Lena's Serene Swedish Home At Christmas

When it comes to decorating Lena Lidman has one of those natural gifts - the ability to pick up unique vintage pieces and place them seamlessly into the home. The result is a beautifully balanced look - neutral and serene yet warm and inviting. At Christmas, she adds subtle touches: a star here, a garland of angels there. Keep a look out for the spruce and pine in vases. And for those of you who don't celebrate 'Jul' there's plenty to feel inspired by all the same. So pull up a chair, we're off to Umeå, in the North of Sweden for the full tour! 

I love a window seat - after all, everyone needs a little 'me time', especially at this time of the year, and it's a perfect spot from which to sit and watch the world go by. 

The cabinet was a vintage find, and Lena has given it a lick of paint to match the kitchen cabinets. 

Paper star lanterns* and pendants* look equally pretty at night as they do in the day. 

The painting and sculpture were picked up at Stockholm second hand shop Bergenström Rekvisita. Note how the shelf itself is made up of a simple plank of wood balanced on magazines. 

Lena has painted the wooden bookshelves to match the wall so they blend seamlessly into the room - I have a feeling these ones are from IKEA. 

Such a beautiful home. I love the vintage touches - and all the pretty decorations. 

Is there anything that stood out to you? 

Ready to deck the halls with boughs of.... eucalyptus, boxwood and spruce? See more Scandi christmas inspiration here: 

Candles and stars in a cosy Swedish home

A Mysig Swedish family home at Christmas

5 jolly holly Danish Christmas homes

I'm off to the summer cottage today to see how our tiny cabin build is going. I hear the internal wood panelling is being fitted - so exciting!! I can't wait to see everything and share an update here soon. In the meantime, keep an eye on my instagram stories if you're feeling curious! 

Niki

Photography: Lena Lidman, shared with kind permission 

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A Vintage Christmas Table Setting in a Swedish Greenhouse

In a time when socialising outdoors in winter has become a thing - there's one particular piece of garden equipment that has exploded in Scandinavia: the greenhouse! Not only are they great for plants (I could really use one for my lemon tree, it's taking over our bedroom like something out of Little Shop of Horrors!), they've become a perfect hybrid setting for indoor / outdoor gatherings! And in wintertime they really come into their own! Just look at this wonderful vintage Christmas setting in Marlene Agemo's garden in Märsta - on a farm just outside Stockholm. The greenhouse is festooned with Christmas cheer with pretty paper flowers (DIY instructions here) hung from string lights, vibrant red touches and an au natural tree. Layers of textiles, candles, and a heater help to keep everyone snug and full of festive cheer while the chickens roam free outside. 

What a beautiful setting! 

I love all the vintage linens (I was excited to find a load of vintage Swedish Christmas linens* and also rolls of farmers linen by the metre* - I love this roll of French sacking* too!) and crockery. 

Could you imagine enjoying a Swedish Christmas fika here? 

You might like to check out Marlene's shop Fru Vintage for ceramics, textiles, clothes and coffee (in Swedish). 

If you have elderly relatives (or others who simply feel more relaxed socialising outside) visiting over the holidays here are a few other ideas: 

A pretty outdoor table setting

7 winter warmer essentials for an outdoor gathering

Inspiration: Turn your outdoor space into a cosy haven this winter

I'm actually off to the woods in a minute to go and find a few pretty bits on the forest floor for our home this Christmas (trust me, I'm way behind!). The sun's shining and my thermos is full! 

Wishing you all a lovely day!

Niki

Photography:  Marlene Agemo / Fru Vintage, shared with kind permission 

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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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