Cabin Update: Wood Burning Stove (Plus Try the Tool!)

Disclosure: Contura have kindly agreed to partner on our cabin project

Over the Christmas holidays, so much more happened than playing about in the snow and drinking glögg: our little cabin sprang to life (see the design plans here)! I'd love to say that the picture above is of the interior - but we're far from finished! The good news is though, the structure is in place:

So exciting! With all the bigger aspects decided including the wood panelling, windows and doors and the bathroom, it's time to decide on a wood burning stove. I LOVE a fireplace, do you? To me, they are pure hygge and I couldn't imagine our little cabin without one! 

Which one?

I knew I wanted to get one from Contura. The Swedish brand is located only an hour from the cabin and recognised as the leading manufacturer of woodburning stoves in Scandinavia as well as a big player across Europe (AKA the guys delivering the hygge!). I've heard many a great things about their Swedish-made log burners when it comes to quality and efficiency, and I love the design!  

Contura 856G Style

Choosing a stove using the virtual tool

Anyone who's been in the market for a wood burning stove will know there are so many out there to choose from, it's almost overwhelming! Keep a look out for a stove that works for the size and design of space you have. Plus, I found the Contura 'build your stove' tool super handy! It allows you to build your own stove and then virtually place it in your home to see how it looks! Hours of fun! 

Admittedly, I got a bit carried away and Per was very nervous when I revealed pictures of how one might look in our bedroom, sitting room and bathroom at home! 

To use it, just head over to Contura and click on ' build your stove' (top right orange button) and follow the simple step by step instructions. 

Contura i8G Cosi

In the end I decided on the Wood burning stove Contura 810 in black steel with built-in wood storage for our cabin, which I think is super sleek and great for space-saving. 

Positioning

Above is a snapshot from inside our cabin right now (taken from the loft bed ). We plan to place the wood burning stove in the far left corner. This is how it will look - except a little larger in size and with a chimney:

I think it's going to be great and feeling so excited now. Here's to cosy days at the cabin! 

Just need the panelling to go in and get the bathroom and kitchen fitted, the floors laid..... gaaah so much to do! 

Do you have a fireplace in your home? Or perhaps you've been considering one (try the tool if so!)? Please do share your experiences below! 

Wishing you all a hyggeligt weekend!

Niki

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How a Vintage Cigar Cabinet Became Perfect Home Storage

I was so intrigued by the incredible vintage cabinet in Jana Roach's home yesterday that I had to dig deeper. Where did they find it? And most importantly, how did they manage to find the exact size piece required for the space? Read on to discover that not all is always as it seems... and sometimes it takes a whole load of imagination and some hard work to make the vintage piece you fall in love with fit your home! 

The original piece: 

Jana and her husband Tanner were in a second-hand building materials store in Seattle, US in March 2019 when they came across this old cigar display. 

They immediately fell in love with it, but the unit was way too big for the space they had - plus the slanted shelves (originally used for displaying cigars) were far from practical for kitchen storage. 

Many would have been deterred, admired its beauty and walked on. But not Tanner and Jana! 

The space

They could see its potential as a cabinet for their new dining room. The unit and the space just needed some work! 

What they did

Since the cabinet had no back, they prepped the back wall with white subway tiles. They opted for white grouting so that it wouldn't take over from the items in the cabinet. 

The cabinet was then modified to fit the space. This meant cutting off one of the bays, raising it by around 6 inches and adding a crown trim, base and side. The shelves were also levelled. 

The result:

I love this transformation! 

Looking at some of these homes, it can appear that everything has just effortlessly fallen into place, but it's not always the case - often there's a whole level of imagination and hard graft involved! 

Jana always recommends taking a tape measure to flea markets and reclaim yards. You never know - you might just stumble across a piece you love, and even if it's not quite right in terms of size or colour you might just be able to adapt it for your home and give it an entirely new lease of life anyway! 

Have you up cycled / renovated any second-hand pieces in your home? If so, I'd love to hear about them! 

Niki

PS I don't usually publish posts on Friday, but tomorrow will be an exception - and it's dedicated to anyone who has been wondering whether or not to install a woodturning stove! 

Photos courtesy of Jana Roach, shared with kind permission.

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Before and After: A Beautiful Montana Home Full of Vintage Finds

I rolled up the blinds this morning and the curtain of cloud was so thick, that it made no difference at all! Thank goodness for beautiful homes to brighten up our day! And this one belonging to Jana Roach is charming in every way. Based in Kalispell, Montana (a state I now want to visit thanks to all your cross-country skiing tips on Monday), Jana is the queen of vintage. She spends her time seeking out magnificent pieces for her bricks and mortar store Honey Home, co-founder of The Market Beautiful - a Montana based vintage market and owner of Beck & Cap, a shop selling organic hand carved wabi-sabi furniture - which she runs with her partner Tanner. Needless to say, Jana and Tanner's own home is teeming with charming, one-off pieces - and the beauty lies in the imperfection. 

Before

Sometimes a home can appear so effortlessly put together. To dispel this myth - and emphasise just how much work has gone into their Montana home, here are a couple of 'before' pictures to set the scene:

Yep, a fair amount of work to do there!

So, let's get down to the pretty part.  

After

This incredible cabinet was a second-hand find and used to be an old cigar display. I'll share a few more details tomorrow which might just make you change the way you eye up pieces in vintage stores and flea markets from now on. 

It reminds me a little of the stunning one in Malin Persson's home. 

The chair at the end of the table was handmade by Tanner and Jana and available through their Beck & Cap store. Every piece they make is bespoke - and what started out to be a small business has mushroomed to a full-scale production thanks to a mention on Leanne Ford's HGTV series 'Home Again with the Fords' (remember Leanne's own dreamy woodsy cabin?).

"I typically prefer old furniture over brand new for things like cabinets, islands, tables. Not only does it add character, it looks better with age and can take a beating haha!" - Jana Roach

The island is an old double sided bankers' desk that has been stripped down: '"the top stains for sure, but I don't mind It - bring on the patina!"

The handle hanging off the dresser and the doors a little open only adds to the charm of the home, and emphasises a living, breathing space. It actually reminds me a lot of the chest-of-drawers I grew up with (my childhood home was full of antiques and not a weekend went by without visiting an antiques market), the handles were often loose, and we had to wiggle the drawers open for what felt hours (especially when running late for school) to get our socks out! 

The bottom line, in my opinion, is that antiques are not ways as practical and comfortable as brand-new items (although of course, this isn't always the case) - but they add so much character and fill your homes with stories which can make them so much more special! 

Jana created the artwork on the wall using an old canvas cot. 

Note how the painting to the left of it juts into the staircase - the rules are, there ain't no rules, and everything looks perfect, just the way it is! 

Who feels inspired? 

If anyone's looking for me, in lieu of visiting Honey Home in person - which is sadly a little out of reach right now, I'll be scouring Sweden's online second-hand sites for beautiful pieces! 

Do you have many vintage and antique pieces in your home? Perhaps you grew up with them in your childhood home? I'd love to hear about your experiences below! 

See more of Jana's home over at @janaroach. 

Niki

Photography: Jana Roach, shared with kind permission.

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Natalia's Malmö Home In Warm Earthy Tones

I finished off the year with a list of 20 wonderful things to do in Malmö in wintertime - so it makes sense to start the new year with a peek inside a local home, don't you think? This beautiful apartment belongs to Natalia Andersson, a landscape architect and owner of Atrium - one of my favourite haunts (which of course, I included in my guide!). Natalia, her partner Adrian and their three-year-old son Mateo used to live over Atrium before relocating across the street to this larger 96 meter square (1033 foot square) apartment dating back to 1909. Natalia and Adrian have invested a lot of time renovating the space, gradually transforming it into the lovely family home it is today. Ready to take a tour? 

Natalia is particularly happy with the bespoke kitchen - which was built with the help of a local carpenter.

A limestone countertop rests atop cabinets that have been built from scratch and painted in griege (4005-Y20R). 

The kitchen walls have been painted in Skimmingstone by Farrow & Ball, which gives the entire space a lovely warm feel. Lampe Gras provides task lighting. 

The rooms have been furnished with a blend of Swedish antiques and vintage finds as well as newer pieces by the likes of Scandinavian brands Artek, Norrgavel and Skovshoved Møbelfabrik. 

The sitting room walls have been painted in Jotun Sand.  

Tip: When you have high ceilings it's important to include items that help draw the eye upwards and accentuate the height in order to balance the feel of the room. In this case a beautiful rubber plant does the trick! 

I love the old wooden side table. 

A good rule of thumb, is to include at least one vintage or antique piece in every room. It will instantly add a unique touch and a wonderful feel to the space - it also serves as a great talking point as people are always curious about the story behind it! 

The bedroom wall has been given a lick or two of Nordsjö Deep Paris. 

Such a lovely home - it feels so balanced and full of harmony. 

This reminds me that I really should head to Natalia's wonderful Atrium cafe for a brunch as soon as possible, it's only a 5-minute cycle from my house, so no excuses! In case you missed my guide - here's a glimpse inside: 

A roaring fire and a good book. What else could you possibly need on a cold January morning? 

Would you like to take a peek around a few other Malmö homes today? 

Firstly of course, there's our townhouse by the sea - see the before and after - although those of you who know me well, know my home will never really be 'finished'! 

You might also like to see Sofie's vintage inspired home and this turn-of-the-century apartment. 

Har det så bra! 

Niki

Photography: Natalia Andersson

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Happy New Year / Skiing In Åre

Happy new year! I hope you had a relaxing time over the holidays! I am finally back at my desk and feeling soooo slow (third coffee slow!) - which I guess is a good sign as it's meant I really managed to switch off over these past few weeks! But the good news is, I've got some really inspiring Scandi home tours and design news to share with you this week!

But before I launch into my usual Scandi design flow, I'd love to share a few pictures I snapped with my phone from beautiful Åre - I was so mesmerised by our visit and hope you might feel inspired to visit this incredible part of the world one day!

We usually head North for new year (what can I say, I'm a glutton for punishment when it comes to the cold and dark!) - and this time, we decided to pay our first visit to the Swedish ski resort of Åre. Known for its downhill and cross-country skiing, the resort is located in Jämtland county which is around half way up Sweden and 250 km south of the Arctic Circle. 

They say fortune favours the brave - and I can say it was pretty chilly up there (the coldest day was minus 9 degrees celsius (15 degrees Fahrenheit) without the wind chill factor - although friends have told me they've weathered minus 30 (-22 Fahrenheit) from the top. The days were also short (sunrise at 8.45 am and sunset at 2.30pm). But the pay off was a dawn light that cast a magical spell over the frozen fells and valleys.

Jämtland county is best known for it's moose, but there are a great many other animals who roam the frozen fells. For example, Northern Jämtland has the most densely populated brown bear habitat in the world (mercifully in hibernation right now!), and other wildlife such as lynx, wolverines, arctic foxes and golden eagles frequently roam the area. Although we didn't spot some of these more rare species - we did share the fells with a magnificent herd of reindeer! 

If you're an avid skier - or simply love to explore Scandinavia - I can highly recommend this stunning ski resort! Wrap up warm, stop for plenty of hot chocolates and stay somewhere with a roaring fire and wood burning sauna and you'll be just fine!

Could you imagine skiing here? If so, you can find more info about it here. I haven't really thought too much about it, but would it be interesting for me to share a complete guide to this ski resort - or perhaps all ski resorts in Scandinavia? 

Have you ever visited somewhere that you've felt is quite extreme with incredible wilderness? If so, I'd love to hear about it! 

Right folks, that's that out of my system! I am so looking forward to cracking on with some beautiful Scandinavian design inspiration tomorrow. It's great to be back! 

Niki

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