Earlier in the week I showed you around a remote mountain cabin in the Swedish wilderness; this time it's a sleek earth-walled villa on Mexico's sun-baked Pacific coast. The architecture and settings may be very different, but both buildings share a common thread: modern, minimalist design that carries a strong sense of place . . .
Home tour | A modern mountain cabin in Sweden
Today we're heading to the mountains of Ottsjö, rural Sweden, for a peek inside a contemporary cabin that blends a pared-back Scandinavian aesthetic with a deep appreciation for nature. Owned by photographer Sophie Odelberg and her fiancé Gustav, the cabin was designed by Stockholm-based studio Note and marks its first foray into full architectural projects . . .
The Briiv 2 Pro – my tried-and-tested Briiv air purifier gets an upgrade
[Advertisement – this is a paid partnership with Briiv, but all words and opinions are my own] If you’ve been reading this blog or following me on Instagram for any length of time, you might be aware that as an asthmatic, I’ve long been worried about the damaging effects of indoor air pollution. But you might also know that I’ve found an effective way to tackle it . . .
New design finds | February 2025
The start of a new month means - yes, you've guessed it - my regular round-up of interesting product launches and minimalist finds. There are two common themes to February's picks: flexible furniture that can adapt to your needs, and enduring design that will stand the test of time. Just read on for details . . .
15 of the best simple, Scandinavian-style chests of drawers
Despite the fact they're a staple of many bedrooms, finding minimalist chests of drawers is surprisingly tricky. If you like the rustic cottage look then you have loads to pick from, but if you prefer clean lines with no unnecessary details you'll find the selection is somewhat smaller. In fact very few of the brands I usually turn to for understated design even seem to make chests of drawers . . .
Tradition reimagined at the Dinesen Country Home
I shared a peek inside Danish timber specialist Dinesen's Copenhagen showroom last summer, but did you know that it also has a countryside base - and that you can stay there? Originally the private home of the Dinesen family, it occupies a 19th-century thatched longhouse set amid meadows and forests beside the company's manufacturing facility in Jels, southern Jutland . . .
9 amazing places to stay in the Nordic Arctic
The Nordic Arctic - the band of sub-polar wilderness that stretches across northern Finland, Sweden and Norway (Sápmi to the indigenous Sámi people) - draws me back again and again. I can't quite put my finger on why I love this remote part of Europe so much. Maybe it's the vast skies, which come alive with the dancing Aurora Borealis for much of the year . . .
New design finds | January 2025
It's time for my first monthly round-up of minimalist design finds of 2025, and I have some wonderful things to share with you today. There are newly launched home textiles, ceramics, lamps and furniture pieces, all with beautiful pared-back style and a perfect balance between function and form. And Japanese and Scandinavian influences feature strongly . . .
Eight minimalist kitchen ideas from Nordiska Kök
Swedish brand Nordiska Kök has just released its 2025 kitchen trend report, rounding up the looks and design features that its team thinks are going to be big in kitchen design this year. Now, I'm never one to advocate paying much attention to trends - I always believe that the most appealing spaces are an expression of the people who live in them . . .
Minimalist design in the desert: Hotel Aire de Bardenas & the Bardenas Reales natural Park, northern Spain
Following a bit of a hiatus, I'm sharing more of my September road trip around northern Spain with my friend Becky. After starting in Bilbao and journeying south to the wine region of La Rioja, we headed east into the province of Navarra. Our destination was the Bardenas Reales Natural Park - a hauntingly beautiful semi-desert that I'd wanted to explore for ages . . .
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![[AD - PR product] I'm getting in the mood for my trip to the Norwegian Arctic on Thursday with 'Skydance' by @aulilondon - a scented candle inspired by the ethereal magic of the Northern Lights. With layers of pine, Siberian fir, cedarwood and iris, it's delicate, fresh, uplifting and gently mysterious - it somehow really does capture the wonder of the Aurora.
I've been lucky enough to see the Northern Lights a few times before, in Iceland and Finnish Lapland (pictured). I'm keeping everything crossed they make an appearance in Norway, especially as the friend I'm travelling with has never seen them, despite living in Sweden for several years! The weather forecast isn't looking too promising at the moment though...
#northernlights #auroraborealis #smallmomentsofcalm #mycosyhome #candleseason #simplehomestyle #simpleinteriors #cosyvibes](https://thesefourwallsblog.com/wp-content/plugins/instagram-feed/img/placeholder.png)