I selected a bulb with a warm tone, it emits a wonderful warm, diffused accent light after sunset!

I know it sounds funny, especially as we've lived in our house for fourteen years, but adding these lamps made our living space feel so much more complete. That's the beauty of layering a home over time!

Do you have a favourite?

Check out the entire Hudson valley Lighting Group collection.

I'd love to hear about your lighting situation at home - do you feel you have enough? perhaps you have a favourite fixture? Or one you dislike! Do share in the comment section below.

Niki

Photography: Niki Brantmark

Styling: Helen Sturesson

*This is a paid post in collaboration with Hudson Valley Lighting Group. All words and lamp choices are my own and I only ever work with brands I love and think you will too. Thank you for supporting the businesses that make My Scandinavian Home possible.

FILED UNDER: Lighting my home

A Contemporary Swedish Ski Chalet With a Wonderful Window Seat!

Hej friends, I hope you had a lovely weekend! Do you ever find that you really look forward to December and all the festive things you'll do and then it arrives and you feel completely overwhelmed? I was feeling like that on Friday so I planned a day of cross country skiing with a dear friend of mine. We headed out to the Skåne countryside and spent the day gliding (occasionally ungracefully!) through the glistening snow. And I came home feeling like a new person. It was with this in mind that I chose today's home tour: a magnificent contemporary ski chalet in Vemsdalen, Sweden. Read on to feel inspired, and feel a sense of calm a world away from the Christmas chaos!

The dreamy contemporary ski chalet is a stripped back version of the usual long cabin - with pitched ceilings and waxed birch plywood walls. The focus is on the surrounding a nature, and a window seat makes an inviting spot from which to watch skier whizz by!

Darker colours help to add contrast and add a cosy touch.

A ladder leads up to a loftbed.

Imagine waking up here and watching the slow fall! I'd be tempted to stay there all day with a book, how about you?

A warm sauna awaits after a day of alpine skiing, snowmobiling, cross country or dog sledding in the snowy surroundings.

How heavenly. I'd quite happily spend my winter here, how about you?

Dream about more Scandinavian inspired cabins and ski chalets today.

Would you like to see a couple of pictures from my cross country skiing in the South of Sweden yesterday? Here are a couple of snaps I took with my phone, it was a rare gems of a day!

Above you can see my friend Ullis, over the barbecue just behind the tracks!

Wishing you all a great start to the week!

Niki

Ski chalet photos courtesy of 212 Property

FILED UNDER: chalet Log cabin ski lodge

The Cosy, Warm and Inviting Home of A Norwegian Artist

After a sharing a string of Scandinavian Christmas inspiration, I decided to take a break from the decorations today in favour of a very cosy, very lovely Norwegian home. The home in question is located in a beautiful 17th century building in Bergen and belongs to artist Marie Storaas, wife Ingis - a graphic designer, and their children Mille and Emil. Laid out over three floors, the unique living space combines Norwegian design with a hint of Italian and French countryside, giving it a wonderful warm and homely vibe. Photographer Gunn Kristin Monsen was there to snap these pictures.