Swedish calligrapher Ylva Skarp's cosy winter home

Swedish calligrapher and designer Ylva Skarp knows how to create a beautiful home at Christmas (see it all decked out here). This winter she's created a cosy feel in her country home using sheepskin throws draped over armchairs, ottomans and dining chairs. You can see evidence of her work in various forms throughout the home- on fabric, in prints, engraved in the concrete floor and spontaneously written on blackboards. Such a personal home, don't you think?!  

Expressen. Photographer Helena Blom. Ylva Skarp.via The Style Files with thanks

I love the mix of rustic and industrial and how she has made her home a personal work of art. Is there anything that stands out to you?

Source sheeepskin rugs and throws here, You can get hold of one of Ylva Skarps beautiful prints here.

Thank you to everyone who entered the Occa-Home weekend give-away. The winner will be contacted by e-mail today and mentioned in the give-away post.

Have a lovely day!

The Swedish barn conversion

Last November I featured a fantastic Swedish barn conversion here. I still dream about this home today which is why I was extremely excited to discover more beautiful images of the space shot by Romain Ricard. The yellow in the kitchen makes a wonderful twist on the black and white kitchen we saw yesterday don't you think? And I LOVE that bedroom, so beautiful! Could you sleep there?!

Photography: Romain Ricard. Via Marie Claire Maison &  Style Files with thanks.

This home seriously makes me want to up sticks and move to the Swedish countryside, how about you?!

The oh so beautiful bedroom has prompted my new product pick of the week today. As you know I'm a big fan of Scandinavian design classics and frequently highlight beautiful chairs. lights, and accessories. But one Scandinavian classic I haven't mentioned are the luxury beds by Hästens. For those of you not familiar with the Swedish brand, Hästens is a company steeped in history having 'been crafting sleep since 1852'. And they're not kidding. Each bed is completely handmade using all natural materials and takes around 160 hours to complete! I've got my eye on the limited edition Stockholm White. Imagine the nights sleep? Bliss! A well deserved product pick of the week!

I'm working from a cafe by the sea today and it's pouring with rain outside - so cosy!

Have a lovely day - rain or shine!

A cottage in the Stockholm archipelagos

I don't know what the weather's like where you are but here it's starting to feel....er.....dare I say it....Autumnal. So today I thought I'd add a little sunshine here on the blog instead. And if I close my eyes this rainy, windy Tuesday morning I can dream I'm at on this beautiful waterside cottage. It's the fabulous home of one of Sköna Hem blogger Åsa Myrberg of @mycasa on Ekerö in the Stockholm archipelagos. If the beautiful, light filled and relaxed interior doesn't do it for you, the setting certainly will. Summer anyone?

Sköna Hem, Pernilla Hed. 

Sköna Hem. Pernilla Hed.

Sköna Hem. Pernilla Hed.

Sköna Hem. Pernilla Hed.

Sköna Hem. Pernilla Hed.

Sköna Hem. Pernilla Hed.

Sköna Hem. Pernilla Hed.

What an incredible place to spend long summer days?! The Stockholm archipelagos really are fantastic too.

For more Scandinavian summer cottage dreaming click here - warning, you'll need to pour yourself a cup of tea first - there are hundreds of them! (the home above might come up first, if so, scroll past it).

I'm off to The Conference in Malmö today - anyone else going? Last year's was so inspiring!

Have a wonderful Tuesday.

The bohemian summer home of a Swedish fashion photographer

Many Swedes choose to spend their summers on the beautiful east coast island of Gotland and I can totally understand why. One such person is fashion photographer Peter Gerhke (who has shot for H&M among many other brands) and his family. The family's relaxed, bohemian style stone country house is radically different from their permanent residence in Stockholm which is decorated with a far more contemporary feel. The family spend their time at the summer cottage bare foot, enjoying the grape vines and fig trees in the garden, cooking using home grown vegatables and herbs or fishing and swimming in the clear waters of the Baltic sea. Now that's a way to spend a summer!

Photography: Martin Löf. MILK Decoration with kind permission. 

I love the idea of hanging out bare-foot and care-free don't you?!

My favourite room, has to be the bathroom. I love free standing baths in the middle of the room, and just look at that beautiful original wood floor!

For more inspriation from Gotland you might want to check out this former light house keeper's cottage, the idyllic summer home of the blogger behind a Beautiful Living, and a beautiful Swedish summer retreat. Summer on Gotland 2015 anyone?!

It's Friday - woohoo! Any great plans for the weekend? Whatever you do I hope you have a fantastic couple of days. See you Monday!

The idyllic Swedish island holiday home

Hello Friday! Yay! Today I'm so excited to share a beautiful home with you that I hope will draw you in to the spirit of the Swedish holidays (if you're not there already!). It's an oh so stunning summer cottage on the island of Gotland belonging to photographer and stylist Amelia Widell of A Beautiful Living blog . It perfectly reflects the essence of the pared-back, relaxed Scandinavian holiday home but with a touch of mediterrenean spirit. I absolutely love the stone walls and simple, pretty way Amelia has decorated it. Summer holiday on Gotland anyone?

Photograohy / styling: Amelia Widell A Beautiful Living with kind permission - Featured in Residence magazine. 

*sigh* so beautiful. I particularly love the last picture of Amelia and her lovely little girl, so sweet!

Gotland is fast becoming one of Europe's hip place to visit. I'm not surprised as it's beautiful and there is just so much to see and do. For more inspirational home-tours from this little island on Sweden's east coast check out this, this and this home. Oh and you can rent this place through Air BnB - ja!!!!

My family and I are also busy packing for a trip to my mother-in-laws cottage on Skåne's west coast for a few days - I can't wait!! But it's all go, go, go so I'd better hurry!

Do you have any great plans for the weekend?

Have a lovely, relaxing couple of days and see you Monday!

A charming fisherman's cottage on Sweden's South coast

Hello! I hope you had a great weekend?! We had a bank holiday here, so my family and I took off for my brother-in-laws summer cottage where we played croquet, swam in the sea and sipped Prosecco - oh so relaxing, I do love a long weekend don't you?! With iut's beautiful coastline, living in Southern Sweden has its advantages particularly in the summer (the winter is a another story...). Yesterday I was having a sneek peak at what's for sale here right now (one of my favourite pastimes, is that sad?! Please tell me you do the same?) and I came across this charming thatched cottage by the sea. The restored fisherman's cottage is my idea of heaven. It's not far from Sweden's most southern point - Smygehuk, an idyllic fishing harbour where you can feast on the catch of the day. Tempted?!

Bjurfors

Is this your kind of home?

I whole-heartedly recommend you pour yourself a coffee and take a peak around the rest of the home - it's like looking back in time.

If you love country-style living and would love more inspiration this bright, sunny morning, check out this white and wood country home in California, this rustic retreat on Sweden's west coast and a Norwegian cabin by the sea. Oh so fabulous!

Have a lovely day!

A beautiful Swedish home and creative studio.

I do love the home of an artist don't you? Their natural creativity nearly always shines through. Take this home and studio for example. It belongs to a friend of Swedish stylist and blogger Pella Hedeby (who is responsible for the styling on this shoot). According to Pella the home is even more beautiful, relaxed and comfortable in real life and constantly evolves with the seasons. What a lovely space don't you think?!

Styling: Pella Hedberg. Photographer: Kristofer Johnsson (with kind permission), . Femina 2014

I love the vibe of this home, how about you?

To get the look pick-up some lovely linen cushions, search for easels, tables and vintage desk and ceiling lamps on Etsy, and source antique cutlery here.

If you have some time to kill over a coffee this weekend- there's home-tour after home-tour of Swedish country-style homes to be found here. And other fabulous homes photographed by Kristofer Johnsson here.

Before I head off to enjoy the weekend I also wanted to let you know that The Linen Works have just launched a new line of ultra soft Bamboo Linen bedding and to celebrate they're holding a give-away to win a set here, there are even 20 Japanese linen slippers up for grabs for the runners-up so it's well worth taking a few seconds to enter!

I hope you have a wonderful weekend and see you Monday!