Beni

Thank you so much for a wonderful year here on My Scandinavian Home. It's been a joy to stop by each week. I have so appreciated all your comments and mails - always with a positive tone! I'll be back on 8th January, 2024. In the meantime, if you're looking for some inspiration, check out the 'best of My Scandinavian Home 2023' and discover my favourite archives right here .  I'll leave you with this beautiful tree decorated with bouquets of dried flowers in the Swedish home of Lovisa 'Furubo' Andersson .  If you're looking for a last minute decoration idea, check out the bow and bell on the door handle too - so pretty!  Wishing you a God Jul  (very Merry Christmas!).   Love,  Niki Photography: Lovisa 'Furubo' Andersson , shared with kind permission.  source https://www.myscandinavianhome.com/2023/12/god-jul-merry-christmas.html

This post contains an advert for my own book.  Hello friends!   It feels like only yesterday I was summing up the blog year for 2022. But here it is - the best of My Scandinavian Home 2023!  This blog is in it's 12th year, and I have to say, I am equally in love with this little corner of the web now as I was way back then! This is all thanks to you! I so appreciate you stopping by and I've loved reading your comments and emails.   2023 has been quite a year, not least because I completed my fourth book Njuta - The Swedish Art of Savouring the Moment which launches on 26th December (available to order here  among other places) - I'm excited and nervous in equal measure. I hope you enjoy reading Njuta as much as have writing it. It is set to launch in other languages too - more info to come in 2024!  This is the moment I round-up the most popular blog and instagram posts of the year. And it's quite a selection -  from a charming cottage...

Paid partnership with imm cologne, thank you for supporting the businesses that make My Scandinavian Home possible Oh, how happy I am to be returning to Cologne in mid January. The reason? To attend the international furniture and interiors fair imm cologne which will take place 14th - 18th January, 2024! Have you been to imm cologne?  This year, the trade fair will be divided into three main segments: pure, home and sleep.  I'm super excited as it's my go-to destination for inspiration and to discover trends at the start of the year. It's also a great place to meet other interior industry insiders (I'm so looking forward to catching up with the blogger community from all over Europe, interior designers, architects and a very broad range of exhibitors which include everything  from up-and-coming start-ups to well established global brands).  You can see the full list of exhibitors here . In the meantime, here's a small selection of some of the fabulous Scan...

Let me take you on her journey to the snowy landscape of Northern Sweden. Tucked away in the quiet countryside of Västerbotten,  you'll find two cottages not far from one another, owned by two sisters. The pair share the same love for antique and vintage finds as well as wallpaper and lace curtains that echo times gone by. At Christmas, their cottages are bathed in the warm, golden glow of candlelight casting its spell on the surrounding countryside.  Their instagram feed  @gammsystra  has become something of a sensation in Sweden thanks to the beautiful portrayal of their traditional country homes throughout the seasons - and at Christmas time they really come into their own!  Here's a small selection from their many Christmassy scenes. Keep a look out for the 'ljusstake' - the candelabra in the window which you'll witness in the windows of most Swedish homes come December and the 'Julbock' a Christmas goat made from straw, another yuletide tradition ...

Out in the middle of the Baltic sea - not far from Sweden, Germany and Poland, you'll find the Danish island of Bornholm. It's known as a summer paradise, with many Danes and other eager tourists taking the ferry over in droves to explore the island, lie on the sandy beaches and soak up the summer sun. My family and I have spent a wonderful few days during a sailing holiday many moons ago and I have so many fond memories. But I've never thought about going there in wintertime. Until now!  Last weekend Per and I took the 1.5 hour ferry ride from Ystad, Sweden to the island of Bornholm and spent a cosy, winter weekend there. Now, I must add that we were lucky to have snow, and it is definitely out of season - but fortune favours the bold, and those who dare to brave the cold will be treated to Christmas markets bursting with local arts and crafts, snow covered forests, pretty fishing villages and coastal walks all to yourself! Here are some snapshots and a summary of the a...