A beautifully serene Norwegian space

I've had the pleasure of visiting Norway twice in the last six months. Both times I've been truly amazed; not only is it the most beautiful country on earth, the people are so warm too! I've been welcomed into many homes - and felt truly inspired by what was within (you can see the results in my book The Scandinavian Home: Interiors inspired by light out soon - exciting!). Although I've never had the pleasure of meeting Norwegian architect and blogger Katerina Dima in person, we've been in regular contact over mail (us bloggers do like to keep in touch!). Originally from sunny Athens, Greece, Katerina lives in Sogndal with her husband and cat. Despite her background, she has always been drawn to the Scandinavian aesthetic and chosen to decorate her home in a 'cool tone palette' using soft greys and fresh white, adding a touch of yellow to the paint to add warmth. Sheer fabrics and natural textures such as wood, cotton, linen and wool add a wonderful softness to the space. Let's take a peek inside!

Photography: Katerina Dima / Only Deco Love.

I absolutely love the canopy over the bed - it's dream like!

Is there anything you love in particular about Katerina's home?

Get the look: bedroom - Skagerak mirror and Georg stool, relaxed light linen bedding and valence, (absolutely love this!),  Flowerpot lamp, Petits Papiers Mad et Len scented candle,
The Kinfolk Table. sitting room - le lampe gras wall light (also seen in Katerina's office), grey ruffled pillow (so lovely!), belly basket, Landmarks print.

You can keep up with Katerina's latest projects,  houses renovations, interior design ideas and whatever captures her eye in the interior world over at her lovely blog Only Deco Love and Instagram.

Got you in the Norwegian mood? You might also like to check out a cosy Norwegian home in the country, a serene home on a hill, the home of a Norwegian blogger - all beautiful in their own way!

Have a lovely day!

PS Looking for a new watch or a present for a friend? Don't miss the 15% discount off an Abbott & Mosley watch with a dial made from real Italian marble!).

A cosy Norwegian home in the country

While photographing homes for my next book -The Scandinavian Home this summer we visited some beautiful places including Oslo, the surrounding fjords (one home was only reachable by boat!) and a mountainous region near Lillehammer and I was completely bowled over. Norway is the most beautiful country ever! I'm only too aware of the parts I haven't seen and have to go back soon to explore. When I do, I'd love to stop by the idyllic country home of Marthe Holien Bø near Stryn on the West coast (once featured here). Marthe is often snapping corners of her home for her wonderful blog  and instagram feed. We were in touch this summer and sadly I didn't get to visit in person, but she has kindly invited us all to step inside her home today.....

Credits / copyright: Marthe Holien Bø / @marsipanogsmilefjes shared with kind permission.

What a beautiful home, don't you think?!

I particulary love the mix of exposed wood, white and black panelled walls and the layers of texture - sheepskins, linen, cable kit cushions and throws. It looks so cosy!

Is there anything that stands out to you?

Get the look from Marthe's lovely home: dining - pick up a vintage industrial swivel chair here. Buy lovely vintage candlestick holders here, icelandic sheepskin throw. Sitting room -  House Doctor Molecular light, tree stump side table,  grey cable knit blanket,  prints from Desenio, Eames chair, wooden star.

Shall we take a peek inside some more Norwegian homes today? Like the serene home on a hill (this is the same beautiful home all decked out for Christmas) a charming home in green, grey and cognac (and the same home in a whiter shade - fab!). And finally, the perfect Norwegian home on a summer's day (and at Christmas!).

Oh Norwegian's, we love your style!

Have a lovely day!

A serene Norwegian space in monochrome and nudes

It's the weekend - woooop! But before we all shoot off, let's head to Norway for today's home tour. This space belongs to Nina Holst of Stylizimo blog. Nina moved home last year and since her previous home was so fab and included this famous walk-in-wardrobe, I've been eagerly awaiting to see what she was going to do with the new pad. And it certainly doesn't disappoint! Nina has stuck to her signature black, white and nude colour scheme and played with the beautiful light. All the shots of this serene, minimalist home have been taken by Nina, and she's also a talented artist (this is her latest painting), stylist (love this office) and store owner. Are there no end to this busy girls talents?

Homeowner & Photography: Nina Holst

What a serene space - oh how I'd love to be sitting in the egg lounge chair looking out over the snow covered hills right now, how about you?!

So many pieces I know and love including: the wishbone chairs, Norm 69 pendant light and white Panthella floor lamp, AJ desk and floor AJ floor lamp, DLM table, white desk lamp, Design House Stockholm Björk rug in bedroom, Tom Dixon etch tea light holder, By Lassen kubus candle holder and vase with brass neck from H&M (sadly sold out - trust me I've been looking everywhere!).

Is there anything that stands out to you?

If you like this colous scheme you'll also love this  kitchen, office space and home tour in the same monochrome and nude. Definitely my colours of the moment!

Any plans for the weekend? I think I'm going to sleep (I feel soooo tired!) but I'm also planning for a VIP visit from my ma and pa from London next week - sooo excited!

Before I shoot off - I'd like to to introduce you to a returning sponsor - oh so lovely handmade jewellery shop Studio Cosette. Safe to say, I pretty much love every piece Fai makes. But if I had to choose just two pieces I'd go for these earrings and the halo necklace (this is not a hint...honest!).

Have a great weekend and see you Monday!

A serene norwegian space for the weekend

It's the weekend - woooop! Any great plans? To me weekends are for kicking back and getting away from it all (OK, and the odd glass of wine). And I'm sure I could do both of these in this beautiful Norwegian space, given the chance! Looking out over a Norwegian fjord, Hilde and Kristian Eriksen designed the home from scratch and decorated the interior in white, shades of grey and warm light wood. The furniture is a mix of modern design and antiques.  And the result is a serene, warm, light-filled home. Oh how I would love to spend my weekend here, how about you?!

Photography: Yvonne Wilhelmsen. Femina. Post inspired by Style Files owner of beautiful shop Le Souk.  

Anything that stands out to you?

A few items I know and love: Vitra Hang it All, Eames DSR chairs, Wishbone CH24 chair. I usually buy my market basket bags when I visit my sister in Mallorca but you can also source them here.

For more Norwegian inspiration this weekend there are many wonderful spaces to be found here. And a couple of Norwegian blogs to browse: Fjeldborg, Stylizimo, and Elisabeth Heier.

Have you ever visited Norway? I've been to Bergen and Oslo. But I dream about going hut to hut hiking in the Norwegian wilderness one day too.

Have a great couple of days and see you Monday!

How do you bring the outside into your home?

Hello! I hope you're having a great start to the week? At the weekends we always try to escape for a day. Whether that's a walk along a beach, hiking in the forest or simply getting away from it all. How about you? When it comes to the home, I love to see the surrounding nature reflected within. This styling by norwegian duo Kirsten Visdal and Lisbeth Nilsson for Interior Magasinet is a great example.  Sheepskin throws, logs for the fire, a branch from a tree and cushions bearing cute sheep faces come together to create a calm and cosy space close to nature, nordic style. How do you bring the outside in?

 

 Interior Magasinet. Photos: Sveinung Bråthen, Styling Kirsten Visdal & Lisbeth Nilsson via Style Files

 I really do love the nordic colour scheme, there's something so calm about it, don't you think?

A few items I know and love - Dining area:  HAY loop dining table, Panton chair, Aksel Hansson chair. PH pendant lamp. Sitting room: Silence rug by Permafrost, coffee table by Norrgavel, slippers from Illums Bolighus, source beautiful sheepskins here, the fireplace is by Scan.

 PS When I lived in London the double-decker buses used to roar passed my flat and make the windows rattle - My Swedish boyfriend (now husband) found it really disconcerting but I found it strangely comforting. I guess that's another way of bringing the outside in?!

Have a lovely day!

The rustic Norwegian log cabin hide-away

How much would you love to head off to this rustic Norwegian log cabin for the holidays? If I could spend just five days at this retreat, belonging to founders and owners of Bolina,  I'd camp out by the  roaring log fire with a cup of tea, my book by Swedish novelist Jonas Jonasson- the one hundred year old man who climbed out of a window and disappeared (which I've been meaning to read all year), play board games with my family, take long walks in the snow, and generally feel relaxed and very merry. How about you?!

Birgitta Wolfgang Drejer, Sisters Agency with kind permission.

Birgitta Wolfgang Drejer, Sisters Agency with kind permission.

Birgitta Wolfgang Drejer, Sisters Agency with kind permission.

Birgitta Wolfgang Drejer, Sisters Agency with kind permission.

Birgitta Wolfgang Drejer, Sisters Agency with kind permission. 

I have to say the owners have been ingenious in their decorating. At first glance it looks like a classic log cabin, but look closely and you'll notice a modern blend of textures  (concrete, wood, sheepskin, velvet, rattan) and styles (industrial, rustic, contemporary). Combine this with unique fittings such as the kitchen units crafted using reclaimed wood from a derelict barn and the result is an incredibly warm, cosy, personal retreat.

Oh how I dream to own a place like this. What about you?

More dreamy log cabin's I could pad around in this holiday include a Norwegian one by the sea (the sauna!), a black and white Finnish retreat, or a cottage in the snow that looks like this (toasty)!

If a rural retreat feels a million miles away right now and you have a christmas shopping list as long as your arm (it is the weekend before Christmas after all) you might want to take inspiration from these two fab gift guides: for children, for just about everyone. And my fail safe last minute man gift. Good luck!

Wishing you a wonderful, relaxing weekend!

A Norwegian home at Christmas

Those of you who have followed my blog for a while (thank you, you're lovely!) know I'm a big fan of the work of Norwegian based photographer and stylist Elisabeth Heier and her beautiful home which I've previously shown snippets of  here and here. It comes as no surprise that her Christmas decorating is equally as lovely and follows her simple, pared-back and elegant take on Scandinavian interior decorating. Here are a few festive snaps of her home this year.

Photography / styling: Elisabeth Heier

True modern Scandinavian Christmas decorating inspiration. A pared-back tree, white Helabores, paper stars strung up in the window which will light up at night, a simple wreath hung on the wall and fir tree branches in clear glass jars.

In case you're wondering where some of the items are from, I also spy the By Lassen Kubus 4 candleholder, RAR rocking chair (currently 10% off here), Knoll diamond chair and the classic Swedish Skultuna tea light holders in brass. Children's room: half-moon bedding, rabbit light.

For a slightly different look, here are some more inspiration images shot and styled by Elisabeth in her home for Norwegian magazine RUM 123 with a black, gold and Pantone's colour for 2015 - Marsala colour theme.

Photography / styling Elisabeth Heier

The gold flag garland, mirror stars and Christmas cone in black are from Tine K Home.

I absolutely love the idea of filling a glass jar or vase with old burnt out white candle stubs, so simple yet so lovely and a great use of waste.

Is there anything that stands out to you in these images? Which look do you prefer?

Have a lovely day!

PS I also love Norwegian blogger Nina of Stylizimo's Christmas decorating. So pretty!