‘Nordic Retreat’ – first look at John Lewis’ Scandi-inspired AW18 range

Scandinavian style isn’t hard to find within the UK – every major furniture store has its own inspired range (and there’s always IKEA). There was something about this one which caught my eye. The palette is quite warm, but also neutral – and then you have some pops of gold. Adding to that are some interesting textures (such as smoked glass and ceramics). Note that the rose gold mirror isn’t a part of the ‘Nordic Retreat’ range, but can be found here instead.

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Grayson Dressing Table, £350, Mosserud Stripe Rug, £475, Artek 60 Stool, £180.40, Design Project by John Lewis No. 045 Floor Lamp, £115, Pols Potten Chic Vases, set of 4, £225
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Ercol for John Lewis Shalstone Dining Table, £899, ercol for John Lewis Shalstone Dining Chair, £229, Vitra Eames DSW Side Chair, £292, Secto Victo Ceiling Light, £585
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Albie Armchair, £499, Mantis Bookcase, £450, Hiko Floor Lamp, £140, Ziggy Table Lamp, £75, Ayla Rug, £380
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Melena Round Side Table, Large, £150, Small, £119, Design Project by John Lewis No. 068 Vase, £20
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Tokyo Large Corner Group Sofa, £3,399, Melena Side Table, Large, £150, Small, £119, west elm Watercolour Trellis Rug, £499, Hiko Floor Lamp, £140, Design Project by John Lewis No. 045 Floor Lamp, £115, Taj Throw, £49, Cushions, from £10, Baskets, from £20

Spotlight: steal this look

January last year I posted a Gothenburg apartment tour with an absolutely beautiful lighting set-up. The cherry on top was an ethereal yet bold overhead light (available in multiple colours) which currently retails at €752. One striking addition to the Nordic Retreat is the ‘Hiko’ lighting collection, with a very similar overhead light retailing at £175.

A classically styled Stockholm home

I’ve been away in Vienna this week. A friend of mine got a job in the diplomat sphere that goes on there (a lot of international organisations known by their acronyms – (OPEC, IAEA, OSCE …) so we were celebrating. And Vienna’s fun in a calm way; plenty of nice cafes, museums, vintage clothes markets, and so on.

But enough about Austria. This week’s home tour is again in the scandi-style capital of Stockholm. It’s much more classically styled than usual, but isn’t fussy or pastiche. I appreciate the simplicity it’s offering. You can also explore the home’s neighbourhood if you’re interested.

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This Swedish apartment effortlessly nails the millennial pink trend

If you’ve got an Instagram account, you’ve probably seen the hype around this colour. Some people call it ‘rose quartz’ or ‘scandi pink’. Some might say there’s scientific evidence of it having a calming effect. From Wes Anderson’s The Grand Budapest Hotel, to high fashion, the soft rosy shade was called the colour of the moment for the Tumblr generation.

I’m back to Scandinavia this week to peek inside this Stockholm flat that takes the trend and puts it in a simple, pared back, domestic setting. No chandeliers or overindulgence. Just a nice looking apartment with a small balcony.

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A Swedish home with a social focus

This week has been busy, and all the people I’ve been talking to recently have the same impression. Has the good weather inspired a social zeal in my city? Or is this a universal effect of Summer coming? I’ve always been quite introverted though, so meeting a lot of people in quick succession has left me exhausted this Monday morning. A friend sent me this music video to help decompress, and it’s soothing. This week isn’t going to be any quieter, so maybe it’s best I ask for a day off work?

Anyway, this is the reason I chose this apartment from Nooks, because I feel like it’s a very social space. The space that connects the kitchen to the living room was actually opened up, and then shelves were put in between the supporting pillars. It does look stylish, but the reason the owner did this was to be more social and connect the rooms together more for when he had guests over. Max, the owner, also said:

“In the vast majority of home decorating, we focused on the TV, but here in the living room, I wanted instead to the social would be central. The same applies to the dinner table, I chose a round table in order to be able to keep up more with each other. ”

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Contemporary meets classic in this absolutely fabulous Swedish apartment

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I love love love the wallpaper in this place. The rest of the apartment is quite starkly white, and the statement the kitchen makes shows that it pays off to take a little risk now and then. You can find more like it at Stadshem.

Meanwhile in my world, it’s finally becoming sunny across Northern Europe now, and I can see people almost smiling in the streets. People playing, children running about and playing, strawberries on sale in the shops. This time of year is definitely a time for optimism.

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Cute puppies abound.

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I love how all the kitchen fittings are so well fit in. Very traditional. Of course back then, you probably wouldn’t have got a new kitchen every 10 years.

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I want that vase! And that closet space …

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These hooks are such a neat idea.

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Once again I’m posting the whole layout. It’s in Swedish but should be relatively self-explanatory. Sovrum is bedroom for instance, and vardagsrum is living room.

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Bergsundsgatan 15

This is another from Stockholm,  I really like how the place manages to make casual look so cool. If I could change something, I would have more accents like the yellow pillow and pink chest of drawers.

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The colours in this bedroom are on point. Also, see the frames above the door in the centre.

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This ceiling light is too cool.

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