Simple Christmas Touches in A Norwegian Home By a Snow-Covered Fjord

High up on a hill overlooking the magnificent snow covered Stranda fjord, in Norway, Eldrid, Martin and their children Aron and Naomi's home is all ready for Christmas. Forget ostentatious displays, the family have taken a subtle approach, allowing the magnificent, ever-changing snowy scenery to take centre-stage. And I couldn't imagine it any other way! 

"When it comes to decorating, I like to keep it simple and organic, yet festive. I often use a combination of spruce, pine, and eucalyptus as well as brass ornaments and a hint of burgundy" - Eldrid. 

When you live in Norway, there's never a shortage in Christmas trees to choose from!! And this fine one is a perfect size for the room. I love how it's been simply decorated with a few baubles and decorative pieces. 

Glass decorations (such as this pendant tea light holder*) add a festive touch and yet allow the view to shine through. I can imagine it looks so pretty after sunset too!    

"In wintertime, you mostly find me on my skis on top of a mountain. We moved here because of the good powder skiing and the nature because we love to be active outdoors. I love ski touring and also spend a lot of time at Strandafjellet ski resort with my family" - Eldrid. 

A simple window seat (the Hadley daybed is similar) makes a perfect spot from which to watch the natural world go by (while keeping warm!). 

"I love to see how the snow covers the mountains, and how the fog casts a magical spell over the fjord in winter" - Eldrid

A dish made by local sculptur Anna Maria Øfstedal Eng sits beside Norwegian interior magazine Nytt Rom on a set of mid-century nest tables (try an auction site like Lauritz for similar). 

I'm such a big fan of eucalyptus at Christmas time. Did you know that you can also hang a bouquet from your shower head? It smells wonderful when the hot water runs over it. 

What a beautiful place to spend winter! It makes me want to strap some cross-country skis to my feet and head off across the snowy peaks! 

Could you imagine spending the winter holidays here?

See more of Eldrid's beautiful home over at @housebythefjord.

Other Norwegian homes to love in wintertime: 

A simple, yet cosy cabin by a fjord

A Norwegian home on Christmas Eve

A lovely Norwegian home decorated for Christmas

Meanwhile in Sweden today, its St Lucia day - one of the biggest events in the Christmas calendar. A 400 year-old custom, choirs (and children) across the country will be taking part in a pagan Lucia procession. The central character is 'Lucia' who dresses in white with a big red sash and wears a crown of candles in her hair, but children might also to choose to dress as a gingerbread man, Father Christmas as well as other characters. It's a lovely celebration (even if most are taking place over Zoom this year!). 

Wishing you all a great start to the week! 

Niki

Photography courtesy of House by The Fjord with thanks.

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At Home With The Beautiful OW58 T-Chair From Carl Hansen & Søn

MSH partnership, all words are my own and I only ever work with brands I love and think you will too. 

Trust the Danes to design a chair that's practical, comfortable, unique and above all else beautiful! This fine OW58 T-Chair was originally designed by highly esteemed Ole Wanscher in 1958 and Carl Hansen & Søn has recently relaunched it, while maintaining a deep respect for materials, craftsmanship and function. Last week I received a pair to test out in oiled oak and upholstered in Balboa by Sahco for Kvadrat and I have to say, it's even more exquisite in real life! Read on to take a closer look. 

So, who was Ole Wanscher? Having studied under Kaare Klint, Wanscher was integral to the aesthetic and functionality of modern Danish design. In 1958 the Danish newspaper Politiken wrote:

"Owning a Wanscher chair is an adventure every day, and will be so even several hundred years from now, for this is how long it lasts". 

Wanscher had a passion for sleek, refined shapes and the sculptured T-Chair is instantly recognisable by it's T-Shaped backrest and exquisite carpentry. 

A loyal tribute to the original design, Carl Hansen & Søn have maintained the distinctive expression and beautiful craftsmanship while adjusting the height to provide optimum ergonomics for today's world (we're a lot taller today than we were in the 1950s!). 

One of the distinct features of the chair is the T-shaped backrest which smoothly merges with the back legs, giving it a cool three-legged appearance. 

Over the past week, I've discovered the chair works equally well as an individual piece as it does an entire set, hence why I hogged one all to myself and placed it by my side of the bed! 

Incidentally, if you're incredibly eagle-eyed, you might recognise the spotted top - I wore it the day I visited the CEO and Founder of Carl Hansen & Søn, Knud Erik Hansen at his home: Hellerup Manor in Denmark! Knud Erik made me feel instantly at home and I was always ready with a fascinating and at times humorous story from his extensive experience in the design world. We filmed this tour of Hellerup Manor during my stay.  

Anyway I digress! One of the things I love most about the T-Chair is how it embodies both classic and modern lines. Take a closer look (under my spotty top!!) and you'll notice the smooth joints - the result of careful processing and many, many carpentry hours. 

Isn't it fantastic? I can totally see how this chair could live on for hundreds of years - both in terms of quality and its timeless design. 

The OW58 T-Chair is available in oak or walnut with leather or fabric upholstery. 

Could you imagine having a set of these in your home?  

I'm already dreading the day they're being collected. Maybe I should invest in my own set! 

Right folks, that's it from me this week. I'm all wrapped up in knits at my desk today while the snow falls silently outside. It's pretty - but cold here in Sweden! BRRRR!

Stay warm and have a fabulous, festive weekend! 

Niki

A big thank you to Helen Sturesson for working with me remotely on this shoot. 

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A Pretty Scandinavian Christmas Table Scape

Entertaining this December? I discovered this beautiful Scandinavian Christmas table setting earlier and had to share it with you in case you're looking for inspiration! Created by Emelie Sundberg and Emma Johansson for LINUM, it features everything I love: layers of textiles, delicate cocktail glasses, pretty festive touches and of course, plenty of candlelight. 

I love the slim candles (buy in bulk here*!), they look so pretty against the dark, earthy wall. 

Edit: A note on the overhead candles: they've been installed using special candle holder clips which will keep them firmly in place and each candle has been placed firmly away from any branches or anything else flammable. Of course, to do something like this you'd need a really high ceiling and also exercise caution. Never leave candles unattended and always extinguish before leaving the room. But to avoid any doubt, these battery-powered candles would be a better option! 

The use of ribbons add a soft, romantic touch to the setting. If I tied the plates up like this at home I can  just see Per looking at it completely baffled!! But I for one, would appreciate it, and I think my girls would too! I also love how the berries add a delicate touch of colour. 

So pretty!

I hope it has given you a few ideas for your table this December. 

See more beautiful Christmas inspiration here:

Simple, yet pretty Christmas / party table ideas

5 mini Christmas tree ideas for small spaces

A Swedish country home at Christmas 

Have a cosy evening! 

Niki

Photography and styling: Emelie Sundberg & Emma Johansson

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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

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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. 

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