Carolina's Serene Stockholm Apartment in Creams and Browns

A while ago Swedish photographer Kristofer Johnsson and stylist Pella Hedeby paid a visit to this beautiful 19th century apartment in Sturegatan, Stockholm. The home belonged to Mattias and Carolina Storm. The couple have since moved (a little birdie tells this was their third apartment in four years!). 

Perhaps this information makes me even more intrigued, since the space looks so nicely 'complete' - which is impressive in a short amount of time. I mean, we've lived in our home for 16 years, and I'm still trying to figure out what to put on some of the walls. Are you the same? 

Not only that, but it's beautiful too, with every room in perfect harmony. The colour scheme is similar to Leanne's cottage which I showed on Wednesday - but the look is very different in terms of architecture ad furniture. Here, we witness round organic shapes juxtaposed with triangular forms, fluffy rugs layered with texture and furniture from different eras. Art and mirrors also play an important role - with their 'barely there feel', yet at the same time adding interest at every turn. 

I hope you enjoy the tour! 

Such a serene space! 

I hope I can feature their latest home soon since that is filled with the same timeless pieces but curated in an entirely different way! 

Did anything stand out to you?

And I'm curious to know - is the decor in your home 'finished' or very much a work in progress like mine?  

Since it's Friday, I couldn't resist sharing a few other homes with you - some of which have the same neutral scheme but with a pop of colour, all of them beautiful! 

A vibrant and modern Danish home with art and vintage pieces

Learn 12 simple ways to colour to your home, Danish style

Step inside a calm neutral Swedish home with lovely bones

Have a fabulous weekend friends!

Niki

Photography: Kristofer Johnsson

Styling: Pella Hedeby

Shared with kind permission

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Leanne Ford's Beautiful White Guest House Cottage

Trends come and go - and to be honest it can be hard to keep up. The good news is that the talk in the industry right now is very much about filling your home with things you love and that make you happy, no matter how eclectic. 

Personally, I find it hard to settle on just one looks - and I'm often pulled in different directions based on what I've seen and feel inspired by. As a result, I always admire people who have a distinct signature style. American interior designer and TV personality extraordinaire Leanne Ford has a penchant for milky tones - and even when the interior fashion pack are starting to sprinkle their home with colour, Leanne has stuck hard and fast to the look she loves. And she does it so well!  

Read on to take a tour of Leanne's guest house cottage in Pittsburgh (captured by Erin Kelly, styled by Hilary Robertson) and discover how she makes a white-base home sing! 

Patina: Leanne is passionate about vintage and antique pieces which show the markings of a past life. The rich patina is perfect for bringing texture and interest to a space. 

Imperfection: White can quickly become sterile if it is too rigid. Leanne's cottage is filled with second hand items, touches of nature and handmade pieces. Look closely and you'll notice the finish on the walls, beams etc are fairly rough too. The imperfection helps to add a relaxed, warm and inviting feel. 

Collections: while the overall look of the cottage is fairly pared back, you'll find collages of items that have been grouped together in a wonderful way. 

Tone on tone: the overall look might be 'white' but it's actually an array of tones ranging from white and cream to dark brown and even a hint of black. The subtle contrast helps to add interest and harmony to the space. 

Unusual pieces: take a close look at the dining area and sitting room and you'll find fascinating furniture with entirely unique forms. It takes time to find pieces like this - often requiring hours of scouring flea markets and second hand stores, but when you find those treasures, you're truly rewarded! 

Drawing nature indoors: Leanne's cottage is filled with natural materials including wood, paper and jute adding to the calm feel. It can be tricky to have real plants in a guest house since they require too much maintenance. Leanne has got round this with plenty of dried plants and flowers. 

Oversize: while the colour scheme might be neutral, the size scheme is not! A series of oversize linen pendant lamps (from Imprint House), combined with miniature pieces (like those chairs we saw hanging from a hook) help to add impact to a space. 

Play with texture and light: the light naturally accentuates the texture on the rough stone walls, 3D art and wood beams on the ceiling to add interest to every room in a subtle way. 

ooooh, so beautiful! 

This makes me want to go out and scour flea markets all weekend - how about you? 

If you're curious about the project and many of the fittings and items you see, there's a full write up about it in Domino magazine here. 

While Leanne was the mastermind of the look for this guest cottage, for the shoot, Erin Kelly worked with stylist Hilary Robertson who's books I absolutely love! Check them out here. 

If you've got time to pour another coffee and sit a while longer today, head on over to Leanne's website to see more of her projects. And don't miss: 

Leanne's echo park cottage 

A beautiful white farmhouse

A dated home becomes a fresh farmhouse

Ha det fint! 

Niki

Photography: Erin Kelly
Styling: Hilary Robertson 
Shared with kind permission

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A Light and Airy Open-Plan Swedish Loft with Angled Ceilings

Hej there! I hope you had an 'underbar' weekend! It dawned on me that I've shown quite a few bigger homes recently, yet homes come in all shapes and sizes. And in this case, angles! So if you've come here looking for loft spaces with low ceilings or compact open-space living ideas, this one's for you! 

In this top floor apartment in Gothenburg, the designer has decided to create one large open space rather than a series of smaller rooms to ensure the light gets into every last corner. Mirrors also help to accentuate the light, while an earthy, neutral colour scheme ensures a serene, cohesive look that's looks as cosy as it is comfortable! 

When you live on the top floor of an apartment block, nature can feel very far away. So, I also love how an array of simple branches have been brought in to connect the space with the great outdoors. Loft living at it's finest! Enjoy the tour! 

So lovely! The entire home looks so effortlessly decorated, don't you think?

I guess if I have one bug bear, it's the bed in the middle of the room without a headboard. I'd definitely need something to prevent my pillows falling off in the night! How about you? An easy fix though! Otherwise I think I could move right away and not change a single thing, how about you? 

Would you like to kick off the week with  a few other loft / attic spaces with angled ceilings? Check out: 

A small-ish Danish apartment with a vibrant, sunny feel

A warm and inviting Swedish home with low angled ceilings

A swedish apartment fit for a princess (or prince!)

Before and after: an attic storage space becomes a light and airy bedroom

For storage, I recently kitted out my wardrobe and attic space, both of which had angled ceilings. 

Or perhaps you're after small one-room apartments? If so, look no further than this archive! 

Happy Monday friends!

Niki

Photography courtesy of Alvhem - found via Nordroom with thanks. 

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Dunmore Farm - a Peaceful Getaway Where Old Meets New

Journalists are often reaching out and asking for tips from Scandinavians on how to not only survive in winter but thrive. Indeed, I even included some tips in my Njuta book*. But there gets to a stage when you notice a small crack in the veneer of even the most hardy Vikings. And with several months of winter left to go, that's around now! So, forgive me while I dream of far away places in sunnier climes today! 

I'm taking us on a journey to Dunmore Farm - a charming rustic retreat on a 150-acre working farm nestled away in the heart of North east Victoria, Australia. Dunmore cottage was built in 1860 using red gum sourced on site - making it one of the oldest houses in the district! Owners Angus and Bec Macdougall, saw it's potential as a peaceful getaway and carried out a considered year-long restoration to seamlessly blend old world charm with modern amenities. 

I could quite happily spend a week or two here luxuriating in a hot bath, cosying up by the fire or simply relaxing and looking out over the fields (word has it that there is some fresh seasonal produce to be sourced from growers all around the region if you love cooking!). Ready to dream? 

Sign me up! 

Could you imagine relaxing here for a few days too? 

You can find more information over on the Dunmore Farm website. 

I love the room with the bunkbed - it wouldn't look out of place in Sweden! I wonder if it is Scandi inspired? Is there anything that stood out to you? 

I have shared SO many wonderful stays and home tours in Australia over the years. You can check them all out here. one day, I might even make it there in person. Here's hoping! 

And in case you missed them, don't forget to look back on some of the posts from the past few weeks - including 3 airbnbs in Sweden that immerse you in nature (the floating house!), Imke's warm and inviting rental in Geneva, a fabulous airbnb in Copenhagen (now updated with colour references), and the inspiring Stockholm home of Saša Antic (the colours again!). 

This afternoon we're off to Odense, Denmark to do some research for a city guide I'm writing for a magazine - I've never been before so very excited! If you'd like to follow along virtually, I'll be sharing snippets on my instagram stories. 

Thank you for stopping by (I've so enjoyed reading your comments and mails!), have a fabulous weekend! 

Niki

Photography Nick Skinner, shared with kind permission from Dunmore Farm. 

*Ad for my own work

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3 Swedish Airbnbs That Bring You Close To Nature

Many people flock to Sweden in summertime. Some are looking for a city break, while many others come for the beautiful nature. It makes sense. Sweden has a population of 10 million and a land mass stretching 1572 km from North to South, which makes it easy to find a secluded spot. It's one of the things I love most about living here. 

If you're thinking of visiting, here are three very different Airbnbs which will immerse you in nature so you can switch off, relax, take a dip and generally recharge your batteries, Swedish style! 

The indoor-outdoor cabin

Live an indoor-outdoor lifestyle at this cabin in Southwest Sweden, and wake up to the sound of bird song while looking out over the fields of Halmstad. 

The forest cabin

You'll feel like you're living in a treehouse in this cabin in Gnesta. And it's just a short hop to a bathing spot too so you get the best of both worlds. Sign me up! 

The floating boathouse

This unique stay in Bengtsförs invites you to cut loose - literally, and tow your floating home wherever the mood takes you. I love the idea of  waking up to different scenery every morning! The house has a fully equipped kitchen and bathroom and sleeps four. 

All wonderful in their own way. Which would you choose? 

I have a hard time deciding, I must say, but since we have a sailing boat already - I might just be inclined to go for the forest cabin! 

Incidentally, I saw a question about screens and insects on the My Scandinavian Home facebook this week, and some of you might very well be wondering about this when you see these places! In my experience, it's quite rare to get mosquitoes and other pesky creepy crawlies south of Stockholm - although they can be a bit of a nuisance around sunset in the height of summer. That's why you'll rarely see screen doors and windows in these properties. However there can be quite a few mozzies in the North, where they are attracted by the many lakes. So, if you're visiting that part of Sweden you might need plenty of good repellent - depending on the year. 

Do you have a lot of bugs where you are? 

If you're planning a trip and would like to see more Scandinavian airbnbs, check out my holiday rental / airbnb archive - there are so many good ones in there! I have also written quite a few Scandinavian travel and city guides! 

Happy Wednesday!

Niki

PS I had promised to share a small Copenhagen home belonging to a single mother and her son, but unfortunately I've had to move the post to April. I apologise for this, but I promise it'll be worth the wait! 

Photography courtesy of Airbnb, with thanks. 

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