Showing posts with label small spaces. Show all posts
Showing posts with label small spaces. Show all posts

Thursday, February 18, 2016

There was an almighty thunderstorm here in Sri Lanka this morning, I'm not sure I've ever heard thunder claps like it. It was all very dramatic and cosy, wrapped up in our cotton sheets in the cabana while the rain came down outside. The skies have cleared and the sun is bursting through the clouds now. But in this Swedish apartment the beautiful dark expression remains.  The use of black gloss on window frames, floors and doors still allows the light to bounce around the small space (it's a mere 39 metres square / 420 square foot). Add the perfect blend of classic and contemporary and the result is an elegant, yet cosy looking home.












Anders Bergstedt for Entrance

What a beautiful space! I love the tiles in the hallway too!

Is there anything that stands out to you?

Items I know and love: New York 'manhatten' print, Source beautiful vintage Thonet chairs here, similar cushions include this one,  this one and this one (cushions always look best grouped if you vary the size and shape so make sure you include an oblong shaped one in the mix). For similar paint colours try Farrow & Ball darks.

You can see more of this home as well as a floor plan over at Entrance.

Other 'dramatic' homes with dark accents include this Stockholm pad, an elegant Swedish new build, and for something a little more boho - Krickelin's west coast home.

Hope you have a lovely day! 
Category: articles

Monday, January 25, 2016

Good morning! I hope you had a great weekend? Keeping it real on a Monday with this teeny weeny bungalow in Berkeley, California. I mean really teeny weeny. Less than 200 square feet (18 square metres) teeny weeny. In fact it's so small that when Rebekah Carey suggested moving in to what was effectively her Grandmother's 1905 garage her boyfriend Alex McNall thought she was joking. But he soon started to see the potential and the pair set about transforming it from scratch. The result is cosy, comfy and most of all practical. And what's more, not a single new building material was used in the renovation. It just goes to show you don't need a lot of space and a big budget to create a wonderful home. Let's take a tour...












Photography Ashley Kelemen. Domino Magazine. Interior design / styling: Rebekah Carey

Love the white panelled walls combined with the rustic wood beams - so charming!
Is there anything that stands out to you?

Get the look with smart space-saving solutions such as a folding dining table, vintage chairs (which you could also hang on the wall) and a leather butterfly chair (love this), as well as a bench that also doubles as storage space (try kallax with branäs from IKEA). Use the full height of the room - and place items you seldom use out of the way on high shelves. This fab black leather mid-century stool is similar to the one seen (love the distressed look).

You can read more about this lovely home and details about the renovation over at Domino Magazine.

If you're looking for more small space inspiration today you might want to block your calendar for a few hours, put your phone on silence, pour a coffee (doesn't that sound nice?!) and browse this archive for Scandinavian studio apartments and the world's smallest luxury home - remember that one?! 

Have a great start to the week!
Category: articles

Wednesday, January 20, 2016

After two days rushing around it's lovely to be back home again enjoying a slow morning - coffee by my side (loving my new brewer), candles lit, snow outside the window, ah, so civilised! Today's home tour is a master class in how to decorate a one room apartment  (it's mere 45 m2 - (480 f2) - really!).  The space has everything - lovely open kitchen and dining area, cosy sitting room, private sleeping nook (tucked behind the wall), and even a cosy chill-out corner (above the bedroom).  Loving the white floors, pretty pastel accents and fabulous artwork too! What a charming studio?







VÃ¥ningen & Villan

Could you imagine pottering around here today? I certainly could!

Get the look: source industrial pendant lights here, Smeg refrigerator, Aröd floor lamp. Although not sold in a pair - how nice is this vintage wall lamp - I might buy it to go opposite my scissor lamp?), mix and match pastel chairs. Does anyone know who the large piece of art is by? If so wonderful if you can leave a comment below. 

Other links I like today:

Life changing morning rituals (I was hoping it wasn't going to start with waking up earlier....).

Ten stunning IKEA hacks and ten ideas to steal from scandi summer cottages.

This wood closet is fab. 

I love this beautiful Scandinavian-inspired Tumblr - all the pictures are lovely.

How fabulous (and romantic) is this tree house?  

Could these be the cutest kids jumpers ever?

Yesterday's home tour had everyone divided - some loved the space and couldn't wait to move in and others not so much (which camp were you in?). Thanks for taking the time to leave your thoughts, a lively discussion always adds so much to a post! 

Have a lovely day! 
Category: articles

Monday, January 11, 2016

Hello Monday! I hope you had a great weekend? I read recently that people's living spaces are getting smaller. People around the world are downsizing to save money, live greener and well....because they've realised that small can be beautiful too. And this home in Stockholm's Södermalm district is a prime example. Measuring a mere 29 metres square (312 square foot) it's comfortable and practical (double bed - check! Sitting room - check! reading corner, dining room, balcony for two - check, check, check! And, decorated throughout in grey-scale with the fainstest touch of pastels - and an eclectic mix of mid-century, new nordic and designer pieces - it looks beautiful too. 









Styling: Minna Engelmark / Ida Agemo at Wida design Photography: Johan Spinnell / Historiska Hem

Could you live here? I think it looks so calm and cosy - a little oasis in the heart of Sweden's capital city.But more importantly, could you sleep high up in that double bed?!

Get the look: seagrass basket, Hay tray table, Copenhague coffee table, I love this mid-century style sofa, dark grey bed linen, Berlin print, Thonet chairs (15% discount with code MYSCAN), white sheepskin throw.

If you're looking for more small space ideas I've got a week's worth of coffee break inspiration squirrelled away here!

Do you live in a small space - or perhaps looking to downsize?

Have a great start to the week! 

PS My family and I are going on holiday to Sri Lanka next month ( I can't wait! We didn't go anywhere last year since I was working on my book so we've been so looking forward to it!). I was wondering if you have any great tips on places to stay (we love small, relaxed, personal places as oppose to big hotels) and things to do? Thank you so much for any tips you may have!
Category: articles

Monday, January 4, 2016

Happy new year! I have a feeling 2016 will be a great year for us all...how exciting! It's suddenly got cold here in Southern Sweden (- 4 degrees C brrrrrr!) and yesterday we received a light dusting of snow so I thought I'd kick off the year with this fresh 'winter' home. The small apartment in Gothenburg, Sweden has been decorated in whites throughout and softened with cosy sheepskin throws and cotton blankets. I love the touches of black too. Perfect for a room which combines both sitting room and bedroom - don't you think?







Stadshem, Photos: Jonas Berg.

Lovely! Despite the trend towards darks and brights I still love a calm white space.

But really - my eyes are on those croissants - Mmmm! Late breakfast anyone?

Get the look: Karlstad sofa, rattan chair, fluffy white sheepskin throw, this industrial stool is similar as is this grey linen throw and these vintage mirrors (and just how pretty is this vintage art deco mirror?). Can anyone tell us where the black floor lamp and coffee tables are from, I'd love to know?

More small space inspiration here and here (and remember the world's smallest luxury home?!). In case it's monochrome inspiration you're after - this is one of my favourite black and white home tours of all time.

This morning I've really enjoyed catching up on all the posts I've missed from some of my favourite blogs. Here's a round-up of my favourites: Stil Inspiration's winter table setting, a DIY hall wall with a strip of black and how to bring Pantone's colours of 2016 into your home.

It's great to be back! 

Have a lovely day!
Category: articles

Thursday, November 5, 2015

This morning was complete chaos for about 30 minutes and then after a blur of hats, scarves, helmets, and bikes, everyone had gone and it was just me, my coffee and the beautiful voice of Ane Brun - *sigh*. It's no secret that 'Hemnet' (Sweden's housing market in one place - I know) is as popular as Instagram and Pinterest among my friends and interior bloggers alike. But today is a little extra special as this Gothenburg home belongs to one of Stadshem's own stylists Joanna Bagge who is selling her fab apartment. The 68 m/square space has been decorated using a monochrome scheme with an interesting mix of wood panelling, grey marble, and brass - sort of Swedish country, meets urban cool. Crucially, Joanna has been incredibly smart in the way she's divided the space - perfect inspiration for anyone living in a small space. Let's take a tour...















Homeowner / stylist: Joanna Bagge / Kvart Interior. Photography: Jonas Berg. Stadshem.

I do love window room dividers (other examples seen here and here), they are such a clever way to slip in light to what would otherwise be a windowless room. I'm often wondering where I can divide rooms in my own home! Do you ever do that after seeing these posts?!

Other items I love in this home: hanging clothes rail and round-shaped clothes hanger, Hay cloche table lamp, white bed linen, Moroccan tiles (these are similar) 

You can keep up to date with Joanna's styling projects here and also visit her (amazing) shop here.

FYI - great news for those of you with children, nieces, nephews, grandchildren, friends with children...! Smallable are offering up to 30% off selected autumn / winter items until 9th November at midnight!

Have a lovely day! 
Category: articles