An elegant Swedish space with a mid-century touch

I do love a little high ceiling elegance and this apartment embraces it by keeping the walls white and the look pared-back, adding a only few select mid-century pieces. Combine this with original white washed beams and floaty linen curtains as room dividers and the result is a serene, grown-up living space. My eye is on the detail too - instead of one large landscape picture above the dining table the owners have used three portrait images. Herbs hang in the window and plants and flowers can be seen in every single frame. Lucky it's spring - as everything we need is right outside our door right?! Oh and did I mention this space is for sale....?

Entrance mäkleri

A little about where things are from: Source hanging plant holders here. Mid-century furniture is available at Lauritz and Live Auctioneers. The pretty brass light in the kitchen is similar to the golden bell and the chairs are series 7.

Other homes with a cool mid-century touch include this Berlin space, an apartment in gothenburg and this truly fabulous house. Or for something completely different -how about this surfers home in Australia? Now, that's brightened up my day no end, how about you?!

It's a short week here in Sweden as it's Valborg (or walpurgess night). A pagan tradition,  villagers gather around bonfires across the country to ward of witches, who were believed to ride on their broomsticks to higher ground and cast evil spells on the eve of 30th April. And tomorrow it's the May day spring festival - and I love any talk of spring!

But I would never leave you high and dry without a post oh no!  To celebrate, I'm holding an exciting give-away, so make sure you stop by - it'll be open to everyone!

Have a lovely day!

PS There's a 5 minute clip of me on TV channel Arte, showing my home and talking about the home  if you fancy seeing it here- (in german).

A dreamy Finnish lake-side cabin with a twist

When it comes to creating a cabin, it seems your imagination is the only limit. This incredible Finnish summer cottage has been built using four ship containers, yes really! Looking at the 60 metres square space you'd never guess, would you?! And when the owners aren't sitting out on the terrace enjoying the forest and interrupted views over lake Hartola,  they're relaxing in the beautiful, personal interior, decorated using simple monochromes and a touch of vintage industrial.  I could wile away a summer here, how about you?!

 

 

 

Photos by Krista Keltanen (shared with kind permission)

Oh to whisk myself away here! I do love the simple life, don't you?

It's difficult to pin down exactly what I like the most about this house - I love everything! But if I have to say one thing it would be the mix of textures - hard industrial metals against white washed brick walls and soft linens and lace.

Is there anything that stands out to you?

You can see more photos of this house beautifully captured by Krista Keltanen on her lovely blog here or a full article here (in Finnish). More dreamy Finnish cabin inspiration here, here and here.

Have a lovely day!

Spring has sprung in a lovely Swedish space

 I love it when the doors and windows can be flung open, the sun streams in and you can pad about the place bare foot and fancy free. This Gothenburg apartment captures the spring vibe perfectly with it's light-filled open plan living space, balcony and bright pops of green. I love the mix of old and new - Scandinavian modern, vintage and industrial, what a perfect blend? And who needs a large backyard to have a herb garden - I really like the idea of using the full height of balcony railings for important culinary ingredients, how about you?!

Styled and photographed by the Alvhem team.

If you're looking for a big plant for your home why not source one second hand? One of my friends, Gen, bought beautiful greenery on Blocket (Sweden's version of Gumtree) - in fact you can see it in her sitting room here. You never know if someone in your neighbourhood or a local business are looking to get rid of some beautiful greenery?! (More plants and flower inspiration here).

Try Etsy for industrial pendant lamps.

Other lovely light-filled homes which are bound to brighten up your day include this idyllic Danish cottage, a back-to-basics Oregon cottage, and  a pared-back Finnish cabin. Or if you're thinking outdoors - this Montreal oasis will always be my favourite - imagine?!

Have a lovely sunny day!

Hello Monday, have I got a Finnish house for you...

So, it's straight off to Finland this morning (only virtually- but it sounds good doesn't it?!) and the lofty Helsinki penthouse of graphic designer Jirka Väätäinen and his partner, Pete Rahikainen who works in the fashion industry. Airy and spacious, the apartment has beautiful high ceilings and an abundance of light. The duo have artfully decorated the space with a fab mix of old and new. The underlying tone is Scandinavian which has then been diluted with vintage furniture, floral patterns, fascinating details and objects collected on trips abroad all coming together in these beautiful shots styled by Laura Seppänen and photographed by Pauliina Salonen. Let's take a tour...


 
 


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Home owner: Jirka Väätäinen. Photographer: Pauliina Salonen. Stylist Laura Seppänen (shared with kind permission).

This wonderful home makes me want to skip work and go on a trawl around the flee markets of Skåne / Copenhagen today, how about you?! If only! I particularly love the vintage sewing machine used as a side table and the small industrial trolley posing as a stand for the record player. But the more I look the more I see and love about the space.

Anything that stand out to you?

Thank you so much to Laura Seppänen, the Helsinki based interior designer and stylist behind this shoot for sending me these images - such a treat! Laura used to work for Deko magazine as a social media / web editor and recently started her own agency. She also works as a freelance on home editorials for various magazines and companies. I'll definitely be keeping up to date with her work on instagram from now on.

You can read more about this lovely home in this months edition of Deko magazine. And there are tonnes more fabulous Finnish homes to be found here (scroll passed the first one as it'll be this home).

Have a wonderful start to the week! 

The tasty home of a Swedish food blogger

I actually once linked to this wonderful home of food blogger Sofia Wood and her family, but today I realised this South of Stockholm space deserves a post of it's own. I mean, look at that blue sofa for starters! Before I even comment on the decor though, shall we begin with the breakfast? I mean, cinnamon swirl, blueberrires, chocolate and figs? I know what I'll be eating for breakfast this weekend, you?! Anyways, the home. What can I say? It's lovely - pared-back, fairly monochrome but with a lovely touch of mint green and brass in the kitchen - what a wonderful combination? I could certainly pad around here this weekend, how about you?!

Photo: Amelia Widell shared with kind permission.

Back to the sofa. I note how she has added a dark grey sheepskin - which against the dark blue is very now. To take the whole look a step further I will always love this and this home, with their dark, brooding notes through out. Could you go over to the dark side?

This and this sofa are similar.

Another thing that stands out is the way the books are stacked in the bedroom. They've gone for a similar look in this home. I love this informal way of storing / displaying novels, how about you?

Is there anything that stands out to you?

More photos and full interview with Sofia (in Swedish) here.

This morning I'm on my way to the IKEA headquarters in Älmhult. Which is exciting but in one way a shame too - I was looking forward to making my mad dash to nab a limited edition street art print at my local store this morning. Will you be going? If so, let me know how you get on!

Have a fabulous weekend and see you Monday!

PS I've had lots of questions about the fab print in yesterday's post - anyone know where it's from?

The Loft, Holland

Hello. I'm in virtual shop heaven this morning. Enter The Loft, an oh so beautiful 'shop' in Arnhem, Holland.  If there's one thing the owners love it's to see 'spaces work their magic on people', and work it's magic it does  Set in a former school the owners hand pick design furniture, art and accessories and piece them together in a forever changing apartment to allow you to see how they work in reality. All items are available for purchase. This isn't the first time we've seen this concept, I've previously featured The Apartment in Copenhagen and The Line in New York. Could this be the interior shopping of the future? If so I'm in, are you?!

All images except the final one Maartje Van Suijdam (shared with kind permission)

What a shop?! Amsterdam is already on my travel hit list but seeing stores like this make me want to get straight on a flight and visit Arnhem too, how about you?! (I'd stay at this guest house and also pop into this shop- see I've already got it planned!).

If you're lucky enough to be living or visiting Arnhem you can buy all the items you see in the Loft (if still available). Otherwise here's a quick guide: Hay Mags soft Sofa, Normann Copenhagen bell lamp, Z1 cotton light. Source wooden benches and stools at Lovely & Co.

For more fab Dutch home inspiration today you might want to take a look inside this fab Amsterdam apartment, a beautiful white home and this lovely holiday cottage which is actually available to rent.

Have a lovely day!