A Charming and idyllic Swedish Country Home in Summertime

The Swedish country house of interior stylist Anna Furbacken would look perfectly at home in an Astrid Lindgren tale. It's so idyllic! Nestled in the countryside in central Sweden, the historic croft is made up of one larger house and several outhouses positioned astound a central lawn - making it a perfect venue for parties like midsummer this Friday! 

Anna has been renovating the house over time to create a home where she and her family can relax and be themselves, both outdoors and in. The interior offers a refreshing respite from the 'perfect' living spaces we're so used to seeing these days, offering a wonderful glimpse into family life on the farm. Look out for antique furniture, an array of vintage lights and soft, earthy, muted tones - as well as refreshing glimpses of laptops, cables, messy cushions and the odd margarine tub. 

Outdoors, there's plenty of seating to go around with a chilled bamboo sitting room area, hammocks and a long table with a mix match of chairs. It's the kind of place, you'd be happy to pull up a seat and stay for a while under the midnight sun. 

Note the choice of panelling in the kitchen (I'm all into panelling having installed it in our cabin. See my panelling guide here) - Anna has opted for a traditional bead panelling which perfectly matches the history and style of the house. 

The pendant you can catch a glimpse of in the picture above has become really popular in Sweden among the boho living aficionados, it's from HK Living. 

I'm sure many happy childhood memories will be made at this beautiful house. And what a glorious place to spend midsummer's eve! 

Could you imagine wiling away your summer days here? 

See more of Anna's home over at @annfurbacken and more about her work as an interior stylist here. 

Here's a peek inside a few other Scandinavian country homes this bright and sunny Monday: 

An idyllic red and white Swedish farmhouse

A cosy country home in rural north Sweden

Jessica's charming croft from 1900

Kram! 

Niki

Photography: @annfurbacken shared with kind permission

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City Guide: 30 Things to do in Malmö For Design-Lovers

In paid partnership with @malmötown. All words, pictures and recommendations are my own. 

Having lived in Malmö, Sweden for over eighteen Years, I'm so proud of Sweden's third largest city. Last December I wrote a winter guide, and today I thought I'd share 30 great things to do the city for design-lovers all year round! Here's the complete lowdown on all my favourite design shops, galleries, studios, architecture, cafes, restaurants and more! I hope it will inspire you to visit this great city some day soon. 

1. Stroll or cycle through the old cobbled streets of Gamla Väster  - the 19th century old town between Lilla Torg and Kungsparken, and discover small independent galleries, ateliers and handicraft stores. 

2. Discover the cities modern architecture which juxtaposes with historic buildings to create a fascinating skyline! Schmidt Hammer Lassen Architects' Malmö Live Towers and the jagged glass and aluminium extension to the World Maritime University by architect firms Terrior and Kim Utzon (both seen above) are a couple of my favourites.

3. Stroll around the little lanes in Västra Hamnen (Western harbour) for more fascinating architecture including the famous skyscraper Turning Torso - the symbol of Malmö, and enjoy a dip in the sea while looking out over the famous Öresund bridge. 

4. Pull up a seat by the window at Atrium for brunch in beautiful surroundings. I can vouch for the eggs bennie! 

5. Or combine brunch and design shopping at Geijersgatan 53, owned by my friend Josephine - who has impeccable taste for design and flowers! 

6. Visit the Malmö public library: the award-winning modern extension by Henning Larsen is a wonderful place to sit in 'lugn och ro' (peace and quiet) while leafing through a book and taking in the view over Kungsparken ('The Kings Park').

7. Shop for contemporary Scandinavian design at Miloii, Norrgavel, Olsson & Gerthel, Svenssons, Grandpa, Design Torget and Bolia.  For Scandinavian-style inspiration on how to organise your home and pick up storage pieces, head to Elfa Studio in Hansa. 

6. Shop for items by highly acclaimed local designers and see one of the exhibitions at Form Design Centre - a meeting place for architecture, design and crafts. 

7. Pop into Beyond Us: an urban market for clothes and homeware, cafe & bar and workspace. 

8. Shop for antiques and second hand homeware at AB Småland (it's a great place for a swedish fika - coffee and cake / lunch - too!). You'll also find a row of antique shops on Kärleksgatan ('love street')

9. Pick up locally made ceramics at Artibus (open the first weekend of every month) and Formagruppen. 

10. Buy jewellery from a local silversmith at Atom 47 in Limhamn. 

11. Source Scandi retro furniture at Yesterday Retro Form and Möbeldepan. 

12. Shop for local handicrafts including butterknives, wool socks and clogs in one of the little boutiques on historical Lilla Torg. 

13. And then enjoy a drink and light lunch on the square, or head round the corner to local favourite Noir vin & Kaffe.

14. Or tuck into the best pizza in town by the water at Mastio in Limhamn. You'll love the constantly changing menu, interior and local vibe!

15. If you prefer vegan, I can recommend Jord or Farm2Table (both with great food and beautiful design) or the new plant-based cafe Sansa. 

16. Visit independent art galleries including Cowgirl Gallery in Möllan (where you can also enjoy a coffee and attend events) and the Nordic Art Agency, owned by my friend Juliet, a fellow Brit. 

17. Make an appointment with a local artist to visit their showroom. Malmö Open Studios is a helpful resource. 

18. Pay a visit to Malmö Konsthallen or Moderna Museet for modern art. 

19. Hang out with locals in St Knuts Torg: pull up a seat at one of the cafes on the square, visit the antique bookstore, treat yourself to fresh cut blooms in the flower shop, and stock up on groceries from the independent package-free, zero waste store Gram. 

20. Stroll through an ocean of flowers at ecological Slottsträdgården - the public flower garden behind Malmö Hus, and then pull up a seat by the canal at Slottsträdgården cafe. 

21. Pick up blooms, plants, cards and vases from truly inspiring flower shops Blomster Pigan and Wallflower. 

22. Visit Malmö during the Southern Sweden Design Days - an annual international design festival showcasing a range of design disciplines, seminars, workshops and exhibitions all over town. Don't miss the main hub at Lokstallerna - an incredible converted train workshop.  

23. While you're in Kirseberg, treat yourself to a relaxed lunch inside at the industrial street food restaurant Matverskstad.  

24. Travelling with children? Check-in to a circus wagon at the nearby Grand Circus Hotel!  

25. Enjoy a pre-supper aperitif of champagne and oysters - or tuck into a relaxed lunch or evening meal - at Malmö Saluhallen - a former train depot converted into an incredible food hall, with a modern extension by architect firm Wingårdhs. 

26. L'Enoteca's outdoor space is also a cool place for pre-dinner drinks. I love their cosy bar over the road on colder days too. 

27. Book a table in advance and dine out in style at one of my favourite restaurants: Ruths (above), Aster, Atmosfär or Mutantur. 

28. Head up to Malmö skybar for a post-dinner drink with a view over Malmö (you can also eat supper from the heady heights of Kitchen & Table). 

29. Finish the night with a cocktail to two at tiny local favourite Care Of by the canal. If you're looking for somewhere lively, the eclectic hangout MJs is always fun on a saturday night. For clubs - Plan B is the place to go. 

30. Rest your weary head at the newly renovated boutique Hotel Duxiana with impeccably designed rooms and lovely views over central Malmö and the canal (above and below). Other great hotels include Clarion Malmö Live and MJs. 

I hope this guide has given you lots of design ideas for your next trip to Malmö! 

Välkommen! 

Niki

PS feel free to add your own tips below! 

Photography: Niki Brantmark / My Scandinavian Home

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A 19th Century Swedish Cottage Where the Past Meets the Present

In the space of three years, owners Malin, Wilhelm and their daughter Olivia have transformed a former Fisherman's cottage in beautiful Österlen, South Sweden into a light-filled family home. A combination of white, wood and concrete, the living space has gone through a total gut renovation and appears way more spacious than its 85 m2 (914 f2) thanks to the airy open-plan layout and wonderful high ceilings. Malin and Wilhelm were keen to flirt with the past - and signs of the original 1870 architecture are everywhere: exposed beams, wood panelling and on the upper level - the original floor which has been whitewashed - all of which adds oodles of charm! At this time of year, life spills outside where several seating areas and an abundance of fruit trees await! Anna Truelsen and Jonas Lundberg paid a visit to take these pictures. 

What a summer oasis! 

I can't even begin to imagine the level of work the family have put into this renovation (it would be so interesting to see the 'before' pictures - apparently it was in a total state when they bought it!). 

The bedrooms in particular really stood out to me - I love the dark wood exposed beams, they add a wonderful contrast to the room. 

Is there anything that stood out to you? 

Österlen is a lovely part of Skåne (the county I live in) and known for its beautiful landscape and light, attracting many artists. 

I recently featured this house in Österlen, being sold by Laura and Nora of Our Food Stories and out of coincidence, I met the new owner at a party last week (Sweden is a very small world!). Needless to say, they were thrilled and can't wait to spend summer there! 

Other houses I've featured (and love) from the area include:

Marianne's charming Swedish country home

The before and after pictures of a Swedish fire station that became a home

A 100-year-old Southern Sweden house

A charming shaker-style Swedish country kitchen in Österlen

Here in Sweden, the sun is shining, and the school summer holidays have begun (queue very messy house and an empty food cupboard!). This afternoon, I'm sneaking off over the bridge to Copenhagen to see all the latest design news from 3 Days of Design. If you'd like to follow along, head over to my instagram stories! 

Wishing you all a lovely, sunny day! 

Niki

Homeowner: Malin Hansmark

Photography: Jonas Lundberg 

Styling: Anna Truelsen

Featured in LEVA&BO

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