A creative Helsinki home with a cheerful & relaxed vibe

As you know (I think I've been harping on about it ever since - sorry!), I finally got to visit Helsinki for the first time last summer. And it exceeded all my wildest expectations. It was such a vibrant city but above all else, it exuded creativity (if you go, don't miss the design walk!). Seeing these pictures of visual artist, Saija Starr's apartment in the heart of Helsinki immediately transported me back to my wonderful weekend in Finland's capital city. On her blog Cosy Home, Saija describes her home life and interior as an amalgamation of: 'swaying book blocks, long breakfasts, art, coffee moments, brightly coloured containers, old furniture and the ever changing sequence.' Let's take a peek inside...

Credits: Saija Starr / Cosy Home.

Love this! It's so charming and relaxed but above all else personal, I also like how the pops of bright colours add such a cheerful touch (take a closer look at how Saija has created small pockets of colour. In the sitting room for example, she has combined a poster, vase and painting which share the same tones).

I also love how the space has a wonderful, lived-in vibe. I could imagine walking in here and immediately feeling at ease. How about you?!

Get the look from Saija's home: sitting room - 'the party' painting source mid-century armchairs like these here, Remix blanket. Kitchen - Marimekko teapot. Iittala Nappula candle-holder in high and low versions.

The big painting is 'A Party' by Saija. You can see more of her art work here.

You can follow Salja's latest projects and home updates on her wonderful blog or over on her Instagram feed.

If you'd like to see more Helsinki homes today I'm also in love with this apartment that artfully blends of danish and finnish style, the home of a design blogger and a graphic designer's penthouse - and many more in the archive. Oh I do love Finnish style!

Have a lovely day!

The happy Brooklyn home of a Swedish expat

We step inside Swedish homes almost on a daily basis here on My Scandinavian Home blog - but what about when a Swede lives abroad? It would be hard to live in a new environment and not be influenced by the world around you (just like I've found with my own home). And it appears Livia Moore, the Tictail community manager feels the same. Livia moved to her small yet incredibly charming, Brownstone apartment in Brooklyn, New York from Stockholm, Sweden two years ago and it already feels very much like home. She told My Domaine: 'It has so much character. The entire building feels lived in, with memories and decades of family history'. Livia's home is a fabulous blend of mid-century, classics, vintage finds from all over the world and items by emerging designers who sell through Tictail. Textiles and large sash windows add an injection of colour and light to complete the happy vibe. Let's take a peek....

Photos courtesy of Tictail. 

I love this space - all the textiles, plants, lovely nick nacks... it makes me happy just looking at it, how about you?!

Get the look from Livia's home: Kilim rug, source similar cushions here, the throw on the bed is by Slowdown Studio. Pick up a macrame wall hanging here.

You can see the full tour and interview over at My Domaine here. And keep up to date with Livia's latest projects on Instagram here.

I've been a huge fan of Brooklyn since staying there for a few days while writing my first book in 2015 and I've featured so many gorgeous homes from the area - including the home of a do it yourselfer, a cool monochrome space and the fab Brooklyn home and studio of a creative couple
- all beautiful and unique in their own way, don't you think?

Have a wonderful day!

PS Thank you to Houseology for including me in a list of 'best interior designers Pinterest 2017' ...I do love my pinning!

A relaxed home with an inspiring array of colours!

Do you ever have one of those nightmares where you're trying to get somewhere but obstacles keep getting in your way?! It's like my day - but for real! It's early afternoon and I haven't actually done anything yet (not for want of trying)! This is partly because Friday posts always take a little extra research. Not only do I love to feature a home that's a little different, but I also like it to give us all one big, boost of happiness right before the weekend, so we all come away feeling inspired!  And I've finally found one, thanks to the lovely Jules over at German blog Herz & Blut (remember this home?!) who recently captured the home of Melodie Michelberger. Melodie is communications editor and co-founder of 'Trust the girls' - an empowering community to celebrate feminism, diversity, equality and freedom -  and a sharp eye for design. In her home, deep blues, rich greens, soft pinks and sunny yellows contribute to the colour scheme which serve as the perfect backdrop for a wonderful selection of ceramics, vintage finds, colourful textiles and mix of plants. Let's take a peek!

Credits: photography Jules Villebrandt / Herz & Blut. Shared with kind permission. 

What a great space? Truly personal - with some wonderful touches too (I actually did a double take on that pillow in the last picture!

Is there anything that stands out to you?

I hope this space has put a smile on your face like it has mine!

Get the look from Melodie's home: pIKEA PS 2014 rug, macrame hanging planters, pick up a vintage Louis Poulsen pendant lamp here, sea grass belly basket, cushion on bed (I also found this more simple version!).

Does anyone know where the mobile in the bedroom is from? If so, wonderful if you can let us know in the comment section below! 

Try Farrow & Ball for similar colours (always try a load of swatches on different walls - it can look completely different depending on the direction of the light.

You can see the full feature and interview here (in German) and follow Melodie's work (and snapshots of her home) over on Instagram.

Loving that it's Friday - woohoo! Do you have any fun plans? In case you're planning a little down time, you might just want to check out some of these links I've loved this week....

How to rock old world art in the modern interior. 

The most cosy looking stools ever.

Seconds of light at rainbow bay.

When Victoria painted her house black.

A modern extension in the snow.

Bedrooms with black art.

And finally... in April I'll be heading to Milan (for the first time) for the Salone del Mobile. I hope I can find somewhere to stay like this apartment - isn't it fab?! I'd love to receive any tips on places to stay!

Have a wonderful weekend and see you Monday!

The happy home of artist Kate Schelter

It's Friiiiiiday - wooohooooo! Definitely calls for a celebration - don't you think?! This family loft in Manhattan is an absolutely perfect home tour to welcome in the weekend! It's bright and cheerful, with quirky touches, pops of vibrant pink, green and red and bursting with pattern and lovely art. Owned by American artist, illustrator, creative director and stylist Kate Schelter, her husband Chris Schumacher and their two year old daughter, Charlotte, the happy home is also full of small details, making it truly personal. Let's take a tour....

Credit: Patrick Cline for Domino Magazine - shared with kind permission. 

This loft has really brought a smile to my face, how about you?!

Get the look from Kate's wonderful home: sitting room - a lot of the watercolours are by Kate,  dalmation print cushion (love this!) Beni Ourain rug, bedroom: canopy and bedding (I also love this quilt cover). Children's bedroom: stokke cot / crib. 

You can see more pictures and a write-up about Kate's lovely home over at Domino here. 

Other homes I've featured from America's east coast include this creative home and studio of a creative duo, the relaxed home of a fashion designer and a laid back Brooklyn apartment. Oh so lovely. Do you have a favourite?

We're heading back to Sweden today  - time to wrap up again. BRRRRR. Thank you London for an amazing week, we'll be back! And I'll be back blogging daily again next week too.

Have a wonderful weekend!

Lisa's happy Parisien home

I'm in the mood for something bright and cheerful today, how about you?! Want to come with me to explore the happy Parisien home of Lisa, blogger behind Make My Lemonade, Creative director at Lemonade Studio and Wear lemonade? Addicted to yellow and sequins, Lisa lives by the philosophy: 'if life gives you lemons, make lemonade.' Love that! Her lovely apartment in the 10th arrondissement of Paris is full of quirky one off pieces and touches of pink, blue, green, and of course yellow! Bienvenue!

 Credit: InsideCloset shared with kind permission. 

This makes me want to go home and add splashes of yellow everywhere - how about you?! It's just such a happy colour!

A few items I know and love in Lisa's home: Petite Friture suspension vertigo (pink light) - also seen in this home, Eames side chairs, Eames rocker, sheepskin throw, source banana leaf fabric by the yard here (love this!). Pick up rattan sunburst mirrors here.

For equally cheerful style inspiration check out the full post on Inside Closet and Lisa's website Make My Lemonade. 

The colours and textures in this home remind me of some of the lovely homes from The Netherlands I've featured- don't you think? 

Have a happy day! 

PS There's a GREAT give-away over on instagram right now to win a print of your choice from Toi Art Gallery. It only takes a second to enter too!

PPS Back by popular demand, you can now subscribe to My Scandinavian Home and receive posts directly to your mail box once again (featured on the left here on the blog). Thank you!

The lovely handmade home of Ingrid Jansen

Hello Monday! And what a sunny one you are. Today I've chosen a home to match the mood - light, bright and colorful with inspiration around every corner. It belongs to Dutch business owner Ingrid Jansen. Ingrid started her company a few years ago when she designed her first recycled wooden stool with a crocheted cover for her home. Requests started flooding in and WOOD & WOOL STOOL was born. Ingrid's Holland based home is the perfect backdrop for her colorful handmade, wood and / or crocheted items she creates and sells.

Photography: Ingrid Jansen - WOOD WOOL & STOOL, with kind permission. Post inspired by Style Files. 

What a lovely home. Personal, white with pops of color and a very warm homespun feel. I would love to have some of Ingrid's colorful crocheted items in my home wouldn't you? They look especially great against the white backdrop. 

Other homes I'm turning to for inspiration today include this, this and this one. Bring on the brights! 

Have you got any plans for the week? It's all go in my home - last week we put up these shelves and now I'm starting my bedroom make-over - slightly scary but soooo exciting. Hint: the project involves tins and tins of Strong White by Farrow & Ball and quite possibly some bold swathes of color! Post to follow soon. 

Have a great start to the week!