The inviting home of a Danish florist

One of the surprising things I learned about Sweden when I moved here is that Christmas decorations are officially taken down on 13th January. This unnerved me as I grew up in England where I was led to believe leaving them up past twelfth night / 6th January is unlucky (what tradition do you have in your country?). These days I go with the flow and although our Christmas tree has long since gone I've grown to love the twinkling fairy lights which brighten up our neighbourhood in the first half of January.  It helps that the festive touches are subtle and all about nature too. A fine example of this can be seen in the charming Danish home of florist Signe Nelleman Bruun. White walls and floors and old wood beams serve as a magnificent backdrop for lovely displays of spruce, pine cones, moss and bare branches while lanterns, cosy blankets and rugs both inside and out add a warm and inviting feel. Let's take a peek!

Credit: Niels & Iben Ahlberg - www.ahlberg.photo. Shared with kind permission.

Oh so lovely, don't you think?!

I especially love the back yard with it's roaring fire, cosy blanket and the scent of hyacinths, spruce and rosemary in the air.

Is there anything that stands out to you?

Get the look from Signe's beautiful home: this lantern is similar, light grey reindeer hide throw, beautiful sheepskin and rug by Private0204. This dark grey linen duvet cover and soft grey blanket are similar.

Have a lovely day!

PS There's a blizzard raging outside here in Southern Sweden - definitely a double coffee and chunky knit blanket kind of morning!

Cosy winter solstice / Christmas inspiration

Today is one of my favourite days of the year - the winter solstice. Not only do I love the short days, in the warm glow candle light, it also means that from now on everyday will gets a teeny bit lighter! And Christmas is only a few days away. This year we're celebrating 'Jul' - at my parents-in-law on 23rd (usually it's celebrated on Christmas eve). It's always such a lovely day with a 'julbord', schnapps, singing and then a knock at the door from 'tomten' (father christmas) with lantern in hand and a sack over his shoulder with presents for all the children (cue lots of excitement!).  Afterwards we're heading to London to celebrate a traditional English Christmas with my parents. So exciting! What are your plans? How do you celebrate Christmas in your home (if you do)? Just in case you're after a few last minute decorating ideas, I've compiled a little inspiration - think cakes decorated with pine, blue candles, foraged wreaths an oh so cosy bedroom and of course, a snowy log cabin. Enjoy!

1. Son de flor 2. Photos : Jeroen van der Spek, Styling Cleo Scheulderman for VT Wonen. 3. Foraged wreath photographed by Sian Richards styling Sarah Nixon.  4. Hanna's Änglar 5. Malin Persson
6. This lovely cabin has been separated from the photographer, can anyone help?

Aaaaaaa, I really do love this time of year, how about you?

If you'd like to discover some of the DIY tutorials / stories behind these images it's well worth checking out the 'Christmas in Blues' feature in VT Wonen - seen here (who would have thought blue could be such a beautiful Christmas colour?) and as always Malin Persson has worked her Christmas magic with a wonderful candle wreath. So inspiring!

And finally, a question for you. Inspired by this snowy cabin, my family and I are looking for a little cottage or cabin to rent in Southern Sweden, Denmark or around Oslo in the first week of January - something cosy, with board games and a log fire. If you have any tips we'd be such happy campers!

Have a lovely day!

Beautiful Danish christmas inspiration in white and brown

Oh wow. Friday already? Is it me or does December race passed at the speed of, eh hem, Christmas lights?! The final weekend before the big day calls for some beautiful Danish Christmas inspiration, don't you think? This beautiful home was shot for the Oi Soi Oi AW14 collection. I'm loving the natural, rich brown and white tones, pretty trees climbing the stairs, and subtle stars and hearts. Perfect inspiration if you're looking to add some final touches to your home (or just getting started!). All we need now is a little snow!

 

I love this!

Many of these beautiful decorations are still available at Oi Soi Oi.

Is it just me or are mini Christmas trees popping up everywhere right now?! And all in different forms too - like the paper beauties in this pretty Danish inspiration post, DIY Christmas tree mobiles (available from Fabulous Goose) and the real McCoy in this Norwegian home tour - love them!

I'm also enjoying how it's all about tapping into every corner of the home  - from the bedroom (as seen in this oh so cosy Swedish home),  the bathroom (like in this Danish home) and even the kitchen and home office (seen in my home at Christmas a few years back!).

Let's not forget the outside too. I visited Stockholm last weekend and my brother-in-law had a beautiful Christmas tree with simple white lights in the garden, it looked so pretty in the snow. Here are five outdoor trees I also love:

Colour in the woods 
Au natural
Three outside a French country home
Lining the streets of NYC
Doubling up for a warm (yet snowy) welcome

And even lighthouses are getting into the Christmas spirit! Wonderful!

Admittedly it takes time and effort to go all out and despite my best intentions (I did put my tree up nice and early!), I'm not sure where the time has gone? Do you find the same?! But next year....NEXT YEAR..... :)

Have a fabulous couple of days and see you Monday!

PS Don't miss the very exciting give-away this weekend....watch this space! 

Festive touches in a beautiful Norwegian home

There are a few spaces that I love to go back to time and again. The Norwegian house of blogger Elisabeth Heier is one of them. Elisabeth has that rare talent which combines impeccable interior design and styling with the ability to take beautiful photos - the result of which is regularly featured on her blog. Over the past few weeks, Elisabeth's been adding subtle festive touches to her home - including a white advent calendar, pretty stars, a mini tree, and a wreath (in the bedroom - love that!). Let's take a peek....

Credits: photography / copyright: Elisabeth Heier. Shared with kind permission.

So lovely?!  The light, the natural linen, the pine - everything!

Get the look: dining area - &traditional mass light (marble version), Eames DSR chairs, grey linen napkins, a cast iron teapot, daybed: Himla cushion, sheepskin throw, Christmas tree heart decoration by Stelton. bedroom - brass wreath from COOEE design, the bedding is from Hoi of Scandinavia, marble table light (I also love this one by Lee Broom).

Elisabeth shares her coffee table styling tips (and where the items are from on her coffee table here) - just saying!

Do you remember her home from Christmas 2014? The space looks equally beautiful in summer time (as you can imagine!) - you can find all the posts I've shared of her current and previous home here (not that I'm stalking her or anything....).

And since we're already in Norway - how about a few other favourites including this serene house looking out over the Oslo fjord,  a cosy Norwegian country house and the rustic cabin hide-away. Guh!

Since visiting this summer for my next book I'm officially in love with Norway (I can't wait for you to see the three Norwegian homes we photographed!) and so looking forward to going back as soon as possible (I discovered Oslo is only five hours drive from where I live - how amazing is that?!) - have you been?!

Have a great day!

A Swedish country home at Christmas

As promised, I've got the most beautiful Christmas home tour to share with you today. Located in Vetlanda, Småland, here in southern Sweden, this wonderful turn of the century country house belongs to Sofia, who has been painstakingly renovating it back to its former glory. Think magnificent period features, white floors and walls, a roaring fire and lovely, subtle festive touches including a Christmas tree with pure white candles, paper star lanterns, pine wreaths and the fresh scent of hyacinths. Carina Olander and Anna Truelsen paid a visit and captured these beautiful images for the great Swedish country magazine Lantliv. How magical would it be to spend Christmas here?!

Credits: Photography - Carina Olander. Stylist - Anna Truelsen.  Featured in Lantliv 12/ 2016.

Oh so lovely and cosy, don't you think?

Apart from, well everything, I especially love the coffee table which looks like it's been made from a door?

Is there anything that caught your eye?

A few items from Sofia's house I know and love: porch / conservatory - paper star lantern, woven jute rug. sitting room - this white linen sofa is similar, sheepskin throw, the Z1 pendant is similar.

And before I head off for the weekend, here's a little Christmas link love:

This Swedish country home decorated for Christmas is an old favourite of mine!

9 ways to decorate with eucalyptus (my favourite festive foliage!).

A gentle yet giant DIY Christmas wreath.

Moss hearts. So simple to create, so pretty!
 
This merry garland makes me, er, merry!

Alternative Christmas trees for small spaces.

Looking for a personal pressie? how about entering this give-away to win a Danish typographic poster?

All christmassed out already (or never been into it in the first place)?! How about hanging out (literally) here?!

Have you got any fun plans for the weekend?! P is taking me away somewhere as a birthday surprise and I have no idea where. All I know is that I need a long formal evening gown and we're staying over night somewhere...?! So intriguing! Any guesses?!

I hope you have a great couple of days and see you Monday!

A Norwegian home on Christmas eve

You can always rely on Norwegian blogger Nina Holst of Stylizimo for beautiful interior inspiration. And when it comes to Christmas Eve it's absolutely no different! Her lovely home high up on a hill in Oslo is decorated with simple wreaths, fresh white linen and of course a magnificent tree laden with 'pepperkaka'  (Scandinavian ginger biscuits!). What a lovely setting for Christmas eve?

Credits: Nina Holst / Stylizimo

Could you imagine spending Christmas here?

Get the look: By lassen candleholder in brass, wishbone chairs, beautiful white linen tablecloth and napkins. These white porcelain stars and baubles are lovely.

Other Christmas link love:

Twinkling fairy lights on a big mirror.

Simple DIY dried orange garland.

One little Christmas tree. And one even smaller tree!

Something to share: cranberry brie pull apart bread - mmmmmm!

Have a wonderful day - I'm off to celebrate my birthday! Eeeeeeee! My sister Cas and little niece have even come all the way over from London as a surprise! 

PS Last day to enter the wonderful watch give-away - hurry! 

6 beautifully simple Scandinavian DIY Christmas decorations

It seems every house I visit is a hive of Christmas DIY activity right now. Kitchen tables have been transformed into makeshift workstations and laden with glue, wire, scissors and various other tools. Branches of foliage, acorn cups and cinnamon sticks lie in various states of transformation, with wonderful creations rising from the creative debris. This is why it's my favourite time of the year. Everyone gets creative! In case you're in need to a little inspiration to get you started, I've rounded up 6 of my favourite beautifully simple DIY Scandinavian- style Christmas decorations doing the rounds this year.

Ooooooooh so lovely, don't you think?

Here's how:
1.  Marij Hessel talks us through fab DIY baubles.
2.  Norwegian blogger Nina Holst's pretty mini wreath place setting (no instructions, but I am guessing twisting into a circle and wiring together?).
3. See the DIY instructions for A Merry Thought's wonderful minimal half wreath.
4. Light up your wreath like Francois et Moi's DIY candle wreath.
5. Or go traditional like Babes in Boyland's rosemary wreath (step by step guide here).
6. And finally, who said putting up lights isn't creative?! How about shunning the usual Christmas ones for simple string bulb lighting like at Zeta's Julmarknad and arrange your way?!

After a few more ideas? You might also like to check out 3 beautifully simple DIY Christmas decorations. And my Christmas archive (scroll past the first post if it's this one) - full of Scandinavian homes in the festive spirit (including my own!).

What will you be making this Christmas?

Have a wonderfully creative weekend!

PS This post is a result of a special request from my sister - good luck with your wreath tomorrow Cas!

PPS Don't forget to enter the give-away to win an Abbott & Mosley watch! It only takes a minute!

Our home at Christmas

Do you have any Christmas tree traditions in your home? My family and I absolutely love heading out to a tree farm (not dissimilar to this beautiful one I mentioned a few weeks ago) to collect ours. When we get home the entire space is filled with the wonderful scent of fresh pine and we set about decorating it with a steaming glögg in hand. This year our decorations are from Nordal, a Danish online shop working with talented designers to create beautiful, unique pieces.  I went for a pared-back look (you know me!), including simple wrapping paper decorated with ribbon and foliage, adding a sprinkling of brass to the tree with a fab drinks trolley to match! (all that glitters...... ). This year we were keen to go 'off grid', and revert back to an era when trees were lit up from the lovely warm glow of real candles. Using real candles* immediately paves the way for a 'slower' more simple Christmas.  Since they can only be lit for short periods at a time and you need to be extremely vigilant,  it forces you to stop and admire the beauty of the tree and take in the magic of the moment. Here's a peek at our home all decorated for Christmas (with the help of one little elf in particular!), I hope you like it! 

Credits: Photography (me) Niki Brantmark / My Scandinavian Home. Styling Genevieve Jorn (pictures 5, and 7 styled by me).

Oh I do love this time of year, the house feels all cosy now! 

Here's a guide to all the pieces I've used:

1. Diamond xmas tree candle holder 2. xmas tree candle white 3. Paper waste ornament large 4. Metal star golden 5. Two-in-one ball hanger 6. Metal star black 7. 8. Circle candle holder 9. Ring bottle 10. Flower vase  11. Ring vase 12. Fluffy sheep 13. Advent candle holder 14. Scissors 15. Basket 16. brass trolley 17. Box with ribbon 18. Small cement tea light holder 19. Medium cement tea light holder.

If you'd like to know about any other items please do give me a shout in the comments section below!

*Real candles are beautiful and have been used by our ancestors for hundreds of years. However it's important to remain extremely vigilant! Always space candles properly, keeping a safe distance from other decorations, overhanging tree branches and other flammable items. Ensure the candles are straight, and not in the way of any drafts and never leave lit candles unattended. It's also advisable to keep a bucket of sand or water or better still a fire extinguisher close by - just in case!

Have a wonderful day!

PS Did you spot my little helper?
 


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