An Elegant Swedish Farmhouse Conversion

Tjena! How are you today? Is it just me or are things kind of crazy right now?! Only one day to go before the weekend - PHEW, make mine a double! It's all good though, as my favourite month of the year is on our doorstep - YAY! Is December yours too? The other bit of good news: I've found the most fabulous apartment to share with you today. Formerly a railway station and large farmhouse, the magnificent late 19th century building in the centre of Gothenburg has been transformed into nine apartments all of which are characterised by beautiful exposed brick walls and beams and arched windows. I particularly love this apartment which has been styled by Swedish interior designer Emma Fischer (and will no doubt be out on the market soon - eeee - watch this space!). Take a fikapaus, put your feet up and enjoy!



























Photography: Alen Cordic Styling: Emma Fischer - fund via Nordic Design with thanks. 

Isn't it such a fantastic space?! I love the architecture, and the combination of old and new.

Could you imagine living here?! I certainly could. It helps that I'm a huge fan of gothenburg - we've spent many summers sailing around the gothenburg archipelego and it's one of my favourite places on earth! 

In case it's not possible to move to Gothenburg, Sweden right now (despite my recommendation!!) - you can still get the look in your home! Here's a guide....

GET THE LOOK

1. FLOS Taccia Lamp
2. Atelier CPH Abstract Construction
3. H&M Washed Linen Bedspread
4. &Tradition Hoof Side Table
5. &Tradition Flowerpot Lamp
6. Pedrera Coffee Table
7. Paper Collective Essence of ballet 02
8. BS1 Floor Lamp with Round Base Matt black
9. Gubi Beetle Dining Chair
10. Menu Well Wtering Can

Oh, such beautiful things!!

Have a lovely day!

PS Super happy to see my Lagom book included in the Los Angeles Times stocking filler guide - I hope Father Christmas sees it! 

Twinkle, twinkle little tree!

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The Scandinavians generally start decorating their home for the holidays on the first Sunday of advent (is it the same where you live?). As with all things Nordic, the decorations are beautiful in a fuss-free, subtle way.  Think earthy colours, natural textures and plenty of foliage for perfectly imperfect vignettes.  Every year we head to the forest to cut down our Christmas tree (one of our family's favourite days of the year,  not just because there's glögg and pepperkaka (ginger thins) involved, honest!). But this season I'll be bringing in another type of tree too - the Nobili collection by Denmark's oldest ceramics brand Kähler. Designed by Mette Bache and Barbara Bendix Becker, Nobili is a pretty series of six hand-decorated ceramic candle holders inspired by the clear frosty nights of the winter forest. Each is perforated with holes to allow the warm glow of candlelight to cast pretty shadows on the wall. Not only does it make for a cosy display on a table, mantel piece or windowsill, if you're very tight on space at home it's the perfect mini Christmas tree alternative!

"The distinctive silhouettes are inspired by clear frosty nights in a winter forest, when the shadows
dance and the stars glimmer in the soft, freshly fallen snow."

 "When darkness falls and the moon shines in the clear night sky, the shadows dance across the frozen streams and the soft, freshly fallen snow that covers hills and trees. It is these evocative hours and the wholly unique light of Nordic forests that inspired the range’s dark, vivid glaze."

Aren't they beautiful?! Sooo cosy too.

I love how pretty the dusty green, mouth-blown Omaggio glass vase looks in the vignette on the table too. "When the dusty green vase is combined with other shades of green, it creates a shadowy, fascinating contrast to the pale, Nordic aesthetic," the Kähler team explains. Yep, totally agree. It's very subtle and ideal for fresh sprigs of pine and other foliage gathered from the garden / nearby park / forest / through the cracks of the pavement - the more imperfect the better! 

You can pick up items from the Nobili collection and Omaggio glass range over at the Kähler web shop and a whole host of design shops (find your nearest retailer here). 

Bring on the hygge! 

This post is brought to you in collaboration with Kähler, however all words are my own and I only ever work with brands I love and think you will too.

The striking, eclectic home of Malene Birger

When you go shopping do you find you have a handful of 'go to' brands / shops which you can almost guarantee will have something you'll love? One of mine is Danish brand By Malene Birger. Founder, Malene Birger sold her share in 2010, and left By Malene Birger in 2014. And now the designer and artist is relaunching her Interior and Design brand BIRGER1962 in January at Maison et Objet in Paris - oh yassss! To celebrate, Malene opened the doors of her flat in South Kensington, London to Danish photographer Birgitta Wolfgang and stylist Pernilla Vest. And what a treat! The space is decorated with finds from all over the world and expresses her unique and eclectic style beside her own art work. I remember reading once that Malene loves to move home often - and yet seeing this space tells me that she truly goes all out to make each house a home. Here's a peek inside her office and sitting room!

Photography Birgitta Wolfgang / Sisters Agency. Stylist Pernille Vest.

Such a striking apartment! I love that it has an entirely unique look and feel. It's the kind of place you could potter around for hours, studying all the objects. It makes me so excited to see what's in store for BIRGER 1962 - how about you?

Word on the street is that she's also opening a showroom in Copenhagen in April 2018 which will feature both her interior and design brand as well as her small clothing brand A JOURNEY London (designed, created and based on the idea of packing a suitcase and presenting two small collection per year just before the holiday season begins). A trip over the Öresund bridge is so on the cards for me April '18!!

If you'd like to get more inspiration from Malene, you might want to check out her interior books Life and Work 2010 and Move and Work 2014 published by teNeues as well as her instagram feeds - @malenebirgers_world and @ajourney_london.

Have a great day!

PS see more striking monochrome homes here.

A Small Swedish Studio With a Beautiful Sleep Area!

Well heeeej there! I hope you had a great weekend? I went on a girls road trip to a log cabin in the forests of Skåne. We went for walks, lit fires and chatted until the early hours over a glass (or three) of wine. It was just what the doctor ordered! Today, I'm heading up to Stockholm for a meeting with TRIWA (see previous features here and here). Sweden's capital city is 600 km North of Malmö (it's going to be cooold - brrrr!) but it certainly beats my usual Monday mornings! I hope you've got some fun plans to liven up the start of your week too? Anyhooo. There's a home tour to share! What really grabbed my eye about this beautiful, small apartment in Gothenburg is the bedroom stroke living room area - it's got a real boudoir feel about it. I'm loving the dusty pink cover combined with natural linens. Look out for the owner's fab boot collection too...























Photography by: Anders Bergstedt for Entrance

What do you reckon? Could you imagine padding around here?

It would make such a great pied à terre (dreaming again). Perhaps I should make this Monday travel a regular thing?!  I quite fancy a trip to Gothenburg next and popping in to Artilleriet!), have you been? If not, why not join me?!

FYI - this independent online store makes beautiful made-to-measure natural linen curtains, and I love this hand knotted diamond rug.

I'd love to know where that ceiling light is from - any ideas?

Right - got to run, my flights boarding now. Stockholm.... I'm coming for you!

Have a great start to the week!

Portuguese speaking friends - my Lagom book is now available in your language - yaaaay! You can pick up Lagom: A receita sueca para una vida feliz e equilibrada here.

Feeling the Hygge: My Holiday Table Setting

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The winter solstice is a few weeks away and the sun never really gets very high in the sky here in Southern Sweden (is it the same where you are?). This can only mean one thing: it's time to get cosy over casual, candlelit dinners. In preparation for my favourite time of the year (admittedly it's also birthday season so I'm a little biased!), Genevieve Jorn and I had a fun afternoon creating this holiday table setting using beautiful items from the Nordal homeware collection (my Danish partner who are not only the loveliest team ever, they also design the most beautiful items - seriously!).  We selected natural linens, cast iron candle holders,  tactile stoneware  and mouthblown glass combined with a foraged wreath, dried poppies and age-old wood furniture to create a rustic vibe. Bring on the hygge!

Photography - Niki Brantmark,  Styling - Genevieve Jorn  / My Scandinavian Home). 

Ahhhh, so pleased with the natural materials and layers of texture. I feel completely ready for the holiday season now!

In case you'd like to know where any of the items are from, we've mapped out an entire 'get the look' below. 

And here's a styling tip I learned from the pro (Gen!): linen tablecloths will arrive ironed and folded. To get the 'relaxed crease' look, wet the entire linen cloth and then hang it up to dry (if it's curtains you can simply hang them in place) - and then simply throw over the table.

And finally... the wreath! This year I'm really into rustic foraged wreaths. I'm hoping to create a DIY post shortly so keep an eye out!

Get the look*

1. Burgundy velvet quilted cushion 2. Pure drinking glass 3. Retro drinking glass 4. Retro red wine glass 5. Cast iron candle holder (short) 6. Cast iron candle holder 7. Glass vase 8. Cast iron server spoons (small) 9. Tapas board 10. Black cutlery 11. Stoneware bowl 12. Stoneware cake plate 13. Stoneware dinner plate 14. Table cloth 15. Napkins 16. Stoneware pitcher 17. Stoneware mug.

 *Nordal ships throughout Europe. Find a webshop stockist near you here.  


If you'd like to know anything else about my dining space just give me a shout in the comment section below.

Hope you feel as inspired as I do to get together over long lunches / dinners under candlelit!

I'm heading off to a friends cabin in the woods with friends and family for a couple of days (weeeeee!) - back Monday - see you then! Have a lovely weekend, and Happy Thanksgiving to all American friends and family!

PS I feel very honoured to be a part of the world's first influencer-specialised magazine - Le Buzz. Thank you so much for the lovely interview / feature!

This post is brought to you in collaboration with Nordal, however all words are my own and I only ever work with brands I love and think you will too.

Old Meets New in a Magnificent 18th Century House

Do you dream of moving to the countryside? Or perhaps you already lead a rural life? I often fantasise about exchanging our townhouse for a rambling country home. I have a vision of muddy walks, rosy cheeked roasts in country pubs and long breakfasts with tea, jam and toast (do you get the sense I'm getting carried away?! Tell me country friends is it like this, tell me it is?!). This is probably why I came over all giddy when I stumbled across Yeabridge house in Somerset, South West England in the photography portfolio of Benjamin Edwards. Dating back to the 18th century, Yeabridge house is blessed with high ceilings, open fires and a winding staircase which leads up to a galleried landing and eight bedrooms. The house is owned by Mark Homewood who has created a fascinating, eclectic home where beautiful vintage and antique finds sit beside eye-catching contemporary design pieces. All in all, one fabulous house! Enjoy the tour!

Photography: Benjamin Edwards / Home-owner Mark Homewood.

Isn't this space wonderful? Could you imagine living here?!

Just in case we're not ready to up sticks or a country pile is slightly out of our reach (right now at least), we can still steal a few ideas.....

Here's my pick: kitchen - this mobile is similar, vintage chopping boards. workspace - vintage metal chairs. sitting room 1 - Yellow eames chair. sitting room 2 - Beni ourain rug, rattan chair. Combine an IKEA sofa with BEMZ urban loose fit cover for a similar look, Knoll Plantner coffee table. Zuo table. Bedroom - I like this sunburst mirror.

I love the way this home has been captured by Benjamin Edwards. I've been a big fan of his interior photography since receiving a copy of the beautiful book: Urban Pioneer: Interiors inspired by industrial design. There are so many beautiful homes in his portfolio too - take a peek here.

Oh and Yeabridge house is available for photo shoots (oh yasss!). For more information contact: markhomewood@me.com.

Have a lovely day!