A Little Easter Break & Inspiration

Easter is almost here—my favorite holiday of the year. The days are getting longer, and everything and everyone seems to come alive. Spring and summer are just around the corner. 

Every year, we pack up the car and make the six-hour drive down to our summer house in southern Sweden to spend Easter with family and a few close friends. I love being there this time of year. The small town is quiet, almost empty, and the long, windy walks leave me feeling energized and calm.  Daffodils bloom in abundance in our garden (thank you, previous owners), and I take every chance I get to settle in by the fireplace with a good book, a cup of tea—or, no surprise—a gin sour in hand.

I have a few smaller projects lined up around the house this coming week. First off, I’ve bought a couple of antique Swedish furniture pieces to replace some of the current ones, and I had the wonderfully talented decorative painter, Holly Björklund, paint one of them for me.  We also repainted our teal blue staircase in my favorite shade—Dusky Blue by Jotun—and I’m thinking about taking down a cluster of smaller paintings to repaint the wall. Lately, I’ve found myself leaning towards interiors that feel a bit less cluttered, while still embracing my love for color and pattern.  I’m toying with the idea of replacing the gallery wall with one large framed textile, flanked by a pair of sconces. We’ll see how it all comes together!  When decorating our country house, I followed a “no rules” policy. I wanted it to truly feel like a summer home—relaxed, unpretentious, and full of charm—so I consciously avoided design schemes and mood boards.  Most of the furniture, along with all the decorative pieces, were found at local flea markets and antique shops. The house is full of patterns, vintage art, books, objects, rugs, and textiles. Nothing really matches—and that’s exactly why it works.  Despite the eclectic mix, the house conveys warmth and a sense of embrace. Our children absolutely love spending time here, and to me, that’s the best testament of all. Nothing could make me happier.

I wish you all a slow, relaxing and love filled Easter holiday. Take care of yourselves and don’t forget to also enjoy the JOMO. The joy of missing out. I know I will. Sharing a couple of snapshots from my Easters over the years.