Before & after: A Copenhagen Town House Is Transformed Into a Fresh Family Home

I love seeing the before and after shots of a space, do you? It really demonstrates the vision and level of work that has gone into an interior. Today, I thought I'd take you on a tour of Maria Elisabeth's house in Frederiksberg, Copenhagen. I once had the pleasure of visiting a house on the same street for my book The Scandinavian Home - and fell in love with the leafy neighbourhood. 

When Maria Elisabeth and her boyfriend Niels bought the house in 2019 it needed work. "It was in a state and was in really bad shape," Marie Elisabeth recalls. "There was a hole in the roof, water damage etc." The pair set about renovating every room single in the house, putting in a new kitchen and bathroom as well replacing the floors in the process. The couple moved in in 2020 and now enjoy a beautiful home with their three children Carl Oscar (7). Esther Emilie (5) and Wilmar Emil (1). Here are some snapshots of how it looked before they started, and how it looks today: 

Kitchen before

Kitchen after

The kitchen was completely gutted. Today cabinets from Stilleben Architects - who pride themselves on kitchens and interiors made to last for generations - add a beautiful, timeless touch, while the bare upper walls help to bring the look up to date. 

The walls have been painted in Clunch Farrow & Ball. 

Living room before

Living room after

The sitting room areas were also given a total overhaul - with the exception of the beautiful parquet floor which was carefully maintained. 

The custom-built cabinetry and shelves around the doorway are a classic Danish trick for displaying books, art and other items.

The walls have been painted in colour code NCS 1000-N. 

Sofa - Hay, Rug - Menu, Large O Table - Ox Denmarq 

Lamp - Valerie Objects, armchair - &Tradition

Hallway / stairs before

Hallway after

A fitted carpet was stripped away to reveal the wood, which has then been given a fresh lick of white paint. The walls have been painted in Raw Canvas by Jotun. 

Guest bedroom before

Guest bedroom after

The A-frame ceiling has been partly filled in to seal the hole in the roof and add insulation, while part of the beam structure (which has been stained white) adds character to the space. 

The walls have been painted in Touch of Grey by File Under Pop. 

Bathroom before

Bathroom after

The dated tiles were swapped out in favour of a cleaner finish - including a terrazzo floor from Råform- and the shower was reduced in size to make space for a loo. 

The love taps, shower head and loo flush are all by Vola. The walls have been painted in Cream by File Under Pop and the lamp is from Flos. 

Garden before

Garden after

The garden was reconfigured to include a storage unit with a turf roof - as well as two separate social areas, one for dining and one for relaxing! 

All in all, a beautiful, fresh transformation - which I understand, was a lengthy labour of love - but so worth it! 

Is there anything that stood out to you about Maria Elisabeth's renovation? You can see more pics over at @husetpaafrederiksberg and also find out more details about every room in her instagram highlights. 

Would you like to see a few other Danish before and after tours today? I love these: 

A century-old Danish thatched cottage is given a revamp

Before and after, a rundown cabin becomes a vibrant danish summer cottage 

A dated 1950s danish house gets a fabulous makeover 

I hope you have felt as inspired by all these renovations as much as I have been! Got to love the Danish flair for design! 

Niki

Photography @husetpaafrederiksberg - shared with kind permission. 

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A Warm Home Which Nails the In-Between Season Vibe!

Hi campers! How was your weekend? Ready for a home tour with some inspiring details? This lovely space in Heidelberg, Germany belongs to Danilo and Paolo. The duo are passionate about the home, flowers and travel - all of which come together in this harmonious living space. I particularly love how they have mastered that 'between season vibe' when the light returns, the spring flowers have bloomed, and yet there's still a bite in the air.  Keep a look out for kilim rugs, spring flowers, candles and blankets, a beautiful bathroom cabinet and a ceiling height palm. Ready to feel inspired? 

This home has such a lovely feeling. The spring flowers, blankets and candles certainly help - a perfect between season combination! 

Tip on plants: mature greenery like this palm can be expensive. Keep a look out for similar plants on budget-friendly second-hand sites such as gumtree and eBay - here in Sweden businesses are often selling off plants like these when they update their office). 

Another tip: Annie at We Are Here Now sells lovely vintage kilim rugs.

Is there anything that caught your eye?  

See more of Danilo and Poalo's home over at @homeinheidelberg. 

BTW thank you so much for your positive feedback on my 2022 organisation series with Elfa on Friday. I'm excited too - just feeling a little overwhelmed by tackling my attic! Gaaah! 

Have a great start to the week!

Niki

Photography courtesy of @homeinheidelberg

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The Secret to Creating a Calm & Organised Home, Scandi Style

Paid partnership with Elfa, all words are my own and I only ever work with brands I love. 

Minimalist, practical, calm, organised. These are just some of the words that people frequently use to describe a Scandinavian home. And they'd be right! Having lived in Sweden for over 18 years I am constantly amazed at just how neat and tidy people's homes are (with the rare exception, of course!). Life is messy, children are messy, so, just how do they do it? Simply acquiring less stuff - or having a good old declutter certainly helps. But there is something more at play. 

I put a lot down to excellent storage. 

Simply put - I've been told that by creating a perfect home for everything - no matter how big or small, keeping your home tidy, neat and organised will be way easier. 

The problem 

Now, I'm going to fess up. The Brantmark family home is messy. It's shamefully messy. Organisation is neither Per nor my strong point. Someone is always tearing around the house looking for something they've lost (is it just me or are children particularly bad at finding things?). And it's embarrassing. Is there anyone out there who feels the same? 

The solution

This year everything's going to change! Why? Because I approached global Swedish storage experts Elfa - who happen to be based locally here in Malmö - and asked them to help me organise my home, room by room! And I hope, by sharing the knowledge and various solutions with you - you'll also pick up some great tips and tricks too. Unless of course, you've already got a wonderfully organised home - in which case, please do share your tips along the way! 

Who is Elfa? 

If you've been following My Scandinavian Home for a while, you'll most likely be familiar with Elfa already. Their fab storage systems pop up in homes I feature time and time again (take this, this, this and this!).  The Swedish company was founded in 1948 and prides itself on providing a sustainable, functional and high-quality storage system and doors for just about anything and anywhere in your home including the bedroom, children's room, living room, kitchen, garage, attic, hobby rooms, home office and laundry space. Think flexible shelving, drawers, hooks, baskets, dividers and more which will give even the tiniest and most awkward items a home. 

And they also offer planning help and great online tools. 

Most importantly, I love the Elfa ethos: it's not only about providing a perfect place for everything in your home, but also about creating more space for you, and making your home a better place to be. 

That's me sold! But where to start? 

Home Edit

The best way to get started, I learned,is to take stock of existing storage and 'problem areas' in the house. Have you noticed; some parts of the home feel way easier to keep tidy than others? It might be a load of small items collecting on a side table in the hallway, heaps of clothes in a corner or a cupboard stuffed to the brim with clobber.  

I pinpointed four areas in my home: my wardrobe (still in one of my girls rooms), Allie's bedroom (going from tween to teen!),  the laundry room (enter at your own peril), and the attic (don't get me started!). I'm looking forward to sharing my room by room plans, and all the details (including before and afters - no matter how embarrassing!) over the coming months. 

Do you have any specific places in your home? If so, I hope you'll enjoy the forthcoming series. 

Right, time to get planning, I've got a house to organise! Watch this space! 

Wishing you all a lovely weekend, 

Niki

Photography courtesy of Elfa. 

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Old Meets New in a Beautiful Swedish House From 1910

I've got a sunny Swedish home tour to share with you today that matches the bright sunshine we're currently enjoying in Sweden. I hope you are also able to feel the warmth oozing from the pictures! This historical house near Uppsala went on the market this week and I've never been so tempted to relocate! Dating back to 1910, the traditional early 20th century architecture serves as a backdrop for contemporary design touches and an eclectic blend of furniture. The result is a wonderful, warm and inviting home in which you'd want to pull up a sheepskin-covered chair and stay for a while! Ready to feel inspired? 

I feel more relaxed just looking at these rooms, how about you? What a perfect place to unwind! 

The sunroom really caught my eye - I can just imagine sitting there on a cold, sunny day with a cup of tea. Heaven! And just how lush is the surrounding parkland? 

Quick lamp round-up as there are some real classics in this home: 

Over dining table: Mathieu Challiéres Suspension Petite Volière pendant lamp

Living room floor: Pipistrello table lamp by Martinelli Luce

Bedroom: Bestlite BL2 table lamp from Gubi* 

Could you imagine living here? 

Niki

Photography courtesy of Länsförsäkringar Fastighetsförmedling

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