From super cool bloggers and brands I’ve loved for years, aspiring restauranteurs and independent retailers, celebrity chefs and award winning writers. Just some of the amazing people I’ve had the privilege to meet and become friends with over the last twelve months thanks to writing this blog.
So you can imagine how thrilled I was when Niki Brantmark, the creator of the renowned interior design blog, My Scandinavian Home and bestselling author took the time to chat with little old me about her own Nordic inspirations and aspirations.
Here’s what Niki had to say:
Every day on your blog, My Scandinavian Home, you feature the most beautiful Nordic inspired homes from around the world, but what does ‘home’ mean to you?
I live an expat life, so for me home is where my family is.
I have two places I refer to as ‘home’, my parents’ house in London, which I grew up in, and the house I now share with my husband and three children in Malmö, Sweden.
Of all the spaces and places you’ve featured since the blog began in 2011, which have made a real impact on you and why?
I always think I’ve found ‘the home’ and then another one crops up and I am blown away once again!
Perhaps one of my all-time favourites is a magical mountain cabin in Oslo, Norway which we photographed for my second book, The Scandinavian Home. Marianne Vigtel Holland’s magical home is simply incredible; very personal, unique and cosy with many handmade and repurposed items.
My family and I had the pleasure of borrowing it for a skiing holiday the following year and it was amazing to experience life inside it first-hand!
You also feature the very latest Nordic décor trends, what are your current favourites and which will you be investing in?
Scandinavian homes are synonymous with white, however colour and pattern are starting to appear more and more.
They are used sparingly though, an accent wall here, a cushion there, and usually are of a muted, earthy tone.
Recently I painted my bedroom wall in ‘blushing peach’ and have added rust accents and natural linens. It feels so much cosier. I think I’m going to be adding a whole lot more colour to my home in 2019 as a result!
As your book, Lagom: The Swedish Art of Living a Balanced, Happy Life illustrates, a Nordic sense of home is not just about how a room looks but how it affects us too. What simple things can people do to bring some much needed ‘lagom’ into their lives?
In Nordic design, form follows function, so a space is first and foremost practical and user-friendly.
By creating a room which caters to all your needs you’ll be able to enjoy the space more and find it easier to relax.
Think about how you use the room and consider removing anything that you neither use nor love. And then add items that are missing, such as a reading light, a blanket for chillier evenings etc. It’s about striking that perfect balance.
You moved to Sweden over a decade ago now, but what British habits can you still not shake off?
Ask my husband and he’ll provide an entire list. I never manage to dress properly for the weather, I love going to the pub, I love a Sunday roast… the list goes on!
Aside from the blog, are there any more books in the pipeline? What has the next year got in store for you?
In 2017 I published two books in one year so I needed a little time out to recover, but I would love to write another book some day in the future.
In January I am launching ‘My Scandinavian Home Studio’ which will be the hands-on sister site to My Scandinavian Home, offering online workshops and Scandinavian interior design services. I’m so excited about it!
In the meantime for anyone looking for some Scandinavian interiors inspiration here are Niki’s favourite three posts from the blog:
- A Magical Norwegian Mountain Cabin
- Karolina Modig’s Beautifully Creative Stockholm Home
- A Swedish Artist’s Home in a Former School House
Thank you so much to Niki Brantmark for chatting to me. Modern Pastoral: Bring the tranquility of nature into your home, The Scandinavian Home: Interiors inspired by light and Lagom: The Swedish Art of Living a Balanced, Happy Life are all available now from Amazon.
Profile image by Karin Björklund, bedroom and sitting room by Niki Brantmark with styling by Genevieve Jorn, mountain cabin photographed by James Gardener for the book ‘The Scandinavian Home’ by Niki Brantmark and published by CICO Books.
Thank you so much for the lovely feature, it was a real pleasure to chat with you. / Niki
Thanks again for sparing the time x
launching ‘My Scandinavian Home Studio’ in January?!! WOW. That sounds fabulous and I know a few people who will be really keen to hear more about it. She’s got a fantastic blog and style!
WOW indeed, I so can’t wait to find out more!
what a lovely interview ! i cannot wait for the new website launch too – so exciting
Thanks, I’m super excited about it too x
What a fab interview! Niki is one talented lady with some amazing achievements! Her new online studio is sure to be a massive hit 😀
Thanks Maria, it was amazing to chat with her x
Such a lovely interview. I’ve met Nikki a few times and she is super lovely can’t wait to hear more about the new site.
Its going to be amazing isn’t it x
I absolutely adore Niki’s bedroom. And I’m so pleased to see more colour in Nordic interiors. I’ve always found them a bit cold so these earthy tones make them so much more appealing.
It certainly is one dreamy bedroom!