A cool swedish guesthouse in Amsterdam

It's LE WEEKEND!!!! HOOOORAY! If you fancy a last minute mini-break you could do better than to pack your bags and book a couple of nights at Maison Rika in Amsterdam. The brainchild of Swedish stylist-turned-desginer Ulrika Lundgren, Maison Rika is a beautiful monochrome style guest house and small gallery space / showroom for Lundgren's work. Thanks to the wonderful April and May blog for the inspiration!.....

Maison Rika Via April and May

In some of the pics, such as the stairwell you can spot a star, which is very much the 'vintage hollywood meets contemporary rock'n roll' Rika label trademark.

I am pretty sure I'd enjoy a weekend surrounded by graphical prints and a beautiful mix of funriture. I might even pop into Amsterdam for a wander while I'm at it!! What d'ya reckon?

Black and white in Stockholm

From one extreme to another. For the past couple of days I've been 'escaping' to a remote white washed beach home with views over vast expanses of sand dunes and open sea and then yesterday I slightly more 70's vibe with Svenskt Tenn. Today, a Stockholm apartment in monochrome with an industrial feel with lots of personality. This place is just a little more accessible than the home in Uruguay though as it's actually for sale and a mere 600 km away (from me at least!). 

With big thanks to a reader in the USA I can confirm that this is the apartment of multi-talented Jimmy Schönning who provides a step by step guide to the renovation of his home on his blog.

Via 20Kvadrat

I really like the eclectic lighting over the dining room table, especially the (DIY?) basket lamp. Open-plan is not always easy (I'm struggling with mine a little at the moment!) but this home-owner has created some great areas don't you think?

I am off today with my 1 and a half year old as she is a little poorly, bless her cotton socks!
Have a lovely day!

Hello hallway!

Let's face it, it's kind of nice when a friend comes into your home and says 'wow'! right there in the doorway. So I'm taking my inspiration from these monochrome hallways. I've just got to get rid of the pram, the hundred pairs of shoes, the tricycle, the wet brollies. Um.   

Country Living

VT Wonen

Via

Bodie and Fou

Alvhem Makleri

So, here's to a 'hello hallway' and a welcoming home...some day in the future! A few lovely details here don't you think? I'm coveting the mosaic floor.

PS I absolutely looove the Cavern Tapestry 'arrow' wallpaper in the first picture and it's hand silk-screened and eco friendly don't you know?!

Monochrome, geometrics and neon in Helsinki

This home of interior designer and stylist Susanna Vento and family in Helsinki, Finland is, well, HOT!! The geometric shapes in bold colours against the monochrome and that all important touch of neon.....not to mention the fir tree wallpaper and touches of scandinavian design......

Amy Azzarito from Design Sponge via Today You Inspired Me

I spy elements of IKEA (the black and white rug unde the dining room table) a Smeg fridge, (what colour would you choose?!) the utensilo storage, plus many little touches of Scandinavian design.

This little Helsinki haven will make my heart sing all the way back to Sweden today!

Niki x

Small packages in Malmö, Sweden

Notice anything different today?! Something...unusual about my blog? It's exactly 6 months since MSH was born and to celebrate I have been working with the wonderful, super talented, super friendly Ana at Blog Milk on a shiny new blog design. And ta-daaaa! What do you think? 

So back to the interior design. And another local Malmö apartment here in Sweden today. This is pure evidence that the best things come in small packages as the home is a mere 33 m2!! What a clever and pretty use of space!

Pictures: Bjurfors

What do you reckon? I'm liking the dark wood floor and white walls, and of course the mid century scandinavian furniture!

A quick note to say, these 6 months of blogging have been so much fun and I've learnt absolutely loads (I only wish I had time to make my home as lovely as the ones I've seen). So I wanted to say a great big 'TACK' to you all for popping by on a daily basis, And 'TACK' for all your comments, and your blogs, Pins, and Tweets for giving me so much inspiration. Here's to plenty more blogging in 2012!

Niki x

California dreaming - monochrome and pale pink home

It snowed here yesterday. It really did. Suffice to say I nearly cried. This is one of the reasons I transport myself to sunny San Francisco everyday via the fab interior design blog SF Girl By Bay. Honestly, if you don't go there, you should start (I mean the blog, not San Fran, but that would be great too!) These pics are from SF Girl By Bay, Victoria's home taken by her friend and photographer Bonnie Tsang.

Photography: Bonnie Tsang. Home: SF Girl By Bay

I told you, she knows what she's talking about or what?! I'm loving the monochrome and pale pink scheme, the portrait paintings, the furniture. Oh so pretty. You can snow as much as you like Sweden but you can't take our love for the indoors!

Thank you to Victoria from SF Girl By Bay for the permission to show these! Fab home you've got!

The wonderful home of a Swedish photographer

A rare saturday post from me - I hope you're all having a lovely weekend! One of my great friends is flying in to visit me here in Sweden this afternoon - sooooo exciting! I was just putting the tidying up off by drooling over a few interiors,  and I spotted this beautiful home of Swedish interiors photographer Jonas Ingerstedt ...... I especially love the monochrome and blue in the kitchen and of course the Wegner Wishbone Chairs what do you think?

Via Black Bird

You always know when someone has a really creative career that their homes are going to be special. And this one's no exception! Any particular faves?

Have a lovely weekend people, you'll be pleased to here the snow has melted here! Roll on spring!

A lovely minimalist converted soap factory loft in New York

Morning! hope you had a lovely weekend?! Me, I am going to need more than just a caffe latte to recover. Just soooo tired! The one thing that might help though is looking at this beautiful minimalist New York apartment / work space of architect Elizabeth Roberts in an old soap and wax factory. I love that you can work one minute and crawl into bed the next. Just what I need with minus nine outside!

Photographer: Melanie Acevedo via SF Girl by Bay

I paticularly love the the old wooden floor and white washed brick wall, oh so pretty! What do you reckon?

Have a lovely day!