Cheerful Dutch interior spaces to brighten up your day

I do love a home which puts a smile on my face and brightens up my day, don't you? And it seems Dutch photographer Hans Mossel is an expert in finding them. Each of these spaces from Hans' photography portfolio ooze the 'cheerful family home' vibe. Pure inspiration for adding a touch of colour to the home! I can't work out which room I love the most? Can you?

Hans Mossel, inspired by a post seen on Decor8 with thanks

Any favourites? I think the pink in the bathroom and hall is pretty fabulous!

I also love the rustic wooden benches which appear in a number of pictures. I found the rustic workman's benches I use as a bedside table in my bedroom here.

My daughter has the little yellow Fjäll Räven rucksack (backpack) you see hanging in the hall. It's a real, Swedish design classic and amazingly practical too. It's exciting to see them starting to appear on the backs of people in London too! You can buy them here.

More cheerful Dutch home tour inspiration here, here and here.

Have a lovely day and see you tomorrow!

PS My husband and I are planning on going for a weekend away sans children this autumn- yay! Any tips on wonderful, unique, quirky or simply beautiful places to stay in Europe? Tips very welcome!

A calm white, blue and cognac Malmö home

I hope you had a wonderful weekend? Today I've got very zen home to share with you. It's actually for sale here in Malmö, Sweden (come and join us!!).  There's something about the white, blue and cognac combined with the pastels that I love.  It's perhaps a little too empty for my taste (I guess this is part of the estate agent styling) but  I'm sure I could make it my own in no time, how about you?

Bo-laget

Very calm don't you think?

I see they have my favourite chair - the diamond armchair (throw a sheepskin over in the autumn and winter for extra loveliness) and Thonet 214 chairs. Try the 'Cassis' bed linen for similar. I love the black and white art photography in the desk area, any ideas where it's from?

Thank you to Octavie who featured an interview with me on her lovely blog Scandinave on Friday (in French and English). What an honour!

I wasn't sure whether I was going to say anything but I must admit I'm feeling a little sorry for myself  today- I hurt my calf playing sport yesterday and was sent home from A&E with crutches and now awaiting an ultra sound. Have you ever hurt your achilles heel or a muscle in your calf before? It's soooo painful! Mind you, not all's bad, I get to spend a rainy Monday in bed reading/ watching Netflix, kind of bliss!

Have a lovely day!

Going Dutch with white and splashes of colour

I can't tell you how much I'm enjoying writing this blog right now, there are just so many fabulous homes out there! This particular space  (shared with generous permission from Souraya of Binti Home) belongs to Antoinette and her husband and two boys in Holland. I love that it's white with splashes of colour  (of course!) which gives it a bright and playful feel but i also love that it's teeming with personal, quirky touches. This is turning out to be a bit of a Dutch week....!

Binti Home

Binti Home

Binti Home

Binti Home

Binti Home

Binti Home

Binti Home

Binti Home

Do you have a favourite corner?! Personally I love the boys room with the desks and huge map - but i love everything about all the other corners too!

A few tips on where items are from: Yellow lamp from HK Living, pink vase is IKEA, cups on table from Fest Amsterdam, cup with lady is Donna Wilson. The pink lamp is SnowPuppe.  Eames armchair RAR.

You can see more wonderful pictures of Annettes home on Instagram.

Have a lovely day!

The lovely home of a Dutch designer / blogger

There are so many wonderful blogs out there, I seem to discover a new one every week! My latest find is  'My Attic', authored by Dutch designer Marij Hessel. Marij has a passion for interior, decorating, fashion and photography (among other things) and frequently shares images of her beautiful  Dutch home on her blog. Here's a sneak peek.

My Attic

My Attic

My Attic

My Attic

My Attic

My Attic

My Attic

My Attic

My Attic

My Attic

Oh so lovely. Monochromes, pastels, patterns and big leafed plants define this relaxed family home (in my eyes at least). I particularly love her bedroom which has been decorated using finds from a recent trip to morocco (long been on my list) and the Danish shop Grenes. You can read more about her bedroom and the items in it here.

Thank you so much for the permission to share the images Marij.

For more Dutch inspiration you might want to check out this family home, a home in a converted chidren's nursery and this fab Dutch bedroom make-over. I think a trip to Holland is in order. Speaking of which, is anyone going to the 'Meet the Blogger' event in October? Sadly I can't go but it looks so great and definitely a firm date in my diary for next year!

Have a lovely day!

The cosy and relaxed home of a Norwegian blogger

Well hello there! It was a long time since I showed a Norwegian home, too long I'd say. So I thought you might like today's home tour for two reason: firstly it will introduce you to a wonderful Norwegian blog: Marsipan og Smilefjes (unless of course you already follow it?) and secondly these images taken by the blog author Marthe of her own home which she shares with Rasmus, Mathea and Anna will make you feel like you're right there in a her relaxed cosy white and wood house in Norway. So lovely, don't you think?

Marsipan og Smilefjes

Marsipan og Smilefjes

Marsipan og Smilefjes

Marsipan og Smilefjes

Marsipan og Smilefjes

Marsipan og Smilefjes

Marsipan og Smilefjes

Marsipan og Smilefjes

Marsipan og Smilefjes

What a beautiful home don't you think?! I love the touch of pastel (although I'm a 'hot' colour wannabe I'm a real pastel girl at heart, how about you?).

Other bloggers homes I love include the Norwegian home of Elisabeth heier, the serene home of a Swedish fashion blogger and the home of a Danish fashion blogger. If you're up for a little more inspiration today you can always have a fun snoop around the Norwegian home tours I've shown here previously (scroll passed this one as it will come up first).

I hope you have a lovely day!

The home of a Dutch design duo

I always think the Dutch have a wonderful sense of style which wouldn't be out of place in Scandinavia. Take this home in Eindehoven for example. It's the cheerful family home of Dutch designers Tineke Beunders and Nathan Wierink behind the brand Ontwerpduo. The couple have carefully renovated the space with whites, pretty pastels and vintage one off pieces to create a calm yet happy family home. Take a peek...

Holly Marder, Avenue Lifestyle with kind permission. For Decor8. 

How cute is the little girl?

Interestingly the house didn't have a wide enough space for a double bed so Nathan built their bed between two walls. The curtains were put up for privacy and a touch of decadence. The idea turned out to be a great one since it also means their little baby can't roll out of bed! Small space inspiration indeed!

For more pics and the full interview visit Decor8.

I've had the pleasure of meeting Holly (the photographer and stylist behind this shoot) when she came to photograph my home i the spring (images currently for sale through Holly). She's fab - so much fun and really talented.

Other fab Dutch home tours shot and styled by Holly include this, this and this one. Her beautiful bedroom has also featured on here.

Oh and excitement for today - the latest edition of SOFFA magazine - the free digital design and lifestyle magazine that's all about the very best in the world of design went live yesterday. Read the latest edition here.

Have a great day!

Suvi's inspirational Finnish sitting room

Morning! Oooo, I feel much better after my duvet day yesterday :) I also loved all the comments and discussions over the single or double duvets. I thought it was only in Scandinavia couples used two single duvets on a double duvet but it seems this is more widespread than I first thought! So interesting! Today I'm turning to North East Scandinavia and am excited to share some shots of the very cool sitting room from the Finnish home of Suvi of Valkoinen Harmaja blog. Everything is so nicely put together but what stands out to me most are the cushions (and how they match the artwork) and the fabulous IKEA tea trolley which Suvi has updated. How about you?

Valkoinen Harmaja with kind permission

I spy so many great pieces: a tea trolley which Suvi has created using an IKEA find (see post here) (similar one by Artek here). Cushions: Svenskt tenn 'elefant print' cushion, Missoni and Flow from By Lassen.  A Tom Dixon Beat Light Fat, Eames Armchair RAR (15% discount with code MYSCAN) and Stokke Tripp Trapp children's chair to name but a few. Am I missing any key items?!

What a great space? Suvi's blog is well worth a look through, not least to see her very cool cat which wonders in and out of shots!

Have a lovely day!