Marianne's Art-filled Apartment in SOFO, Stockholm

Sweden might be a big country geographically, but the population is small:10 million (the same size of London), which means never more than a few degrees separation from anyone. Interior and graphic designer Marianne Wikner and I first connected when I reached out to feature her beautiful home in Mariefred (which she has since sold). I instantly fell in love with her love of art, sculpture and antique pieces - and a home tour of her and her husband's charming country escape in Österlen, southeast Sweden quickly followed. 

So, you can imagine my excitement when I discovered Marianne has a flat in Stockholm! Located in SOFO (the quarter south of Folkungagatan in the hip neighbourhood of Södermalm), the apartment has all the hallmarks of Marianne's signature style including plenty of antique and vintage finds as well as paintings, busts and figurines, but it also has an air of calm, ensuring it's the perfect oasis to return too after a day in the city. Welcome to Marianne's Stockholm home!

You'll recognise this table from her Mariefred home. This time, Marianne has opted for a soothing beige backdrop as opposed to the striking deep tone seen in her previous dining room area. 

The trick to creating a gallery wall like this is to include a variety of different styles of art (oil painting, illustrations etc), as well as mix and match frames (some without too!). I also like the way Marianne has included objects. 

The entrance hall is wonderfully clutter free - a calm welcome after shutting the door on the buzz and whir of Sweden's capital city! 

The sitting room is made up of a selection of times collected over time including a leather Chesterfield, cane chairs and poufs. 

A collection of well loved coffee table books, sculptures and treasures have been displayed on the table in the corner. 

What a perfect oasis! 

Marianne's interiors have got me so excited about 'Konstrunda' next week. Every easter, it's time for the big art exhibition across Skåne, south Sweden. There are five different tours to choose from, and we usually pick one each year, travelling around the countryside dropping in at the ateliers and galleries of painters, potters and sculptures. It's one of my favourite events of the year. 

Do you have something similar in your area? 

I'm particularly excited about heading to Norrviken to see Sara Bergman's exhibition - I featured her lovely home in Höganäs last year, and her art is wonderful! 

In case you'd like to see more of Marianne's home - check out her instagram here, and take the tour of her Österlen home and former house in Mariefred. 

On another note, I know I usually write posts on Monday, Wednesday and Friday but this afternoon the crazies and I are heading off on a long weekend to Berlin (very exciting!) with my Mother so this post is a little earlier than usual! I hope you have a wonderful weekend, see you Monday! 

Niki

Photography courtesy of Marianne Wikner, shared with kind permission. 

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A White Swedish Home In An Attic

Homes come in all shapes and sizes - some of which can present challenges! But help is at hand: there are plenty of tricks you can use to create a beautiful interior no matter how awkward the space! This delightful Swedish home is tucked under the roof tops of a 1920s townhouse in Gothenburg. Fairly small (it measures 44 m2 / 473 f2 but bear in mind Swedes don't count areas under a certain a ceiling height), with angled ceilings and smallish windows, the living space could feel dark, and pokey had it not been for the fantastic Dormer windows, white walls and floors as well as the light coloured furniture. Keep a look out for other touches such as mirrors and internal windows which help the flow of light, while subtle shifts in tones ensure the space remains interesting and cosy. 

In smaller spaces, furniture with 'gaps' that you can see through help to create an airy feel and ensure the light can flow. 

Storage is key to keep the space clutter-free. 

A mix of white with wood creates strikes a perfect balance between clean and bright and cosy and warm. 

A sage green brings a soft, calm touch to the living space. 

Blue is also known for its calming affects. A darker shade helps to create a lovely 'cocoon' affect in the bedroom, while a window ensures the light flows through. 

Skylight windows are really affective - and often come with built in blinds for bedtime! 

Here is a look at the layout: 

What a perfect pad! I'd be so happy come back home here each day after a long day of work, how about you? 

Is there anything in particular that you love about this home? 

I hope this serves as perfect inspiration for anyone dealing with awkward angles, low ceilings and smallish living spaces! The Swedes certainly are a dab hand at this. 

Would you like to see some other attic apartments today? Here are a few of my favourites: 

A smallish Danish home with a vibrant sunny feel

A 19th century Swedish loft apartment

7 great ways to make the most of an attic / loft space

Oh, and did I mention this home is on the market? Gothenburg is a great city - and a perfect gateway to the archipelagos in summertime. Just saying! 

Stor kram! 

Niki

Photography: Jonas Berg

Styling: Livindeco

For Stadshem

Found via Nordroom with thanks

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Julie's Bright Danish Summer Cabin by the Sea

This weekend, the clocks went forward in Sweden - which always feels like a giant leap towards summertime (even if it was painful when the alarm clock went off!). In honour of the occasion, I couldn't resist sharing a dreamy Danish summer cabin with you. 

But it hasn't always been dreamy. In fact when Julie Løwenstein and her husband Simon Schack first discovered the cabin in Rørvig, it was dark, dank and had been on the market for an age. As a stylist for Bolig magasinet, Julie knows her way around a renovation and how to give homes a lift. The couple found that painting the interior white was key to creating a bright living space - and they also put in a new kitchen and bathroom.

Today, the simple, yet vibrant cabin has everything the family need to enjoy weekends and holidays away from the city. 

See the full tour and floor plan here and read more about Julie's cabin at Bolig Magasinet (in Danish). 

For more charming cabin / summer cottage inspiration, I love: 

A danish cottage oasis on Zealand

A dreamy danish cottage with an outdoor bathroom

10 idyllic Scandinavian summer cottages

Have a fab start to the week friends! 

Niki

PS This post has been edited. 

Photography: Anitta Behrendt

Styling: Julie Løwenstein - shared with kind permission

Featured in: Bolig Magasinet

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This Beautiful Danish Summer Cabin is on Airbnb!

I am not sure if you know that I write a regular feature for Simply Scandi UK. It's a quarterly magazine focusing on Scandinavian design, and I've had the pleasure of contributing for two years, writing about everything from Scandinavian culture to travel and more. My latest feature involves researching Airbnb's (it's a tough job, but someone has to do it!) and I've been stumbling across all kinds of beautiful properties, including this one! 

Located in Tisvilde, the cabin was designed in 1934 by a female relative of Kaare Klint - and although newly renovated - many of the original details shine through (as do items by Klint such as the safari chair and pendant and table lamps!). Visitors are invited to treat the cabin as a home from home in which to unwind beside the beautiful Tisvilde Hegn woodland, an hour North of Copenhagen. Feeling active? Tisvilde is a popular summer idyll among Copenhageners and boutique stores, farmshops, cafes and restaurants as well as a sandy beach are a short cycle ride away! 

I'm definitely adding this little cabin to my airbnb list, if you're visiting Denmark this summer, you might want to as well! Here's a peek inside. 

What a lovely cabin! I'm already sinking into one of those safari chairs - or cycling to the beach with the warm wind in my hair! How about you?

It would be perfect getaway to combine with a few days in Copenhagen - that way you'd get the best of both worlds. 

Find out more on airbnb here. 

Would you like to see a few more Danish summer cottages today? Here are some lovely ones I've featured in the past: 

A charming and relaxed Danish cabin by the sea

A white, light and airy cabin on a Danish island

A dreamy cabin by the sea

A little Danish cabin in the woods

Before and after: a rundown Danish cabin becomes a vibrant summer home

I hope this fills you with inspiration for the weekend! Have a great couple of days, and see you Monday!

Niki

Photography courtesy of Airbnb with thanks 

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A Striking Swedish Flat, Full of Contrast

I whizzed up to our little cabin yesterday over the day to take some photos. I noticed that the buds were starting to appear on the bushes - small wins friends, small wins! It's hard to imagine that in just 10 weeks it will be June - the month when the Swedish school summer holiday begins. 

Many flock to the island of Gotland in the Baltic to soak up the warm weather and beautiful light. The island also has many year round dwellers who make the most of having the place to themselves the rest of the year. This striking apartment in the picturesque capital - 'Visby', looks like somewhere someone could happily live year round. Built in the 19th century, the flat has many features typical of the time including high ceilings, large spacious rooms and wide doorways as well as a beautiful tiled masonry oven. 

The decor is one of contrast - where a deep charcoal and dark wood juxtaposes with white, while a mustard tone fills the in between to create harmony. Look closely and you'll also spot some gems, including the desk lamp and bamboo safari chair as well as other vintage pieces. I hope you enjoy the tour! 

I'd happily sit at this desk while looking out over the Baltic Sea, how about you? 

I haven't see a bamboo version of the safari chair before, have you? I found a similar one here. 

I love this spot - it's the perfect place for a little light therapy and warmth, even if the weather isn't playing nicely outside! 

While monochrome can feel quite austere, the use of mustard / golden tones helps to soften the look and add warmth. 

Source a similar vintage scissor lamp*. 

Such a stunning tiled masonry oven - it's like art in itself. 

The kitchen  cabinets and backsplash are all made from wood - a look we don't see very often!  

The subtle shift in tones between the sitting room and bedroom add to the interest of the living space. 

It's not always easy to understand the layout of these homes, so I have promised to start sharing the floorplan whenever there is one available. This is how this apartment is laid out:

Glossary; 'sovrum' = bedroom, 'Vardagsrum' = sitting room, 'Kök' = kitchen 

Are you a fan of dark colours in homes? 

We once had a black wall in our bedroom (many moons ago) and while I enjoyed the contrast and cosiness, we needed to add a lot more lighting! Just to warn you, in case you're feeling inspired to do something similar in your home. 

Fancy moving to Visby? This apartment is for sale via Bertwig. 

See more homes on the island on this archive - so many beautiful ones! 

Vi ses på Fredag! 

Niki

Photography: Andreas Ljungqvist / Bertwig with thanks 

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