A beautifully simple home with green floors

I'm always showing homes with white floors, black floors, wood floors and even concrete floors. But what about green floors?! This surprising twist to an otherwise (beautiful) simple, white Australian home looks utterly fab and tells us that perhaps we need to think outside the usual colour scope? To get the look it's important to balance it with other items in the same shade (note the green tap and accessories in the kitchen, vases on the dining room table and vintage scales by the fireplace). Love the mid-century furniture too...

Photography: Brooke Holm with kind permission. Stylist: Megan Morton for Inside Out via Coco Lapine with thanks

Could you go green? Or perhaps you've seen another colour somewhere you like?

I've got something exciting to share with you tomorrow so make sure you pop back.....oooo, what could it be?!

Have a lovely day

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A Bright and Beautiful, Light-Filled Loft

Recently I've been showing a lot of eclectic homes with splashes of colour (and even a black bathroom!). So, today I thought I'd reign it in a little and feature a beautiful, light-coloured loft in Hanover, Germany. A white, minimalist scheme is often in danger of coming across as cold and uninviting, especially in an open-plan living space, but when you have incredible exposed beams, pillars and a mezzanin floor like Sandra, a simple, pared-back look allows the architecture to sing! Oh and how this space sings!

// affiliate links marked with * //

Tobias Grau OH 9 pendant lights, basket bag* (similar), Source a chain from a DIY shop for a simple way to hang coats.

Wishbone chair*, Eames DSW chair*, Eames DFAW chair*, Hee dining chair*

AJ Floor lamp*, Menu Turning Table*,  Eames lounge Chair*

Samsung The Frame (how long have we been waiting for a TV that looks like art?! I've been totally in love with it ever since I worked on that Greenhouse make-over!).

 How fabulous is this Undressed tea-set?!

Oooooh wow. This is my dream loft. Can you imagine having a space like this to play with?!

As mentioned above, open-plan minimalist spaces can come across as a little cold at times - but I think Sandra's totally nailed it. 

Why the light colour, minimalist scheme works here:

- The beautiful architectural elements take centre-stage to create a wow factor
- Although pared-back, no two pieces are the same which adds interest
- The wood and concrete floors, stairs, pillars and beams add texture
- Black details and accents help to balance the look and focus the eye
- Concrete floors in the kitchen and bathroom break-up the uniformed look, help create separate zones and add diversity
- Look closely and you'll spot fresh flowers in every single picture - a simple yet lovely way to bring a space to life

Does this look appeal to your senses?!

If so, you might also like to check out Sandra's instagram feed which is awash with beautiful sand and white images, this fabulous loft in Arnhem (available to rent!), a bright and airy Paris loft, a light Danish home with a stunning bedroom.

Our family sailing tour of Sweden's West coast came to an end yesterday - boooo! Does it sound strange to say I miss the sea? After four weeks afloat it felt like an old friend by the end. On Monday I'll be back at my desk so I'm thinking daily posts again - what d'ya think? I'll also be working on an exciting photograph commission for a jewellery brand (feeling the pressure but so looking forward to it! More on stories!).

But first - the weekend. And there's an Anholt gin and tonic, sunshine and a swim waiting for me! I hope you have a load of fun plans too!

Niki

PS - to create this tour I've combined a load of images taken by Sandra over time - as a result, some items might appear twice and rooms might look marginally different in the sequence!

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A Swedish City Apartment in a Converted Car Workshop

Do you live in a city? With 56% leading urban lives the chances are high! We all know that high density populations mean rent / house prices can be high, and in many cities new dwellings are carved out from old businesses. Warehouses, factories, bars and even a welding plant have been repurposed into houses, flats and maisonettes - and the history of the building adds an entirely new dimension to the interior. 

In Vasastan, Stockholm an old car workshop has been transformed into a beautiful street level apartment. Great big doors that open out onto the street and polished concrete floors unlock the secret to its past life while a white wood floor, beautiful kitchen and floor to ceiling shelving provide clues for its new life as a contemporary home.  Step this way for the tour! 

When the double doors are closed the frosted glass means only a small amount of light flows through to the living room, something that large mirrors help to counter. 

Contrast in the form of dark blue cabinets add interest to the space. 

Warm wood shelving and concrete floors add an interesting contemporary touch to the space. 

Floor to ceiling wardrobes in the bedroom provide plenty of storage and help to create a clean and contemporary look. I love how grey has been used on the cabinet doors and back door, breaking up the white. 

Floorplan: 

Glossary; vardagsrum - living room, kök - kitchen, sovrum - bedroom, bad rum - bathroom. 

What a really cool urban home! I love the way it's been decorated. 

I wonder how practical having doors open out to the street like this would be in most cities around the world? In Stockholm it could definitely work on a warm summer's day like today, in fact I can already hear the music floating out from the transparent speaker and the buzz of the city life outside. 

Do you think this would work in your city? 

Niki

Photography and floor plan courtesy of Historsika Hem. 

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A stunning Copenhagen home with a shiny touch

Today I'm loving this beautiful home in the heart of Copenhagen belonging to Line Dahy Ernst and Thomas Hoedholts (who unsurprisingly work in the fashion and design industry). The exposed beams, rough plastered walls, and monochrome colour palette. The fab designer pieces such as the Thonet 209 chairs and Vitra Hang it all . But most of all the stunning polished concrete floor which reflects light around the space- what a fantastic apartment?!

Styling: Camilla Tange, Photography: Peter Kragballe with kind permission, RUM hemma

Are you a fan of concrete floors?

By the way, if you're visiting Copenhagen I have a little tip for you. I recently discovered this cool hotel called Central Hotel og Café in Vesterbro. When I say little I mean it - it only has one room and is considered the world's smallest hotel! And the bonus? Breakfast in the cafe immediately below.

Don't forget to enter this week's give-away to win a beautiful watch here!

Have a lovely Wednesday!

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A Modern House on Sweden's West Coast

Complete chaos here this morning after coming home on a really late flight from Edinburgh last night. My poor girls were so tired getting off to school (bad parent award) and man flu has hit the house *horror of horrors*! Fortunately, once they were all sorted, I headed off to a wonderful workshop at Summer Will Be Back (great name, beautiful illustrations!) in Copenhagen (more on Insta stories!). And then I hit upon the Swedish home of Karin Boo Wiklander in Gothenburg, Sweden and may day really perked up! Karin is a photographer, stylist and the PR & Inhouse Manager at Boråstapeter, Engblad & Co and Cole & Son. If you love modern architecture, clean aesthetics, concrete floors and muted colours - this house is for you! 

 Carl Hansen Wishbone chairs, Kvist lamp, Paleo vase, Chevron Aluminium Mat

Star 6 lamp

Sectional Glass Cabinet

Söderhamn Sofa Bed Section with Bemz, Tavolo coffee table

Skagerak mirror

Göte ceiling lamp

What a fabulous house? I love the concrete floor (such a big fan!).

Is there anything that caught your eye?

If you fancy seeing a few more angles, there are lots of lovely images of Karin's home over on her blog and instagram!

Right. I'd better get home and tend to my family! I am armed with newly sown seeds from my workshop - do these count as flowers?!

Have a lovely day / evening! 

PS the winner of a TRIWA watch from the spring collection has now been announced here!

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