Michiel's Harmonious Dutch Home in Natural Hues

Good morning friends! Stopping by here on this bright and sunny Monday morning in Malmö with the beautiful home of Michiel Bosman. A photographer, stylist and teacher, Michiel has been busy renovating his house in the small town of Bodegraven between Amsterdam and Rotterdam in The Netherlands. The canvas is in place with a calming combination of natural wood, stone and soft earthy hues, and now he has begun to layer it with a perfect blend old and new (with a particular penchant for Scandinavian design - which of course, I love!). Here are a few snapshots from his harmonious home. 

The wooden kitchen cabinets are from the Norwegian family run business Ask og Eng, the marble top is from De Keukenbladenfabriek and the taps are by deVOL. Wooden shelves are laden with artisan objects by ceramicists such as Robynn Storgaard and Poppy Lawman. 

This popular lamp is popping up in many beautiful homes right now - it's by Valerie Objects. 

Spotted: pendant lamp from Louis Poulsen*, SK2 chairs from &tradition, Vent stool by Skagerak 

The bedroom is one of Michiel's latest projects, the walls have been painted in 'clay mid' from Little Greene. Next step - art! 

Such a beautiful home. To me, it looks like the perfect canvas, backdrop from which to build upon over time and layer with personal objects, art and everyday items. 

If you love this home as much as I do and have the time today, hop over to Michiel's instagram feed @michieljbosman to see more snapshots and follow his renovation. One of Michel's latest posts really resonated with me in particular, and it's heartwarming to see he has updated the link in his bio to re-direct to a Dutch charity seeking to help those in need. 

Would you like to see a few other Dutch homes this morning? Here are a few I love: 

A fuss-free and laidback Dutch home

A Dutch home in a former children's nursery

A bright and cheerful dutch family home

Stor kram (big hug) to you all at the start of the week. 

Niki

Photography courtesy of Michiel Bosman, shared with kind permission. 

*indicate affiliate partnership links 

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Cabin Anna: Designed to Live At One with Nature

Nature lovers, prepare to be wowed! Dutch designer Caspar Schols has taken the indoor-outdoor living concept to a whole new level with Cabin ANNA: a hybrid cabin designed to bridge the gap between traditional camping and a log cabin. 

So, where did the idea come from? Caspar Schols had just finished a university degree in physics when his Mother asked him to build a garden cabin. With no architectural education, Casper drew on his vision to create a 'dynamic connection between man, nature and home'. The cabin should be a 'flexible space where she could read or paint, organise family dinners, and where her grandchildren could give theatre performances- But above all else, the cabin had to bring her closer to nature.' The idea for cabin ANNA was born. 

The structure is made up of a central conservatory nestled between two permanent structures and works in much the same way as you might dress for the weather - peeling away layers as the clouds clear and the temperature rises.  

Great walls slide back to reveal the open-sky - under which you can sleep, bathe, read and gather. 

On chillier days, the structure can be covered and a wood burning stove - helps to heat the space, all the while still ensuring you feel at one with nature. 

Casper's design received instant worldwide recognition and a flurry of awards generated partnerships which meant he was able to build different variations - some of which are available to purchase (with the option of an on-grid or off-grid versions). Meanwhile, guests are invited to book Cabin ANNA for an overnight stay in several different locations around Holland. I'm there! 

Simply incredible! I only wish I'd known about this concept before we started to build our tiny cabin  (update to follow soon - we're making great progress!). It's not too late to incorporate a sunken bath in the outdoor decking though, right? Remember the Danish summer cottage one?

Could you imagine staying here? I'd love to hear your thoughts on the indoor-outdoor living concept!

Feel inspired by other ideas in the tiny house and cabin archives where you'll find everything from a former railway carriage to a converted Mercedes sprinter van. 

Såååå, That's it from me this week. Thank you so much for stopping by and for all your comments - I might not always be quick to respond, but I love to read each and very one of them. Right now it feels even more important to be a part of a community that's based on peace, love and respect - and I thank you all for helping to create that right here. 

Stor kram (big hug to you all), 

Niki

Photography courtesy of Cabin ANNA. 

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A Lakeside Swedish Log House In The Snow

Living in the south of Sweden, the winters tend to be long, cold and dark and life tends to gravitate indoors. Many a night are spent at home surrounded by candlelight while munching on comfort food! In the North of Sweden however - the days are lit by dazzling white snow and children play outdoors, building snowmen, sledging or building domes. At weekends, many locals like to head off into the wilderness by ski, ice-skates, snowmobile or show-shoes - all of which will leave you happy, rosy-cheeked and ready for a steaming hot chocolate with rum and whipped cream once home! 

Located around 500 km North of Stockholm, Ann Rullander has created a winter paradise in the form of a beautiful log cabin on the edge of a vast frozen lake. The house dates back to the 1800's and was completely renovated in 2006. It was previously used as a summer cottage before Ann and her husband moved there permanently five-years ago. Today, the simple white wood clad interior mirrors the blanket of snow outside, while a roaring fire, candles and blankets help to create a toasty feel. Ready to be transported to a Swedish winter wonderland? 

How beautiful. 

The porch shovelling looks like heavy work (did you notice how much snow there is?) - but an essential exercise if you want to be able to leave your house in wintertime up there! 

Do you get snow like this where you live? 

Ann tells me that in summer they love to swim in the lake and get about by boat. But for a while yet they'll be using skis and a scooter. 

See more of Ann's lovely house over at @annrullander. 

Would you like to see a few others Scandinavian cabins in the snow? Here are few of my favourites: 

A stunning farmhouse in the snow

A cosy Swedish cottage in the snow

A dreamy Scandinavian-inspired chalet in Whitefish

Stor kram! Big hug! 

Niki

Credits: Ann Rullander, shared with kind permission

For my sentiments on what is happening in Europe right now, please see this post. While I continue to blog, behind-the-scenes I am doing what I can from Sweden, while hoping for peace, humanity and a brighter tomorrow. 

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An airy Swedish Home With a Beautiful Kitchen

Tjena! This lovely Swedish kitchen stopped me in my tracks this morning. It's like a total breath of fresh air! The room occupies the lower floor of a maisonette in central Gothenburg designed by uber stylist Emma Fischer. A friend once described the kitchen as 'the engine room of the house' - and this couldn't be more evident than in this home! I love how a large table takes centre stage, creating a space to gather, study, work and eat! Note the art too, helping to blur the boundary between a highly functional kitchen and somewhere enjoyable and aesthetically pleasing to hang out. 

In recent years, it's become really popular to do away with the upper cabinets in favour of open shelving, or even a blank space. This has a wonderful 'airy' affect but it's not always practical if you require a lot of storage and / or don't enjoy dusting! 

A space under the stairs is used as a coffee station - important in a country which ranks 6th in the world for coffee consumption (never get in the way of a Swede and their fika!).

Note the small ledge which can be used for pictures, cookery books and other slim items. 

A calming green accent appears in the form of doors, shelving and plants  -  adding a wonderful harmonious feeling to the space. 

A simple bench provides a place to sit and relax by the window - bathed in natural sunlight. Sadly, the balcony won't be used for quite a few months yet (we're still hovering around 0 degrees Celsius in Sweden!). 

An entire wall in the living room has been dedicated to books (a 'library' seems to be the theme of the week - I loved the one in yesterday's home tour, how about you?). This shelving system is by Elfa - a popular swedish brand, which you'll have seen in many of the homes I've featured. Look closely and you'll spot a series of tracks which allow you to move shelves around according to your requirements. Funnily enough, we have a builder at home installing an Elfa wardrobe and shelving system this minute! I'm looking forward to sharing the results with you soon!

A tight corner has been transformed into a reading spot complete with chair, wall mounted shelf, lamp, magazine rack, a blanket and even a plant! So cosy, and such a great use of space!

If this was in my home, you wouldn't even see the chair for clothes! Do you have a 'chairobe' at home too? 

A lovely touch of pink in the bathroom. A curtain hung on a circular rail takes up way less space than shower doors in a small space. It's a balance though - you need to get rid of the water after you've showered, or you'll be looking at wet socks! In Sweden you'll usually find a squeegee device* in private and public bathrooms / changing rooms alike - to save each others socks, and leave the room exactly how you found it. 

All in all, a beautiful home full of nice ideas! 

Is there anything that stood out to you? 

Har det så fint! 

Niki

PS My thoughts are never far from what is happening - as I'm sure is the case with you. To read my sentiments, please see yesterday's post. Sending love and hoping for peace. 

Credits: Jonas Berg / Emma Fischer for Stadshem.

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A Warm and inviting Home in Rural Sweden - Filled with Vintage Finds

Hello friends. I'm back here after a week off with my family. Last night the Öresund bridge between Sweden and Denmark was once again lit in yellow and blue as we pray for peace and our hearts go out to all those affected. While I continue to share Scandinavian design inspiration here on My Scandinavian Home, please know you are never far from my thoughts. 

Today, I felt like re-visiting Nicole's charming country home in North Sweden. It's one I think about often (who can forget the seat by the window from where you can sit and watch salmon jump from the river). Originally from Chile, Nicole has carved out a home in rural Byske, and set up Nicole's Lantgård - an online shop selling vintage and antique furniture.  Every room in Nicole's home is filled with an eclectic mix of well-worn pieces - each with a story to tell. The second hand finds create a sense of familiarity and come together to give the home a lovely soul - like a big, warm hug. Ready to see her latest updates?

This room is just beautiful - I can imagine the family spend the bulk of their time here (I would!), snuggled up on the sofa enjoying a book by the fire or playing cards at the table. 

I love how Nicole has chosen to paint the floor in a dramatic dark colour - helping to ground the space  and ensure a cosy feel despite the enormous ceiling height. 

Nicole sells all kinds of vintage and antique furniture through her online webshop Nicole's Lantgard. It's one of my favourite go to sources (she ships worldwide) - I often wonder how she can bear too part with some of the items. Needless to say second hand pieces can be spotted at every turn. 

Despite being far from a town, the house always feels full of life - with children playing and numerous pets occupying cosy spots around every corner.

What a truly lovely home. 

Warming in every way, and so inspiring to see how vintage and antique pieces can be adapted to every space. 

Best of all for me? The library! It's made me realise this is exactly what we need in our tiny cabin. 

Is there anything in particular that stood out to you? 

Stor kram (big hug) to you all,

Niki

Photography courtesy of Nicole / @amvalland

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